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In the fast-paced modern game, teams need to be able to transform from defence to attack and revert back like clockwork and the one player who is largely responsible for facilitating this is the defensive midfielder. Defensive midfielders provide added protection for the defence by stopping attacks before the ball gets into the final third.
A defensive midfielder, who is good at winning the ball and then quickly turning it over to his teammates so that they can kickstart a counter-attack, has proven to be vital in the modern game.
On that note, let's take a look at the 5 best central defensive midfielders in football right now:
#5 Marcelo Brozovic
Marcelo Brozovic has been one of Inter Milan's standout performers this season as the Nerrazzuri put up a decent fight for the Serie A title. Brozovic has been a consistent performer for Inter but his new role in Antonio Conte's setup has definitely improved his overall game.
Brozovic has been used more as a holding midfielder this time around as opposed to the box-to-box role that we're used to seeing him in. An unrelenting customer on the pitch, Brozovic is what you can call a midfield destroyer who helps collapse attacks whenever the opposition teams look to break.
The 27-year-old is a good passer of the ball as well and is not shy of taking a shot from distance either. He also has 3 goals and 7 assists across all competitions for Inter Milan.
#4 Sergio Busquets
Perhaps the best defensive midfielder of his generation, Sergio Ramos continues to be a strong presence in that Barcelona midfield even at the age of 32. A great passer of the ball, Busquets has been a significant part of the Barcelona midfield for years now.
Busquets can not only win tackles and latch on to a loose ball quite quickly, he is also pretty good at blocking shots. His languid elegance and calmness at the centre of the pitch is often what helps Barcelona dominate in midfield and they'll find it hard to replace him once he calls it a day.
#3 Marco Verratti
Marco Verratti has missed much of the Paris Saint-Germain's title-winning campaign due to a recurring groin strain. But he did definitely show his quality whenever he appeared on the pitch. He is a versatile player who can play as a holding midfielder or as a central midfielder.
Not built like most defensive midfielders, Verratti stands at 165 cms. Though he is not good at aerial duels, the 27-year-old makes up for it with his tackling and exquisite passing skills. Verratti is also excellent with the ball at his feet and can hold on to the ball in closed spaces thanks to his excellent ball control.
In 20 games, with only 15 of them being starts, Verratti still managed to rack up 5 assists in the Ligue 1. Verratti has been one of the most sought-after central midfielders in Europe for quite a while now and PSG have done well to keep him on their payroll till now.
#2 Fabinho
Jurgen Klopp deserves credit for aptly identifying the weaknesses in his team and bringing in the right players in order to address them. Fabinho's was one of the signings that transformed Liverpool into title challengers and he played a big role in the Reds winning the Premier League title by a huge margin.
Fabinho is crucial to Liverpool's gegenpressing system and helps break up attacks and acts as a cover while the rest of the Liverpool midfield push forward. He can also score some scorchers as evidenced by his absolute banger of a goal from 25 yards out against Manchester City early in the season.
Standing at 188 cms, Fabinho dominates aeriel duels and is a great passer of the ball as well. He might not have the strongest physique but you hardly ever see Fabinho get bullied in midfield.
#1 Casemiro
Arguably Real Madrid's most important player on the field, it is Casemiro's growth into an absolute stalwart in defensive midfield that has had the biggest influence on Zizou's side.
Casemiro is an excellent defensive midfielder. There are perhaps very few midfielders in world football right now who likes a tackle just as much as the Brazilian does. He is also excellent with the ball at his feet and does chip in with the occasional screamer from distance.
Casemiro alongside Kroos and Modric has dominated the UEFA Champions League across several seasons and the presence of the reliable duo ahead of him affords him the freedom to venture forward as well.
