10 smartest midfielders in football history
The most intelligent midfielders in football history were not only great players but also possessed an incredibly elegant style of play.
Of course, these midfielders are all technically excellent, possessing the passing skills and spatial awareness to dictate play. These players can operate deep in midfield, controlling the ball, or further up the pitch, moving into dangerous spaces between the lines.
Europe, in particular, has produced a lot of such talent. Here is a ranking of the 10 smartest players of all time.
10. Juan Roman Riquelme
Juan Roman Riquelme is still revered as one of football's greatest attacking midfielders. He was not a quick or strong player, but he had the vision and skill to make a dangerous pass or shoot on goal.
His heel handling, long passes over the line or powerful free kicks always make the audience admire.
9. Paul Scholes
Scholes is a Manchester United legend and one of the most intelligent midfielders the UK has ever produced. In an environment that favours physical players, Scholes - with his diminutive stature - won over fans with his unique style of play.
Scholes' passing range is unmatched. His long passes and delicate through balls have created many beautiful goals for MU.
8. Andres Iniesta
Andres Iniesta possesses an elegant playing style and a sharp tactical vision. He is not just a football player, but also a true artist on the field.
Iniesta, along with Xavi Hernandez and Sergio Busquets, formed the legendary central midfield trio of Barcelona and the Spanish national team. The tiki-taka style of short, small, continuous passes dominated world football for a long time.
7. Sergio Busquets
"You watch the game, you don't see Busquets. You watch Busquets, you see the whole game." Former coach Vicente del Bosque's quote perfectly sums up Sergio Busquets' important role at Barcelona and the Spanish national team.
Unlike Xavi and Iniesta, Busquets stands out with his simple yet effective style of play. He controls the rhythm of the game with short, precise passes and excellent positioning.
6. Xabi Alonso
Premier League fans, especially Liverpool fans, will remember the energetic and determined Alonso of his early career. However, in his later years at Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, Alonso transformed into a playmaker with excellent control of the game.
Unsurprisingly, after retiring, Alonso turned to coaching and has been very successful, having just won the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen and going unbeaten last season.
5. Luka Modric
Modric is not a typical creative midfielder, although he is technically excellent. Nor is he focused solely on keeping the ball. Instead, Modric possesses a unique combination of these qualities that allows him to contribute to all phases of the game in a way that few players can. His trivela passing is also a feature of his rare skill set.
4. Michel Platini
Michel Platini's reputation has been severely damaged by allegations of corruption during his time as UEFA president. However, his contributions to football as a player remain undeniable.
Platini was known for his elegant and efficient style of play. He moved confidently and controlled the ball well. His accurate passing and prolific scoring ability made him a complete player.
3. Zinedine Zidane
Few players have shone as brightly as the legendary Zinedine Zidane. "Zizou", as he was affectionately nicknamed, possessed all the qualities of a true football star: strength, confidence, impeccable ball control and a magical ability to create space.
Zidane's trademark dribbling is also a trademark. Going against him is a bad idea, just ask Marco Materazzi.
2. Xavi
Xavi is part of Barcelona's midfield triangle with Busquets and Iniesta. He is not just a passer, but also a true tactician on the pitch. His vision, reading of the game and excellent technique help him find space and make the right decisions.
1. Andrea Pirlo
Topping the list is Andrea Pirlo. Few play football as elegantly and calmly as the former Italian star.
From a passionate attacking midfielder, Pirlo gradually dropped deep and became a true conductor. He controlled the game with precise long passes and delicate through balls, turning the pitch into a giant chessboard. Pirlo was not only a player, but also an artist, a true conductor.