Goals are definitely the most important aspect of football, as putting the ball into the back of the opposition net is primarily the reason 22 men run around a field at the urging of thousands in the stands and millions around the globe.
While strikers might get the larger share of popularity and rewards owing to their job description of scoring goals on a regular basis, there is actually a lot of work done in the lead up to the goals.
Playmakers are the ones primarily tasked with creating goalscoring opportunities for their teammates, and these men/women have been highly revered throughout history due to their uncanny knack for seeing spaces and playing in teammates almost effortlessly.
Over the years, some of the game’s greatest playmakers have graced football, from Andrea Pirlo, Roy Keane, Patrick Vieira, etc in the distant past to more recent legends of the game like Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, and many others but to name a few.
However, the present generation is not left out, and in this piece, we shall be having a rundown of the 7 best playmakers in the world presently.
7. Christian Eriksen Tottenham & Denmark
Eriksen has been one of the world’s leading playmakers for some years now and he has been on top of his game but he hasn’t had a stellar season so far with his transfer shenanigans getting more complicated as we move closer to January.
Playing alongside Dele Alli in the number 10 role, Eriksen has produced many goals for the club. The Danish midfielder is a gifted player on the ball and his set-piece ability makes him even more dangerous. His link-up plays with Harry Kane has been a highlight over the years.
Eriksen has given The North Londoners a befitting stint having played in the final of the UEFA Champions League against Liverpool last season. The 27-year-old has been on the radar of both Barcelona and Real Madrid, and Tottenham Hotspurs may just have to let him go soon. He occupies the number 7 spot.
6. Paul Pogba – France & Manchester United
One astonishing thing about the French man is that he doesn’t get much praise from most pundits and fans. Some feel he’s a player whose only aspiration in every game is to show-boat, while some feel he’s just a normal or average player who can never become world-class.
But one empirical fact is that Pogba is one of the top 10 midfielders in the world right now. He’s shown times without number what he can do if he’s played in his preferred position and tutored by a manager of a higher standard. Which we’ve seen him record huge success by going as far as winning the World Cup with France in 2018.
The 26-year-old has failed to live up to expectations after making a record-breaking£80 Million move from Juve to United in 2016. Ironically, the same cannot be said for him when he dons the French national team jersey as he keeps getting call-ups from Didier Deschamps at every International fixture; And puts up classy performance in every game for France. His pedigree has attracted interests from Real Madrid and he could leave United in summer.
Obviously, the problem with Pogba is not in the French team but the United team where there’s an apparent dearth of quality and top-class players. A team that’s full of a bunch of inconsistent and lazy players that has made it impossible for Pogba to thrive efficiently.
(5). David Silva – Manchester City & Spain
A Manchester City mainstay since his arrival in the Premier League nine years ago, Silva won his fourth Premier League title after another excellent individual season in 2018/19. Capable of playing on the right, as a No.10 or in the slightly deeper midfield role he’s been used in by Pep Guardiola, the Spanish schemer is a master at running games and finding spaces that, to mere mortals, seemingly don’t exist.
Silva’s decision-making is almost flawless, and his tremendous technique means he’s invariably able to execute those ideas. He’s even begun to add more goals to his game in the last couple of years, becoming an even more rounded player at the age of 33.
His brand of decisiveness and power to read, understand and interpret tactics is one that can never be questioned. Albeit age is no longer on his side and he’s currently playing his final season at the blue side of Manchester, the Spanish veteran still manages to attain number 5 position on our rankings.
READ ALSO: Top 5 Richest Nigerian Footballers As At 2019
5. Luka Modric -Real Madrid & Croatia
Modric turned 34 in September and has shown signs of decline at times in 2019. Last year was the best of Modric’s career, as the Croatian playmaker won a third consecutive Champions League with Madrid, helped his country to their first-ever World Cup final and ended the Messi-Ronaldo duopoly scooping the Ballon d’Or.
Modrić experienced something of a post-World Cup hangover, but he’s been excellent so far in 2019/20, reminding everyone of his enduring quality. Zinedine Zidane will have to manage his minutes, but Modric remains an integral part of the Real Madrid side, just as he’s been since arriving in Spain seven years ago.
Surrounded by Galacticos at Madrid, he quickly realized his full potential with his key passes and bursting runs forward, but now at the age of 34, he looks so set for a move away from Los Blancos and would still command a regular start for most top sides. A transfer to Serie A looks most likely, with both Inter and AC Milan rumored to be interested in snapping him up.
4. Bernardo Silva -Manchester City & Portugal
Given the ever-increasing demands of the modern game, in terms of intensity and physicality, it is nothing unexpected as conventional No 10 midfielders are fading off. The age of the lethargic, technically-gifted creative midfielder are numbered.
Bernardo’s style of play is bewildering. The ball is never still at his feet yet consistently hauled to and fro in the midst of steady bluffs and pirouettes. More like he has a scheduled movement, there is no inflexible arrangement or diagram towards his efforts. As entangled as it shows up in execution, a large portion of the work includes basic pass-and-run tee-ups with close play with teammate until an opening presents itself.
These days attacking midfielders need to be magicians in possession of the ball and muggers without it. And Bernado Silva is in possession of perhaps the best first touch in the Premier League and his passing, dribbling and shooting have seen like Leroy Sane, Riyad Mahrez become a regular bench warmer, with Raheem Sterling switching to the left. A flat out masterpiece, a troubled-plague on any team’s attacking play.
3. Eden Hazard – Real Madrid & Belgium
Having blossomed in Ligue 1 side LOSC LILLE, Eden Hazard went on to achieve global superstardom with Chelsea when he joined the West London outfit in 2012. Ever since then, the Belgian starred and was a crucial contributor to all the successes enjoyed by The Blues on his time with at Stamford Bridge
Eden Hazard is blessed with close control, speed and a dribbling ability which sees him beat markers effortlessly even in tight spaces.
Though his primary position is out wide where he plays as a left-wing forward, Eden Hazard is extremely creative, evidenced by the fact that he laid on a League-high 15 assists in the Premier League last season to win the second edition of the Playmaker award.
His exploit with Chelsea, Hazard created a total of 67 big changes in the Premier League, while also setting them up for goals with 54 assists.
However, on a call for greener pasture, Eden moves away from Stamford Bridge over the summer as a Chelsea legend and begins the next chapter of his illustrious career with Los Blancos. He may have made a slow start to life at Madrid but the Belgian is still one of the best playmakers in the world presently.
2. Kevin De Bruyne – Manchester City & Belgium
De Bruyne isn’t the best footballer in the world, but he’s arguably the most complete, creative, powerful, skillful and dynamic player. The Manchester City man can pass, shoot, dribble, tackle and cross – and all with either foot.
The Belgian contributes in every phase of the game; he has the technical ability of a luxury player without being anything like a luxury. He’s the key man in a star-studded Manchester City side, as demonstrated by a remarkable return of9 assists in 13 Premier League appearances so far this season.
READ ALSO: Premier League – Five Best Central Defensive Partnerships Of All Time
Kevin De Bruyne is currently the best player in the Premier League. He has been for two-and-a-bit years. If judging him solely on what he has won, probably not. De Bruyne has two Premier League titles with Manchester City but his second came in a season interrupted by injury, where he only played half of his side’s games.
He was named in the team of the tournament at the2018 World Cup but Belgium only finished third. The remainder of his honors roll is good but unremarkable. An FA Cup and League Cup here, a Jupiler Pro League title there, a DFB-Pokal win too, but few of the very biggest prizes. Aren’t all of these enough for him to be considered as one of the best of the 21st century so far?
1. Lionel Messi – Barcelona and Argentina
Even before you started to read this article, you would have probably guessed the first. Who else, but the little Argentine genius Lionel Messi. He has been on another level compared to others and he is arguably the best player in the world right now.
The 6 times balloon d’Or winner is not just a goalscorer but a brilliant playmaker that has eyes for blocked holes and spontaneously develops or provides a solution to every problem he faces. Little wonders he won four Awards of World’s best playmaker consecutively in four years. (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018).
At the age of 32, the Argentine star is showing no signs of declining and is now more vital to his club than any other player in Catalonia. Messi became the second Barcelona player to reach the 700 appearance landmark after Xavi Hernández, who made 767 appearances. No one in the history of the club has won more than Messi, who has 34 trophies to his name. A great passer, unrelenting goalscorer, and an indefatigable playmaker. Lionel Messi!!!
