SPORTbible have ranked the 10 best midfielders in the world right now.
There's no doubting that the midfield role has evolved significantly in recent years, with so many different profiles that teams target when they are signing players.
The era of midfielders as we've known is starting to come to an end, with the likes of Sergio Busquets and Luka Modric coming to the end of their long and storied careers.
Our ranking represents the best midfielders of the world currently, featuring a mix of defensive, attacking and traditional central midfielders.
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Take a look below - and let us know your thoughts.
10 - Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)
It is perhaps no surprise that it was Pep Guardiola who spotted that right-back Joshua Kimmich was better suited to midfield for Bayern Munich.
Kimmich's calmness on the ball is one of his greatest strengths, and his assist numbers are remarkable - at least 10 in four of his last six completed seasons.
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9 - Toni Kroos (Real Madrid)
One of Real Madrid's two metronomes for years, Toni Kroos is still going strong at the age of 34, with seven assists to his name this season.
While partner in crime Luka Modric is nearing the end of his career, you sense Kroos' time at the top of European football isn't quite over yet.
8 - Declan Rice (Arsenal)
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In at eight is Arsenal's Declan Rice, who has been a key player for Mikel Arteta's side since his British record £105 million move from West Ham in the summer.
The England international is capable of doing it all, with his passing range from deep, tackling, and even a long-range strike in him. The ideal player for this Arsenal side.
7 - Federico Valverde (Real Madrid)
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Relentless is probably one word you'd use to describe Federico Valverde, whose work rate off the ball and pace from midfield has made him one of Real's most important players.
A versatile player, Valverde regularly operates on the right of midfield, doing so to great effect in the 2022 Champions League final against Liverpool, assisting Vinicius Junior's winning goal. At 25, there's even more improvement to come.
6 - Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)
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It seems almost criminal that Martin Odegaard only has five assists this season, given only three Premier League players (Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kieran Trippier) have created more big chances than his 12 since August.
Most of Arsenal's attacking play goes through captain Odegaard, who smashed in 15 league goals last season and will play a key role for the remainder of this season and beyond.
5 - Ilkay Gundogan (Barcelona)
Ilkay Gundogan may no longer be at Manchester City, but he has retained his status as one of the best midfielders on the planet.
His goalscoring form has carried over to Camp Nou, with five goals and six assists in 24 games this season. His iconic final moment as a City player - lifting the Champions League - will live long in the memory for City fans.
4 - Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
That Bernardo Silva is only fourth on this list is a credit to the three players ahead of him, rather than any slight on the Portuguese supremo, who could easily be number one.
With 11 goals and eight assists to his name in all competitions this season, including internationals, Bernardo remains a key member of City's side.
3 - Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
One of the best central midfield players on the planet, Jude Bellingham has added goals to his game this season - but not many would have predicted this many.
Having mastered the art of arriving in the box at the perfect time, Bellingham has a staggering 20 goals in all competitions this season - no other La Liga player has more. And he's still only 20.
2 - Rodri (Manchester City)
The beating heart of City's midfield, Rodri's influence is such that Pep Guardiola's side haven't lost in any of the last 54 games that the Spanish star has played - totalling over a year.
Since February 2023, City have lost five out of the seven games they've played in which Rodri hasn't been unavailable. That pretty much sums everything up.
1 - Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
Kevin De Bruyne is almost a throwback to an earlier era - a player that does things in midfield that no other player can.
He played a leading role in helping City to their first Champions League triumph, but fears were raised when he limped out of the final with a hamstring injury - and then re-aggravated it on the first day of the Premier League season.
Since his return, though, the Belgian is as dominating as ever. With seven assists in seven games, he's back to his best.
Topics: Football, Premier League, La Liga, Champions League, Arsenal, Manchester City, Kevin De Bruyne, Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Real Madrid
The SPORTbible Team