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# Defensive Midfielder - Casemiro (Real Madrid/Brazil)
Casemiro is one of the best defensive midfielders in the game at the moment. The 29-year-old has been a key player for Real Madrid since his arrival at the club almost a decade ago.
Together with Luka Modric and Toni Kroos (more on him later), Casemiro has formed one of the most potent midfield tridents in the game. The Brazilian has impressed at both ends of the pitch, registering 55 goal contributions. But it is in defensive midfield where Casemiro has been at his best, breaking up opposition plays and kickstarting attacks for his team.
The four-time Champions League winner has also been a key player for Brazil. Casemiro recently helped Brazil to the Copa America 2021 final, where the Selecao were beaten by Argentina by a solitary goal.
# Central Midfielder - Toni Kroos (Real Madrid/Germany)
Toni Kroos has been a key performer for club and country over the years. The 31-year-old largely operates from the deep-lying playmaking role and orchestrates play from the middle of the park.
A set-piece specialist, Kroos is renowned for his metronomic passing ability and knack for scoring key goals. Last season, Kroos was the first to register 50 chances in La Liga, doing so with a staggering pass accuracy of 94%. He also scored a free-kick goal against Real Madrid's arch-rivals Barcelona.
The four-time Champions League and 2014 FIFA World Cup winner has also impressed for Germany. Kroos made his 106th appearance at Euro 2020 before announcing his retirement from international football.
# Attacking Midfielder - Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City/Belgium)
Kevin De Bruyne has been a key performer for club and country for quite a while. The 30-year-old is the crown jewel of Pep Guardiola's star-studded Manchester City team.
De Bruyne has played a key role in City's three Premier League triumphs in the last four seasons. The midfield metronome has tallied more than 100 assists across competitions for City, with most of them coming in the Premier League. De Bruyne has also chipped in with 67 strikes across competitions.
Like a few others on this list, De Bruyne has also impressed in international football. In 84 games for Belgium, the midfielder has racked up 22 goals and 40 assists.
