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#3 Mesut Ozil (Arsenal)
Mesut Ozil is another victim of the curse that has recently struck pure playmakers, with the likes of James Rodriguez and Philippe Coutinho also never quite finding themselves fully in favour with their managers. Cast by the wayside despite his exorbitant contract, the German is a peripheral figure at the Emirates nowadays.
Having made only 23 appearances in all competitions this season, Ozil has been sacrificed by manager Mikel Arteta for more industrious legs in midfield. The attacking midfielder has even failed to make the matchday squad in recent games, and seems to be well on his way out of the Emirates Stadium should another club be able to match his wages.
However, despite his bit-part role at Arsenal, Mesut Ozil is still one of the best playmakers in the world, with an almost unparalleled ability to find the right pass. Blessed with a wand of a left foot and the ability to spot runs even cameras can't capture, the 31-year-old is an footballing artist if there ever was one.
#2 Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona)
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been embroiled in perhaps the greatest sporting rivalry of all time, and one valuable trump card that Barcelona's talisman holds over his rival is his vision.
Along with winning the Pichichi Trophy with 25 goals in the 2019-20 LaLiga campaign, Messi piled on another 21 assists to single-handedly take his team to the second spot in the league table. The Argentine's partnerships with Jordi Alba, Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann (despite initial struggles) have powered the Blaugrana in a season characterised by inconsistency and managerial changes.
Messi drops deep to get on the ball for a major part of every game, and directs laser-guided passes to his teammates with seemingly no effort. In the recently-concluded LaLiga season, the Barcelona captain recorded 2.7 key passes per game and created 36 big chances (22 more than second-placed Mikel Oyarzabal).
Also Read: Messi's net worth 2020
Lionel Messi is heading towards the twilight of his career, and we must enjoy the 33-year-old's magic while we can.
#1 Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
Manchester City's maestro Kevin De Bruyne is undoubtedly the best midfielder in the world at the moment, and the main aspect of his game that adds weight to this claim is his vision.
The Belgian not only has the ability to spot runs but also finds his teammates with inch-perfect passes that defy physics. Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez's performances have been elevated by the genius behind them, as De Bruyne equalled Thierry Henry's long-standing Premier League assist record (20 assists).
The 29-year-old's pinpoint through balls and outrageous set-piece deliveries have taken City to a comfortable second-place finish despite their defensive struggles, with De Bruyne even carrying his team through to the Champions League quarter-finals with a couple of world-class performances against tournament favourites Real Madrid.
City's main man was a Ballon d'Or favourite before the award was cancelled but with the sheer unteachable quality that he possesses, he can't be written off in the upcoming individual award ceremonies.
