'%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 Luka Modric (Real Madrid, Croatia)
Luka Modric is arguably one of the best midfielders in the game's history.
Originally playing at Dinamo Zagreb, Modric was signed by Tottenham Hotspur in 2008. He spent four years with the north London outfit before signing for Real Madrid in 2012.
His stint with Real Madrid has been nothing short of spectacular. Modric has won three La Liga titles as well as one Copa del Rey and three Supercups. However, his most impressive accomplishment with Real Madrid is the five UEFA Champions League titles he has to his name.
Part of a historic squad in Real Madrid's history, Modric and co. went on to win an unprecedented four Champions League titles in five years. Modric has been an integral player in Los Blancos' setup and also won the European Cup in 2022, beating Liverpool in the final.
In international football, Modric captained Croatia to the FIFA World Cup final in 2018. Although Croatia lost to France, Modric took home the FIFA Golden Ball as well as the coveted Ballon d'Or after an impressive season for both club and country.
#2 Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona, Spain)
Xavi Hernandez is widely regarded as one of the best to have played the game.
Coming up through the ranks at Barcelona's La Masia academy, Xavi made his professional debut in 1998. He went on to spend 17 long years at Camp Nou that saw him win every major competition he played in.
Xavi was renowned for his immaculate passing. Thanks to his immaculate passing prowess, Xavi was always in the center of the park dictating play. He was adept in controlling the tempo of games and his general reading of it.
Xavi won eight La Liga titles during his time with the club. He also won three Copa del Reys and six Supercopas. Often considered a key player in Barcelona's set-up, Xavi also won four UEFA Champions League titles, with the first coming in 2006 and the last in 2015.
For Spain, Xavi, along with his club teammate Andres Iniesta, were key players in Spain's success. Known for their tiki-taka style of play, Xavi perfectly encapsulated the vision Vicente del Bosque had for the side.
He won a hat-trick of major tournaments - Euro 2008, FIFA World Cup 2010 and Euro 2012 - in what can be considered a world-class haul by all standards. Currently, he is Barcelona's head coach and will look to return the club to it's glory days, much like what was the case when he was a player at the Camp Nou.
#1 Andres Iniesta (Barcelona, Spain)
Andres Iniesta takes the pick as the best midfielder in the game since the turn of the century.
Another La Masia product, Iniesta was highly rated by fans and players alike. Often branded the perfect footballer, Iniesta was known for his immaculate control in tight spaces and his defence-splitting passes.
Iniesta made his club debut for Barcelona in 2002 and went on to spend 16 long and successful years at the Camp Nou. He won the UEFA Champions League four times in addition to a rich haul of nine league titles. He also won six Copa Del Reys and six Supercopas.
Iniesta was supremely influential for the Spanish football team as well. Regarded as their midfield maestro, Iniesta was key to their success at UEFA Euro 2008, where he made the Team of the Tournament.
Iniesta was also a key player at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, where he scored the winner in the final to help his country win the competition for the very first time. He was named the Man of the Match in the final and continued his form at Euro 2012 as well, where Spain successfully defended their title.
Spain beat Italy 4-0 in the final, with Iniesta grabbing yet another Man of the Match award. His performances throughout the tournament garnered appreciation as he went on to win the Player of the Tournament award as well.
