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Much like the rest of the top five leagues in Europe, the 2020-21 La Liga season has been an eventful one, to say the least. With games still being played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic, the so-called bigger teams have had to play without their daunting home fans, which has caused a handful of surprise results so far this season.
Real Madrid entered the season as defending champions, but Los Blancos have been ravaged by injuries to key players that has derailed their title bid. As for Barcelona, Ronald Koeman's arrival received mixed reactions, but the Dutchman has steadied the ship at the Camp Nou in what has been a tumultuous time for the Catalans.
Atletico Madrid have capitalized on the frailties of the two La Liga giants and stolen a march at the top of the table. After 27 games played, Diego Simeone's side are four points clear of second-placed Barcelona, while Real Madrid are six adrift of the league leaders.
While a handful of unexpected names dominated proceedings in the center of the park in the opening weeks of the season, the list of top five La Liga midfielders this season has a much more familiar look to it currently.
So, without further ado, here's the list that we've put together after a lot of heated discussions and debates.
#5 Koke | Atletico Madrid
In what has been a stunning La Liga campaign for Atletico Madrid so far, Koke has led from the front and delivered a string of consistent displays for his side. The 28-year-old is one of Simeone's longest-serving members and knows exactly what it takes to be involved in a title challenge, having won the competition in the 2013-14 season.
The Spaniard is not known for his goalscoring prowess, but he keeps things ticking in the center of the park and controls the tempo for Los Rojiblancos. So much has changed for Atletico Madrid over the years, but Koke has aged like fine wine and continues to produce the goods regularly for his boyhood club.
The energetic midfielder has missed just one La Liga game so far and will look to captain his side to glory in the business end of the season.
#4 Marcos Llorente | Atletico Madrid
Just over a year ago, Marcos Llorente came on as a substitute at Anfield and scored a match-winning brace against Liverpool to knock the Reds out of the UEFA Champions League. In what turned out to be the turning point of his career at the Wanda Metropolitano, the midfielder's eye for goal led to Simeone using him further up the pitch.
Llorente has been deployed as a central striker, a right-sided midfielder and an attacking midfielder this season. Sensationally, he has managed to excel everywhere he's played, having notched up a staggering nine goals and eight assists in La Liga this season. The former Real Madrid star has featured in every league game so far and is enjoying the best season of his professional career.
Simeone's faith in him has paid dividends, with the Spaniard establishing himself as one of the most reliable players in Europe's top five leagues this season.
#3 Frenkie de Jong | Barcelona
In what has been a roller-coaster of a league season at the Camp Nou, Frenkie de Jong's outstanding displays in the center of the park have given Barcelona a glimpse into the future. The Dutchman endured a mixed first season with the Blaugrana after his big-money move from Ajax and questions were asked about his ability to perform consistently, as he blew hot and cold under Ernesto Valverde and Quique Setien.
Under Ronald Koeman, however, De Jong has been one of Barcelona's best players this season and has also added goals to his game since the turn of the year. With Sergio Busquets entering the twilight years of his career and Miralem Pjanic not living up to the bill at the Camp Nou, the 23-year-old has been a breath of fresh air in midfield for the Catalans.
The former Ajax man has featured in every league game and has notched up three goals and four assists so far this season.
#2 Toni Kroos | Real Madrid
Toni Kroos is one of the greatest players of his generation and has consistently delivered world-class performances for Germany and Real Madrid over the years. The 31-year-old has once again been in the thick of the action for his side and has rolled back the years to forge a formidable partnership with Luka Modric.
Known for his press resistance, passing range and calmness on the ball, Kroos has been central to Real Madrid's renaissance in 2021 after a stuttering start to their title defense. The stylish midfielder has racked up two goals and six assists in La Liga this season and has shown no signs of slowing down despite entering his 30s.
The German international is part of the old guard at Real Madrid alongside the likes of Sergio Ramos, Karim Benzema and Modric and is set to be a key player for the club in the forthcoming future.
#1 Luka Modric | Real Madrid
Another player who has defied the odds to stand tall for Real Madrid, the diminutive Luka Modric has been the shining light in what has been an injury-ravaged campaign for the record La Liga champions. At the age of 35, it was expected that the 2020-21 campaign would be Modric's Santiago Bernabeu swansong, with the Croatian midfielder approaching the end of his contract.
Modric, however, has been Real Madrid's standout player this season and is reportedly close to signing a contract extension at the club. The 35-year-old is one of the most gifted players of the modern era and has won multiple honors in his time at the club, with the 2018 Ballon d'Or cementing his status as an all-time great.
The current campaign is just another chapter in his illustrious career, with the midfielder combining technical ability with his warrior-like attitude to keep Real Madrid in the title race. Modric has featured 26 times in La Liga this season and has also managed to chip in with three goals and assists apiece so far, with his most memorable goal coming in the 3-1 demolition of Barcelona in October 2020.
Regardless of what the future holds for Modric, he is all set to go down as one of Real Madrid's greatest ever players.
