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La Liga is a league that has produced some of the best midfielders of all time. As the old footballing saying goes - attack wins games but defense wins titles. While that's true in many ways, there's no denying that midfielders play an important part in a side's overall success too.
Given the constantly evolving nature of football, these central players now come in all shapes and sizes, but do the same dirty work of winning back possession, creating goalscoring chances, and dictating the tempo of the game.
Too often, midfielders shoulder much of the burden, as they're the link between the defense and the attack, and everything flows through them.
Some of the most talented players in this position have plied their trade in the Spanish La Liga. The league's history is replete with midfield legends such as Xavi, Zinedine Zidane, Andres Iniesta, Guti, Juan Roman Riquelme, and Michael Laudrup among others.
From the current batch of players, though, these 10 midfielders particularly stood out for their performances in La Liga 2020/21 season:
#10 Fidel Chaves (Elche)
Elche managed to escape relegation from La Liga by the skin of their teeth. Without Fidel Chaves, their task would've been even more difficult, as the Spaniard was their key player in the campaign - netting six goals and providing three assists.
Most of his strikes directly impacted the final result as he single-handedly won Los Franjiverdes several points and simultaneously carried the creative burden of his side with aplomb.
It's easy to forget this was only his third full season in La Liga, having spent much of his career in the lower divisions. Despite this, Chaves has successfully proven that he can deliver at the highest level too.
#9 Sergio Canales (Real Betis)
Real Betis secured European football after three years on the back of an impressive campaign spearheaded by Sergio Canales. The playmaking wizard was crucial in the offensive build-up plays and beat the meanest defenses with elegant passes.
His numbers are excellent too, scoring eight goals and providing six assists in La Liga. His numbers are the highest in the squad and are his personal best in a single campaign too. It's a shame that he wasn't called up for the Euros by Spanish manager Luis Enrique.
#8 Sergio Busquets (Barcelona)
For the 13th straight year, Sergio Busquets pulled his weight at the base of Barcelona's midfield, a testament to his longevity and continued importance to the side.
The lanky Spaniard appears to be unperturbed by his opposite numbers breathing down his neck, twisting and pivoting to create space. Sergio Busquets was once again the key to dictating plays, and while Lionel Messi is still the maestro of the Catalans, the Argentine will be the first to tell you that Busquets is the one who makes everything tick in the Barcelona side.
#7 Carlos Soler (Valencia)
Valencia endured a disappointing campaign after finishing 13th in La Liga, but the same cannot be said of Carlos Soler. He was a revelation in the squad and their undisputed player of the season with 11 goals and six assists.
The 24-year-old demonstrated quality, composure and vision beyond his peers and forged a solid partnership with Uros Racic in midfield. Soler's long-range ability saw him net a few stunners, while he also became the first La Liga player of the 21st century to score three penalties in a game when he netted a hat-trick against Real Madrid.
#6 Fernando (Sevilla)
Fernando's rise from a Premier League flop with Manchester City to a vital midfield component of Sevilla has been meteoric. Intelligent and efficient in every aspect of the game, the Brazilian mopped up everything that came his way and provided excellent cover to his defense.
His eagerness to drive forward and join up in the attack is a trait of his which yielded three La Liga goals. All of those goals came in key moments which helped the Andalucians secure valuable points, including one against Real Madrid earlier this month.
#5 Koke (Atletico Madrid)
Koke is more than just Atletico Madrid's captain. He's the heart and soul of the side. There's very little he can't do and much of their La Liga title glory owes to the Spaniard's consistent brilliance.
He dropped deep to win back possession before starting attacks and displayed an expansive passing range. Koke even surpassed 500 games for the Rojiblancos recently, and he's not even 30. A true legend of the club.
He will look to carry on his scintillating form into the Euros, as he was named in Luis Enrique's squad.
#4 Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
Luka Modric is aging like a fine wine. Even at 35 years of age, the Croatian maestro continues to drop bangers in midfield for Los Blancos, and remains one of the best midfielders in the business.
Technically flawless and mesmerizing to watch on the ball, he made sure everything ticked over and offered surgical precision with his wand of a right foot, ranking in La Liga's top 10 for most passes in the final third, while he scored five important goals too.
#3 Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid)
That epic night in Liverpool seems to have transformed him completely, as Marcos Llorente hasn't been the same ever since. He played an instrumental role in Atletico Madrid's title - capping off the best season of his career thus far.
With 12 goals and 11 assists, the Spaniard was one of only two players to register double figures in both categories, excelling in various midfield positions and terrifying defenses with a combination of pace, strength, and top-drawer attacking quality. He, too, will be looking to prove himself on the biggest stage as he makes it to the Spain squad for the Euros with his captain Koke.
#2 Casemiro (Real Madrid)
Casemiro is a beacon of consistency as he seldom puts a wrong foot forward. with no realistic back-up in his position, the Brazilian managed to remain fit throughout the campaign - providing the side with balance and breaking opposition play.
He ranked second in La Liga for tackles and interceptions combined (166) and was at his ball-winning best, making a league-high 154 recoveries.
#1 Toni Kroos (Real Madrid)
The final piece of Real Madrid's jigsaw. If Casemiro is the brawn of this side, Toni Kroos is the brains, creating opportunities for his teammates by the dozens with incisive throughballs and remarkably accurate set-piece deliveries.
With 10 assists, the German is one of only four La Liga players to hit double figures in that regard, and refined his status as the pass master with over 93% success. What's more, he scored three important goals too, all coming in big victories against Athletic Bilbao, Valencia and Barcelona.
