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Strikers always get the applause because scoring goals is the most appealing part of the game. But among the players, the most revered are usually midfielders who can play pinpoint passes and unlock defences.
Playmakers are those ones that can pick out passes that others can't read. They are great readers of the game and also possess incredible technique. They are the ones that roam around in midfield looking for the right moment to play a pass that can upend entire defences.
Playmakers combine flair, vision, technical ability and passing range to help them dominate their opposition. There are different types of creators. There could be registas, trequartistas, false nines etc. Ultimately, their objective is to provide sparks and create openings on the field.
Without further ado, let's take a look at five of the best playmakers in the world right now.
#5 Toni Kroos (Real Madrid)
Toni Kroos is arguably the best passer of the ball among midfielders in the Spanish top-flight. The German international can pick out his teammates from anywhere on the pitch. He pings perfectly weighted throughballs to his wingers and is also excellent at providing service from set-pieces.
Kroos managed 12 assists in 42 appearances across all competitions for Real Madrid in the 2020-21 season. He had a wonderful season and was a key player as Real Madrid mounted a title challenge on all fronts but fell just short.
The 31-year-old does not play as an attacking midfielder. He plays a deeper role and his partner Luka Modric is usually the ball-carrier. Despite that, Kroos has managed to stack up 12 assists and that's quite commendable for a deep-lying playmaker.
#4 Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
Bruno Fernandes had a rather forgettable outing at Euro 2020. But Fernandes has worked tirelessly for his club over the past two seasons and it is understandable that he was running out of juice.
Having played 58 matches for Manchester United across all competitions in the 2020-21 season, fatigue would have definitely played a part. The Portuguese international has simply been sensational for the Red Devils since joining in January 2020.
Fernandes immediately improved Manchester United's goalscoring form. In the 2020-21 season, he scored 28 goals and provided 17 assists in 58 appearances across all competitions.
One interesting thing about Fernandes is that he is not afraid to take risks. He centers his game around playing quick passes, picking out runs and timing his passes to his teammates perfectly. The 26-year-old is easily one of the best playmakers in the game right now.
#3 Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich)
Thomas Muller first grabbed headlines as a goalscorer. Raumdeuter (space interpreter) as he is called, Muller is one of the most intelligent attackers on the planet. His teammates benefit greatly from having Muller on their side.
It's not just his passing or vision that makes him the playmaker he is. The 31-year-old showcases incredible intelligence in the final third and his movements help create a lot of space. That's why Robert Lewandowski scores an insane number of goals every season.
Suffice to say, Muller's influence in terms of playmaking is way more than his numbers suggest. He scored 15 goals and 24 assists in 46 appearances across all competitions this past season.
#2 Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
Kevin De Bruyne is arguably the most dominant midfielder of his generation. He has been pivotal to Manchester City's success under Pep Guardiola. He was recently voted PFA Players' Player of the Year and played a starring role in Belgium's run to the quarter-finals of Euro 2020.
The difference that De Bruyne makes to Belgium was evident in their Euro campaign. The 30-year-old is a terrific playmaker who makes everyone around him play better. De Bruyne is definitely one of the greatest midfielders to have ever graced the Premier League.
His technical proficiency makes him a threat like no other. De Bruyne often pulls off passes only a few other players can even conceive. He whips in delightful crosses that can make wingers go green with envy.
The Belgian international scored 10 goals and provided 18 assists in 40 appearances across all competitions for the Cityzens in the 2020-21 season. At Euro 2020, he scored one goal and provided two assists in four appearances.
#1 Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Lionel Messi is arguably the greatest footballer of all time. With the ball at his feet, Messi is simply unstoppable when he is in full swing. His skillset is replete with deft touches, flicks, tricks, backheels, defence splitting passes, curlers into the top bin... you name it.
He is a creative force who has solutions to every problem that is thrown at him. That's why even at the age of 34, he continues to operate at a level that most players find hard to keep up with.
In the 2019-20 season, Messi scored 31 goals and provided 27 assists in just 44 appearances across all competitions. But in the 2020-21 season, he had to shoulder the load of goalscoring as Luis Suarez had already left the club.
He scored 38 goals and provided 14 assists in 47 appearances for the Catalans in the 2020-21 season. Messi guided Argentina to Copa America triumph and also won the Golden Boot and the Best Player award at the continental competition. He scored four goals and provided five assists in the tournament.
