Top 10 Best Midfielders of All time in Football History

Over the years, hundreds of midfielders have represented both club and country and among them are few who have etched their names in the golden book of football. The best midfielders have been running the game for their respective teams without making a fuss about their service. Making a list comprising these best midfielders of all time is one of the most difficult jobs in sports as there are so many who demand their names to be included.

There’s a general saying: “Football is a game of the goalscorers.” When many cling to this idea, Real Madrid and German midfield maestro Toni Kroos think otherwise. According to the five-time UEFA Champions League winner, “Dominating the midfield in modern days is the most important thing.” Now, you can understand why midfielders pride themselves on being the engine of a football team.

From La Liga to the English Premier League, from Bundesliga to Serie A, every major football competition has witnessed a plethora of legendary footballers who were fun to watch when they had the ball at their feet.

Here at Sportsdunia, we have compiled a list of the top 10 greatest midfielders of all time, taking their contributions to the success of their respective teams into account. The names who have made it to the list are mostly Central and attacking midfielders who used to boss things all over the park.

List of Top 10 Best Midfielders of All Time

RANK	PLAYER	NATIONALITY	NOTABLE CLUBS	HONORS
1	ZINEDINE ZIDANE	FRANCE	BORDEAUX, JUVENTUS, REAL MADRID	16
2	ANDRES INIESTA	SPAIN	BARCELONA, VISSEL KOBE, EMIRATES	38
3	RUUD GULLIT	Netherlands	FEYENOORD, PSV, AC MILAN, SAMPDORIA, CHELSEA	16
4	XAVI HERNANDEZ	SPAIN	BARCELONA, AL SADD	33
5	ANDREA PIRLO	ITALY	AC MILAN, JUVENTUS, NEW YORK CITY FC	20
6	LOTHAR MATTHÄUS	GERMANY	BAYERN MUNICH, INTER MILAN	20
7	LUKA MODRIC	CROATIA	TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR, REAL MADRID	33
8	SIR STANLEY MATTHEWS	ENGLAND	STOKE CITY, BLACKPOOL	15
9	PAUL SCHOLES	ENGLAND	MANCHESTER UNITED	26
10	MICHEL PLATINI	FRANCE	NANCY, SAINT-ÉTIENNE, JUVENTUS	12

10. Michel Platini

Many would know Platini as a controversial figure, courtesy of his controversial actions as the former FIFA president, but his achievements as a player, especially as a midfielder, make him one of the most important footballers of the game. One of the finest passers of the game, Platini was a dead-ball expert in the history of football. The French attacking midfielder wasn’t only a clinical passer, but also a specialist goalscorer, who amassed over 300 goals in his decorated career at Juventus, Nancy, and Sanit-Etienne while winning a host of major trophies. His decorated career as a midfielder has made him our number 6 on the list of best midfielders of all time.

Michel Platini	Statistics
Appearances	622
Goals	338
Assists	66
Major Titles/Honors	3 Ballon d’Or, 1 UEFA Champions League title, 1 UEFA European Championship (1984)

9. Paul Scholes

A classy operator, Paul Scholes was a part of the golden generation of English football. Arguably, he is regarded as the best midfielder of the Premier League era who has spent his entire career with Manchester United making over 700 club appearances and winning a staggering 11 league titles.

His iconic goals and assists in key moments for United will always be echoed in the minds of football fans. His excellent vision and witty and precise passing made him a legend in the Golden Generation of English midfielders, including Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard.

Paul Scholes	Statistics
Appearances	782
Goals	169
Assists	100
Major Titles/Honors	11 Premier League titles, 2 UEFA Champions Leagues

8. Sir Stanley Matthews

Matthews. Sir Matthews. This is what football fans used to call him. Sir Stanley Matthews is probably the greatest wide midfielder in English football’s history. A remarkable and folkloric figure, Matthews played for Blackpool and Stoke City from 1930 to the 1950s.

The English icon raked up countless honours including the likes of the Ballon d’Or, Premier League, and FA Cup trophies. His consistency on the field made him a star in the UK, and that’s why he is the only player in history to have been knighted before hanging up his boots.

Sir Stanley Matthews	Statistics
Appearances	408
Goals	28
Assists	9
Major Titles/Honors	1 Ballon d’Or, FA Cup, Player of the Year

Also Read: Top 10 Barcelona Midfielders of All Time

7. Luka Modric

The Real Madrid midfielder is at number 7 on this list. He is the last midfielder to have won a Ballon d’Or title (2018), an award which is generally dominated nowadays by elite forwards such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Modric, one of the greatest ever to have played, is a crown jewel in the Los Blancos squad. The most impressive quality of the attacking midfielder is his capability of picking defence-splitting forward passes and performing defensive duties at the same time.

He played a pivotal role in firing Croatia to their first-ever FIFA World Cup final where they succumbed to a heavy loss against France. Real Madrid’s three consecutive victory tally in the Champions League conveys the importance and evolving nature of the Croatian attacking midfielder, who is still going strong in the Spanish capital and will surely go down as one of the most crucial players in the history of the club.

Luka Modric	Statistics
Appearances	998
Goals	114
Assists	164
Major Titles/Honors	6 UEFA Champions League titles, 4 La Liga titles, 1 Ballon d’Or

6. Lothar Matthäus

The German midfielder was a commanding presence in the centre of midfield and was easily one of Die Mannschaft’s best-ever players. Matthäus was awarded the 1990 Ballon d’Or after leading Germany to a famous World Cup win against Italy in the same year. His exceptional performances and astute presence have solidified his status as one of the best defensive midfielders of all time.

He holds the record for the most number of World Cup matches played by a single player, 25. Matthäus won seven Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich but never managed to win the European Cup. He came very close to it when Bayern were beaten by Manchester United in the 1999 UEFA Champions League final and established his name as one of the best midfielders of all time.

Lothar Matthaus	Statistics
Appearances	935
Goals	227
Assists	83
Major Titles/Honors	2 UEFA Europa League titles, 7 Bundesliga titles, 1 World Cup, 1 UEFA European Championship, 1 Ballon d’Or

Also Read: Top 5 Best Attacking Midfielders in the World

5. Andrea Pirlo

The Italian legend redefined the true meaning of a deep-lying midfielder with a wide range of passing ability and extraordinary skills. Pirlo has won every possible major soccer title, including the FIFA World Cup, Champions League, Series A titles, and plenty of other trophies during his successful footballing career.

The former Juventus midfielder is often called ‘Mister Cool’ because of his calmness on the field, a trait which used to help him pick up the right passes in pressured situations and dictate a game accordingly. His consistency and fitness allowed him to feature in 872 games in his career making him one of the greatest midfielders all time to play the game.

Andrea Pirlo	Statistics
Appearances	872
Goals	86
Assists	158
Major Titles/Honors	2 UEFA Champions League titles, 6 Serie A titles, 1 World Cup

4. Xavi Hernandez

Andres Iniesta’s most reliable partner in the middle, Xavi Hernandez’s spot on the list might raise some eyebrows, but his contribution to revolutionizing Barcelona’s midfield during the club’s golden era speaks for itself. Among many things, his strength mainly focused on finding space and making forward passes for the attackers.

He was the heartbeat of the Barcelona midfield, who used to dictate the games and execute his duties with perfection. A great playmaker and supreme passer, Xavi was one of the main catalysts in leading Spain to the 2010 World Cup glory.

Xavi	Statistics
Appearances	1065
Goals	124
Assists	240
Major Titles/Honors	4 UEFA Champions League titles, 8 La Liga titles, 1 World Cup, 2 UEFA European Championship

Also Read: Ranking Greatest Real Madrid midfielders of all time

3. Ruud Gullit

One of the most versatile and complete players of all time, Ruud Gullit was so talented that he played at several positions and still performed exceptionally well. His work rate in both offensive and defensive fields alongside his finishing abilities made him one of the best midfielders of all time.

The former Dutch footballer was a threat in a set piece situations given his towering stature but he was most of the most elegant and technically poise dribbler of his era. The legendary midfielder won countless trophies in his career, but his most memorable triumphs were his victory in the UEFA European Championship in 1988 and his Ballon d’Or award in 1987.

Ruud Gullit	Statistics
Appearances	642
Goals	236
Assists	116
Major Titles/Honors	1 UEFA European Championship, 1 Ballon d’Or

2. Andres Iniesta

The master of Tiki-taka, Andres Iniesta is a legendary figure in world football. Alongside Xavi Hernandez, Iniesta used to toy with opposition midfielders with his short passes and clinical vision. His greatness in the midfield was backed by a bunch of major titles including UCL, La Liga and Copa del Rey.

In his 22 years of stay in Spain, the Spanish legend won the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and four Champions League titles. Simply put, Iniesta is the epitome of a complete number 6 in football.

Andres Iniesta	Statistics
Appearances	1016
Goals	107
Assists	191
Major Titles/Honors	4 UEFA Champions League titles, 9 La Liga titles, 1 World Cup, 2 UEFA European Championship

1. Zinedine Zidane

Despite being a midfielder, Zinedine Zidane was impressive in dribbling, a quality generally found in wingers and forwards. Apart from this, he was a great passer of the ball and a clinical finisher. He had an impressive club football record with Real Madrid, Juventus and Bordeaux. A versatile midfielder and a Ballon d’Or winner, who used to float with grace in the middle, demonstrating his dazzling skills, marvellous first touch, and visionary passing range, Zidane accumulated plenty of goals and assists wherever he went in his career. The 1998 FIFA World Cup winner was a true legend of the game.

Zinedine Zidane	Statistics
Appearances	797
Goals	156
Assists	170
Major Titles/Honors	1 Ballon d’Or, 1 UEFA Champions League titles, 1 World Cup, UEFA European Championship

Also Read: The Best Midfielders in the World Currently (Ranked)

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