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Holding midfielders or defensive midfielders, as they are more commonly known these days, are a vital part of any football side who contribute evenly to both attacking and defending. They add an extra layer of protection for the backline and also bring the ball out of the defensive third and kick start attacks for their side.
The role of holding midfielders can vary from team to team. Some holding midfielders slot into the backline when the opposition counter-attacks. Some are tasked with destroying attacks before the opposition gets into dangerous areas on the pitch.
Sometimes, they are tasked with being the connectors between the defence and attack. As such, holding midfielders need to have both defensive and attacking skills and need to be adept at both.
On that note, let's take a look at the top five holding midfielders in the game right now.
#5 N'Golo Kante (Chelsea)
If this topic came up even a couple of years back, there wouldn't have even been a debate over who the best holding midfielder in the game is. It is that diminutive Frenchman who plays at the centre of the park for Chelsea.
But times have changed and so has the management at Chelsea. Kante was asked to play a more advanced role and unsurprisingly, he was not as effective in a more creative role and his form suffered greatly.
Kante was, in fact, heavily linked with an exit in the past two summers. However, he has been fielded in a holding role this season and he has been excellent for Chelsea so far. He still alternates between being a defensive midfielder and a central midfielder but is one of the best at breaking down attacks and building from the back.
#4 Fabinho (Liverpool)
The Liverpool midfielder is as versatile as they come. He can slot in at right-back, centre-back or anywhere across the midfield. It is this versatility that Jurgen Klopp has relied on over the course of this injury-laden period that the Merseysiders have been navigating.
Fabinho is key to Liverpool's high-pressing games and often wins the ball in crucial areas of the pitch thanks to his excellent defensive abilities. He also ventures forward and joins the attack and scores some absolute scorchers intermittently.
Fabinho dominates the midfield on most days and it's just as hard to get past him as it is to shake the ball off him once he has it at his feet. Fabinho is one of those signings that transformed Liverpool from entertainers to an absolute juggernaut.
#3 Casemiro (Real Madrid)
Casemiro was perhaps Real Madrid's best player as they won the La Liga last season. The Brazilian grew into an absolute stalwart in midfield, breaking down attacks and also showing great enterprise when it comes to joining the attack and generally lending a hand to his teammates on both sides of the pitch.
Casemiro loves a tackle and is one of the toughest and most physical holding midfielders in the game right now. It can overflow into the reckless territory on occasion but he has mostly been able to keep his cool of late.
The Brazilian has also been blessed with some great company in midfield and it is fair to say that he hardly has ever let his standards slip. After all, it's not easy keeping up with the likes of Toni Kroos, Modric and even Federico Valverde these days.
#2 Frenkie De Jong (Barcelona)
It's sometimes really hard to believe that Frenkie De Jong is just 23-years-old. The Dutchman is so good with the ball at his feet that can play as the pivot or part of it or even slot into the defensive line when the need arises.
De Jong struggled to hit his stride in his debut season but under Ronald Koeman this season, he has been their most consistent presence on the field and has now played more minutes than anyone else on the team.
And according to one of the greatest midfielders of all time and Barcelona legend Xavi, Frenkie De Jong is a player who can mark an era at Barcelona.
Xavi recently said,
“He is a player who will mark an era,” Xavi, now coach of Qatari side Al Sadd, said. “The day that Frenkie de Jong signed for Barcelona made me very happy. He is a footballer who can mark an era at Barca and is one of the best of a great generation that Holland has for the World Cup.
“He’s still very young. He’s an extraordinary footballer, a midfielder who isn’t afraid to receive the ball in difficult areas. In short, a very good footballer. The best in the world are on your team. Frenkie needs time to adapt, to get to know another language and another culture.”
Frenkie De Jong is one of the best passers in the game right now and his excellent ball retaining skills is reminiscent of some of the finest holding midfielders to have graced the game.
#1 Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)
Joshua Kimmich is the archetypal modern day footballer who, despite having to deal with a role change, has worked hard and become one of the very best at what he does. And the kicker? He has done all that by the age of 25 and is already a continental treble winner.
His doggedness and never-say-die attitude in addition to his exceptional qualities as a holding midfielder stands him in good stead to be remembered as a legend of the game by the time he calls it quits.
Kimmich is an excellent passer of the ball. He used to be a right-back in his earlier days and as such, he can whip in some wonderful crosses. He is great at holding on to the ball and does not shy away from testing the goalkeeper from range.
Bayern Munich's current manager Hansi Flick is all praise for Kimmich and he very recently said that the 25-year-old is well on his way to being one of the players that will shape the club.
