The best midfielders left at Euro 2024 ranked
There’s so much variation in central midfield.
Even though most of the formations used nowadays stick to either two or three central midfielders, there are so many different ways the team can be set up around them. And there are so many other ways those central midfielders can be used.
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As football philosophies have evolved, so have central midfielders. And at Euro 2024, which has reached the semi-final stage, one of Spain, France, the Netherlands, or England set to be champions, a host of quality midfielders remain on show. But the question is, who is the best? And how do you separate them?
Central midfielders
3. Tijjani Reijnders
- Country: Netherlands
Before the start of Euro 2024, the Netherlands received a blow when influential midfielder Frenkie de Jong and rising star Teun Koopmeiners were ruled out due to injuries. This was a big opportunity for Tijjani Reijnders, who had an impressive debut season with AC Milan. He seized the chance to shine in Ronald Koeman’s team.
His excellent performance at Euro 2024 is illustrated by the fact that, before the quarter-finals, only Joshua Kimmich (14) and Kevin De Bruyne (11) had made more passes that broke the opposition’s defensive line than him (10). In the Round of 16 against Romania, Reijnders made five such passes, which was the most by any player.
2. N’Golo Kanté
- Country: France
If there were a “comeback player” award, N’Golo Kanté would have won it. His departure to Saudi Arabia last summer, joining Al-Ittihad from Chelsea, was seen by many as closing the door on a seven-year international career. Kanté most recently played against Denmark in June 2022 before suddenly returning against Luxembourg last month. He was swiftly named in Didier Deschamps’ squad, much to many observers’ bemusement, and it proved an inspired decision as Kanté hasn’t lost a step. He’s ever-present for Les Bleus; they’ve never conceded a goal while he’s been on the pitch.
1. Rodri
- Country: Spain
For many, Spain’s idealistic midfield will continue to be Busquets, Xavi, and Iniesta, each developed at Barcelona and bringing a unique dimension to form a complete triumvirate. La Roja no longer needs to struggle to reach those past heights with Manchester City lynchpin Rodri, the spiritual successor to Busquets, now their standard-bearer.
There’s no question that he is the Premier League’s preeminent midfielder, and seldom does anyone perform the ‘No. 6’ duties as seamlessly as Spain’s captain. He is enjoying a quietly effective tournament, retaining and recycling the ball while allowing those rapid attackers to perform, but he will step up if necessary.
Attacking midfielders
3. Jude Bellingham
- Country: England
Every generation seems to produce a saviour of English football: Paul Gascoigne, Wayne Rooney, and Jude Bellingham. Fortunately, the days of a solo act as a requirement for success are long gone. The dynamic Real Madrid midfielder, who consciously chose to wear the club’s fabled “number five” jersey, arrived in Germany — his former home with Borussia Dortmund — a La Liga and Champions League winner.
Bellingham’s excellence lies in combining individual skill with stamina. No one in a Three Lions jersey has stood out as a ‘player of the tournament’ candidate, but he perhaps created the moment of Euro 2024 with his last-second bicycle kick against Round of 16 opponent Slovakia to keep England’s dreams alive. That was his second goal of the championship, and more could come.
2. Pedri
- Country: Spain
Few things are more demoralising than a mid-tournament injury. Such an unfortunate scenario befell Spain when they learned that midfield dynamo Pedri was ruled out of the rest of Euro 2024 with a left knee injury he sustained in a hefty challenge from Toni Kroos during their quarterfinal victory over Germany.
Pedri has endured his fair share of physical setbacks for someone so young. What makes this even more painful is that the Spaniard enjoyed a brilliant tournament. The 21-year-old had created ten chances, leading to one assist, while no one in a Spanish jersey had attempted more passes (248).
1. Fabián Ruiz
- Country: Spain
Fabián Ruiz’s international career seemed to have reached a dead end, with him not being involved between February 2021 and June 2022. Even after returning from his hiatus, his place in the Paris Saint-Germain starting lineup wasn’t guaranteed. Things changed heading into Euro 2024, and to say the Los Palacios y Villafranca native made his newfound responsibilities count would be an understatement.
If anything, he has been one of the standout performers in this championship. Playing in a ‘number eight’ role, Ruiz scored four goals in his last six games for Spain. Two of those goals came in Germany, along with two assists. This is a significant improvement, considering he had only netted one goal in his first 22 appearances for his country.
