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#3 Lucas Paqueta - Olympique Lyon
When AC Milan bought Lucas Paqueta from Flamengo in 2020, they expected the midfielder to emerge as the team’s primary creative outlet. The Brazilian felt the burden of responsibility and failed to live up to the billing at the San Siro.
The Serie A giants shipped him off to Lyon in the summer of 2020, allowing the young Brazilian to turn his life around. The attacking midfielder has slotted in effortlessly in a central midfield role at Lyon. He dictates play with his distribution and also pops up with decisive goals and assists whenever he gets the chance.
So far, he has made 22 appearances in all competitions this season, registering seven goals and four assists.
#2 Fabinho - Liverpool
Liverpool midfielder Fabinho is one of the calmest players you will find in Europe. The Brazilian holding midfielder is an expert at neutralizing threats, can read the game exceptionally well, and is capable of dropping even deeper if needed.
Jurgen Klopp also used Fabinho as a centre-back last season, owing to injuries to Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez. As expected, the former Monaco man aced the test and saved the Reds’ blushes when they were short of options at the back.
Fabinho has played in midfield this season and has helped Liverpool be at their explosive best in all competitions. He has formed a rewarding alliance with former Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago, allowing the Reds to dominate the midfield battle in the Premier League. The Brazilian has made 19 appearances in all competitions in the present campaign, scoring and assisting once apiece.
#1 Casemiro - Real Madrid
Since Zinedine Zidane was made Real Madrid’s head coach in 2016, the club have not tinkered with their midfield trio. The tried-and-tested midfield of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, and Casemiro won three consecutive Champions Leagues under Zidane before the Frenchman’s voluntary departure.
It is difficult to pick the most important member of the world-class midfield, but if we had to choose one, we’d go with the Brazilian.
Kroos and Modric are widely regarded as two of the best midfielders of this generation, but very few include Casemiro in the conversation. Since becoming a regular at Real Madrid, Casemiro has made countless interceptions and saved innumerable goals.
He has saved the often-fragile Real Madrid defense more times than one can count, without thinking about getting recognition.
Casemiro also has a knack for going for the spectacular and often pops up with decisive goals for his team. The central defensive midfielder is the heart and soul of his club and country, and there’s hardly anyone better than him in his position.
