The modern game leans toward control and structure, yet the need for a genuine attacking midfielder remains as strong as ever. Coaches may tinker with hybrid roles, inverted full-backs, and box midfielders, but teams still rely on players who see openings that the rest of us miss.
Real creators are the ones who carry pace inside their passes, imagination in their touches and calmness in the busiest areas of the pitch. They decide matches and change momentum with one simple idea.
Here are the 20 best attacking midfielders in 2025.
- 20. Isco
- 19. Charles De Ketelaere
- 18. Xavi Simons
- 17. Nico Paz
- 16. Dani Olmo
- 15. Morgan Gibbs-White
- 14. Morgan Rogers
- 13. Phil Foden
- 12. Bernardo Silva
- 11. Rayan Cherki
- 10. Kevin De Bruyne
- 9. Martin Ødegaard
- 8. Eberechi Eze
- 7. Dominik Szoboszlai
- 6. Cole Palmer
- 5. Fermín López
- 4. Florian Wirtz
- 3. Bruno Fernandes
- 2. Jamal Musiala
- 1. Jude Bellingham
20. Isco
Isco’s years at Real Madrid produced flashes of brilliance, though never with the consistency many expected. At Real Betis, he has delivered that consistency.
His feet remain sharp, his movement remains elegant and his understanding of tempo has grown richer with age. Betis trust him to navigate tight matches, settle periods of pressure and create angles that no one else sees. He plays as though the noise around him barely exists.
Instead of fading, he has aged into a complete creator.
SEE ALSO | The World’s 10 Best Central Midfielders Right Now
19. Charles De Ketelaere
Once burdened by expectation, De Ketelaere found stability at Atalanta. Gasperini gave him freedom, a reliable structure behind him and the belief to play his own game.
He responded with goals, assists and a level of fluidity that turned him into a central figure. His size gives him presence; his touch gives him subtlety; his intelligence gives him solutions.
The year in Bergamo restored his standing. His career now points upward again, and he plays with the confidence of someone who feels trusted.
18. Xavi Simons
Xavi Simons has taken the long road to regular first-team football, but every stop shaped him. At PSV, he exploded. At Leipzig, he matured. With his move to Tottenham, he now possesses energy, close control, and eagerness to drive at defenders, making him one of the EPL’s most entertaining players.
His pressing never drops, his final-third choices improve each season, and he carries a steady belief that he belongs among the best.
He delivers influence across the pitch, not only in flashes. His ceiling remains high.
17. Nico Paz
Nico Paz plays with a looseness that feels natural. He never appears rushed, even when defenders swarm him. At Como, he became their creative centre, guiding them through games with quick touches, shifting movement and quiet control.
His first season in Serie A revealed maturity beyond his years, and top clubs already monitor him closely. Paz connects moves without forcing them.
The league treats him with growing respect, which he has earned through calm precision in the final third.
SEE ALSO | 10 Best Defensive Midfielders In The World 2024
16. Dani Olmo
Dani Olmo blends several football cultures into one profile. Barcelona trust him to operate between lines, draw defenders away from danger and link midfield with attack.
He thrives in matches that demand composure, using his balance and timing to steer possession. He can slip into tight channels, release quick diagonal passes or finish calmly around the box.
Olmo fits the modern Barcelona identity well, serving as both creator and connector within a side that values control above everything.
15. Morgan Gibbs-White
Gibbs-White has become the heartbeat of Nottingham Forest’s attack.
His intensity lifts the team forward. His touches break pressure. His willingness to take responsibility keeps Forest competitive even when matches tilt against them. He thrives on direct running, sharp turns and early passes that encourage quick movement around him.
His all-round profile continues to develop, and his influence grows each year. He has turned potential into reliability.
14. Morgan Rogers
Rogers brings raw strength to a position often defined by subtlety. He drives at defenders without hesitation, using his long strides to push play deep into the final third.
Aston Villa use him as a disruptor, someone who unsettles structure through pure force. His finishing improves each season, and his decision-making is starting to catch up to his athletic ability.
When he plays confidently, he feels nearly impossible to stop in transition.
SEE ALSO | Why Soccer Players Aren’t Muscular
13. Phil Foden
Phil Foden carries an enormous natural ability. He can control tight spaces with soft touches, glide past defenders or angle a strike into the upper corner without effort.
His best seasons are breathtaking. His quieter ones leave you craving more. The demand on him at Manchester City remains heavy, and the search for rhythm after injuries has influenced his form. When he hits his peak, he plays like a star who shapes the entire league.
The next step is sustaining that level year after year.
12. Bernardo Silva
Bernardo Silva remains a calm force within a Manchester City side that often feels frantic in possession.
He receives pressure without panic, keeps circulation steady and shifts into wide or central roles with comfort. His composure helps City through difficult stretches. His decision-making stays sharp. His leadership reveals itself most when the team struggles for control.
Even as his pace drops, his influence stays intact through intelligence and timing.
11. Rayan Cherki
Cherki carries natural flair that feels instinctive. At Manchester City, he provides a level of unpredictability few defenders enjoy facing.
His close control and body shape allow him to slip through tight gaps, and his vision produces passes that turn static phases into danger. He plays with personality, never shying away from risk.
City are patient with him, aware that his talent belongs among the league’s most gifted young creators.
10. Kevin De Bruyne
De Bruyne no longer covers ground the way he once did, but his technique still sits at the top of the sport. Napoli give him space to dictate.
He reads transitions quickly, sets passing lanes early and drops into deeper roles to control the shape of possession. His trademark delivery remains intact.
When the match slows, he sees openings no one else senses. Even with fewer minutes each year, his quality remains unmistakable.
SEE ALSO | The 10 Greatest Last-Minute Goals in Soccer History
9. Martin Ødegaard
Ødegaard’s understanding of movement allows Arsenal to stretch opponents and build positional superiority. He works between defensive lines, scans constantly, and adjusts his angle before receiving the ball.
His left foot can play quick combinations or bend passes into running lanes. As captain he embodies the calmness of the club’s identity.
The next step will be leading Arsenal to major trophies, but his influence on their style is already clear.
8. Eberechi Eze
Eze moves as though the pitch bends around him. His dribbling looks controlled yet loose, and he hides the ball with an ease that confuses defenders.
His finishing is calm, his shot selection smart and his sense for timing in the final third sharp. Arsenal rely heavily on his creativity, and he consistently rewards that trust.
His FA Cup triumph with Crystal Palace lifted his profile, but his week-to-week level has been strong for years.
7. Dominik Szoboszlai
Szoboszlai brings a complete skillset to Liverpool. His long-range technique attracts attention, but his game offers more than that.
His awareness in midfield allows him to link play smoothly, step into pressure with confidence and release vertical passes that split lines.
He presses with purpose and carries the physical stamina required in Liverpool’s system. His impact grew notably in his second season, and he now feels like a central piece of their long-term plan.
SEE ALSO | 20 Famous Soccer Players Who Suffered ACL Injuries
6. Cole Palmer
Palmer carries calmness in tight areas and a sharpness in execution that defines elite creators. His first season at Chelsea produced outrageous numbers, but the true measure of his quality was the way he regained form when expectations began to weigh on the squad.
His performance in the Club World Cup final was the clearest example of his potential influence. When the stage rises, he rises. Chelsea now understands that they must build around him.
5. Fermín López
Fermín plays with urgency. He presses aggressively, takes the initiative on the ball and forces opponents into mistakes.
Barcelona often look steadier when he plays. His runs into the box are well timed, his willingness to shoot adds variety and his stamina supports the team’s structure.
He gives Barça something different: a midfielder whose energy injects life into slow matches. His rise has been rapid, and the coaching staff clearly value his edge.
4. Florian Wirtz
Wirtz sees the game with extraordinary clarity. At Leverkusen, he thrived in a well-balanced system that allowed him to drift freely and pick passes.
His move to Liverpool reflects his status as one of Europe’s premier creators.
He offers vision, control and decision-making of the highest level. He remains patient in possession, creates passing lanes with subtle movements, and rarely loses composure in crowded areas. Liverpool expects him to carry the midfield for years.
3. Bruno Fernandes
Fernandes plays with tireless intensity. Manchester United depend on him for goals, assists, pressing and leadership. His output holds steady even when the squad around him struggles.
His willingness to drop deep, fight for loose balls and push the team forward keeps United competitive. His long-range shooting, final-ball accuracy and mentality remain among the best in the league.
His influence extends far beyond the stat sheet.
SEE ALSO | 10 Most Hated Soccer Players in History
2. Jamal Musiala
Musiala weaves through defenders with a smoothness that looks effortless.
He uses long touches to glide past markers, short touches to escape pressure and subtle changes of pace to open space. Bayern give him license to roam, and he repays them with a constant stream of creative actions.
His finishing improves each season, and his composure stays steady even against top opposition. He has developed into a player who shapes matches through dribbling alone.
1. Jude Bellingham
Bellingham controls matches through willpower and timing.
Real Madrid rely on him to change the tempo, break lines and attack the box with conviction. His aerial ability, defensive work, late runs and finishing create a complete package.
His confidence drives his game. Every match carries the same energy from him. In moments when Madrid need leadership, he responds. His mix of technical quality and competitive edge places him at the top of the position.
