Listed: Top 10 Defensive Midfielders Globally
In the world of football, defensive midfielders are no longer the unsung heroes they once were. Gone are the days when they were merely tasked with getting forward and putting in a challenge when needed. Today, having a dedicated defensive midfielder is essential for any team, even if their roles may blur during games.
Our pool of expert football analysts, composed of European football expert Julien Laurens, Breaking the Lines' chief editor Zach Lowy, freelance analyst/scout Ben Mattinson, and Scouted co-founders Phil Costa and Tom Curren, recently gathered to rank the best defensive midfielders in the world.
They each provided their top 10 picks, distinguishing them from their top 8 lists, and assigned each player a score from 10 to 1. Statistical metrics such as progressive passes and tackles won from Europe's top five leagues were also considered to bring data into the mix.
After consulting with our esteemed panel, over 30 players were chosen, and the list was whittled down to 23 after evaluating the positions of players like Declan Rice and Frenkie de Jong, who were mainly considered central midfielders rather than defensive midfielders.
Here is the top 10 list:
- Eduardo Camavinga - Real Madrid - Value: €60.00m
- Aurélien Tchouaméni - Real Madrid - Value: €75.00m
- Martin Zubimendi - Real Sociedad - Value: €60.00m
- Sandro Tonali - Newcastle United - Value: €60.00m
- Moises Caicedo - Chelsea - Value: €90.00m
- Joshua Kimmich - Bayern Munich - Value: €45.00m
- Rodri - Manchester City - Value: €110.00m
- João Neves - Paris Saint-Germain - Value: €80.00m
- Vitinha - Paris Saint-Germain - Value: €80.00m
- Ryan Gravenberch - Liverpool - Value: €75.00m
There are a few things that these top 10 defensive midfielders have in common. They are all incredibly versatile, able to perform using box-to-box energy, quickly moving from tackling to driving forward. They possess a strong mentality, consistently delivering high levels of performance wherever they find themselves on the pitch.
These players have also established themselves as leaders within their respective teams, taking responsibility and guiding their teams through the tougher moments of a game. They are deft, have a natural rhythm for the game, and employ an exquisite passing style.
In the realm of defensive midfielders, there is always room to debate and question the best position for a particular player. Some, like Joshua Kimmich, have dominated in both right-back and midfield positions. But as our panel has shown, these top 10 players have proven their mettle in the defensive midfield role time and time again.
As the football world eagerly awaits the next chapter of these players' careers, one thing is certain: these ten are among the best defensive midfielders in the world today.
- The top 10 defensive midfielders in the world, as ranked by our panel of expert football analysts, demonstrate exceptional versatility, seamlessly transitioning from defensive tasks to driving forward with energy.
- These elite defensive midfielders not only showcase a strong mentality and consistent high levels of performance, but they also exhibit leadership qualities within their teams, guiding them through challenging moments on the pitch.
