The 10 best attacking midfielders in the world right now | OneFootball

Number tens of the traditional type are nearly extinct, but teams still require players capable of creating chances in abundance. Modern attacking midfielders range from string pullers to box-crashing goalscorers, each tasked with supplying – or supplementing – forwards.

Here, we’ve attempted to rank the 10 best attacking midfielders in the world right now.

10. Dani Olmo – Barcelona

Dani Olmo’s unorthodox career came full circle last summer. A graduate of Barcelona’s La Masia academy, he departed as a 16-year-old to sign for Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia.

After an impressive period in Zagreb, he spent four seasons with RB Leipzig, before rejoining Barcelona in a €60m deal. His return to Catalonia came after helping Spain to success at Euro 2024, where he shared the Golden Boot in an impactful tournament. Now 26, he’s placed himself in the conversation of the world’s best.

9. Kevin De Bruyne – Manchester City

Kevin De Bruyne’s form this season does not perhaps warrant inclusion and there have been obvious signs of decline from the Manchester City midfielder. De Bruyne, however, is declining from a near untouchable status. At his best, the Belgian’s combination of powerful drive, technical ability and ludicrous vision were the creative hub of England’s best side. Even amid a lull this season, he’s averaged a Premier League goal contribution every 138 minutes.

8. Phil Foden – Manchester City

Like his aforementioned teammate, Foden’s failure to recapture last season’s heights has been clear. City as a collective have waned and Foden’s own performances have contributed to that. Last season, he was a deserving winner of the PFA Player of the Year Award, as City claimed a record-breaking fourth successive title. Poetry in motion when in full flow, Foden’s finest form will soon return.

7. Martin Odegaard – Arsenal

Often the epicentre of Arsenal’s best performances, it’s no coincidence that the Gunners dipped in Martin Odegaard’s absence during the autumn. The Norwegian has matured from wonderkid to world-class talent, leading by example for Arsenal in terms of playmaking and pressing with intent. His ability to slalom and slip away from pressure makes Odegaard a wonderful watch.

6. Bruno Fernandes – Manchester United

Say what you like about Bruno Fernandes, the man is an output machine. Even amid a continually failing regime at Old Trafford, Fernandes has found a way to post serious numbers. Sure, he can try a little much at times, but when you’re the one genuinely elite talent in a dysfunctional unit, that can be forgiven.

This season he’s returned 16 goals and 14 assists from midfield in a struggling side and recently set a new record for most goal involvements in Europa League history.

5. Cole Palmer – Chelsea

Cole Palmer’s rapid rise has been a real feel-good story. From peripheral at Manchester City to Premier League poster boy at Chelsea, Palmer has become a player that resonates with the casual fan. In an era where mavericks are as rare as hen’s teeth, Palmer’s laidback demeanour and match-winning brilliance have been a breath of fresh air. It will be fascinating to see where his ceiling is.

4. Florian Wirtz – Bayer Leverkusen

Florian Wirtz is destined for the very top. An ACL injury briefly halted his ascent, but the German midfielder has returned with a bang. Named as the Bundesliga’s best player as Bayer Leverkusen won a maiden title last season, he’s attracting interest from almost every leading club in world football. His interpretation of space and ability to impact games are already of the highest standard and Wirtz does turn 22 until May.

3. Antoine Griezmann – Atletico Madrid

Antoine Griezmann might be creeping towards the end but the Frenchman remains integral to Atletico Madrid.

Arguably the greatest footballer to have played for the Rojiblancos, he’s been the beating heart of the Atleti side across two separate spells. Griezmann has continually evolved and matches Diego Simeone’s demand for non-stop work ethic with wizardry in the final third. For France, he delivered time and time again on the big stage before closing the curtain on his international career, to see out his final seasons at the top with a full focus on Atletico. An elusive league title this season is in his sights.

2. Jamal Musiala – Bayern Munich

Jamal Musiala is box-office to watch. Alongside Wirtz, he’s the jewel in the German crown and already a talismanic figure for the Bundesliga’s behemoth.

Goals and assists have arrived in quantity, but it’s his magic with the ball at his feet that often has the Allianz Arena on its feet.

Musiala is as slippery as an eel when it comes to navigating the outstretched legs of opposition challenges, weaving through gaps that did not appear possible. He only turned 22 in February but is already closing in on a fifth Bundesliga title.

1. Jude Bellingham – Real Madrid

Jude Bellingham does not just thrive under pressure but actively seeks it out. The ease at which the midfielder settled into Spanish football is not normal, with Bellingham arriving at Real Madrid and immediately establishing main-man status.

His debut season ended with La Liga’s Player of the Season award, as Los Blancos lifted the title and Champions League. It followed a Bundesliga Player of the Year recognition in his final campaign with Borussia Dortmund.

He’s tenacious, powerful and prolific, averaging better than a goal every other game since arriving in La Liga. A star that the Bernabeu have taken to their hearts.

Read – The 10 best central midfielders in the world right now

See more – The 10 best defensive midfielders in the world right now

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