The World Cup is drawing to a close, and players from all over the world have just announced themselves on the biggest stage in football.
It’s been a great year for midfielders, with the men in the centre of the park deciding entire matches for their teams with some stellar performances. But who were the best midfielders at this World Cup?
Let’s dive in for a closer look.
It’s easy to get forgotten when you’re playing in the same side as Lionel Messi. Mind you, it’s a little easier to stand out when you’re Argentinian and your name is Mac Allister.
The Brighton man was superb throughout Argentina’s run to World Cup glory, working hard for the team and showing the creative prowess that has made him one of the most popular midfielders outside of the Premier League’s top six.
This was Luka Modric’s fifth World Cup. Impressive, yes – but the truly amazing part is you could absolutely see him making it to another one.
The 37-year-old has been as exceptional as ever in Qatar, running the show in midfield for his side and ranking among the tournament leaders in both winning possession and progressive passes.
Modric has confirmed he intends to delay his international retirement until after the upcoming Nations League, but after that – who knows?
Back in January 2022, Spurs fans were so enraged by rumours of their club signing Sofyan Amrabat that they started an entire Twitter hashtag to prevent the deal from taking place.
11 months on, that outrage is beginning to look more than a little bit silly. Amrabat has been utterly mesmerising at this World Cup, flying into challenges like a madman and evading the press with his impressive close control. Surely a transfer is on the cards?
Griezmann wouldn’t have been classed as a midfielder in 2018, so his inclusion on this list speaks volumes to his adaptability and range as a footballer.
Kylian Mbappe and Olivier Giroud have grabbed the headlines with their goalscoring exploits, but Griezmann has been at the heart of everything good France have done and rebranded himself as Les Bleus’ creative outlet. What a transformation.
Griezmann wouldn’t have been classed as a midfielder in 2018, so his inclusion on this list speaks volumes to his adaptability and range as a footballer.
Kylian Mbappe and Olivier Giroud grabbed the headlines with their goalscoring exploits, but Griezmann was at the heart of everything good France did up to the final and rebranded himself as Les Bleus’ creative outlet. What a transformation.
Considering that Benfica knew Enzo Fernandez’s time at the Estadio da Luz was probably limited, they’ll be chuffed knowing he was a key part of Argentina’s World Cup win and can add a few more zeroes to his price tag.
Spare a thought for Wolves who came so agonisingly close to signing the tournament’s official Best Young Player back in the summer.
Credit: 90min.com
