Who is the greatest defensive midfielder of all time?

From ball-winning destroyers to deep-lying orchestrators, this lineup gathers the holding midfielders who ran the game from the shadows, spanning elegant 80s enforcers to today's Ballon d'Or anchor. Who shielded a defense best of all? Cast your vote!

1. 1
   Claude Makélélé

   French holding midfielder so influential at Chelsea and Real Madrid that the defensive-midfield role was named after him.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Sergio Busquets

   Barcelona and Spain metronome widely regarded as the greatest positional No. 6 of the modern era.
   895pts
3. 3
   Javier Mascherano

   Argentine warrior nicknamed 'El Jefecito' who broke up play for Liverpool and Barcelona.
   663pts
4. 4
   Gennaro Gattuso

   Combative AC Milan and Italy terrier who complemented Pirlo and won the 2006 World Cup.
   609pts
5. 5
   Gilberto Silva

   Brazil's understated 'Invisible Wall' who shielded Arsenal's Invincibles and won the 2002 World Cup.
   473pts
6. 6
   Dunga

   Brazil's steely captain who shielded the defense en route to lifting the 1994 World Cup.
   473pts
7. 7
   N'Golo Kanté

   Tireless France ball-winner and 2018 World Cup winner famed for covering every blade of grass.
   473pts
8. 8
   Didier Deschamps

   France's water-carrier who anchored the 1998 World Cup-winning side before a decorated managerial career.
   387pts
9. 9
   Rodri

   Manchester City and Spain anchor whose 2024 Ballon d'Or capped an era of relentless control.
   387pts
10. 10
    Casemiro

    Brazilian enforcer who screened Real Madrid's defense through five Champions League triumphs.
    387pts
11. 11
    Roy Keane

    Ferocious Manchester United captain who marshalled midfield with aggression and leadership.
    387pts
12. 12
    Lothar Matthäus

    Versatile German engine room general and 1990 World Cup winner renowned for his all-round control.
    387pts
13. 13
    Edgar Davids

    Dreadlocked, goggle-wearing Dutch dynamo known as 'The Pitbull' for his relentless energy.
    387pts
14. 14
    Owen Hargreaves

    Cult England and Bayern Munich midfielder revered for his tenacious, disciplined screening play.
    284pts
15. 15
    Xabi Alonso

    Deep-lying Spanish orchestrator who dictated tempo for Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
    284pts
16. 16
    Patrick Vieira

    Commanding Arsenal captain of the Invincibles who combined power, tackling and drive from midfield.
    284pts
17. 17
    Frank Rijkaard

    Elegant Dutch midfield destroyer central to AC Milan and Ajax's late-1980s European dominance.
    284pts
18. 18
    Yaya Touré

    Powerful Ivorian who dominated midfield for Barcelona and Manchester City at both ends of the pitch.
    0pts
19. 19
    Michael Essien

    Powerful Ghanaian all-rounder dubbed 'The Bison' during Chelsea's Premier League-winning years.
    0pts
20. 20
    Bastian Schweinsteiger

    Bayern Munich and Germany leader whose composure anchored the 2014 World Cup triumph.
    0pts

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