The trio of Toni Kroos, Casemiro, and Luka Modric has ruled European football for the better part of the last 10 years. Although Eduardo Camavinga and Fede Valverde have emerged as world-class talents in their own right, those three remain entrenched in Carlo Ancelotti’s XI. And for good reason. They are untouchable in their quality.
Modric and Kroos, in particular, have been pulling the strings over the last few seasons. There are so many matches where they make the difference, and we have seen that time after time this year in the Champions League. Look no further than Modric’s tie-saving trivela assist against Chelsea in the quarterfinal.
But where do Modric and Kroos rank among the best midfielders on the planet right now? Here is a top 10 list of the best current midfielders, with the Real Madrid duo making it high on the list…and one of their former teammates also getting a nod!
10. Manchester City DM Rodri
We begin with the underappreciated Rodri. It sneaks up on you, but the man scored seven goals in the Premier League this season, including a few bangers. The former Atletico Madrid rival is absolutely one of the best midfielders in the world, completing nearly 92 percent of his passes as the anchor of another one of the best midfielders there is in Manchester.
9. Lazio CM Sergej Milinkovic-Savic
The 27-year-old Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is entering the prime of his career, and he has now surpassed Nicolo Barella as the best midfielder in Serie A. Since Juventus seem to be set to sign Paul Pogba, SMS might stay with the club he loves for another year. Milinkovic-Savic can do it all in the Lazio midfield and has become quite the inspirational figure. He never stops working for the team in all phases and had a jaw-dropping 11 goals and 11 assists for Lazio this season.