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They say that most games are won and lost in midfield. The battles that unfold at the center of the pitch often dictate the flow of the game. That's why midfielders are very important to a team. Midfielders can be of various kinds.
Every team needs a balanced midfield
There are midfielders whose primary task is to win the ball back and help their side make the transition from defence to attack. There are box-to-box midfielders, the all-rounders, who bomb back and forth and help out on both sides of the pitch.
Then there are the playmakers whose imagination, creativity and technical proficiency enable them to upend defences with their precise passing. As such, for a team to thrive, they will need a dynamic midfield.
They will need players who can help recover the ball as much as they'll need ones who can carry the ball forward or create chances out of the blue. Just assembling a side with midfielders of various profiles won't cut it. The players also need to be able to complement each other and play to each other's strengths.
Without further ado, let's take a look at five of the best midfield partnerships in football right now.
#5 Mateo Kovacic and N'Golo Kante (Chelsea)
It took a while for Thomas Tuchel to zero in on Mateo Kovacic and N'Golo Kante as the defensive midfield pairing at Chelsea. This happened due to a number of reasons. Kante and Kovacic have struggled with injuries and Jorginho had been in great form in 2021.
But Kovacic and Kante are very effective together. Both of them are renowned for their doggedness. Kovacic is one of the most technically refined midfielders in Europe. He is fleet-footed and is excellent at carrying the ball forward.
Kante's ball-carrying ability is rather underrated. The Frenchman is also excellent at linking up with his teammates. They are still in the early stages of being partners in midfield and once they really kick into their groove, they can be as formidable as any midfield duo in the world.
#4 Nicolo Barella and Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter Milan)
Inter Milan are currently at the top of the Serie A table with 50 points from 21 games. While their strikers Edin Dzeko and Lautaro Martinez have been in good form, it's their midfield that has really propelled the Nerazzurri to the top.
Hakan Calhanoglu and Nicolo Barella are at the top of the Serie A assists chart with eight each. Calhanoglu joined Inter Milan from their arch-rivals AC Milan on a free transfer last summer. He has been at his creative best this term and has scored six goals and provided eight assists in 18 Serie A appearances.
Barella is one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the world. The 24-year-old is a dynamic midfielder with fantastic technique and an eye for a pass.
#3 Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
Rodri is Manchester City's midfield metronome. The Spanish international's passing is immaculate and he keeps things ticking at the center of the pitch for Pep Guardiola's men. His relentless passing, positional awareness and defensive acumen make him one of the best defensive midfielders in the game right now.
Rodri is one of the most tactically intelligent footballers in the Premier League and this enables him to work as a single holding midfielder. He has an incredible partner in Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian international is arguably the greatest attacking midfielder of his generation.
De Bruyne is excellent at progressing the ball. But it's his vision and passing range that sets him apart. The 30-year-old can pick out his teammates anywhere on the pitch and he is also brilliant at finding the back of the net once he gets into a good position inside the final third.
#2 Toni Kroos and Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
Toni Kroos and Luka Modric are arguably the greatest midfield duo of the last decade. Kroos and Modric are two of the most technically proficient footballers of the 21st century and it's a joy to watch them run games from midfield.
Kroos takes up a deeper role than Modric and dictates play with his extremely precise passing. The German international has a pass completion rate of 94.9% in La Liga and 95.8% in the Champions League. It's hard to find another midfielder who is as good at progressive passing as Kroos.
Luka Modric is a magician with the ball at his feet. He can dart past opponents with the grace of a gazelle and his passing range is exquisite as well. The pair of Modric and Kroos are well complemented by Casemiro, who plays behind them as the defensive midfielder.
Modric has four assists in 14 La Liga appearances this term while Kroos has registered three assists and scored a goal in 14.
#1 Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)
The midfield partnership of Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich is arguably the best in the world right now. The two are the first-choice central midfielders for both club and country. The dynamic duo are gifted in all departments and can run the show from midfield with ease.
Kimmich is deployed as a deep-lying playmaker. The 26-year-old is one of the most versatile players on the planet as well and is an aggressive customer at the center of the pitch. He is great at finding space in midfield and is an agile midfielder with excellent ball retention skills.
Kimmich is also great at recovering possession and can also strike some accurate shots from range. Goretzka is the perfect foil for Kimmich. He is one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the world and can in fact, play in any position across midfield.
Goretzka is also excellent when it comes to testing the goalkeeper from range. His aerial ability makes him a constant threat from set-pieces. But it's his ability to keep the ball and pick out his teammates with precise passes that make him an elite midfielder.
Kimmich has scored three goals and provided three assists in 13 Bundesliga appearances. Goretzka has netted twice and racked up two assists in 12.
