Who are the best attacking midfielders in the world? They were once deemed football's luxury men: that player who didn't track back because they were simply too good and would hopefully cause more damage at the other end of the pitch.
No longer. Ahead of Euro 2024, we asked the experts at FourFourTwo to pick their best attacking mids, based on pure ability, their performances over the last year and over the last few years.
Attacking midfielders are now defined as those players who stray further forward than the traditional box-to-box central midfield player, but still maintain their defensive duties throughout a full 90 minutes – and that's what we're looking for here.
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On the theme of midfield, we've also compiled our go-to of the best central midfielders in the world and the best defensive midfielders in the world.
We've ranked the best goalkeepers in the world, while in defence, we've sorted the best centre-backs in the world, we've ranked the best right-backs in the world, the best left-backs in the world and the best centre-backs in the world.
We also have lists of forwards, including the best right-wingers in the world, the best left-wingers in the world and the best strikers in the world.
The 10 best attacking midfielders in the world right now: 10. Antoine Griemzann (Atletico Madrid and France)
He's put his disappointing spell at Barcelona well and truly behind him as he continues to enjoy his late-career renaissance back at Atletico Madrid.
Antoine Griezmann a dream player for Diego Simeone, as he combines graft with goals, with his tally of 16 La Liga goals this term his highest return for six years. He's set to play a key part at Euro 2024 with France, eight years after winning the tournament’s Golden Boot in his home country.
9. Julian Brandt (Borussia Dortmund and Germany)
The 28-year-old completed his sixth season with Borussia Dortmund, where he has been something of a constant for a club whose model is to often develop world-class talents and sell them on.
But he's still there – and still quality. With ten goals and 16 assists, it was another productive season for Brandt, who is unfortunate to be missing out on a place in the Germany squad for Euro 2024.
8. Cole Palmer (Chelsea and England)
Jude Bellingham doesn’t have the monopoly on young English midfielders having breakthrough seasons.
On a personal level, Cole Palmer's decision to leave Manchester City in search of first-team football in the summer has been a huge success, with his 27 goals a phenomenal return that has seen him break into the England squad just in time for Euro 2024. If Chelsea can find some stability and stick to a plan, he may find that team honours follow.
7. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United and Portugal)
To say Manchester United suffered something of an off-season this year would be an understatement, but no fingers were pointed at the Old Trafford skipper. With 15 goals and 13 assists across all competitions, Bruno Fernandes was more often than not the man that Erik ten Hag would look to in order to dig the team out of trouble, even if that was easier said than done on several occasions.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe will know he must get his summer dealings right when the transfer window opens, as the Portugal star will turn 30 in September and will be wanting to challenge for league titles while in his peak years.
6. Martin Odegaard (Arsenal and Norway)
A decade after being pronounced as the next big thing as a Real Madrid-bound 15-year-old, Odegaard is now firmly the player that the hype men said he could be. His third season at Arsenal saw the Gunners take the title race to the last day, with the Norwegian excelling in his role as captain and figurehead for what Mikel Arteta is looking to do with the club.
He can deliver goods all across the midfield and his partnership alongside Declan Rice could define the club for years.
5. Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen and Germany)
The 21-year-old played like a man possessed for Xabi Alonso’s all-conquering Bayer Leverkusen side this season, as he made up for lost time following the cruciate knee injury that saw most of his 2022 wiped out.
An attacking return of 11 goals and 12 assists was fitting for the quality of his performances this season and he will now be hoping to announce himself on the international stage with Germany at Euro 2024 on home soil after he was forced to sit out the last World Cup.
3. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City and Belgium)
Injuries meant that De Bruyne’s 2023/24 campaign did not get going until after Christmas, but when he did make it back onto the pitch, it was clear his influence had not waned.
The Belgium superstar will be 33 when the new season starts and while he remains one of the most talented players in Premier League history, it will be interesting to see how his role evolves. We know he can play in just about all of the forward-facing positions, but does Guardiola have any tricks up his sleeve when it comes to how the former Chelsea man is used next year?
3. Phil Foden (Manchester City and England)
Foden claimed his sixth Premier League winners’ medal this season following a campaign that saw his game rise to new heights. His 27 goals across all competitions was a career-high as the Stockport-born star thrived in a central position, deservedly earning the Premier League Player of the Year award.
Gareth Southgate now has the very welcome problem of where to play Foden and Bellingham, with the Manchester City man likely be put out to the left-hand side where his wand of a left foot can do plenty of damage.
2. Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich and Germany)
Bayern Munich may have failed to win a trophy for the first time in more than a decade, but in 20-year-old Jamal Musiala they have a key building block for the future. The Germany-born, Croydon-raised midfielder followed up his 2022/23 breakout campaign with another strong season, with the former Chelsea youth product continuing to torment defenders with his pace, direct running and technical ability.
A summer of change has started at Bayern and new boss Vincent Kompany can build his new-look side around Musiala.
1. Jude Bellingham
There's a good case that he's the best player in the world right now: there's an even better one that he's living the dream.
Where to begin with this one? The 20-year-old from Stourbridge has left England fans rubbing their eyes in disbelief with his antics over the past 12 months. From his cool-as-a-cucumber Real Madrid unveiling last summer to his Champions League victory at Wembley, Bellingham hasn’t just defied expectations but smashed them into smithereens.
He ended the season with 23 Real Madrid goals, which is an astonishing return for a player who was seen as more of a box-to-box midfielder when he arrived in Spain. Next stop will be the Euros where we’ll see if his scriptwriters keep this barely believable story going.
