List of top 10 Best Midfielders In 22/23 Europe’s Top Five Leagues.

Europe’s top five leagues are home to some of the most exceptional midfielders in the world, showcasing their sublime skills and tactical awareness, which elevate the game to new heights. These midfield maestros orchestrate the flow of play, dictate the tempo, and act as the crucial link between defence and attack.

READ FULL REPORT

With that being said, here are the top 10 midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues from the 2022-23 season:

10. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)

Bruno Fernandes has consistently proven himself as one of the world’s best midfielders over the past few seasons. His quick thinking, complemented by excellent technical qualities, makes him a game-changer. While Fernandes may occasionally lose possession due to his risk-taking nature, his creativity compensates for it, as he creates numerous opportunities for his teammates.

 

In the 2022-23 season, he created the most significant chances in the Premier League, with 32. Furthermore, Fernandes contributed significantly with 14 goals and 15 assists in 59 appearances across all competitions for Manchester United.

9. Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan)

Nicolo Barella showcased a solid performance in Inter Milan’s midfield during the 2022-23 season. Although his reputation as one of the world’s finest midfielders had slightly diminished in recent years, Barella’s versatility as a box-to-box player capable of scoring, creating chances, and regaining possession, remained evident. His hard work and leadership qualities were vital to Inter’s journey to the Champions League final.

With a well-rounded skill set, Barella is widely regarded as one of the most complete midfielders globally. In the 2022-23 season, he scored nine goals and provided ten assists in 52 appearances across all competitions for Inter Milan.

8. Fede Valverde (Real Madrid)

Federico Valverde stands out as one of the most versatile footballers in the world. While primarily a dynamic midfielder, he can seamlessly adapt to various positions in midfield and even fill in as a right-winger or right-back. Valverde enjoyed a successful season with Real Madrid in 2022-23, contributing 12 goals and seven assists in 56 appearances across all competitions.

7. Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona)

Frenkie de Jong’s decision to stay at Barcelona proved fruitful despite facing criticism and transfer rumours during a challenging summer. Initially deployed as a centre-back, De Jong’s elegance and exceptional midfield qualities helped solidify Barcelona’s presence in the center of the park. He achieved an impressive 91.2% pass completion rate in La Liga.

Although his numbers may not reflect his true impact, De Jong’s ball progression and game-reading abilities were instrumental to Barcelona’s success. Throughout the 2022-23 season, he scored two goals and provided four assists in 43 appearances across all competitions.

6. Casemiro (Manchester United)

Manchester United’s midfield underwent a revamp last summer, which significantly improved performance during the 2022-23 season. Among the acquisitions, Casemiro proved to be a standout. As a five-time Champions League winner, he brought both defensive solidity and creative ability to Manchester United’s midfield.

Casemiro’s contributions helped elevate the team, as evidenced by their achievements in the Carabao Cup, FA Cup, and Premier League. Throughout the season, he scored seven goals and provided seven assists in 53 appearances across all competitions.

5. Rodri (Manchester City)

Rodri, a pivotal figure in the midfield for Manchester City, played a vital role in their successful campaign this season. The Spanish international possesses exceptional intelligence and composure, seamlessly orchestrating the team’s gameplay from deeper positions. With his remarkable passing range and ability to control the tempo of the game, Rodri serves as the linchpin in City’s possession-based style. Furthermore, his physical presence and defensive awareness make him formidable in disrupting opposition attacks. Rodri’s positional discipline and tactical acumen have earned him praise, while his ability to read the game and initiate attacking moves showcases his all-around midfield prowess. He has also demonstrated his clutch ability by scoring decisive goals, including the winner in the Champions League final this season.

 

4. Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)

Martin Odegaard, the captain of Arsenal, showcased his exceptional talent throughout the Premier League season, establishing himself as one of the top players. Leading the Gunners from the front, Odegaard played a crucial role in their consistent presence at the top of the league table.

The Norwegian midfielder possesses an eye for goal and navigates tight spaces with admirable agility. In his 45 appearances across all competitions for Arsenal, Odegaard scored 15 goals and provided eight assists.

 

3. Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City)

Ilkay Gundogan delivered exceptional performances during the final stretch of the 2022-23 season, playing a vital role in Manchester City’s successful campaign and their continental treble triumph. His contributions were deemed crucial, surpassing those of his teammates in the decisive phase of the season.

The German international’s precise passing, exceptional vision, dribbling skills, and regular goal-scoring abilities make him a highly dangerous threat in and around the final third. Gundogan made 51 appearances across all competitions for Manchester City in 2022-23, scoring 11 goals and providing seven assists.

2. Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund)

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham has gained significant attention, with Real Madrid showing interest in securing his services. At only 19 years old, Bellingham has already established himself as one of the world’s best midfielders. His game intelligence, maturity, leadership qualities, technical abilities, and exceptional vision defy his young age, indicating a promising future.

Bellingham played a crucial role in Dortmund’s pursuit of the Bundesliga title. During the 2022-23 season, Bellingham made 42 appearances across all competitions for Borussia Dortmund, scoring 14 goals and providing seven assists.

1. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)

Kevin De Bruyne is widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of his generation. With consistent top-level performances, his 2022-23 campaign showcased his exceptional playmaking skills once again. De Bruyne scored ten goals and provided an impressive 31 assists in 49 appearances across all competitions for Manchester City in the season.

De Bruyne’s passing ability, vision, and ball-retention skills are unmatched, solidifying his place among the all-time great midfielders.