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#3 N'Golo Kante (France/Chelsea)
If not for his injury issues, N'Golo Kante would have been even higher up this list. The Frenchman was phenomenal for Chelsea as they won the UEFA Champions League last season. He was in irrepressible form and turned in several match-winning performances in the knockout stages of Europe's elite competition in the 2020-21 season.
Kante's relentless running and tenacity are two very important features of his game. But he is also very tidy in possession and has done well at progressing the ball higher up the pitch.
The Frenchman does a lot of work in midfield which in turn enables his teams to get on the front foot quickly every time they recover possession. The 30-year-old was named UEFA Best Midfielder of the Year.
#2 Casemiro (Brazil/Real Madrid)
Brazil have no shortage of top quality defensive midfielders. They have the likes of Casemiro, Fabinho and Fred battling it out for a starting berth. But the Real Madrid man is the most reliable among the three.
Casemiro is the very definition of a midfield destroyer. He is a physically imposing presence in midfield and he loves a tackle. The 29-year-old is aggressive and mobile. Not only can he win the ball back quite ably, he can also move it forward and join the attack.
He lends a lot of balance to his team. Casemiro's positional sense and tactical awareness makes him a great asset in midfield when the opposition breaks on the counter. The Brazilian international is also lauded for his never-say-die mentality and is an absolute menace when he is in top form.
#1 Joshua Kimmich (Germany/Bayern Munich)
Bayern Munich have always had world-class defenders on their payroll. But even the strongest of defences could be exposed and look vulnerable in the absence of quality midfielders. Joshua Kimmich has been absolutely immense for club and country in that sense.
The German international started out as a full-back but has transformed into one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe. He is so technically adept that it's almost reductive to use the term 'defensive midfielder' as he is more of a deep-lying playmaker.
That is not to say that he is lacking in the defensive department. Kimmich is excellent at making tackles, interceptions and recoveries. He is even better at pinging precise passes to his forwards. For now, Kimmich is the best defensive midfielder in the world.
