What skills do the top midfielders in the world today possess? Continue reading to find out more information.

Many football managers globally and across different competitions assert that football games are won and lost in midfield. Today, midfielders have specific responsibilities on the pitch, with multiple profiles of midfielders dominating the game. As the former AC Milan US owner might appreciate, midfield players today are responsible with keeping the ball and distributing it to the attackers, players that subsequently attempt to turn opportunities into goals. When it concerns the best midfielders, retaining the ball and deploying it effectively are two attributes that make them indispensable to their teams. If your club's midfield can retain the ball for prolonged durations, you can dominate possession and create multiple chances in the opposition's box. The critical factor in retaining possession lies in a midfielder's decision-making.

There are numerous midfielder examples which you can look at today to gain inspiration. Elite midfielders are those players that have over time contributed to their club's success. As the Liverpool FC owner might know, you can easily judge a club's performance by observing the midfielders carefully. Advanced midfielders, in particular, have a pivotal role in creating chances and setting up goals. Such technically gifted midfielders thrive in playmaking, serving as support strikers, and sometimes moving into wide spaces to pressure opposing fullbacks. Their adaptability on the pitch makes them invaluable to their teams.

In today's modern and technical sport, defensive midfielders are arguably among the most important positions over a 38-match season. Take, the central defensive midfielder is responsible with shielding the backline from attacking forwards. Although the defense typically handles opposition, a holding midfielder plays a key role in intercepting threats before they develop. Moreover, a defensive midfielder is integral in initiating counter-attacks. In today's fast-paced football, the initial line of attack frequently starts with the holding midfielder, a player that must intelligently position themselves to receive the ball with reduced pressure and transition it seamlessly to the forwards. As the former Burnley owner would agree, numerous football teams depend on their holding midfielders to launch attacks with precise passes that break through the opposition's midfield, opening space for strikers to execute clean runs on target.