Discover the top five midfield maestros who defined football in 2024. From orchestrating play to delivering clutch performances, these players showcased unparalleled skill, vision, and dominance on the pitch. Their contributions were pivotal for club and country, cementing their status as the best in the game this year. Explore what sets them apart in the world of football.
5. Hakan Calhanoglu (Inter/Turkiye)
Hakan Çalhanoğlu, the 30-year-old Turkish midfielder born in Mannheim, Germany, has enjoyed a remarkable 2024, playing a key role for both his country and club. Representing Turkey in UEFA Euro 2024, Çalhanoğlu featured in 12 matches, scoring three goals. A standout moment came during the group stages against Czechia, where he opened the scoring, securing a vital victory for his team.
At the club level, Çalhanoğlu was pivotal to Inter Milan’s success in the 2023-24 Serie A season, making 40 appearances and netting 15 goals. His exceptional creativity, vision, and consistency in midfield earned him a spot in the Serie A Team of the Year for 2023-24, as well as the title of Serie A Best Midfielder. With his leadership and outstanding performances, Çalhanoğlu has become an essential figure for Inter Milan, helping to solidify their position at the top of Italian football.
4. Federico Valverde (Real Madrid/Uruguay)
Federico Valverde, the 6-foot-tall, 26-year-old midfielder from Montevideo, Uruguay, has enjoyed an outstanding 2024, establishing himself as one of the top midfielders in world football. On the international stage, Valverde made 12 appearances for Uruguay, scoring two vital goals. His standout performance came during the 2024 Copa América, where he played a pivotal role in Uruguay’s dominant 5-0 win over Bolivia.
At the club level, Valverde has been essential to Real Madrid’s continued success. His relentless work ethic and key contributions helped Los Blancos claim another UEFA Champions League title in the 2023-24 season. Over the course of the campaign, he made 54 appearances, netting three goals and playing a major role in Real Madrid’s European dominance.
Valverde’s influence in Carlo Ancelotti’s side was invaluable, as he consistently showcased his maturity, vision, and ability to deliver in critical moments. His exceptional performances earned him a place in the 2023-24 LaLiga Team of the Season, further cementing his reputation as one of the world’s elite midfielders.
3. Fabian Ruiz (PSG/Spain)
Fabián Ruiz Peña, the 28-year-old commanding central midfielder from Los Palacios, has emerged as one of Spain’s most exciting talents, with a meteoric rise to stardom in 2024. Standing at 6-foot-2, the dynamic playmaker was instrumental in Spain’s historic victory at UEFA Euro 2024. Since joining Paris Saint-Germain in 2022, Fabián has been a key figure in the team’s success, helping secure multiple titles, including the 2024 Ligue 1 Championship and Coupe de France.
On the international stage, Fabián has made 14 appearances for Spain this year, netting an impressive five goals. His performances during Euro 2024 were particularly memorable, contributing two vital goals and two assists, including crucial strikes against Croatia and Georgia. In Spain’s recent UEFA Nations League match against Switzerland at the Stade de Genève, Fabián demonstrated his clinical finishing with a stunning brace, further cementing his growing importance to the national team.
2. Toni Kroos (Real Madrid/Germany)
Toni Kroos, one of the most accomplished and respected midfielders in football history, may have recently retired, but his legacy as a footballing maestro is firmly ingrained in the sport’s history. In 2024, Kroos made eight appearances for Germany, once again displaying his unparalleled vision and composure in the midfield.
His return to the national team, under the guidance of new coach Julian Nagelsmann, was celebrated by German fans eager to see their midfield general shine on home soil during a crucial year. While Germany’s UEFA Euro 2024 campaign fell short of reaching the semifinals, Kroos’ influence on the field remained pivotal. At Real Madrid, he featured in 48 matches during the 2023-24 season, playing an instrumental role in their UEFA Champions League success. Though he wasn’t a frequent scorer, his solitary goal, coupled with his expert passing, key assists, and defensive acumen, highlighted his all-around impact.
As a key architect of Madrid’s European triumphs, Kroos’ presence in midfield was indispensable. His contributions in both club and country throughout 2024 have solidified his place as one of the greatest footballing minds of his generation.
1. Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid/England)
Jude Victor Bellingham, the 21-year-old sensation from Stourbridge, has enjoyed an extraordinary year in world football. While discussions may continue over whether he deserved the Ballon d’Or over Rodri or his Real Madrid teammate Vinícius Júnior, there is no denying the profound impact Bellingham has had on both club and country in 2024.
For England, Bellingham has been the driving force behind Gareth Southgate’s side during their journey to the UEFA Euro 2024 final. While the team’s overall performances may not have been dazzling, it was Bellingham’s resilience and brilliance that saw them through difficult moments. Time and again, when England’s hopes seemed on the brink, Bellingham stepped up as their saviour.
His pivotal goals—two in the group stages against Serbia and Slovakia—were crucial in keeping England’s tournament aspirations alive, with the latter coming in the dying seconds of the match. Over the course of 13 appearances for the national team in 2024, Bellingham scored four goals, showcasing his ability to perform under pressure. Without his timely contributions, England’s hopes of a successful Euro 2024 campaign might have been dashed, leaving yet another bitter disappointment for English football.