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Midfielders, by virtue of their position on the pitch, are literally central to their team's buildup play. At times, the midfielders are asked to help in the attack and moments later, they'll be tasked to track back and shield their defenders.
Almost every ball on the pitch passes through midfielders, who dictate the run of play, making things easier for their attackers. There is probably no position in any team sport that encompasses such a wide variety of roles as a midfielder in football.
One can be a defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder, holding midfielder, box-to-box and much more. Nonetheless, with them not getting on the scoresheet regularly, it is easy to overlook their contributions.
Midfielders are a key cog in the wheel for any team
There was a time in football when teams were built around prolific goalscorers. It was eventually discovered that such a tactic doesn't work out in the long term. The trick to dominate opponents is to have a solid midfield.
Barcelona and Real Madrid, two of the most successful clubs in the 21st century, won the Champions League on multiple occasions on the back of solid midfield partnerships.
Midfielders do make it to the Ballon d'Or shortlist but rarely win it. Even if they do, it is usually the attacking or creative midfielders. Here, we will strictly be dealing with traditional central midfielders.
On that note, let's take a look at the five most underrated central midfielders of the 21st century.
#5 Deco
Deco rose to prominence just as the 21st century rolled in. He began his career at Corinthians but moved to Portugal soon after. It was when he moved to Porto that he earned his first silverware in 1999.
He was a key player as Jose Mourinho built Porto into genuine European contenders. In Porto's 2004 Champions League winning run, he scored in the 3-0 win over Monaco in the final. He also finished the campaign with six assists.
The midfielder moved to Barcelona in 2004 and won the continental trophy yet again in 2006. While not physically gifted, he was a hard-working player and possessed great close control, vision and distribution skills.
His struggles with injuries and inconsistencies have played their part in him not being seen as a world-class midfielder.
#4 Michael Essien
It will be an understatement to say that African players are often overlooked in serious discussions in football. Michael Essien is one of the many highly talented players from the continent who made a name for themselves in Europe in the 21st century.
The player spent eight seasons at Chelsea, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, Community Shield, League Cup and the Champions League with them. At a time when his contemporaries were praised for their finesse and ball control, he was one of the most complete midfielders.
He possessed good pace, tackling ability, decent distribution skills, tactical awareness and incredible work rate. After his great spell with the Blues, he simply could not find form again and failed to win a single trophy after his departure in 2014.
#3 Ivan Rakitic
Ivan Rakitic is one of the most well-rounded midfielders of his generation. The Swiss-born Croatian player began his career with Basel before moving to Schalke and spending four seasons in the Bundesliga.
He moved to Spain in 2011 with Sevilla where he honed his skills as a central midfielder, equally adept at breaking opposition plays and creating chances for his teammates.
He played an important role in the Basque club's UEFA Europa League winning run in the 2013-14 season. He was named the man of the match in the final and then Barcelona came calling.
With the Catalan club, he won a total of 10 titles but his contributions went unnoticed. Even with Croatia, his midfield partner Luka Modric overshadowed him. The player has hung up his boots in international competitions and is now back at Sevilla, leading their title charge this season.
#2 Blaise Matuidi
PSG is a team full of superstars, so it is likely that a quiet, hard-working player will likely be overlooked in favor of big names. Blaise Matuidi was one of the most consistent players at the Ligue 1 club in the last decade.
The French midfielder was one of the leading players in terms of tackles and interceptions in his six seasons at the club. In his final four seasons in Paris, he maintained a passing accuracy of 90% or more.
He played in an unfamiliar position on the pitch for France at the 2018 FIFA World Cup but proved equally effective. He won a lot of tackles and helped in recycling possession.
He won the 2015 French Player of the Year award but is not often listed among the players who played a key role in PSG's rise to the top.
#1 Paul Scholes
Paul Scholes might have been one of the best midfielders of his generation but during his playing days, did not earn a lot of individual accolades. He did not receive a single vote despite five nominations in the Ballon d'Or standings.
The English midfielder won 11 Premier League titles with Manchester United, the most by an English player. The one-club man returned from retirement for a brief spell with the Red Devils in the 2012-13 campaign, winning the competition one final time.
His longevity and great technical abilities make him one of the modern-day Premier League legends.
