The midfield is the engine room of any team - a key area which does lots of the heavy lifting in any team and the contribution of which is often the difference between victory and defeat.
The battle in midfield is frequently a deciding factor in the course of football games and the one that imposes itself on a game and ends up on top more often than not is on the winning side.
Many of the best players in a team operate in the engine room and have done so over the course of history, with one operating in that area of the pitch often being the key for a side.
With that in mind, here we rank the top 10 best midfielders in world football.
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It includes those familiar to fans of the Premier League, as well as some of the best talents from across Europe.
10 - Alexis Mac Allister
The 26-year-old is a member of Argentina's 2022 World Cup winning squad and became a Premier League title winner with Liverpool last season.
After moving to Anfield in 2023 from Brighton for what could turn out to be a relative bargain of £55m overall including add-ons, Mac Allister has 14 goals in 95 appearances for the Merseyside club.
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The midfielder has proved vital to both Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot and he was included in the shortlist for the PFA Players' Player of the Year.
9 - Declan Rice
Rice moved across London from West Ham United to Arsenal in 2023 for an initial £100m.
And though he is yet to win silverware in North London since his big money move, the England international has proven his importance to Mikel Arteta's side.
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His 16 goals in 103 games have been a valuable contribution to the Gunners and his ability to operate in a deeper or more advanced role depending on the opposition is a key aspect of his game.
8 - Federico Valverde
The 27-year-old has grown in importance and stature at Real Madrid as the years have gone by.
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But the Uruguay international is now a key player for the Santiago Bernabeu outfit and is a regular goal threat from the heart of midfield.
His rise in influence has been rewarded with the number eight shirt previously donned by Toni Kroos and has this summer become Real's vice-captain to further underline his importance.
7 - Sandro Tonali
Any of Newcastle United's midfield trio including Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes could feature on this list, given the unit is on its day arguably the best in the Premier League.
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But Tonali stands out through his versatility in central midfield and his importance to both Italy and Newcastle, following his return to action after a ban for breaches of betting rules.
He has seven goals in 57 matches for the Magpies and was part of the team which won the League Cup last season.
6 - Joao Neves
The 20-year-old is one of the most exciting central midfield prospects in the world, having joined Paris Saint-Germain last summer from Benfica.
His abilities on the ball and his tackling abilities, despite his slender frame, have won him many plaudits.
It was a hugely successful season after winning a Treble with PSG and the UEFA Nations League with Portugal.
5 - Pedri
The Barcelona and Spain star is rightly featured highly on this list thanks to the influence he has on games.
His importance to Barca has been rewarded with a new deal at the club until 2030.
And with Spain, he has become a first choice selection for Luis de la Fuente to underline his importance.
4 - Bruno Fernandes
Where would Manchester United have been last season without Bruno Fernandes? After finishing 15th, it does not bear thinking about for Reds fans.
But the United captain has been unquestionably the best signing at Old Trafford post-Sir Alex Ferguson and he is the player whom his team-mates look to when they require somebody to step up and change a game.
Operating in either an advanced or deeper midfield role, Fernandes would likely be welcomed into most teams in the Premier League and beyond.
3- Jude Bellingham
The England and Real Madrid star has had a rapid rise in the game since breaking into the team at Birmingham City at the age of just 16.
Since then, Bellingham has represented Borussia Dortmund, Real and has gone on to become a key player for England.
Despite missing the opening stage of the new season after shoulder surgery, Bellingham remains one of the best central midfielders in the world.
2 - Vitinha
The 25-year-old Portugal international truly established himself as up there with the best in the world after a standout campaign for club and country.
Having joined PSG in 2022 and made his Portugal debut the same year, he became a key asset for both teams this year in particular.
Vitinha pulled the strings for PSG in their 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan and the Champions League, while he also netted in Portugal's penalty shootout UEFA Nations League win over Spain.
1 - Rodri
The holding midfielder might have had a very limited season last campaign owing to an ACL injury which curtailed his involvement, but few would argue with the Manchester City midfielder's place as the best in the world.
The Spain international won the Ballon d'Or in 2024 and had he been fitter early than City's penultimate game of the season, may well have figured for his country at the Nations League.
Rodri will no doubt have a big part to play for club and country over the upcoming campaign.
Topics: Declan Rice, Arsenal, Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United, Rodri, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, Alexis Mac Allister, Newcastle United, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Jude Bellingham
John McDougall