CIES Football Observatory have released their list of the best 10 central midfielders under 23 in world football.
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The study is based on several key performance indicators, which measure key aspects of a player’s game to produce an overall indicator of their quality and their efficiency.
While the top ranking of the best young defenders and strikers in the world has raised a few eyebrows, it’s hard to argue with those players named in the list of the best central midfielders.
The top 10 countdown is something of a who’s who of major European transfer targets this summer, with players who have been linked with moves to the likes of Chelsea and Barcelona named among the selection.
Read on to discover who made the cut and comment below to let us know whether you agree or disagree with this top ten ranking?
Is there anyone else who should have made the cut?
=8 Nabil Bentelab
=8 Ruben Pardo
=8 Rafidine Abdullah
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Nabil Bentaleb makes the cut as the joint-eighth-best central midfielder under 23 in the world game.
Few would begrudge him making the cut.
The Spurs star is enjoying another wonderful campaign, where he has set himself apart as one of Mauricio Pochettino’s players.
He also featured for Algeria at the World Cup, and represented the Desert Foxes at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.
22-year-old Ruben Pardo has been a valuable asset for David Moyes’s Real Sociedad this year, while Franco-Comorian Rafidine Abdullah has impressed as FC Lorient have battled against relegation in Ligue 1.
7. Jordan Ferri
While injuries to the likes of Clement Grenier, Gueida Fofana and Yoann Gourcuff have doubtless cost Olympique Lyonnais some ground in their race for the Ligue 1 title, there has been one particular positive in the heart of the midfield.
Jordan Ferri was already known to Ligue 1 audiences ahead of this season, but he has still enjoyed an influential campaign, managing one goal and five assists in 32 Ligue 1 appearances.
A France call-up can’t be too far off.
6 – Bryan Dabo
Versatile Bryan Dabo has been a consistent performer in a somewhat mixed campaign for Montpellier Herault Sport Club.
His main strength is possibly his versatility, with the Franco-Malian proving his worth at right-back, the heart of the midfield, or on either flank this term.
He is best utilised as a defensive midfielder and regularly contributes important tackles and interceptions for MHSC.
5- Giannelli Imbula
It’s little surprise that Giannelli Imbula is being linked to Chelsea ahead of a potential summer move.
The Franco-Congolese dynamo is one of the most well-rounded young central midfielders in the game.
While he can excel as a destroyer—able to mix it up with the roughest brutes in the French top flight—he is rarely better than when he is dribbling forward with the ball. His 2.9 successful dribblers-per-game is the second highest in Ligue 1 [via WhoScored]—not bad for a ‘defensive’ midfielder!
The Pensioners could do a lot worse…
=3 Geoffrey Kondogbia
While is club side AS Monaco were dumped out of the Champions League quarter-finals by Juventus, powerhouse midfielder Kondogbia saw his stock rise after a fine second-leg performance.
The 22-year-old was unlucky to be on the losing side, and showed a menacing offensive edge—with driving runs and long-range shooting—to complement his defensive resiliency.
=3 Granit Xhaka
Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Grant Xhaka had also been linked with a big-money transfer this summer.
Reigning La Liga champions Altetico Madrid are rumoured to be interested in his services.
It’s easy to see why; only two players in the Bundesliga (Xabi Alonso and David Alaba) average more passes per game than the 22-year-old. He also puts in a good shift defensively, and is in the top 20 in the Bundesliga for interceptions per game.
2. Paul Pogba
Forget best young midfielders in the world, Paul Pogba is surely already among the finest in his position full stop !
The midfield general has just won his third Italian title with Juventus and could well be sent to move on to bigger and better things this summer.
Barcelona have confirmed their interest, while Manchester United may be keen to bring him back to Old Trafford—having let him leave in 2012 after only two first-team appearances.
Destined for the top…although some would argue he’s there already!
1. Marco Verratti
There aren’t too many players in the world who ever look as complete as Marco Verratti does already, despite only being 22.
If the midfielder does have a flaw, it’s perhaps his over-exuberance and occasional lack of discipline—12 yellow cards in 26 starts is a worrying statistic.
Beyond that, however, the stats underpin just what a terrific competitor the Italian is.
He leads Ligue 1 in average passes per match and is in the top five for passes completed. He’s in the top ten in the division for dribbles per match, while he has also chipped in with five assists and two goals for PSG in the top flight this term.
It’s been a magnificent year, and it’s hard to deny Verratti his place at the top of this ranking!