Kante, Fred, Fabinho: Who is the best defensive midfielder in the world?

Frequently the unsung heroes of many a successful side, the work done by defensive midfielders during the course of a match is considerable.

Playing the anchor role in midfield is no easy task. Not only do these lynchpins get through plenty of defensive pressing, but they are also often the launching point for a team’s attacks.

The finest operators in the position typically possess top-tier passing ability, both at short and long range, and also have an impressive ability to read the game.

These guys won’t usually grab too many headlines, but their contribution is, nevertheless, pivotal to the effective running of their side.

Seeking to determine who is the very best defensive midfielder on the planet right now, 90min.com recently ranked the top 25 players in the position – and you can check out their conclusion below.

Several of Europe’s top teams boast more than one entry in the list, demonstrating how crucial the role it is considered within elite squads.

25. Mohamed Camara (Red Bull Salzburg)

24. Edson Alvarez (Ajax)

23. Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa)

22. Ismael Bennacer (AC Milan)

21. Fred (Manchester United)

20. Fernandinho (Manchester City)

19. Boubacar Kamara (Marseille)

18. Marten de Roon (Atalanta)

17. Ryan Gravenberch (Ajax)

16. Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City)

15. Denis Zakaria (Juventus)

14. Idrissa Gueye (Paris Saint-Germain)

13. Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle United)

12. Leandro Paredes (Paris Saint-Germain)

11. Aurelien Tchouameni (Monaco)

10. Ruben Neves (Wolves)

9. Sergio Busquets (Barcelona)

8. Jorginho (Chelsea)

7. Marcelo Brozovic (Inter Milan)

6. Declan Rice (West Ham United)

5. Casemiro (Real Madrid)

4. Rodri (Manchester City)

3. Fabinho (Liverpool)

2. Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)

1. N’Golo Kante (Chelsea)