Top 10 Greatest Midfielders Of All Time

Football’s midfield position is frequently referred to as the team’s powerhouse. It is a crucial position that calls for a special combination of talent, vision, and tactical awareness.

A number of outstanding midfielders have made an everlasting impact on the sport as they rose to prominence over the years.

They became legends of the game thanks to their ability to set the pace, open scoring possibilities, and control the midfield duel.

These midfield masters differ from their contemporaries in a variety of ways. Each player on this list has made a substantial contribution to their team’s success, whether it be through their refined dribbling, faultless passing, keen positional awareness, or game-changing long shots.

Furthermore, their impact extends beyond individual performances, as they have influenced generations of players and left an enduring legacy in the sport.

From the pioneers of the early days to the modern-day icons, these midfielders have enthralled fans around the world with their artistry and skill.

So, let’s embark on this journey through football history and discover the remarkable careers of the top 10 greatest midfielders of all time.

Greatest Midfielders Of All Time

Diego Maradona

Diego Maradona played and managed in professional football for Argentina. He is regarded as one of the finest athletes in the sport’s history as well as one of the most recognisable athletes of the 20th century.

He shared first place with another player in the FIFA Player of the 20th Century award. a skilled playmaker who filled the traditional number 10 spot.

Maradona is renowned for his dribbling, passing, vision, and ball control abilities. Maradona led Napoli to remarkable success, which included Serie A championships in 1986–87 and 1989–90, and by 1991, he had amassed the most goals for the team overall.

Before leaving Boca in 1997, he played for Sevilla, Newell’s Old Boys, and a return to Boca. He participated in four FIFA World Cups, including the 1986 edition held in Mexico, where he captained Argentina, helped them defeat West Germany in the championship match, and was awarded the Golden Ball for being the competition’s top player.

Michel Platini

Michel Platini is regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, Platini won the Ballon d’Or three times, in 1983, 1984, and 1985, and came seventh in the FIFA Player of the Century vote.

Platini was a pivotal player on the France national team that won the 1984 European Championship, a tournament in which he was the top scorer and best player.

He was surely one of the greatest midfielders to ever play the game, and he could do everything. Platini was a great passer, dribbler, passer, and finisher. He was also a great header of the ball, penalty taker, and free-kick taker.

Andres Iniesta

Andres Iniesta has spent the majority of his career with Barcelona, where he served as captain for three seasons. He is regarded as one of the finest midfielders of all time.

Iniesta is the most decorated Spanish footballer of all time with 35 trophies, including nine La Liga championships and four UEFA Champions League wins. He was an essential member of the Barcelona team that captured two unprecedented trebles in 2009 and 2015.

He was chosen for the Tournament Team and assisted Spain in winning the 2008 UEFA Euro. At the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Iniesta played a key role for the successful Spanish squad and scored the game-winning goal against the Netherlands.

Zinedine Zidane

Former attacking midfielder Zinedine Zidane, also referred to as Zizou, is a French professional football manager.

As a player, he won numerous individual honours, such as FIFA World Player of the Year in 1998, 2000, and 2003, as well as the 1998 Ballon d’Or.

Zidane was an attacking midfielder for Juventus, Real Madrid, and the France national team. His transfer from Juventus to Real Madrid in 2001 set a transfer fee record for the globe at €77.5 million.

Zidane won the 1998 FIFA World Cup, scoring twice in the final, and was designated to the All-Star Team. Zinedine Zidane is number 4 in our list of the top 10 greatest midfielders of all time.

Ronaldinho

Without a question, Ronaldinho deserves to be listed among the top ten midfielders of all time. He distinguished himself from his peers with his mesmerising talent, inventiveness, and pure enjoyment of the game.

Ronaldinho, a Brazilian native born in 1980, made a name for himself in the late 1990s and early 2000s by enthralling both critics and fans with his unmatched talent.

Ronaldinho’s superb dribbling skills were one of his best attributes. With his quick feet and great close control, he had an incredible ability for moving through confined spaces and gliding past defenders without effort.

His trademark manoeuvre, the “elastico,” in which he fooled opponents by flicking the ball with the outside of his foot, came to represent his inventiveness and bravery on the game.

Ronaldinho’s dribbling skills allowed him to create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates, making him a nightmare for any defense to handle.

Ronaldinho’s playmaking skills were instrumental in leading both his club teams, such as Barcelona and AC Milan and the Brazilian national team to numerous titles and victories.

Moreover, Ronaldinho had an innate ability to produce moments of pure magic on the pitch. His creativity and audacity were unparalleled, and he was never afraid to attempt the unthinkable.

Whether it was his outrageous long-range goals, his incredible free-kicks, or his jaw-dropping tricks and flicks, Ronaldinho consistently left fans and opponents in awe of his extraordinary skill set.

In addition to his individual successes, Ronaldinho had outstanding team success. He won numerous league crowns, national and international championships, and events like the FIFA World Cup and UEFA Champions League.

He became one of the greatest midfielders of all time because to his achievements on the biggest stages.

Generations will remember Ronaldinho’s impact on the game, and his name will live on in football history for all time.

Xavi

Xavi Hernández, without a doubt, deserves his place among the top 10 greatest midfielders of all time.

His exceptional vision, unparalleled passing ability, and remarkable technical skills made him a true maestro on the football pitch.

It was just amazing how well Xavi managed the game’s speed. He had an instinctive awareness of the game and always knew when to speed up or slow down the play to keep control and set the tempo.

Xavi’s passing precision was one of his most amazing traits. He was unmatched in making precise passes across both short and long distances.

Xavi possessed a wide range of passing options and was quite creative with his distribution. In the tightest of areas, he could find his teammates with great precision and split defences with precisely weighted through passes.

His passing precision and intelligence played a key role in Barcelona’s and Spain’s national teams’ success.

He was able to rapidly receive the ball under pressure and move into the next phase of play thanks to his flawless first touch.

The amazing consistency and durability of Xavi’s game at the highest level were arguably its most impressive features.

He played a significant role in Barcelona’s heyday under manager Pep Guardiola, a time when the club won numerous national and international championships, including multiple UEFA Champions League crowns.

Xavi’s influence on the Spanish national team was equally impressive, as he played a crucial role in their back-to-back UEFA European Championship triumphs in 2008 and 2012, as well as the FIFA World Cup victory in 2010.

Lothar Matthaus

Lothar Matthaus is a German football manager and former player. After heading West Germany to victory in the 1990 FIFA World Cup.

Matthaus played for various clubs throughout his career, including Bayern Munich, Borussia Monchengladbach, and Inter Milan.

He also won UEFA Euro 1980 and played in the 1984, 1988, and 2000 UEFA European Championships. In 1999, aged 38, Matthäus was again voted German Footballer of the Year

Matthäus is considered one of the greatest midfielders of all time and was noted for his sharp passing, great tackling, as well as strong shooting. Lothar Matthaus is number 7 in our list of the top 10 greatest midfielders of all time.

Didi

Another legendary Brazilian player, Didi, was named the Best Player of the 1958 and 1962 World Cups. Along with Zagallo, Carlos Alberto, Pele, and Garrincha, he was a member of the fabled “Magic Square”.

He won a championship with Cruzeiro in 1961 in addition to two World Cups with Brazil in 1958 and 1962. In 68 times for his country, he had scored 20 goals, 12 of which came from knuckleball free kicks.

Didi was renowned for his originality and ball-handling skills. He would frequently throw erratic passes that would perplex opposition defences or dribble right by opponents without even realising they were there. On our list of the top 10 greatest midfielders, Didi is ranked eighth.

Andrea Pirlo

Former player and current professional football coach Andrea Pirlo is from Italy. He is regarded as one of the greatest deep playmakers in history.

Pirlo won praise for his passing, free-kick skills, passing technique, vision, ball control, and creativity. He joined AC Milan in 2001 and went on to become a player of the highest calibre.

Pirlo is the fifth-most active player in history, having participated in 116 international games for the Italian national football team.

He made his senior debut in 2002 and supervised his nation to a bronze medal in the 2004 Olympics. Pirlo was instrumental in Italy’s triumph at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, winning the Bronze Ball and being selected to the Team of the Tournament.

After enjoying success at both club and international levels, Pirlo became one of the most decorated players in history during his time at Juventus F.C. Andrea Pirlo is number 9 in our list of the best 10 legendary midfielders in history.

Luis Figo

Luis Figo is a Portuguese retired professional footballer who played as a winger for Sporting CP, Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Inter Milan.

He won a total of 127 caps for the Portugal national team, a record that was later broken by Cristiano Ronaldo and João Moutinho. He is regarded as one of the best Portuguese football players of all time.

Figo is considered one of the top 10 all-time great midfield players. His 106 assists are the second-most in La Liga history, after Lionel Messi.

He also won the 2000 Ballon d’Or and 2001 FIFA World Player of the Year. He has won four La Liga titles, two Spanish Cups, three Spanish Super Cups, one UEFA Champions League title, one UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, two UEFA Super Cups, one Intercontinental Cup, four Serie A titles, one Italian Cup, and three Italian Super Cups.