Central midfielders: Pedri, Rice, Valverde, more

Midfield is often the biggest battleground successful soccer, and players who inhabit that precious territory instrumentality galore forms and person galore roles. There are antiaircraft midfielders who make attacks oregon destruct those of their opponents. There are besides cardinal midfielders who link the dots successful modulation with defense-splitting passes oregon otherworldly spot successful possession.

These rankings observe some forms, from the disruptors similar Aurelien Tchouaméni and Alexis Mac Allister to the space-covering, two-way stars similar Declan Rice and Bruno Guimarães.

All stats provided by ESPN Research; each ages close arsenic of June 1.

The 2024-25 FC 100, presumption by position

Go to: Goalkeeper | Fullbacks | Center backs | Defensive/central midfielders | Attacking midfielders | Wingers | Center forwards

15. Sandro TONALI, Newcastle United/Italy, 25 years old

What makes him special: Plays with calm, composure and cleverness successful midfield, becoming a important portion of Newcastle's team.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all midfielders): Unranked.

One cardinal stat: Tied for 3rd successful the Premier League successful possessions won successful the mediate 3rd of the transportation (109).

Why he's connected the list: On the pitch, Tonali has been the taxable of predictable comparisons to Italian fable Andrea Pirlo owed to his benignant of play, AC Milan inheritance and carnal similarities. But the 25-year-old has emerged to beryllium himself arsenic a top-class midfielder astatine Newcastle successful his ain right, a subordinate susceptible of creating and destroying, blending tenacity with vision.

Tonali's midfield concern with Bruno Guimarães has go 1 of the champion successful Europe, and aft serving a 10-month suspension for breaching betting regulations, Tonali has go a standout subordinate successful the Premier League.

What helium says: "When I had the prohibition for 10 months, I was inactive wrong St James' Park, and [the level of affection] from the fans felt the same. It was the aforesaid arsenic earlier the ban. Any subordinate who had a 10-month ban, if you person those fans, it makes it easier and it felt quicker."

What they say: "When I archetypal saw Sandro play, determination were definite links to Pirlo, without a doubt, and it's not conscionable the hair. There's much to it than that." -- Newcastle manager Eddie Howe.

What's next: With his suspension firmly down him and Newcastle looking to fortify up of a hopeful situation for the Premier League rubric adjacent season, Tonali is primed to assistance the nine look arsenic the biggest menace to recently crowned champions Liverpool. And with Italy attempting to suffice for the World Cup for the archetypal clip since 2014, Tonali could bask a glorious 2026 if helium delivers occurrence to St James' Park and besides plays a cardinal relation successful helping Italy triumph a 5th title. -- Mark Ogden

14. Aurélien TCHOUAMÉNI, Real Madrid/France, 25

What makes him special: An unfussy antiaircraft midfielder who's besides a precise capable halfway backmost erstwhile required.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all midfielders): 7

One cardinal stat: Led Real Madrid with 575 antiaircraft interventions successful LaLiga, the Champions League and the Copa del Rey.

Why he's connected the list: Tchouaméni's estimation is inactive higher among shot fans mostly than Real Madrid fans, who person been frustrated astatine times -- with immoderate whistles from the assemblage astatine the Santiago Bernabéu -- by his limitations connected the ball. That said, helium has inactive been an important contributor, playing 31 league games this play -- galore of them arsenic exigency halfway back, wherever he's performed beauteous well.

Tchouaméni scored 2 immense goals successful Madrid's Copa del Rey run, too, some thundering headers: 1 successful the 4-4 semifinal 2nd limb with Real Sociedad, and different successful the 3-2 last decision to Barcelona, concisely putting Madrid successful front. Given his aerial ability, helium should airs a extremity menace much often.

What helium says: "There's ever criticism. You tin beryllium the champion successful the world, but radical inactive speech astir your level. With acquisition you cognize that. The astir important happening is trying to amended each the time."

What they say: "He's bully with his head, his positioning is good, helium has bully tactical understanding. ... He mightiness play well, not truthful well, oregon person a problem, but he's ever delivered. I tin lone retrieve 1 wide mistake, wherever we conceded a goal." -- Former Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, connected Tchouaméni playing successful defense

What's next: Xabi Alonso's accomplishment arsenic Madrid's caller manager could beryllium a make-or-break infinitesimal for Tchouaméni. Will helium yet cement his spot successful the Madrid midfield and soundlessness his critics, proceed to capable successful arsenic a defender, oregon volition helium suffer his spot successful the squad wholly if the nine signs a cardinal midfielder who's much talented connected the ball? -- Alex Kirkland

13. Fabián RUIZ, Paris Saint-Germain/Spain, 29

What makes him special: Ruiz possesses an elegant near ft and has a knack for arriving successful the container astatine the cleanable time.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all midfielders): Unranked.

One cardinal stat: 28 chances created successful the Champions League this season, tied for 5th astir successful the competition.

Why he's connected the list: Ruiz went viral past summertime erstwhile helium sent Germany's Toni Kroos, Thomas Müller and Florian Wirtz each skidding retired of the picture. With 1 turn, the Spain midfielder took each 3 retired of the crippled arsenic La Roja knocked the hosts retired of the European Championships successful Germany. Spain went connected to triumph the trophy (with Ruiz playing a large role) and arsenic a result, the young midfielder has been getting immoderate of the recognition galore consciousness helium has deserved for years. He has since been portion of Paris Saint-Germain's occurrence communicative nether Luis Enrique, scoring successful the Champions League semifinal triumph implicit Arsenal and further enhancing his reputation.

What helium says: "I consciousness comfy with the shot and playing a positional game. I similar to get into the box, but I tin besides driblet backmost and play the shot retired from deep."

What they say: "An exceptional, underrated player. If helium was not called Fabián, you would beryllium speaking astir him a batch more. He represents each those players that enactment successful the shadows without the media designation for their hard enactment oregon the occurrence they person had." -- Spain manager Luis de la Fuente

What's next: Fresh disconnected PSG's first-ever UEFA Champions League title, it feels similar Ruiz's vocation volition beryllium spent perpetually having to reprove himself. At PSG, Vitinha, João Neves and Warren Zaïre-Emery are each battling for midfield positions, portion helium has the likes of Rodri and Pedri to vie with astatine the planetary level. So far, helium has seen disconnected each his rivals, truthful don't stake against him having different large twelvemonth heading into the 2026 World Cup. -- Sam Marsden

12. Rodrigo DE PAUL, Atlético Madrid/Argentina, 31

What makes him special: The cardinal originative fig successful Atlético's caller midfield, and Lionel Messi's right-hand antheral with Argentina.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all midfielders): Unranked.

One cardinal stat: Had 8 assists successful LaLiga and the Copa del Rey, tied for 4th astir among midfielders successful those competitions (Isco and Arda Güler).

Why he's connected the list: De Paul arrived astatine Atlético 4 years ago, but it feels similar helium lone reached his afloat imaginable successful 2024-25. This season, helium became the heartbeat of Diego Simeone's team, for amended oregon worse. When De Paul is connected form, controlling the game's tempo with his scope of abbreviated and agelong passing, Atlético are astatine their best; erstwhile helium isn't, they struggle. But was much consistently influential successful this run than ever before. The midfielder is 1 of LaLiga's astir originative players and plays a captious relation successful helping Atlético beforehand up the pitch, ranking 12th successful the league for passes into the absorption fractional and 11th for passes into the last third.

De Paul has besides got extremity product, creating 38 chances successful 33 league games, though 3 goals and 4 assists is simply a somewhat underwhelming tally. His show of the play came successful Atlético's 1-0 triumph implicit Real Madrid successful the Champions League circular of 16, wherever helium wholly dominated midfield, earlier Atlético went retired connected penalties. As for Argentina: He played 90 minutes successful their seismic 4-1 triumph implicit Brazil successful March.

What helium says: "When you endure more, you bask it much too. We've been moving hard, I deliberation they're 12 wins successful a row. The squad deserves to extremity the twelvemonth similar that." (on beating Barça to extremity 2024 apical of LaLiga)

What they say: "He's an experienced player, a satellite champion, who's been playing his champion shot for Atlético lately. He's precise important for us, he's a subordinate who reads the crippled with a batch of personality." -- Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone

What's next: This is simply a large summertime for De Paul. His declaration astatine Atlético expires successful June 2026 and some nine and subordinate volition person to determine whether to widen oregon look for a move. -- Alex Kirkland

11. Frenkie DE JONG, Barcelona/Netherlands, 28

What makes him special: A midfielder who tin crook defence into onslaught successful the blink of an eye, spinning distant from the property and driving guardant with the shot glued to his foot.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all midfielders): 14

One cardinal stat: Finished 2nd successful LaLiga with an 88.5% occurrence complaint successful guardant passes (minimum 250 guardant passes attempted).

Why he's connected the list: De Jong's Barça vocation has been up and down astatine times, and determination was uncertainty astir his spot successful the archetypal squad erstwhile helium returned from an ankle wounded earlier this season. However, helium reclaimed his place, excelling alongside Pedri astatine the basal of the midfield, and produced immoderate of his champion shot for the nine successful the 2nd fractional of the run arsenic Barcelona surged to triumph LaLiga.

What helium says: "I'm a controlling midfielder. I play arsenic a No. 6. I tin surely people and assist, but conscionable due to the fact that a subordinate doesn't people doesn't mean they are not playing well."

What they say: "De Jong is sensational; he's a world-class player. He amazed maine to the aforesaid grade arsenic Lamine Yamal did." -- Internazionale manager Simone Inzaghi

What's next: At 28, De Jong is reaching a large vocation crossroads. The Dutchman needs to benignant retired his declaration -- his Barça woody is up successful 2026 -- and past absorption connected utilizing this season's signifier arsenic a springboard for the next. That should beryllium astatine Barça, who privation him to stay, but if helium doesn't renew soon, determination volition beryllium nary shortage of involvement from apical European clubs. -- Sam Marsden

10. João NEVES, Paris Saint-Germain/Portugal, 20

What makes him special: The heartbeat of Paris Saint-Germain's outstanding midfield.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all midfielders): Unranked.

One cardinal stat: Led PSG with 56 antiaircraft duels won successful the Champions League.

Why he's connected the list: The 20-year-old had an array of options erstwhile it became wide helium was leaving Benfica past year, and it was a mild astonishment that helium chose to determination to Ligue 1. But his determination to determination to France looks inspired, due to the fact that the young midfielder has established himself arsenic 1 of the champion emerging talents successful the satellite alongside Ruiz and Vitinha successful Luis Enrique's midfield. Neves tin bash everything -- helium tin triumph the ball, administer it and acceptable the tempo of the crippled from the halfway of the pitch. The Portugal planetary was 1 of the stars of the play during PSG's tally to a first-ever Champions League title.

What helium says: "I bask playing successful midfield, nary substance the position. One of the things that attracted maine to Paris was the flexibility to power roles during the game. Sticking to conscionable 1 spot tin bounds my development. I judge this versatility is bully for some my maturation and evolution."

What they say: "The champion mode to justice a subordinate is the absorption successful the changing room. Certain things intelligibly gain the respect of the changing room. At 19 years of age, João earned the respect of the changing country successful 2 days. I'd ne'er seen that successful my career." -- Portugal manager Roberto Martínez

What's next: Barcelona and Manchester United missed retired connected Neves erstwhile helium signed for PSG arsenic a 19-year-old. But portion the French champions are 1 of Europe's apical clubs, PSG person discovered that they cannot support the biggest stars -- Kylian Mbappé being the evident 1 -- due to the fact that the situation of Ligue 1 does not lucifer that connected connection successful England oregon Spain. The large question astir Neves is however agelong he'll enactment successful France earlier pursuing a determination elsewhere. -- Mark Ogden

9. Ryan GRAVENBERCH, Liverpool/Netherlands, 23

What makes him special: He has made the No. 6 relation -- providing further musculus successful beforehand of the defence arsenic good arsenic kick-starting attacks successful modulation -- his ain astatine Liverpool, filling the Reds' biggest presumption of request and helping propel them to a 2nd league rubric successful 3 seasons.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all midfielders): Unranked.

One cardinal stat: Led Liverpool with 193 recoveries successful the Premier League this season.

Why he's connected the list: Last summer, Gravenberch's Liverpool vocation appeared to beryllium coming to a premature end. The midfielder's debut 2023-24 run successful England -- aft a determination from Bayern Munich -- was underwhelming arsenic helium struggled to found himself arsenic a regular starter nether then-manager Jürgen Klopp. But Liverpool failed to onshore Martín Zubimendi from Real Sociedad past summer, and caller manager Arne Slot opted to enactment his religion successful Gravenberch arsenic his antiaircraft midfielder.

While not a emblematic No. 6 tasked with simply shielding the defence and intercepting absorption passes, Gravenberch's blend of physicality and method brilliance was 1 of the astir awesome aspects of Liverpool's bonzer season. At 23, helium inactive has plentifulness of country to get better.

What helium says: "In the opening of the play I had to accommodate to the caller role, to the caller position. I didn't play a batch determination but present I cognize what I person to do. The manager afloat trusted maine there, truthful I'm truly blessed with that."

What they say: "As helium got older, we started to spot helium had a definite accomplishment acceptable that conscionable wasn't normal. From a precise aboriginal age, we could archer helium was a peculiar boy." -- Ryan Gravenberch Sr., Gravenberch's father

What's next: The quality betwixt a bully subordinate and a large 1 is the quality to support delivering play aft season. After a stellar, title-winning campaign, tin Gravenberch support those precocious standards? With the Reds looking to bolster successful the summertime transportation window, he'll request to stay salient and ascendant successful the look of affable competition. -- Beth Lindop

8. Bruno GUIMARÃES, Newcastle United/Brazil, 27

What makes him special: A person who combines quantity and prime similar fewer others.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all midfielders): 17

One cardinal stat: Recorded 52 chances created successful the Premier League this season, astir connected Newcastle United.

Why he's connected the list: When it comes to two-way cardinal midfielders who tin bash a spot of everything, determination are fewer better, and helium tin run arsenic a antiaircraft midfielder, a deep-lying playmaker oregon adjacent successful a box-to-box role. He's besides hugely durable and consistent, having missed conscionable 1 league crippled for Newcastle successful the past 2 seasons.

At 27, helium has 33 caps for Brazil -- though his signifier implicit the past 3 years makes you consciousness similar helium should person more. He's a extremity scorer, too, averaging astir 5 league goals a play successful the past 3 years, each of them from unfastened play.

What helium says: "I've ever had this truly beardown tendency successful wanting to beryllium the best, successful wanting to win. I can't judge losing. I hatred losing. After we lose, sometimes I don't privation to talk to anyone. I don't talk to my partner. I conscionable privation to beryllium softly and ticker TV series. I'm truly upset erstwhile we lose."

What they say: "With his flamboyance comes a steeliness, which is hugely important successful his position." -- Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe

What's next: He's committed to Newcastle until 2028, conscionable earlier his 31st birthday, and portion helium has been the taxable of transportation speculation successful the past, he's blessed and settled astatine the club. They person the resources to support him blessed some financially and successful presumption of his ambition -- they've qualified for the Champions League successful 2 of the past 3 seasons -- suggesting he's not going anywhere. Next summertime volition beryllium large arsenic helium looks to cement himself successful Carlo Ancelotti's Brazil midfield astatine the 2026 World Cup. -- Rob Dawson

7. Joshua KIMMICH, Bayern Munich/Germany, 30

What makes him special: Whether successful midfield oregon astatine fullback, creating other onslaught oregon tempo-setting pivot play, Kimmich provides what the infinitesimal requires.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all midfielders): 15

One cardinal stat: Led Bundesliga with 119.2 touches and 96.5 passes completed per game.

Why he's connected the list: The affectional bosom of the Bayern lineup since his accomplishment from RB Leipzig successful 2015, Kimmich has produced betwixt 7 and 15 combined goals and assists, positive astatine slightest 200 antiaircraft interventions, for 9 consecutive seasons. He's harmless successful buildup play, tin measurement successful defensively erstwhile helium has to, and has the endowment to sound successful a long-range extremity erstwhile the infinitesimal calls for it.

Different Bayern managers person envisioned antithetic optimal roles for the 30-year-old, and astatine the infinitesimal he's some Vincent Kompany's starting cardinal midfielder (for Bayern) and Julian Nagelsmann's starting close backmost (for Germany). If he's in the lineup, you astir apt aren't losing: Since the commencement of August, helium has played successful 58 matches and mislaid conscionable 7 of them.

What helium says: "At FC Bayern, I person the champion situation to execute my sporting goals ... I consciousness astatine location present and I americium not finished yet."

What they say: "Mentality and individuality -- that is what Joshua Kimmich represents. He has internalized the DNA of FC Bayern implicit the years and embodies it some connected and disconnected the field. Where others stop, helium starts." -- Bayern sporting manager Max Eberl

What's next: After helium struggled to spot eye-to-eye with erstwhile Bayern brag Thomas Tuchel and declaration negotiations stalled for a bit, it appeared that Kimmich mightiness beryllium looking toward a caller section extracurricular of Munich. Instead, helium extended his declaration to 2029. He should stay the fulcrum, and heart, of the Bayern lineup for the foreseeable future. His 3rd World Cup is connected the horizon, too. -- Bill Connelly

6. Nicolò BARELLA, Inter Milan/Italy, 28

What makes him special: A dynamic, earthy midfield person with a warrior mentality and charisma to burn.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all midfielders): 13

One cardinal stat: Led Inter with 254 antiaircraft interventions and 165 recoveries successful Serie A.

Why he's connected the list: A standout from an aboriginal age, Barella became the youngest subordinate to skipper Cagliari earlier his 21st birthday. He ne'er stops running, but besides has a flair for the spectacular, whether it's backmost heels, dribbles oregon long-distance strikes. It's an antithetic premix for a subordinate who is, fundamentally, a cardinal midfielder (a classical No. 8). He was unfazed by his big-money determination to Inter, coolly establishing himself arsenic a fixture successful their midfield, and the Italian nationalist squad is beauteous overmuch built astir him. His intelligence toughness and strength person agelong made him some a instrumentality favourite and a subordinate who is admired and respected by opponents.

What helium says: "What makes maine proud? Not truthful overmuch praise and emotion from teammates and fans, due to the fact that that's easier to get -- they privation to enactment you. Rather, erstwhile I consciousness the respect and the recognition from an opponent, not needfully successful words, but successful the mode they play and enactment toward me. That's not thing you tin fake."

What they say: "He's similar N'Golo Kanté, and that's the champion praise I tin springiness him. He covers each leaf of grass, helium does the moving for others and he's physically strong. Both of them are a immense assistance to maine successful midfield." -- midfielder and Italy teammate Jorginho

What's next: Barella is locked into a semipermanent woody astatine Inter that runs done 2029, erstwhile he'll beryllium 32. It's highly apt he'll extremity up arsenic a nine legend, and he'll possibly spell backmost to his autochthonal Sardinia and Cagliari aft that. -- Gab Marcotti

5. VITINHA, Paris Saint-Germain/Portugal, 25

What makes him special: His shot composure, property resistance, method quality and quality acceptable him apart.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all midfielders): Unranked.

One cardinal stat: Finished 2nd among Ligue 1 midfielders with 592 progressive actions.

Why he's connected the list: Imagine a subordinate who finished a Champions League semifinal with 100% passing accuracy against 1 of the champion teams successful Europe. Not a azygous misplaced walk for 90-plus minutes. Imagine a subordinate who went to Anfield to look the champion squad successful Europe astatine the time, and thrived successful beforehand of the Kop and against the Liverpool press, bossing the midfield and the crippled to assistance his squad suffice against each odds. That subordinate is Vitinha.

At 25, he's go 1 of the champion antiaircraft midfielders successful Europe since manager Luis Enrique moved him from his favored No. 8 presumption to a holding role, wherever helium tin power the tempo of the crippled and physique play from heavy -- oh, and bully luck trying to get the shot disconnected him. Despite being small, helium is elusive with the shot astatine his feet acknowledgment to his composure, calmness and adjacent control. He besides has 1 of the highest shot IQs successful Europe; his imaginativeness and knowing of the crippled marque him the benignant of deep-lying playmaker we don't spot overmuch anymore.

What helium says: "I deliberation I'm comfy playing successful each midfield positions. Whether it's deeper oregon higher up oregon box-to-box. I consciousness comfy there, successful a holding role. I consciousness bully successful that position, which shows connected the pitch. I similar gathering up the game, starting from a deeper presumption and moving my mode up the pitch."

What they say: "Vitinha is present the maestro of European football. He's holding the wand. He is 1 of the champion midfielders successful the world, without a doubt." -- Portugal manager Roberto Martínez

What's next: More of the same? Expect Vitinha's advancement implicit the past 18 months to continue, arsenic PSG person signed him to a semipermanent contract. He has learned a batch this season, particularly from moments erstwhile helium has been little influential. But arsenic helium gets much acquisition and much confidence, helium volition beryllium adjacent harder to stop. -- Julien Laurens

4. Alexis MAC ALLISTER, Liverpool/Argentina, 26

What makes him special: He is the heartbeat of Liverpool's midfield and a two-way subordinate who has transformed the Reds into rubric winners.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all midfielders): 18

One cardinal stat: Recorded 346 duels successful Premier League this season, 2nd astir among antiaircraft midfielders.

Why he's connected the list: If there's 1 connection that champion sums up Mac Allister, it's consistent. The Argentina planetary was adjacent to a changeless beingness successful the Liverpool midfield this play and precise seldom delivered an underpar performance. He has everything you privation from a midfielder -- tenacity successful the tackle, but with the prime and guile to unpick a packed defense. He besides has an oculus for spectacular goals and with a Premier League rubric to spell with his 2022 World Cup trophy, helium has the relentless mindset of a proven winner.

What helium says: "Every clip I consciousness acceptable past the manager knows that I volition beryllium determination to assistance the team. That's the lone happening I want: to play, to consciousness important, to effort to assistance the team."

What they say: "He is 1 of the fewer players successful the satellite that combines this large crippled intelligence, large connected the ball, but [with] a tenacity without the ball. In our midfield, helium stands retired successful presumption of tenacity." -- Liverpool manager Arne Slot

What's next: At 26, Mac Allister has a trophy furniture that would marque astir seasoned footballers envious. He's entering his highest years and volition beryllium anxious to adhd immoderate much silverware, including the UEFA Champions League, to his collection. -- Beth Lindop

3. Federico VALVERDE, Real Madrid/Uruguay, 26

What makes him special: Never stops moving ... unless it's to people different golazo.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all midfielders): 26

Key stats: Scored 5 goals from extracurricular the punishment country successful LaLiga, tied for the astir this play with Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal, portion finishing 2nd successful LaLiga with 55 interceptions.

Why he's connected the list: Carlo Ancelotti, manager of Real Madrid until the extremity of 2024-25, said Valverde was the world's third-best close backmost ... which isn't atrocious for a midfielder. This season, it often felt similar Valverde was the lone happening holding this Real Madrid squad together, covering intolerable distances arsenic a one-man nexus betwixt the side's "fantastic four" successful onslaught -- Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo -- and the rest. And if that wasn't enough, helium was called upon to fill-in astatine close back, successful high-pressure Champions League knockout ties against Manchester City and Arsenal.

Naturally, helium excelled and astatine 26, there's inactive plentifulness much to come. He has been anointed arsenic 1 of Madrid's captains, and cipher doubts that he'll beryllium the team's undisputed person earlier excessively long.

What helium says: "As a skipper you're looked astatine differently. It's a immense root of pride."

What they say: "He's the astir implicit subordinate successful shot close now. He tin screen each imaginable position. He could adjacent play arsenic a halfway back." -- Ancelotti

What's next: It volition beryllium fascinating to ticker Valverde's improvement erstwhile helium starts receiving coaching from 1 of this century's large midfielders -- and caller Madrid manager -- Xabi Alonso. Valverde tin marque a lawsuit for being Madrid's astir important player; each that's missing is for the remainder of the satellite to recognize that. -- Alex Kirkland

2. Declan RICE, Arsenal/England, 26

What makes him special: An all-action, £105 cardinal midfielder the Arsenal fans deliberation the nine signed for "half price," the passionateness and dynamism helium provides has been the missing constituent successful the Gunners' midfield.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all midfielders): 3

Key stats: He is the lone subordinate with aggregate nonstop free-kick goals successful the Champions League this season. He besides led the Premier League with 2.5 expected assists (xA) from corners and escaped kicks.

Why he's connected the list: While everyone fell astir him this season, Declan Rice stood adjacent taller. The Gunners endured an injury-ravaged campaign, but lone David Raya and William Saliba played much minutes than Rice, who continues to germinate his crippled nether manager Mikel Arteta. Rice went from halfway backmost to holding midfielder astatine West Ham United, but since joining Arsenal successful 2023, the 26-year-old has go a highly effectual No. 8 by displaying a hitherto untapped attacking facet to his game.

His 2 escaped kicks successful April's Champions League quarterfinal triumph implicit Real Madrid were the archetypal 2 dead-ball goals of his vocation and immoderate of the finest execution of the trade anyone could privation to see. He volition surely beryllium astatine the epicenter of Arsenal's efforts to extremity their hold for Premier League and Champions League glory.

What helium says: [On Arsenal teammates calling him "the horse."] "It's positive! [Oleksandr] Zinchenko started it and past Jorginho went with it. Now everyone starts calling maine it. I deliberation it's due to the fact that they deliberation I tin tally each day, that I'm athletic, my quality to spell again, my sustainability and availability to the team. Even 2 days since the past game, I'm moving astir successful grooming and they're reasoning I'm a huffy man. I don't caput the nickname but I conscionable person to support it going."

What they say: "If I had to picture him with a representation it would beryllium a lighthouse; this is however I spot him. When I was envisioning the squad, however tin I explicate him? How tin I spot him successful the team? His pressing, he's overlooking everything, he's bringing airy and clarity and guidance for everybody." -- Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta

What's next: Arteta wants much goals from Rice arsenic helium seeks further betterment from the England international. After losing successive European Championship finals, Rice volition anticipation to spell 1 amended with his state astatine the World Cup. -- James Olley

1. PEDRI, Barcelona/Spain, 22

What makes him special: Pedri blends the qualities of his 2 puerility heroes, Xavi Hernández and Andrés Iniesta, arsenic the person of Barça's midfield.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all midfielders): 8

Key stats: Had the astir recoveries (254) among players successful the apical 5 European leagues, portion tying for 3rd successful LaLiga with 70 chances created.

Why he's connected the list: Pedri has conscionable wrapped the champion play of his career. Injuries halted the 22-year-old's advancement aft an outstanding breakout run successful 2020-21, but Barça manager Hansi Flick and his fittingness squad kept him successful impeccable signifier this year. Pedri played a cardinal relation arsenic Barça won a home treble (LaLiga, the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de España).

With the ball, he's 1 of the champion accidental creators successful Spain. Without it, he's among the champion astatine winning it back. He tin pass, dictate play and gaffe distant from opponents erstwhile it looks similar determination is obscurity to go. At 5-foot-8, he's speedy and beardown and, for some, Barça's champion subordinate this season. Pedri is an elite originative midfielder who should proceed to get better.

What helium says: "It's ever been a imagination of excavation to assistance the Ballon d'Or. Since Rodri won it, it' has shown that a subordinate who runs the midfield and dictates the tempo and the bushed of the crippled tin triumph a Ballon d'Or."

What they say: "Pedri is much important than Lamine Yamal and Raphinha. He has the quality to dribble past players erstwhile determination is nary space. A subordinate similar Pedri helps you successful each country of the game." -- former Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos

What's next: Pedri's aims with his nine and state implicit the adjacent 12 months could not beryllium clearer. The people is to assistance Barça, with whom helium precocious penned a caller declaration until 2030, triumph a archetypal Champions League crown since 2015, and instrumentality European champions Spain to triumph astatine adjacent summer's World Cup. On an idiosyncratic level, determination is country for him to amended successful the last third. His 9 extremity contributions successful LaLiga could beryllium improved, though his teammates haven't ever helped; helium has conscionable 5 assists from 65 chances created and an xA (expected assists) of 8.59. -- Sam Marsden

The 2024-25 FC 100, presumption by position

Go to: Goalkeeper | Fullbacks | Center backs | Defensive/central midfielders | Attacking midfielders | Wingers | Center forwards