Profiles of world football's top midfielders
The engine room of any successful team, the midfield is that well balanced blend of defensive surety and attacking flair, always available to assist in repelling the opposition and, at once, drive their team forward towards the opponents goal.
Harry Kewell
Harry Kewell is an exciting midfielder from Australia who made his name as a young star at Leeds United before moving to Liverpool and Galatasaray.
Harry Kewell is an exciting midfielder from Australia who made his name as a young star at Leeds United before moving to Liverpool and Galatasaray.
Aaron Lennon
Plucked from a sinking Leeds United in 2005, Tottenham Hotpsur's Aaron Lennon has quickly grown to prove himself as an exciting attacking wide player for both Spurs and England, combining lightening pace with tricky close control and skill to devastating effect.
Plucked from a sinking Leeds United in 2005, Tottenham Hotpsur's Aaron Lennon has quickly grown to prove himself as an exciting attacking wide player for both Spurs and England, combining lightening pace with tricky close control and skill to devastating effect.
Anderson
One of the exciting youth prospects in European football Anderson has recently signed for Manchester United
One of the exciting youth prospects in European football Anderson has recently signed for Manchester United
Andrea Pirlo
Andrea Pirlo is a commanding midfielder who is simply the best in the business at dictating and controlling the run of play from the centre of the park. His creativity and strength has led him to be considered as a midfield maestro and one of Europe's best players.
Andrea Pirlo is a commanding midfielder who is simply the best in the business at dictating and controlling the run of play from the centre of the park. His creativity and strength has led him to be considered as a midfield maestro and one of Europe's best players.
Arjen Robben
Arjen Robben is an impressive Dutch player who is extremely effective on the wing at penetrating defences with his impressive skill and natural flair.
Arjen Robben is an impressive Dutch player who is extremely effective on the wing at penetrating defences with his impressive skill and natural flair.
Cesc Fabregas
Cesc Fabregas has succeeded in establishing himself as one of the most talented midfielders playing in the Premiership with his impressive creative abilities.
Cesc Fabregas has succeeded in establishing himself as one of the most talented midfielders playing in the Premiership with his impressive creative abilities.
Clarence Seedorf
AC Milan's midfield maestro Clarence Seedorf is widely renowned throughout the world for his talents
AC Milan's midfield maestro Clarence Seedorf is widely renowned throughout the world for his talents
Cristiano Ronaldo
Having regained his hero status at Old Trafford following some World Cup antics with United teammate Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo has enjoyed the best season of his career as the young Portuguese star sets himself up for both PFA Player and Young Player of the Year awards in 2007.
Having regained his hero status at Old Trafford following some World Cup antics with United teammate Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo has enjoyed the best season of his career as the young Portuguese star sets himself up for both PFA Player and Young Player of the Year awards in 2007.
Daniele De Rossi
Daniele De Rossi was a member of the Italian squad that won the 2006 FIFA World Cup and he is widely regarded as a strong and imposing midfielder with attacking flair for his club side Roma.
Daniele De Rossi was a member of the Italian squad that won the 2006 FIFA World Cup and he is widely regarded as a strong and imposing midfielder with attacking flair for his club side Roma.
David Albelda
David Albelda has played for Valencia throughout his entire career and has established himself as a strong, insightful and commanding defensive midfielder.
David Albelda has played for Valencia throughout his entire career and has established himself as a strong, insightful and commanding defensive midfielder.
David Beckham
Career history and background of English football legend David Beckham
Career history and background of English football legend David Beckham
David Silva
One of Valencia's hottest and brightest talents for the future David Silva has impressed with commanding performances for club and country in the midfield role.
One of Valencia's hottest and brightest talents for the future David Silva has impressed with commanding performances for club and country in the midfield role.
Deco
Career history and background of Portuguese international Deco
Career history and background of Portuguese international Deco
Dejan Stankovic
Dejan Stankovic has honed his skills playing for the likes of Red Star Belgrade, Lazio and Inter Milan to become an extremely influential and skillful midfield maestro.
Dejan Stankovic has honed his skills playing for the likes of Red Star Belgrade, Lazio and Inter Milan to become an extremely influential and skillful midfield maestro.
Florent Malouda
Florent Malouda is an impressive French player who predominantly plays on the left wing but can also be successfully utilised behind the front two.
Florent Malouda is an impressive French player who predominantly plays on the left wing but can also be successfully utilised behind the front two.
Francesco Totti
Roma's talisman Francesco Totti has established himself as one of the most exciting and influential attacking forwards in this generation.
Roma's talisman Francesco Totti has established himself as one of the most exciting and influential attacking forwards in this generation.
Franck Ribery
French international winger Franck Ribery has built a strong reputation throughout Europe as an attacking force on the wing or in a free roaming role for some of Europe's top clubs such as Olympique Marseille and Bayern Munich.
French international winger Franck Ribery has built a strong reputation throughout Europe as an attacking force on the wing or in a free roaming role for some of Europe's top clubs such as Olympique Marseille and Bayern Munich.
Frank Lampard
Adored by Chelsea fans and massively under-rated by fans of other clubs who see him as an opportunistic, pie loving media favourite, Frank Lampard has been one of the Premiership's top midfield goalscorers of recent years and a continual conundrum when he pulls on the white shirt of England.
Adored by Chelsea fans and massively under-rated by fans of other clubs who see him as an opportunistic, pie loving media favourite, Frank Lampard has been one of the Premiership's top midfield goalscorers of recent years and a continual conundrum when he pulls on the white shirt of England.
Gennaro Gattuso
Gennaro Gattuso has established himself as one of the strongest defensive midfielders in European football playing for Italian giants AC Milan.
Gennaro Gattuso has established himself as one of the strongest defensive midfielders in European football playing for Italian giants AC Milan.
Giovani dos Santos
Giovani dos Santos is one of a group of exciting young attacking talents to have came through the youth ranks at Barcelona in recent seasons and has all of the attributes to become a major force in world soccer.
Giovani dos Santos is one of a group of exciting young attacking talents to have came through the youth ranks at Barcelona in recent seasons and has all of the attributes to become a major force in world soccer.
Javier Mascherano
Javier Mascherano has burst onto the European stage to become widely regarded as one of the most impressive and commanding defensive midfielders in current football.
Javier Mascherano has burst onto the European stage to become widely regarded as one of the most impressive and commanding defensive midfielders in current football.
Juan Roman Riquelme
Argentina international Juan Roman Riquelme has proven his talent in both his native Argentina for Argentinos Juniors and Boca Juniors and in Spain for Barcelona and Villareal, combining close control and mesmerising skills to devastating effect.
Argentina international Juan Roman Riquelme has proven his talent in both his native Argentina for Argentinos Juniors and Boca Juniors and in Spain for Barcelona and Villareal, combining close control and mesmerising skills to devastating effect.
Luis Figo
Luis Figo is simply one of the most famous and successful players of this generation having established himself at the best clubs in Europe and as the spearhead of the Portuguese national team.
Luis Figo is simply one of the most famous and successful players of this generation having established himself at the best clubs in Europe and as the spearhead of the Portuguese national team.
Luka Modric
Luka Modric is an exciting midfield playmaker who has caught the attention of most of Europe's biggest football clubs with his starring displays for Dinamo Zagreb and the Croatian national football team.
Luka Modric is an exciting midfield playmaker who has caught the attention of most of Europe's biggest football clubs with his starring displays for Dinamo Zagreb and the Croatian national football team.
Michael Ballack
Career history and profile of Chelsea's German international captain and midfield playmaker Michael Ballack.
Career history and profile of Chelsea's German international captain and midfield playmaker Michael Ballack.
Michael Essien
Dominant in midfield and a rock in Chelsea's defensive formation, Michael Essien has proven his worth at some of Europe's top clubs and as an international player for his native Ghana.
Dominant in midfield and a rock in Chelsea's defensive formation, Michael Essien has proven his worth at some of Europe's top clubs and as an international player for his native Ghana.
Nani
Nani is the new boy at Machester United hoping to make an impact on the Premiership playing closely with Cristiano Ronaldo
Nani is the new boy at Machester United hoping to make an impact on the Premiership playing closely with Cristiano Ronaldo
Patrick Vieira
Patrick Vieira has excelled as a strong, commanding midfielder at some of the biggest clubs in Europe leading him to be considered as one of the best midfielders in the business.
Patrick Vieira has excelled as a strong, commanding midfielder at some of the biggest clubs in Europe leading him to be considered as one of the best midfielders in the business.
Paul Scholes
Paul Scholes has spend his entire football career at Manchester United and has achieved great success both domestically and in Europe. Scholes has succeeded in establishing himself as one of the great English midfielders.
Paul Scholes has spend his entire football career at Manchester United and has achieved great success both domestically and in Europe. Scholes has succeeded in establishing himself as one of the great English midfielders.
Ryan Giggs
One of many young Manchester United stars hailed as the new George Best when he first burst onto the scene back in 1990, Ryan Giggs has almost assumed the mantle he seemed destined for having given United nearly two decades of top class top flight service in a career that has seen him lift every club honour going.
One of many young Manchester United stars hailed as the new George Best when he first burst onto the scene back in 1990, Ryan Giggs has almost assumed the mantle he seemed destined for having given United nearly two decades of top class top flight service in a career that has seen him lift every club honour going.
Steven Gerrard
Liverpool's homegrown talisman through the late 1990s and 2000s as they have tried to haul themselves back into contention in the English Premiership, primarily with the tough tackling, goalscoring, energetic, classy passing of Steven Gerrard in the engine room and taking the glory, especially in their unbelievable 2005 European Cup final fightback and victory over AC Milan.
Liverpool's homegrown talisman through the late 1990s and 2000s as they have tried to haul themselves back into contention in the English Premiership, primarily with the tough tackling, goalscoring, energetic, classy passing of Steven Gerrard in the engine room and taking the glory, especially in their unbelievable 2005 European Cup final fightback and victory over AC Milan.
Xabi Alonso
Xabi Alonso has succeeded in becoming a real force in the English Premiership with strong exciting and creative performances for Liverpool contributing to the club's success in Europe. Alonso has also become a key member of the Spanish squad and recently participated in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Xabi Alonso has succeeded in becoming a real force in the English Premiership with strong exciting and creative performances for Liverpool contributing to the club's success in Europe. Alonso has also become a key member of the Spanish squad and recently participated in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Xavi
Xavi Hernandez has established himself as one of the best midfielders in Spanish football with strong, attacking and visionary performances for Barcelona.
Xavi Hernandez has established himself as one of the best midfielders in Spanish football with strong, attacking and visionary performances for Barcelona.