'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3 Kevin De Bruyne (Genk, Chelsea, Werder Bremen, Wolfsburg, Manchester City, Belgium)
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
