Ranking the 10 Best La Liga Midfielders of All Time

The highest Spanish footballing division, La Liga has produced some prolific footballers over the years and continues to wow the audiences with compelling stars and veterans.

While La Liga has given the world splendid footballers in each position, some of the midfielders over the years have certainly displayed immense talent and were high profile contenders to be in the top 10 La Liga Midfielders list. Join us as we have crafted an engaging list of Ranking the 10 Best La Liga Midfielders of All Time.

Ranking Factors

As there are several talented playmakers in La Liga’s history, there are several factors on which we have made our rankings. A midfielder who has shown consistency throughout his career would certainly be ranked higher.

The number of goals and assists a midfielder has made also affects his overall rank in the list. Crucial performances are also needed at high-stakes games, and that is when a midfielder commands the game. Therefore, such performances will catapult a midfielder to achieve upper ranks.

La Liga Midfielders of All Time

Rank	Player Name	Club
1	Andres Iniesta	FC Barcelona
2	Xavi	FC Barcelona
3	Zinedine Zidane	Real Madrid
4	Toni Kroos	Real Madrid
5	Luis Suárez	FC Barcelona
6	Sergio Busquets	FC Barcelona
7	Xabi Alonso	Real Sociedad, Real Madrid
8	Luka Modric	Real Madrid
9	Pep Guardiola	FC Barcelona
10	Jose Pirri	Real Madrid

10) Jose Pirri

Jose Pirri is undoubtedly one of the most lethal Spanish players in the history of football. He represented Real Madrid for 15 years and won several trophies and accolades with the team, guiding them to several crucial wins. Pirri played through 1964 to 1979 for the Los Blancos and also captained the side for four years.

There might be very few leaders like Pirri as he commanded the game for Madrid with his immaculate presence. With impressive defensive and attacking prowess, Pirri scored 123 goals for the club as a central midfielder, which is a commendable feat.

9) Pep Guardiola

World renowned manager Pep Guardiola has done wonders with his managing skills for Manchester City and FC Barcelona. His professional career saw him doing wonders for FC Barcelona as one of the most memorable and effective defensive midfielders ever. Pep was one of the main stars for Johan Cruyff’s FC Barcelona winning four league titles and the UEFA Champions League. His calculated decision making on the field made him a crucial player for the club throughout his tenure.

ALSO READ: Ranking the 10 Best Premier League Wingers of All Time

8) Luka Modric

The Croatian Luka Modric has a list of accolades which alone makes him into the top 10 list itself, he has won six Champions League titles, four La Liga titles and two Copa del Rey titles and is the most decorated footballer in the club’s history. The Ballon d’Or winner has been a key player for Real Madrid, generating a lot of counter attacks and defensive traps in crucial games. Having a decorated career so far, Modric continues to shock everyone with his exceptional performances.

7) Xabi Alonso

Before being a tremendous manager, Xabi Alonso was an influential midfielder in La Liga. He initially played for Real Sociedad, where he caught a lot of attention for his prolific performances. After joining Real Madrid in 2009, the versatile veteran displayed some phenomenal performances and showcased deep playmaking abilities to create goal scoring chances. His set piece skills were also lethal making him an all round performer and one of the greatest ever to do it.

6) Sergio Busquets

Easily one of the most smooth performers in the game, Sergio Busquets had a simple yet effective game plan in his matches for FC Barcelona. The Spanish midfielder had crisp interceptions, tackles, and counter attacks without getting noticed much. Being underrated for most of his time in Spain, Busquets is regarded as one of the most complete midfielders of all time. With eight La Liga titles and three Champions League titles under his name, Busquets had to be included in the list for his impressive accolades.

5) Luis Suárez

Spanish legend Luis Suárez is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time. His time in Barcelona saw him adapting a fluid style of play making crucial assists and scoring essential goals for the club. He scored 62 goals in his 122 appearances for Barcelona and won the La Liga twice with the Spanish side. As people tend to know about the Uruguayan Luis Suárez, they often forget the brilliance of the Spanish veteran with the same name.

4) Toni Kroos

Arguably one of the most lethal midfielders for Real Madrid, Toni Kroos was the mastermind of Madrid’s midfield for a decade and had a glorious career with the Los Blancos. The German midfielder was known for his long range accuracy of passes and ability to create gaps for crucial goals.

His impressive free kick skills have been on display several times throughout his career. Being a top-class central midfielder, Toni Kroos is one of the greatest players to ever grace the legendary Real Madrid side.

3) Zinedine Zidane

A magnificent veteran graced Real Madrid with his exceptional managerial skills in 2016. The same veteran made his effects known back in 2001 with his eye-catching skills and goals for the Los Blancos. French veteran Zinedine Zidane was one of the most prolific midfielders for Real Madrid and won several trophies and accolades during his time in Spain. To top everything, he scored a screamer in the 2002 Champions League final which is considered to be one of the greatest goals in football history.

2) Xavi

Xavi was one of the most important players for FC Barcelona and under Pep Guardiola’s guidance, Xavi delivered a world-class performance. Keeping possession, making gaps for crucial counter attacks and having an overall command on the pitch, Xavi has several La Liga titles and UEFA Champions League titles under his name and also won the World Soccer Player of the Year in 2010 showcasing his dominance in the sport. Appearing in over 500 games for Barcelona, Xavi redefined the elegance and brilliance of midfielders during his tenure.

ALSO READ: Five Best Right Wingers In World of Football- Ranked!

1) Andres Iniesta

The Spanish veteran Andres Iniesta was a legendary addition to the FC Barcelona and had everything a midfielder needed. He was utilized in various roles at the club including central, defensive and attacking midfielder. With his sublime passing skills and effective defensive traps, Iniesta was regarded as a world-class player in Barcelona. The sensational trio of Xavi, Iniesta and Lionel Messi was dangerous for opponents and became one of the greatest footballing trios of all time.