Being a midfielder at the top level is extremely difficult, with every attribute arguably required to be considered world-class in today’s era. Whether it be shielding the defence, controlling the game or scoring goals, we have seen some iconic midfielders over time.
A number of midfielders have won the Ballon d’Or, most recently Rodri and Luka Modric, and, right now, Barcelona’s Pedri and Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham are currently seen as the best in world football. But who is the midfield GOAT?
Here is a list of 20 midfield legends football has ever seen, factoring in their longevity and consistency at the highest level, while also looking at their team and personal accolades.
20 Frank Lampard
If a goalscoring midfielder is what you need, then Frank Lampard is certainly one of the best. A Chelsea legend, the Englishman is actually the Blues’ all-time leading scorer, netting 211 times at Stamford Bridge across 13 years.
Lampard won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups, a Champions League and a Europa League, deservedly being inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2021.
19 Patrick Vieira
Continuing the trend of Premier League icons, Patrick Vieira is best known for his time as Arsenal captain under Arsene Wenger and is also a member of the Premier League Hall of Fame.
The Frenchman only cost the Gunners £3.5m back in 1996 and was worth every penny, being named in the PFA Team of the Year in six successive seasons.
Vieira, a World Cup and Euros winner, could help protect the defence by breaking up play, driving his team forward with his power and popping up with a goal from time to time.
18 Socrates
Recognisable during his playing days for his beard and headband, Socrates was an extremely elegant and intelligent midfielder in his peak, combing power with touch.
A skilful inspiration for the next generation of Brazilian stars, Socrates saw football as an art, and that truly came across during his career, with the 6ft 4 midfielder starring for Corinthians.
17 Kaka
Another Brazilian who would’ve grown up learning all about Socrates was Kaka, and he’d go on to become an icon himself after starring for AC Milan and Real Madrid.
Kaka was quick, skilful, strong and had plenty of end product and is among a small select group of players to win the World Cup, the Champions League and the Ballon d’Or.
He may not have had the longevity and consistency as some of the others on the list, but at his peak, there was no stopping Kaka.
16 Clarence Seedorf
Still the only player in football history to have won the Champions League with three different clubs, Clarence Seedorf was influential for the likes of Ajax, Real Madrid and AC Milan.
The Dutchman was an iconic box-to-box midfielder and could ping 60 yard passes, make last ditch tackles and score all in the same game.
Named the Dutch Footballer of the Year in 1993 and 1994, Seedorf was also named UEFA’s best midfielder in 2007, showing how goof he was over time.
15 Xavi
A product of Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy, Xavi would go on to play more than 750 games for the Catalan giants and formed one of the most iconic midfield trios at the Nou Camp alongside Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets.
A passing genius, Xavi was an unbelievable leader of one of the best teams in history, winning eight La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues.
The Spaniard also lifted two European Championships and one World Cup, and the fact he was a regular across his career in dominant sides shows how good he was.
14 Toni Kroos
Toni Kroos has rightly gone down as a Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Germany icon after a glittering 17-year career at the highest level.
Winning six Champions Leagues, six league titles and the World Cup, Kroos was known for his unbelievable passing range and registered more than 100 assists in the Bundesliga and La Liga over his career.
13 Andrea Pirlo
Arguably the coolest midfielder in history, Andrea Pirlo ran games of football with ease and never looked like he was breaking a sweat.
A deep-lying playmaker, the Italian won six Serie A titles, two Champions Leagues and the World Cup, Pirlo starred for AC Milan and Juventus, finishing in the top 10 on three occasions at the Ballon d’Or.
12 Paul Scholes
Like Kroos and Pirlo, Paul Scholes’ passing range was off the charts during his Man Utd career which saw him win 11 Premier League titles.
Although his England career didn’t match his club honours, Scholes was called a “teacher” by Lionel Messi, the “best” teammate by Cristiano Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane’s “toughest opponent”, and the praise from the iconic trio goes to show how good he was.
11 Luka Modric
Not many would have predicted Luka Modric to become one of the best midfielders in hostly when he signed for Tottenham in 2008.
However, the Croatian icon starred in the Premier League and was then a Real Madrid regular for 13 years, winning the Ballon d’Or in 2018. A six-time Champions League winner, Modric’s passing range and ability to dictate any game sees him stand out from the rest.