The Greatest Attacking Midfielders of All Time
Shirt number: 8 or 10, also known as 'trequarista'

This is the position in which many of the world's greatest players have played. In maybe the most difficult role on the pitch these players are able to evade tight markers with great touch, finding space to either play a ball into dangerous areas for a forward to score, to shoot from the edge of the box themselves or to dribble past opponents in congested areas and beat the keeper or make an assist. Able to both create goals and score themselves they are the players able to turn a game with a moment of flair, especially important with the tight marking and organised defences of the modern game.

In the days of 2-3-5 and W-M one of the inside forwards often played a little deeper and fulfilled this role (i.e. Ferrara or Kopa) but the position came into its own when 4-2-4 was born and fowards such as Bobby Charlton became midfielders. The attacking midfielder was probably born when Hidegutki was drawn back into midfield from the forward line for Hungary in the 1950s. The impressive goal tallies of these players are even more impressive given their deeper playing position. Playing in midfield also means they need to become involved in the midfield play, although they are sometimes excused the extent of tackling and marking duties of other midfielders. As the number of forwards has declined the importance of these players, operating between midfield and attack to evade markers, has become increasingly important.
 

Bobby Charlton

Ferrari  Ita  1930s

V. Mazzola  Ita  1940s

Larbi Benbarek  Fra  1940s

Fritz Walter  Ger  1950-58

Hidegkuti  Hun  1950s

Di Stefano  Arg/Spa  1950s/62

Liedholm  Swe  1950s

Zizinho  Bra  1950s

Kopa  Fra  1950s

Bobby Charlton  Eng  1958-1970

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Platini

Pedro Rocha  Uru  1960s/70s

Dobrin  Rom  1960s/70s

Rivera  Ita  1962-74

Sandro Mazzola  Ita  1963-70

Rivelino  Bra  1968-74

Cubillas  Peru  1970s

Dirceu  Bra  1974-82

Platini  Fra  1978-86

Schuster  Ger  1980s

Romerito  Par  1980s

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Maradona

Ceulemans  Bel  1980s

Savicevic  Yugo  1980s

Hagi  Rom  1980s/90s

Socrates  Bra  1982-86

Zico  Bra  1982-86

Littbarski  Ger  1981-1990

Maradona  Arg  1982-90

Francescoli  Uru  1982-96

M. Laudrup  Den  1986-98

Prosinecki  Cro  1990s

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Zidane

Gascoigne  Eng  1990s

Hassler  Ger  1990s

Moller  Ger 1980s/90s/00s

Okocha  Nig  1990s

Stojkovic  Rom  1990s

Zidane  Fra  1990s/00s

Djorkaeff Fra  1990s/00s

Luis Enrique Spa  1990s

Rivaldo  Bra  2000s

Sneijder  Hol  2000s/10s

Kaka  Bra  2000s/10s

Iniesta  Spa  2000s/10s
                                                             
Muller  Ger  2010s

James Rodriguez  Col  2010s

​Griezmann  ​Fra  2010s

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To explore, use the tabs on the header or click on the links below:

Alltime Legends

Best Players in Each Position

Best Ever National Teams 

Best Ever Club Teams
 
Dream Teams

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