Ranking the 5 best midfielders in the last decade

Midfielders are the players who often set the tone of play in a football match. From setting up chances to breaking up attacks, midfielders are pivotal for any top football team in the world.

It is no surprise then that the teams which have dominated world and club football in the last decade have some world class midfielders capable of changing the game in an instant.

Choosing just 5 midfielders in the last decade is no easy task. Some legends of the game like Xavi and Andrea Pirlo left top quality European football in 2015 while some new names have stepped up in the recent past and really staked a claim for the top spot.

Without further ado, let's take a look at the 5 best midfielders of the last decade

Note: The time period considered is 2011-2021

#5 N'Golo Kante (Boulogne, Caen, Leicester City, Chelsea, France)

Manchester City v Chelsea FC - UEFA Champions League Final

One of the best midfielders in world football at the moment, N'Golo Kante's rise has been meteoric. Starting in Ligue 2 with Boulogne, Kante had a quiet beginning to his career. Things changed rapidly, however, when Leicester City signed him from Caen in 2015.

A tenacious ball winner, Kante's all action displays inspired Leicester City to a fairytale Premier League triumph. His performances at Leicester secured him a big move to Chelsea where he cemented his legacy as one of the best midfielders of this generation.

Winner of the Premier League player of the season award in 2016-17, Kante then went on to play a crucial part in France's incredible 2018 World Cup triumph. Most recently, the French midfielder played a starring role in Chelsea's UEFA Champions League triumph last season, putting in man-of-the-match displays in the knockout stages.

A big-match player, Kante is undoubtedly one of the greatest defensive-minded midfielders to ever play the game.

#4 Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Germany)

Real Madrid v Club Atletico de Madrid - UEFA Champions League Final

One of the best passers in world football at the moment, Toni Kroos has been integral to Real Madrid's and Germany's successes in the last decade. Having won multiple UEFA Champions League titles and the 2014 World Cup, Kroos is one of the most decorated footballers of this generation.

Blessed with impeccable technique and great passing range, Kroos, who is still only 31, is capable of dictating the tempo of the match. One of Real Madrid's greatest ever midfielders, Kroos also played a crucial role in Bayern Munich's 2012-13 UEFA Champions League triumph, scoring 3 goals in 9 appearances.

A brilliant set-piece taker and a true modern day great, Toni Kroos' elegant passing and grace on the ball is unparalleled. The German midfielder will be hoping to perform at the very highest level for at least another 2 seasons.

Also read: Paul Merson's column - 5 most underrated players in the Premier League

#3 Kevin De Bruyne (Genk, Chelsea, Werder Bremen, Wolfsburg, Manchester City, Belgium)

Manchester City v Sheffield United - Premier League

Arguably the best midfielder in world football right now, Kevin De Bruyne is the jewel in the Manchester City crown. Having first burst onto the scene at Genk, De Bruyne made a much-talked about transfer to Chelsea in 2012.

With chances hard to come by at the Premier League club, De Bruyne moved to Wolfsburg where he put in a series of stunning performances to give the world a glimpse of his immense ability as a midfielder.

His performances at Wolfsburg earned him a big-money move to Manchester City, where he settled in immediately and made a huge impact with his telling passes and brilliant vision. Since Pep Guardiola's arrival, the Belgian has taken his game to even greater heights and has won 2 consecutive PFA Player of the Year awards in 2019-2020 and 2020-21.

A complete midfielder, Kevin De Bruyne will have a crucial role to play for Manchester City in the 2021-22 season.

#2 Andres Iniesta (Barcelona, Vissel Kobe, Spain)

One of the greatest midfielders of all time, Andres Iniesta played a huge role in Barcelona's golden era. Iniesta, along with his partner in crime Xavi, controlled the Barcelona and Spain midfield for the better part of a decade, playing starring roles in Euro 2012 and Barcelona's successful UEFA Champions League campaign in 2014-15.

Iniesta's style of play and the impact he had on the game could perhaps be best summed up by Juan Roman Riquelme's comments on the Spaniard:

"The one who plays this game the best is Iniesta: he knows exactly when to go forward and when to drop back. He picks the right moment to do everything: when to dribble, when to speed things up and when to slow things down."

Having won almost every trophy available, Iniesta is a true legend of the game. Currently at Vissel Kobe, Iniesta's vision, dribbling ability and technique will always be remembered fondly by Barcelona and Spain fans.

#1 Luka Modric (Tottenham, Real Madrid, Croatia)

The only player other than Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to win the Ballon d'Or in the last decade, Luka Modric's consistency and longevity at the top of the game has been nothing short of astonishing.

Capable of playing multiple roles in midfield, Modric, now 35, is still a vital member of the Real Madrid squad and is one of the best midfielders in La Liga. The midfielder has not only been an amazing performer at club level, he also played a starring role in Croatia's incredible run to the 2018 World Cup final.

One of the most complete midfielders to ever play the game, Modric's performances from 2011-2021 have been nothing short of sensational. Luka Modric just edges out Andres Iniesta and Kevin De Bruyne as the best midfielder of this decade (2011-2021).

Honorable mentions: Xavi, Andrea Pirlo, Sergio Busquets and Casemiro

About the author

A sports enthusiast with an interest in football. I like to keep a keen eye on how certain players can impact or change the entire way a team plays.

Some of the athletes and sportsmen I admire are - Virat Kohli, Diego Maradona and Rafa Nadal

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Edited by Ashwin