20 top creative midfielders of world football.
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20) Kevin Strootman (Roma)
A top class deep-lying playmaker, Kevin Strootman has impressed tremendously since joining Roma last summer. Still only 24, the intelligent Dutch midfield maestro can surely go on to become one of the modern greats in the game if he continues his remarkable progress. Currently out injured, Roma fans will be eagerly awaiting his return to first-team action as they look to challenge for the Serie A title next season as well as compete in the Champions League.
19) Ander Herrera (Manchester United)
Manchester United’s new signing in midfield, Ander Herrera was strongly linked with the club last year as well after his fine performances for Athletic Bilbao in La Liga. One of many of this superb generation of creative Spanish players, Herrera should add some much-needed quality to this United side as they look to get back to their best in the 2014/15 season.
18) Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
Still a force to be reckoned with in midfield, Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has adapted well to a new role in the side under Brendan Rodgers, playing further back and dictating the play with his superb range of passing and vision. A great all-round player, Gerrard perhaps doesn’t have the energy that he used to at his peak, but he still possesses the technique and passing to make him a superb creative player in the Reds’ attack-minded and highly technical setup.
17) Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona)
After impressing tremendously at Sevilla last season, Croatian playmaker Ivan Rakitic has earned himself a summer move to Barcelona. The 26-year-old’s style of play should see him fit in well at the Nou Camp, with his fine eye for a key pass and tendency to notch up assists set to make him a great long-term replacement for star player Xavi in that position.
16) David Silva (Manchester City)
One of the real gems of the Premier League, Manchester City’s David Silva remains one of the best creative midfield players in the country at the moment despite suffering from fatigue in recent times. The silky Spaniard won another Premier League title with City last season, and continues to be the man City rely on to find the right pass at the right moment, with few others in the game possessing such natural ability on the ball and vision to find a team-mate.
15) Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool)
A superb prospect, Philippe Coutinho has done brilliantly since signing for Liverpool in January 2013. After failing to quite make the grade at previous club Inter Milan, the Brazilian starlet has now become a key player for Brendan Rodgers’ side, fitting into the manager’s system perfectly with his wonderful creative ability on the ball.
14) Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
A star of the Premier League from his time with Tottenham Hotspur, Luka Modric is now an essential member of this Real Madrid side, providing the ammunition that the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema ahead of him need to shine. One of the best passers of the ball in Europe, Modric is certainly among the best creative players of his time, and was a worthy winner of the Champions League with Real last season.
13) Oscar (Chelsea)
A favourite of his manager Jose Mourinho, Oscar’s ability in the ‘number 10’ role persuaded his manager to offload Chelsea favourite Juan Mata in January. The Blues boss has opted to build his team around the creative skills of Oscar, who also shone for his national side Brazil at the World Cup this summer, despite their unfortunate drubbing at the hands of Germany in the semi-finals.
12) Xavi (Barcelona)
A modern legend of the game, Barcelona star Xavi remains one of the best creative midfield players of all time despite his slightly waning influence on the game. The Spaniard has won everything there is to win at both club and international level, and much of that is down to a style of play typified by his passing and role in the club’s tiki-taka philosophy. One of the best deep-lying playmakers ever to play the game, it looks as though Xavi may be set for one final season at the Nou Camp before ending his association with the Catalan giants.
11) Andrea Pirlo (Juventus)
A joy to watch and a class act even at the age of 35, Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo has been one of the finest playmakers of his generation with his success for AC Milan, Juve and the Italian national team. Blessed with technique and vision like no other, Pirlo has been the creative force for his sides for much of the last decade, and always seems impossible to stop, despite keeping things so simple in the middle of the park with a great range of passing, long or short. Also capable of the occasional long-range screamer from set pieces or open play, which is a nice bonus.
10) Arturo Vidal (Juventus)
One of the best all-round midfielders in the world at the moment, Arturo Vidal may be more well known for his terrific energy and eye for goal from the middle of the park, but his great range of passing and creative play have also been key for Juventus in their recent dominance on the domestic scene.
9) Miralem Pjanic (Roma)
Creative and also inventive, Roma playmaker Miralem Pjanic made the headlines recently with a superb lobbed goal in a friendly against Manchester United from inside his own half. The Bosnian international is a superb striker of the ball, and uses his wonderful technique to good effect when dictacting the play in the middle of the park, as well as for scoring the occasional wondergoal such as the one against United.
8) Juan Mata (Manchester United)
Inexplicably let go by Chelsea in January, Manchester United can expect bigger and better things from Spanish star Juan Mata this season. On his day, the 26-year-old is certainly one of the best creative players on the planet, and once notched up an incredible 35 assists in one campaign during his time at Stamford Bridge. One of the few good things to come out of David Moyes’ tenure may be the signing of Mata, and he should improve further under the guidance of Louis van Gaal this season.
7) Mesut Ozil (Arsenal)
Described by his old Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho as ‘the best number 10 in the world’ and adored by his former team-mates such as Cristiano Ronaldo for his creative and unselfish play, it was certainly a shock when Arsenal announced the £42.5m signing of Mesut Ozil on deadline day last summer. The German playmaker may not have found his best form in a Gunners shirt yet, but will surely go down as a top class signing once he gets used to life in England and settles in at the Emirates Stadium. The arrival of Alexis Sanchez this summer should give him more in the way of runners to aim at, and Ozil has been tipped to have a Dennis Bergkamp-like influence on the club once he hits top form.
6) Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea)
An assist machine from his first spell in the Premier League, Chelsea have got their hands on a superb midfielder in Cesc Fabregas this summer. The former Arsenal man did not have the best of times at Barcelona, but will surely be a star on English soil once again if he can reproduce the form that made him such a hit at the Emirates Stadium earlier in his career. With Chelsea perhaps lacking some creativity a little deeper in midfield, the Spaniard should prove the perfect signing for the Blues as they look to improve on last season.
5) Toni Kroos (Real Madrid)
A player rapidly developing into one of the best midfielders in the world, Real Madrid have signed a true gem in Toni Kroos this summer, after the German World Cup winner opted to leave Bayern Munich. The 24-year-old has been a key figure in Bayern’s recent dominance, and was also in superb form for Germany in Brazil this summer as they took home the biggest trophy of all. A world class creative player who should fit in perfectly at the Bernabeu, and one to keep an eye on this season.
4) James Rodriguez (Real Madrid)
Another new signing by Real Madrid, James Rodriguez has become the latest ‘Galactico’ to make a big-money move to the Bernabeu. The Colombian winger was excellent for AS Monaco last season, contributing 10 goals and 12 assists in all competitions to show his superb skill and creativity, but it was at this summer’s World Cup that he really caught the eye before being snapped up for £63m by the Spanish giants. Capable of playing a variety of attacking midfield roles, Rodriguez should be a top acquisition for Carlo Ancelotti’s European champions.
3) Andres Iniesta (Barcelona)
Despite a difficult year for both Barcelona and Spain, midfield genius Andres Iniesta remains a truly world class talent and one of a kind on the pitch. Striking up a telepathic relationship with his mentor Xavi in midfield in recent years, Iniesta has been the creative force behind Barca’s immense success at club level and Spain’s dominance on the international stage. Few can pick out a pass better than him, and he has often been hailed as the under-rated star of the Nou Camp, despite Lionel Messi regularly stealing the headlines.
2) Koke (Atletico Madrid)
With 13 assists in La Liga last season, no midfield player set up more goals than Atletico Madrid’s outstanding midfield prospect Koke. The young Spaniard is surely set to be a star in the coming years after a great breakthrough campaign for Diego Simeone’s side, in which they unexpectedly won the title and reached the final of the Champions League. Big clubs have been rumoured to be chasing the signature of the 22-year-old, but Atletico will be delighted to have secured him to a new contract earlier this summer, as he no doubt has the potential to become world class, and is already up there with the very best in the world.
1) Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund)
Despite all the attacking midfield talent in Germany’s eventual World Cup-winning squad, it speaks volumes that an injury blow for Borussia Dortmund star Marco Reus was met with such disappointment before the start of the tournament. The 25-year-old is quite simply a world class attacking talent, capable of playing as a creative midfield player or just behind the main striker, and it is no surprise to see him attract so much interest in the transfer market this summer. Joint with Koke and Fabregas on 13 assists in Europe’s top five leagues last season, Reus is statistically one of the most creative players in world football, and deserving of a narrow first place on this list of great talents.