Summary
- GIVEMSPORT has enlisted the help of ChatGPT to draw up a list of the 20 greatest midfielders in football history.
- There was no space for Chelsea legend Frank Lampard but Manchester United icon Paul Scholes and England teammate Steven Gerrard both make the list, according to AI.
- Zinedine Zidane and Luka Modric make the top five, while ex-Barcelona superstar Xavi misses out in sixth.
The midfield is the heartbeat of any football team. It’s where football matches are often won, where control is established, and where the game’s flow is dictated. From deep-lying passers like Andrea Pirlo and Xavi to creative geniuses including Zinedine Zidane and Andres Iniesta, midfielders have long been central to how teams function and succeed.
Undeniably, identifying the greatest of all time among this vast plethora of talent is no easy task, which is why GIVEMESPORT has enlisted the help of artificial intelligence to build a list of the 20 best midfielders to have graced the sport.
ChatGPT utilised a series of ranking factors to derive its selection as follows:
“Here’s a ranked list of the top 20 midfielders in football history, highlighting their unique contributions and legacies”
Related
20 Greatest Midfielders in Football History [Ranked]
Zinedine Zidane, Luka Modric and Andres Iniesta all make the top 10
20
Dunga
Brazil
What ChatGPT said: “Dunga’s leadership, passing, and defensive capabilities were key to Brazil’s 1994 World Cup win and their strong performances in international tournaments.”
A no-nonsense midfield general, Dunga epitomised the steely edge of Brazil’s 1994 World Cup-winning side. He captained that team and fulfilled the role of anchor by both breaking up opposition play and creating opportunities for teammates with his forward passing.
Unlike the flair-focused Brazilian icons of the past, Dunga was more of a physical backbone, though he still held his own in the middle of the park with his technique as well – that’s precisely how this Brazil side dominated in possession after all.
19
Didi
Brazil
What ChatGPT said: “Didi’s passing, vision, and leadership were crucial in Brazil’s 1958 and 1962 World Cup victories.”
Cristiano Ronaldo’s famous knuckleball free-kick was simply a successor to the ‘dry leaf’ effect first pioneered by Didi decades earlier. The Brazilian playmaker mastered the art of striking the ball so it would dip and swerve unpredictably – a technique that baffled goalkeepers long before Ronaldo or even Juninho came onto the scene.
Indeed, Didi was pivotal for his nation during its golden run of success on the international stage, orchestrating Brazil’s play in both their 1958 and 1962 World Cup triumphs. Despite the likes of Pele and Garrincha stealing the headlines during that era for the South American giants, it was Didi who was named the best player in Sweden 1958 ahead of the aforementioned duo, and such was his influence from midfield.
Related
Brazil’s 20 Greatest Ever Footballers (Ranked)
Ronaldo, Pele, Ronaldinho, Neymar and Kaka all feature as the greatest Brazilian players ever are ranked.
18
Garrincha
Brazil
What ChatGPT said: “Garrincha’s dribbling, flair, and creativity were central to Brazil’s World Cup successes in 1958 and 1962.”
Garrincha’s glittering career is all the more impressive when considering the physical challenges he overcame just to play the game. Doctors were astonished he was even able to walk properly, let alone dribble past elite defenders in the scintillating fashion the way he did.
He had an uneven spine and uneven legs, but even that wasn’t enough to stop him from becoming a symbol of Brazilian flair and one of the greatest footballers the sport had ever seen. Garrincha helped his country win the 1958 World Cup alongside Pele before going one better in 1962 and dragging Brazil to the trophy on his own after his teammate succumbed to injuries earlier in the tournament.
17
Carlos Alberto
Brazil
What ChatGPT said: “Carlos Alberto’s leadership, passing, and attacking runs were pivotal in Brazil’s 1970 World Cup victory.”
Yes, Carlos Alberto was technically a right-back by trade, but with how he bombed forward and operated in attacking areas, he often functioned more like a wide midfielder. It’s that blend of defensive leadership and offensive contribution that arguably earns him a fair spot on a list of the game’s greatest midfielders.
Few moments capture that better than his famous goal in the 1970 World Cup final – a sweeping move from back to front, finished by Alberto’s thunderous strike that stunned spectators.
Related
AI Names and Ranks the 10 Most ‘Complete’ Players in Football History
Only two players on this list spent some time in the Premier League.
16
Gianni Rivera
Italy
What ChatGPT said: “Rivera’s creativity, passing, and leadership were key to AC Milan’s successes and Italy’s strong performances in international tournaments.”
Rivera’s name may not be the first name that springs to mind when discussing football’s global greats, but in Italy, his reputation is untouchable. Regarded as one of the nation’s greatest ever players, Rivera pulled the strings in midfield with elegance and vision during a golden era for both AC Milan and his country.
15
Raymond Kopa
France
What ChatGPT said: “Kopa’s dribbling, passing, and vision were instrumental in France’s 1958 World Cup run and Real Madrid’s European Cup victories.”
The likes of Zinedine Zidane and Michel Platini before him have embodied the classic number ten role for France but before the duo, it was Raymond Kopa.
The ex-Real Madrid icon was far ahead of his time with his quick feet and unique ability to unlock defences with ease. He featured for Reims and Angers, as well as the La Liga giants, winning three European Cups and an array of league titles.
He is also remembered fondly at international level, for his efforts in helping navigate France to third place in the 1958 World Cup – the same year in which he was named as the first French winner of the prestigious Ballon d’Or.
Related
15 Greatest French Players in Football History [Ranked]
France have produced so many icons over the years with Theirry Henry and Zinedine Zidane all making this list of the best French players of all time.
14
Patrick Vieira
France
What ChatGPT said: “Vieira’s physicality, passing, and leadership were crucial in Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ season and France’s international successes.”
A towering presence in midfield, Patrick Vieira combined technique with immense physicality, making him one of the most dominant figures of his generation. Opponents quickly learned that he was not the type of player you wanted to upset.
Whether in the red of Arsenal or the blue of France, Vieira often wore the captain’s armband too – a testament to his admirable leadership qualities.
With that said, it’s no surprise that Vieira’s career was stacked with silverware. He lifted the World Cup and European Championship with France, while at club level he was the driving force behind Arsenal’s golden era.
13
Steven Gerrard
England
What ChatGPT said: “Gerrard’s leadership, passing, and goal-scoring ability were central to Liverpool’s successes, including their 2005 Champions League victory.”
Steven Gerrard was the complete package as a midfielder. He was capable of scoring screamers, pinging 50-yard passes and dictating play almost single-handedly all at once, which is precisely why he will forever be remembered as one of the finest midfielders to have emerged from England.
But what truly cemented his legacy as a Liverpool and English football legend was his knack for delivering in key moments. The miraculous comeback in the 2005 Champions League final had Gerrard at its heart, while the 2006 FA Cup final has been nicknamed after the Merseyside icon, to name just a couple of his greatest ever moments. He was consistently brilliant, and, importantly, decisive, whenever it mattered most.
Related
15 Greatest English Midfielders in Football History [Ranked]
If England knows anything about football, it’s how to make a good midfielder.
12
Paul Scholes
England
What ChatGPT said: “Scholes’s passing, vision, and shooting were key to Manchester United’s dominance in English football during his career.”
Paul Scholes, as integral as he was to the Red Devil’s title-laden years, is often spoken about as one of the slightly more underrated midfielders of his generation, largely since he played during an era in English football that valued physicality over finesse. Not that Scholes ever struggled with the rough side of the game, but his technique and vision were undoubtedly miles ahead of his time.
Higher words of praise could not be spoken than those that came from Xavi, a legendary midfielder in his own right, who once said:
“In the last 15 to 20 years the best central midfielder that I have seen – the most complete – is Scholes.
“He can play the final pass, he can score, he is strong, he never gets knocked off the ball and he doesn’t give possession away. If he had been Spanish, then maybe he would have been valued more.”
11
Clarence Seedorf
Netherlands
What ChatGPT said: “Seedorf’s versatility, passing, and leadership led to success at top clubs like Ajax, Real Madrid, and AC Milan, winning multiple Champions League titles.”
Indeed, Seedorf is the only player in football history to have won the Champions League with three different clubs; it was as though success followed him in every step of his decorated club career, which comes to little surprise given the quality and impact the Dutchman had with the ball at his feet.
Ultimately, it remains a travesty how international success constantly eluded the Suriname-born midfielder. He was only able to make it as far the semi-finals of a major tournament with the Netherlands, doing so on three occasions at Euro 2000 and Euro 2004, as well as the 1998 World Cup.
Related
35 Greatest Players In Champions League History (Ranked)
Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema feature as the greatest Champions League players of all time are ranked in order.
About Author
