10. Thiago Alcantara (Bayern Munich)Injury problems have dogged Thiago throughout his career, but on raw talent alone there are very few midfielders who compare to the Bayern Munich man. The son of a Brazil international and a graduate of Barcelona’s La Masia academy, the 27-year-old combines South America street-smartness and dribbling skills with Spanish control and passing ability.Thiago is comfortable on the ball in tight spaces and can navigate his way out of sticky situations, but he also excels when given plenty of room to pick a pass. He's in fine form right now and could (should, even)be approaching the peak of his powers.9. Bernardo Silva (Man City)What a year it's been for the little Portuguese playmaker. He'd only started four Premier League games before Christmas in 2017/18, but eventually assumed a permanent role in Pep Guardiola's record-breaking team and has been one of its standout components ever since.The £43m signing from Monaco was snapped up as a wide player originally, but has been assumed an influential central role in the absence of an injured Kevin De Bruyne and thrived. "I love him" said Guardiola in February. "He's one of the most talented players I've ever seen, he can play three of four positions.Maybe this season he's one of the two, three best players in the Premier League."8. Paul Pogba (Manchester United)New manager, new lease of life. Pogba was a frustrated central midfielder playing nowhere near the peak of his powers under Jose Mourinho, forced to occupy a deeper area that did nothing to bring out his best qualities.Under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, however, it's all change. Pogba has finally looked like the £89m player that Manchester United signed in summer 2016, playing further forward with more midfield coverage in behind to great effect. In Solskjaer's matches alonehe's netted nine goals and laid on another seven for team-mates, demonstrating the brilliance that helped France win a World Cup in 2018.7. Sergio Busquets (Barcelona)It’s now over a decade since Busquets brokeinto the Barcelona first team and helped Pep Guardiola’s side win the Treble in his debut season. The rangy defensive midfielder is now in his 30s and has racked up over 500 matches for theBlaugrana,but remains one of the world’s leading exponents of the No.6 position, with his reading of the game, reliability in possession and ability to resist an opposition press still up there with the very best.Busquets has never been the most mobile and has shown signs of vulnerability in the last couple of years, but in the correct midfield make-up, the Spain international still has plenty to offer. There aren't many like him– and even fewer who do his job better.6. Miralem Pjanic (Juventus)Real Madrid are being linked with a lot of players this summer after a season in which they've been way off the pace in La Liga andwere dumped out of the Champions League by Ajax– and it's no surprise that Juventus playmaker Pjanic is high on the potential list of targets.The Bosnian is a glorious player who dictates the tempo of matches for theBianconeriand has been one of Europe's most quietly consistent players for quite some time. He's won Serie A in both of his full seasons since signing from Roma in 2016, will win a third in 2018/19–and could yet make it an unforgettable campaign with a Champions League winner's medal too.5. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)De Bruyne isn’t the best footballer in the world, but he’s arguably the most complete. Creative, powerful, skilful and dynamic, the Manchester City man can pass, shoot, dribble, tackle and cross - and all with either foot.The Belgian contributes in every phase of the game; he has the technical ability of a luxury player without being anything like a luxury. He was the star man in Manchester City’s record-breaking title triumph last term, but has suffered with injury ever since and started only seven league games this term. On ability alone he's clearly much higher up this list.4. David Silva (Manchester City)A Manchester City mainstay since his arrival in the Premier League eight years ago, Silva won his third title after a superb individual season in 2017/18. Capable of playing on the right, as a No.10 or in the slightly deeper midfield role he’s been used in by Pep Guardiola, the Spanish schemer is a master at running games and finding spaces that seemingly don't exist.Silva’s decision-making is almost flawless, and his tremendous technique means he’s invariably able to execute those ideas. He’s even begun to add more goals to his game in the last couple of years, becoming an even more rounded player at the age of 33.3. Toni Kroos (Real Madrid)Kroos is Real Madrid’s heartbeat; the player who sets the tempo and makes things tick in the centre of the park. A pass master who rarely gives possession away, the former Bayern Munich midfielder is one of the best distributors on the planet, be it over long or short distances.He’s an extremely clever player too, able to find space in a crowded centre and knowexactly when to speed the game up or slow it down. Real Madrid have endured a sorry season to date, but Kroos is one of few players they've usually come to rely upon for his consistency since signing in summer 2014.2. N’Golo Kante (Chelsea)Kante is a very different type of player to the majority of his peers listed here, but he’s undoubtedly one of the world’s top midfielders beloved by all. A two-time Premier League champion and World Cup winner lastsummer, the 27-year-old has made ball-winning fashionable since he played an instrumental role in Leicester’s title triumph of 2015/16.Quick, tenacious and intelligent, Kante is so much more than a sitting midfielder who patrols a small area of the field. He has been entrusted with a role further forward under Maurizio Sarri, and while few believe it to be the Frenchman's best position, he is going about it in his usual unfussy way. Name a club that wouldn't want him in their side.1. Luka Modric (Real Madrid)Modric turned 33 in September but celebrated a first Ballon d'Or success shortly after, breaking the Messi-Ronaldo duopoly. Last year was the best of his career: after helping Real Madrid win their third consecutive Champions League in May, the ex-Tottenham man starred as Croatia reached the World Cup final for the first time in their history two months later.Modric is an influential midfielder who raises the game of those around him. He suffered a torrid start to 2018/19 off the back of a gruelling summer, and won't look back on this campaign with anywhere near the same warmth as the last, but find us a better– or more consistent –passer around.See also...The 10 best strikers in the worldThe 10 best forwards in the worldThe 10 best centre-backs in the worldThe 10 best goalkeepers in the worldNew features you'd love on FourFourTwo.com
