Ranking the 5 Best Defensive Midfielders in World Football

Whilst they’ve gotten more attention in recent seasons, holding midfielders are still an underrated part of the modern game. Especially on top teams, they play such an important role and are often overlooked.

A strong holding midfielder needs to be a very good defensive player first and foremost. He needs to protect his back 4 and nullify the opposition threat going forward.

n top teams, he also needs to have good ability going forward. He needs to be especially good with the ball at his feet, able to pick out teammates with tantalising through balls.

Fortunately, there are some excellent players in this position at the moment. I’ve created a list of the 5 best defensive midfielders in world football based on their offensive and defensive abilities, as well as their longevity at the top.

#5 Marco Verratti

Since making his way to PSG in 2012, the diminutive Italian ace has been a fixture at the heart of their midfield. Whilst he doesn’t have the size and physicality of other players on this list, he makes up for it with his speed, tenacity, and elite technical ability.

He has already made 267 appearances for one of the top sides in world football, playing everywhere across the midfield. Similarly, he has been a mainstay of a very solid Italian national team, making 31 appearances since his 2012 debut.

The most impressive thing about Verratti in this role is his fantastic ball-playing ability. He is one of the best registas in world football in large part due to his ability to pick out a perfect pass to his attackers.

His defensive ability has also noticeably improved of late, primarily due to his excellent positioning and recovery speed. Having only recently turned 26, Verratti definitely has the potential to climb this list in the future.

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#4 N’Golo Kante

Kante currently plays box-to-box for Chelsea FC but still has the DM ability.

Having been the world’s premier holding midfielder only a few seasons ago, Kante has been moved away from that role under new manager Mauricio Sarri. Whilst he is acting as more of a box to box midfielder at the moment, he still has the ability to fill in at the #6 role when called upon.

Undoubtedly his premiere attribute for the position is his elite defensive ability. Just like Verrati, he isn’t the tallest player and stands at just 168 cm. That said, he makes up for this with his phenomenal speed and work rate.

His durability is also incredibly impressive, playing in over 90% of league games over the past 7 seasons. This saw him earn a well-deserved international call-up with France, where he has already made 37 appearances since 2016.

Kante’s ability to break up play and cover ground are second to none. If he can improve his ball-playing ability and physicality, he definitely has room to move up on this list.

#3 Fernandinho

Fernandihno, one of the best DMs in the world.

One of the most underrated players in world football, Fernandinho plays a very important role in this dominant Manchester City side. Even at almost 34 years of age, he continues to be one of the best at his position in the world.

The hallmark of consistency, he has made over 266 appearances for City since joining in 2013. He has also been a mainstay for his country, making 49 appearances since his debut in 2011.

One of the most complete players at his position, Fernandinho has nearly everything you could want from a modern holding midfielder. He is elite defensively and fantastic at breaking up play, regularly halting opposing counter attacks.

More than a defensive destroyer, his elite passing ability drives this lethal Man City attack. He is crucial to their fantastic ability to play out from the back and really does deserve more praise from fans and the media.

#2 Casemiro

Casemiro stands tall for Real Madrid and Brazil

Just ahead of his compatriot, Casemiro has been one of the world’s premier holding midfielders since 2015. He was finally able to lock down the starting #6 spot and has formed the base of a truly elite midfield since.

He possesses fantastic size for the position, standing at 185 cm tall with a very imposing frame. This allows him to dominate the physical and defensive aspects of the game, providing the necessary steel in the middle for Real.

He has made at least 35 appearances in each of the last 4 seasons, winning 3 Champions League trophies in that time frame. His success with Brazil has also been particularly impressive, making 33 appearances as part of a very strong side.

In addition to his strong defence, he also continues to show an impressive ability going forward. He has an elite passing range and could very well take #1 on this list soon enough.

#1 Sergio Busquets

With over 500 appearances, Busquets is one of the best DMs in the world.

Whilst certainly not the fastest player on the pitch, Busquets has had a decade as one of the top defensive midfielders in the game. He has played at Barcelona for his entire career, making over 500 appearances for the Camp Nou side. This has translated to an excellent international career for Spain and Catalonia, where he has made a combined 119 appearances.

Busquets possesses elite size and physicality for the position, standing at 189 cm tall. This allows him to regularly win the physical battle in the middle of the park and help his side control possession. He is also fantastic from a passing perspective, boasting one of the most versatile passing ranges in world football.

In addition to being a strong deep playmaker, he also has the defensive recognition to make the position his own. His keen positional awareness has helped make this Barca midfield so exciting to watch over the past decade.