Midfielders are the heart of every team, and they're some of the most widely celebrated players in the world.
Just as we saw some of the most creative players in this position, modern football has ushered in some of the most gifted midfielders who have been successful in the role.
Here are the best defensive midfielders in the world right now:
20. Granit Xhaka (Sunderland AFC)
Granit Xhaka revived his career with the Bundesliga move, winning the league and the German Cup with Bayer Leverkusen. He's now the captain of the newly promoted Sunderland side.
Granit Xhaka is known for his brilliance and intelligence, especially dictating the pace of the game from the midfield.
19. Mateo Kovacic (Manchester City, Croatia)
Kovacic brings experience to the Manchester City midfield and has continued to maintain an average rating even though he's had mixed showings in some games.
The Croatian is usually operating from the central midfield but rotates between the central midfield and the defensive positions. He makes the attack easier for the forwards while protecting the defenders.
18. Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter Milan, Turkey)
Hakan Calhanoglu is another top name when it comes to ranking the best defensive midfielders. The Inter Milan player has been one of the most consistent players in the Italian Serie A.
17. Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace, England)
English star Adam Wharton has continued to make the headlines with his impressive ratings. He has continued to show up in the Crystal Palace first team. He played a significant role as Palace went on to win the FA Cup and the Community Shield.
16. Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid, France)
Eduardo Camavinga has been one of the mainstays in the Real Madrid first team since his arrival at the club. The Frenchman is a versatile player and can be deployed in different midfield positions, including at centre back. He is a holding midfielder who operates in the box-to-box role while maintaining his position.
15. Casemiro (Manchester United, Brazil)
Casemiro remains one of the best midfielders in the world. The Real Madrid legend has been part of the Man United project since 2022. His time at Old Trafford had been mixed, even though he continued to play a key role in the team.
Casemiro is known for his unique abilities, which include proper position and playmaking. He is a complete midfielder who needs no introduction.
14. Manuel Locatelli (Juventus, Italy)
Juventus has been working towards maintaining their position as one of the dominant forces in Italian football and in Europe. But can also do so with a talent pool and experience. One such is Manuel Locatelli.
The captain of the side has been a key figure in the midfield. His rise has been surrounded by a series of decisions and moves, leading to his current position as midfielder leader.
Juventus currently enjoy a decent midfield with key players like Manuel Locatelli, Khéphren Thuram and Fabio Miretti in the mix.
Locatelli has been singled out as a top player with his intelligent decision-making, defensive work rate, ball distribution, superb vision, and instigating counter-attacks.
13. Joao Palhinha (Tottenham Hotspur)
Joao Palhinha has received huge credit for his performance in the midfield. He made headlines during his time in Fulham, which eventually led to the Bayern Munich move.
However, the defensive midfield machine returned to the Premier League and has continued his fine form.
12. Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart, Germany)
Angelo Stiller has played a significant role in Stuttgart's competitiveness in the German Bundesliga over the last few seasons. The German footballer often grabs the headline with his composure, intelligence and passes as a midfielder.
11. Rodri (Manchester City, Spain)
Rodri has been one of the central figures in the Manchester City setup under Pep Guardiola. The Spaniard is mainly deployed as a defensive midfielder. He is a technically gifted player with a high level of skill in the game.
Rodri provides stability to Manchester City’s midfield, and he is the reason behind Pep Guardiola’s success since his arrival at the club in 2019. The 2024 Ballon d'Or winner was absent from the Man City first team in the early stages of the 2025/26 season due to an injury.
10. Sandro Tonali (Newcastle United, Italy)
Sandro Tonali was outstanding and influential for Newcastle United during the 2024/25 season and has maintained this status till now. The Italian is a solid figure in the Newcastle United setup and has continued to show up in high-profile games.
9. Martin Zubimendi (Arsenal FC, Spain)
Martin Zubimendi's arrival at Arsenal has added depth and quality to the midfield amid the presence of Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice. The Spanish footballer has flourished since his arrival at the club with the £61m transfer from Real Sociedad.
Martin Zubimendi operates from the base while providing coverage and stability. He isn't soft but solid, with his physicality ranking high on the ratings board.
8. Aurélien Tchouameni (Real Madrid, France)
Aurelien Tchouameni has continued to rank when it comes to ranking the best defensive midfielders. The Frenchman has established himself as an indispensable player at Real Madrid.
He is known for his physicality, dominance, ability to shield the ball and playing in the centre of defence. He is an all-round midfielder.
7. Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle United, Brazil)
Bruno Guimaraes has been the engine room and a key player in the Newcastle United project. Signed from Lyon, the Brazilian has continued to churn out the numbers year after year.
Impressively, Bruno Guimaraes has maintained an average performance for some seasons now. He often sits in central midfield with his high-press style of play. The Brazilian is also a proven playmaker and is good at positioning.
6. Joshua Kimmich (FC Bayern Munich, Germany)
Joshua Kimmich is a versatile midfielder known for his excellent playmaking abilities that make him stand out from others. The German footballer has become one of the pillars of Bayern Munich’s first team.
He is considered one of the best No. 6. A holding midfielder who is comfortable driving the ball forward. This season, some of Bayern Munich’s goals have originated from Kimmich, who usually turns defence to attack effectively.
5. Declan Rice (Arsenal FC, England)
Declan Rice is one of the most complete midfielders in Europe right now. His performance since the switch to Arsenal from West Ham United has been top-notch.
Arsenal has enjoyed a relatively stable team, especially in the midfield, where the Englishman had asserted himself as a dominant force against opposing players.
Declan Rice is one of the most consistent players. He brings a little bit of the attacking flair while sticking to his defence duties. He links up with the central midfielders and the attackers.
4. Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool FC, Netherlands)
Ryan Gravenberch is another key figure in the Liverpool midfield. The Dutchman has been consistent and a reliable option. He is a versatile player who has been deployed as a central midfielder and defensive midfielder. His performance makes him an indispensable player in the Liverpool first team at the moment.
3. Joao Neves (Paris Saint-Germain, Portugal)
It is no surprise that PSG has emerged as a European powerhouse, thanks to the abundance of talented players like Joao Neves, Vitinha and Achraf Hakimi.
Joao Neves has asserted himself as one of the reliable midfield options alongside Vitinha. His brilliance and versatility allow for his deployment at right-back.
Joao Neves adds depth to the Paris Saint-Germain first team.
2. Moises Caicedo (Chelsea FC, Ecuador)
Without a doubt, Moises Caicedo is one of the best defensive midfielders in the world right now. He has always played with confidence and has been consistent with his game.
Caicedo powered Chelsea's midfield through the Club World Cup and emerged victorious, thus maintaining his position as one of the best despite a slow start to life at Stamford Bridge. In the 2023/24 season, he was ranked among the best U23 players in the world.
1. Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain, Portugal)
Vitinha's top form hasn't gone unnoticed in Europe, with his impressive acts helping PSG to lift major trophies, including the UEFA Champions League.
The Portuguese star has gradually become one of the most consistent and influential players on the PSG roster with his excellent ball control and distribution.
Paris Saint-Germain's eyes on major trophies in the long run are expected of the brilliance of the Portuguese and other central figures in the team.