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

Claude Makélélé

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

1000pts

2

Sergio Busquets

Barcelona and Spain metronome widely regarded as the greatest positional No. 6 of the modern era.

928pts

3

Javier Mascherano

Argentine warrior nicknamed 'El Jefecito' who broke up play for Liverpool and Barcelona.

771pts

4

Gennaro Gattuso

Combative AC Milan and Italy terrier who complemented Pirlo and won the 2006 World Cup.

734pts

5

Gilberto Silva

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

642pts

6

Dunga

Brazil's steely captain who shielded the defense en route to lifting the 1994 World Cup.

642pts

7

N'Golo Kanté

Tireless France ball-winner and 2018 World Cup winner famed for covering every blade of grass.

642pts

8

Didier Deschamps

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

584pts

9

Rodri

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

584pts

10

Casemiro

Brazilian enforcer who screened Real Madrid's defense through five Champions League triumphs.

584pts

11

Roy Keane

Ferocious Manchester United captain who marshalled midfield with aggression and leadership.

584pts

12

Lothar Matthäus

Versatile German engine room general and 1990 World Cup winner renowned for his all-round control.

584pts

13

Edgar Davids

Dreadlocked, goggle-wearing Dutch dynamo known as 'The Pitbull' for his relentless energy.

584pts

14

Owen Hargreaves

Cult England and Bayern Munich midfielder revered for his tenacious, disciplined screening play.

513pts

15

Xabi Alonso

Deep-lying Spanish orchestrator who dictated tempo for Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

513pts

16

Patrick Vieira

Commanding Arsenal captain of the Invincibles who combined power, tackling and drive from midfield.

513pts

17

Frank Rijkaard

Elegant Dutch midfield destroyer central to AC Milan and Ajax's late-1980s European dominance.

513pts

18

Yaya Touré

Powerful Ivorian who dominated midfield for Barcelona and Manchester City at both ends of the pitch.

428pts

19

Michael Essien

Powerful Ghanaian all-rounder dubbed 'The Bison' during Chelsea's Premier League-winning years.

428pts

20

Bastian Schweinsteiger

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

428pts