10 best attacking midfielders in world football 2023

Although modern football seems to have eliminated the number 10, there are still plenty of footballers who find ways to make an impact in the attacking midfield, either with a scheme of two flexible attacking midfielders or moving up this area of ​​the pitch from 4- 3-3. Even so, there are 10s who often play traditional CAM roles, such as Bruno Fernandes, or in some opponent-based systems, such as Paulo Dybala.

So, in honor of this wonderful position and the creator who inspired us to try some killer through balls in our local community pitches, let’s rank the best attacking midfielders in world football right now. We’ll exclude players who primarily play No. 8 or wide, and only keep players who have regularly found time in attacking midfield over the past few seasons.

10. Rayan Cherki

Rayan Cherki is a young rising star that you must know. He has been eyed by elite clubs such as Real Madrid for years, but Lyon have rejected any proposals for a sign-and-loan deal or similar ideas. They made perfect use of the young attacking midfielder, knowing that Cherki is one of the best young players in France since Mbappe.

Lyon gradually integrated Cherki into the first team, which is also his most appearance in the 2022/23 season. Cherki is one of the most efficient creators in Ligue 1, proving to be unstoppable at times with his close control inside the box, crosses and killer passes.

Cherki averaged 3.8 dribbles and 3.2 key passes per 90 minutes. By this time next year, he could be in the top three of this list if he can keep up that form over a 38-game Ligue 1 season. The 19-year-old is ready for superstardom.

9. Lorenzo Pellegrini

Lorenzo Pellegrini may be one of the most underrated players in European football. Before Paulo Dybala came along, he was Roma’s main star, and although he was overshadowed by the upcoming Serie A MVP candidates, Pellegrini was still one of the team’s most important players in Serie A, and he did A lot of the necessary dirty work. Help La Joya achieve greatness.

The 27-year-old averaged 2.2 key passes, 1.8 fouls and 1.0 dribbles per game, contributed 9 goals for Roma, and was an all-around monster in the midfield. Pellegrini also provided quality defensive work, winning possession and then pressing forward immediately to create new chances for Roma.

Before Dybala’s arrival, Pellegrini had scored at least 10 goals in three consecutive seasons, including an excellent 2021/22 season, when he scored 9 goals and 5 assists to become the top attacking player in Europe One of the midfielders.

8. Bruno Fernandez

Bruno Fernandes is a polarizing player who is not really a midfielder as he cannot maintain possession, make the necessary safe passes to recover the ball and defend space at a high level. But when Fernandes can get the freedom and possession of the ball in the No. 10 position, he becomes one of the best attack creators in world football.

To prove it, Fernandes led all players in Europe’s top five leagues with 219 shot chances created last season. When limiting the stats to creating shots in aerial combat, no one can match Fernandez, not even within 35.

The Portugal international has scored at least eight goals in each of the past seven seasons, both with Sporting and Manchester United. At the peak of his career, Fernandes was one of the most efficient players in the final third.

7. Dominique Sobersley

RB Leipzig have waved goodbye to Dominic Szobosle, with Liverpool signing one of world football’s most talented young technicians this summer for €70m (his release clause). Sobosley first emerged on the radar in 2021, and he was linked with clubs such as Real Madrid before he really broke out. He joined RB Leipzig and it proved to be the perfect move for him.

After a high-quality 2021/22 season with 6 goals and 8 assists, Sobosle is even better in his second Bundesliga season. Sobosley is one of the best players in the league, moving to the right wing, averaging more key passes per game (from 1.3 to 2.3) and taking far more dribbles per game (from 0.6 times to 1.7), becoming a more dynamic and physical player. player.

At just 22, Sobosley has the potential to become one of the best players in world football. His ability to score from outside the box deserves respect and has produced brilliant highlights, but Sobosley is a true playmaker at heart.

6. Kai Havertz

Arsenal have just signed Kai Havertz from Premier League rivals Chelsea, with Gabriel Jesus and Folarin Balogun or Eddie Nketiah occupying the forward position, with Havertz expected to be available in 2023 The /24 season served as an attacking midfielder.

It was a more natural position for the Germany international, who has made a name for himself as Leverkusen’s goal playmaker in the Bundesliga. Before opting for Chelsea in 2020, Havertz was on the radar of almost every top club in Europe, scoring 17 goals as a 19-year-old.

Although Havertz is not the Blues’ most prolific finisher, he is highly regarded in Germany’s top flight for his goalscoring and technical brilliance. Havertz is confident he can challenge for the number one spot on this list, as he has all the tools needed to become a superstar. Mikel Arteta should provide an ideal environment for the 24-year-old.

5. Martin Odegaard

Arsenal’s new captain, Martin Odegaard, was one of the best players in the Premier League last season, helping the Gunners win a lot of games with decisive passes and curling shots from the edge of the box. Odegaard played more like a central midfielder, attacking from the right with his left foot, but with so much possession they had and defensive right-back Ben White and world-class right-winger Bukayo The perfect combination between Saka, Odegaard can be used as a playmaker and can play freely.

The result was that Odegaard became one of the most efficient players in the entire Premier League, actually leveling left-winger Gabriel Martinelli for the team leader with 15 goals. Along the way, the Norway international averaged seven assists, 2.1 key passes and 1.3 dribbles per game.

After leaving Real Madrid, Odegaard completed his mission and became one of the best players in any position in the world. He showed the same world-class attacking quality during his loan spell at Real Sociedad from Madrid in 2019/20, only to be hampered by a knee injury. Arsenal was exactly where he belonged, and in that environment he showed in midfield an all-around ability that Real Madrid didn’t think he had in helping the defense and consistently pushing the game forward.

4. Paulo Dybala

Roma reached the Europa League final and qualified for the 2023/24 Europa League despite numerous injuries and a lack of depth and investment in the squad. But one of their smartest investments is the main reason for taking the club to this level.

Paulo Dybala joined Roma on a free in the summer transfer window of 2022, and Juventus actually underestimated him, thinking their club legend was injury-prone, meaning his best days were behind him, and there is a definite Facts need to be proven.

Instead, Dybala’s Roma finished above their opponents, with Dybala enjoying his best season since scoring an eye-popping 22 goals for Juve in 2017/18. In Italian football, no player – not even the Napoli superstar – has been able to raise the level of a team more than La Jolla.

3. Jamal Musiala

Everyone knew Jamal Musiala was going to be a special player in the end, but the fact that he was so good and so fast is a testament to his sheer quality. Indeed, Musiala has fared better than even the most optimistic prognosticators expected. Without him, Bayern Munich would not have been able to win the Bundesliga title this season, and it was the young Germany international’s arcing strike that sealed the title for the Bundesliga side on the final matchday of the 2022/23 season.

He has been outstanding from start to finish throughout the season, at as high a level as anyone in Germany’s top flight. Musiala scored 12 goals and provided 10 assists, displaying the highest intensity of Bayern, a team that demands the best athleticism and mentality from its players.

The 20-year-old Musiala was already the best player on one of the most prestigious teams in world football, creating plenty of chances for others and being unstoppable in tight quarters. With his ingenuity in off-ball movement and off-ball decision-making, Musiala builds confidence and tactical awareness in every passing game.

2. Neymar

Neymar’s second-place finish is already slim thanks to Musiara’s stellar performances, and the Brazilian is still plagued by injuries. However, when he’s healthy and in an environment where he can succeed, Neymar can be the absolute best player in the world. So why isn’t he number one? It’s an absolute shame that his injury woes have kept him from consistently performing at the best level in the world.

Before his injury, Neymar was actually PSG’s best player and it looked like he could be on his way to the Ballon d’Or. It was obviously short-lived, but it was impressive to see how Ney could force defenders into errors and create those chances out of thin air. He looks like a reborn player.

Despite everything Neymar has been through in 2022/23, he still ends the season with some of the most impressive statistics in the world. He has 13 goals and 11 assists in just 1,553 minutes, only Erling Haaland with a goal contribution rate of 1.40 per 90 minutes.

That’s a staggering number for a 31-year-old in the “off-season” who was more creative than his two attacking teammates, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe. The prejudice against Neymar has run through his entire career. When we talk about the double standards faced by black players in the media, we have to talk about how Neymar is viewed by the majority of the white “speakers” among the pundits of the sport.

1. Kevin De Bruyne

Neymar was the best attacking midfielder in the world at the time, but with his consistency year after year, week after week, the top spot had to go to Kevin De Bruyne. He did his best to continue playing through the injury, and despite being out when City won the Champions League, he was one of City’s most important players in both their first and most recent Champions League triumphs. Premier League Championship Victory.

De Bruyne’s 2022/23 Premier League campaign is almost as impressive as his record-breaking team-mate Haaland. The Belgian maestro provided more delightful assists with 16 assists and seven goals. He now has five professional league seasons with at least 15 assists. De Bruyne is creating 3.1 key passes per game and the consistency provided by Rodri and John Stones has seen KDB attack more than ever.

Moments of pure genius from De Bruyne can almost defy logic. He sees the game in a way that no one else can – even legendary manager Pep Guardiola is regularly amazed by De Bruyne’s cues, the passes he finds and the goals he scores. De Bruyne has clearly set the standard for playmaking in modern football.