Ranking the 10 Best Midfielders of All Time

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 best 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.

What Makes a Great Midfielder

Individual Performance: Individual performance evaluates a midfielder’s technical brilliance, consistency, and ability to deliver in high stakes moments. Metrics like passing accuracy, goals, assists, and standout performances in crucial matches are key. We have kept individual performance as one of the factors to rank the top 10 best midfielders in the world.

Trophies Won: This factor helped us in determining whether the players contribution was getting converted into results or not. For instance, if a players goal and assists are not able to help the team win accolades, then those numbers are only numbers on a stat sheet. A high trophy count, especially in competitive eras, reflects a player’s ability to perform when it matters most. For example, securing multiple Champions League titles or leading a nation to a first-ever major trophy demonstrates their winning mentality.

Impact on the Team: Impact on team assesses how a midfielder elevated their squad’s performance, both tactically and inspirationally. This includes their role in transforming a team’s style, such as pioneering possession play or driving a dynasty through leadership. A player’s ability to inspire teammates, make them better, and lead by example, whether through game-changing passes or captaining a side to glory.

Top 10 Best Midfielders of All Time

10. Michel Platini (France)

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 10 on the list of best midfielders of all time. Platini’s flair at Juventus made him a scoring midfielder, his nine goals in the 1984 Euros leading France to glory. His creativity and leadership transformed Juventus into a European force, driving their success with match-defining performances. His 338 goals under 700 appearances tell us how lethal of striker he was.

Key Stats	Figures
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 (England)

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.

Key Stats	Figures
Appearances	782
Goals	169
Assists	100
Major Titles/Honors	11 Premier League titles, 2 UEFA Champions Leagues

8. Sir Stanley Matthews (England)

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.

Key Stats	Figures
Appearances	408
Goals	28
Assists	9
Major Titles/Honors	1 Ballon d’Or, FA Cup, Player of the Year

7. Luka Modric (Croatia)

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.

Key Stats	Figures
Appearances	1018
Goals	116
Assists	167
Major Titles/Honors	6 UEFA Champions League titles, 4 La Liga titles, 1 Ballon d’Or

Also Read: Top 10 Best Defensive Midfielders in the World

6. Lothar Matthäus (Germany)

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.

Key Stats	Figures
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

5. Andrea Pirlo (Italy)

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, Serie A titles, and plenty of other trophies during his successful footballing career. When it comes to precise long balls and through balls through defensive lines, Andrea Pirlo was lethal. From midfield he used to control the tempo of the game.

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. The Italian player had 2x assists in his name than his goal, which sums up how crucial he was for the team when it comes to creating chances

Key Stats	Figures
Appearances	872
Goals	86
Assists	158
Major Titles/Honors	2 UEFA Champions League titles, 6 Serie A titles, 1 World Cup

4. Xavi Hernandez (Spain)

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. Xavi has scored 124 goals and provided 240 assists in 1065 appearances

Xavi was one of the protagonists when Barcelona was in its prime with Pep Guardiola as their manager. Xavi’s short pinpoint passes and give and go gameplay had torn apart many defenses at the international level while playing for Spain and at the domestic level with FC Barcelona. 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.

Key Stats	Figures
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: Top attacking midfielders of all time

3. Ruud Gullit (Netherlands)

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 most complete player you will ever see in football history. You name the position he can play in it without getting exposed by opponents.

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.

Key Stats	Figures
Appearances	642
Goals	236
Assists	116
Major Titles/Honors	1 UEFA European Championship, 1 Ballon d’Or

2. Andres Iniesta (Spain)

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 has over 1000+ appearances in club football. Some critics question early exit from the top-tier football, but it doesn’t change anything for one of the greatest midfielders of all time – he has proved himself in the Spanish League. The player has scored 107 goals, whereas his assists are almost doubled at 191. Andres Iniesta is considered as the best midfielder for the Blaugrana side.

Key Stats	Figures
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 (France)

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. He was a man of big games, he always stood up for is team in every single game whenever the team was in trouble. His 797 appearances tell us that in whichever team he played, He was a crucial player and managers wanted him on the pitch. With 150 goals and 170 assists the player tops our list of Top 10 best midfielders in the world.

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

List of 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

Also Read: The Best Midfielders in the World

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