Real Madrid: Ranking the top 10 players before 2019-2020 resumes

3. Real Madrid DM Casemiro

There isn’t a better defensive midfielder in world football than Casemiro, who set yet another career benchmark with his performances throughout the 2019-2020 season for Real Madrid. If Case ever had an off day, Real were in trouble, because the hard-working No. 6 was the man holding it all together for Los Merengues.

As his performance in both Clasicos showed, Casemiro is one of the few players who can mark Barcelona’s Lionel Messi out of the game. Casemiro’s intelligence off the ball in defense is incredible, and he rarely ever makes mistakes in the tackle. There are so many times where he dives in and you can’t help but wonder how on earth he successfully pulled off the tackle.

Always putting his body on the line, Casemiro gives his all to the team and helps the younger players. He and Fede Valverde put in the work of five men together in midfield, controlling games against the very best teams in Europe, such as Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

Casemiro could also help on the attacking end, both with his passing and scoring. His brace against Sevilla ensured Real Madrid would pick up all three points against Julen Lopetegui’s tenacious and impressive, Champions League-quality side.