World Football's Top 25 Midfielders of 2011

Ranking the top 25 midfielders in the world is a tough task.

There are the obvious choices, for there is a handful of midfielders who have separated themselves from everyone else in the last year.

After them, however, things become a little hazy. Who should qualify? Is a good defensive midfielder more or less valuable than a good attacking midfielder? How do you rank the wing players? Should certain players even be considered a midfielder this year?

It's quite the conundrum, but I've done my best to limit my list to 25 players who play predominantly in the midfield. These players have had a great year, and they are all difference-makers for their respective clubs.

With such a large pool to pick from, I definitely have left some players out (on purpose and on accident). Feel free to let me know who I left off, or who is too high/low.

25. Jack Wilshere, Arsenal

Jack Wilshere hasn't played for Arsenal this season, but his impressive spring and summer are enough to earn him a spot on this list.

Wilshere has been talked about for a while, and he dazzled everyone last year for Arsenal. In his first full EPL season, Wilshere impressed everyone, while proving that he could play just about every role in the midfield.

When he started to play regularly for England, he solidified himself as one of the best English midfielders. He combines well with other players, and he links the defense to the attack extremely well.

Since he hasn't played a game for Arsenal this season, Wilshere is low on this list. Once he comes back from his injury, I expect him to become one of the top 10 midfielders in the world.

24. Sergio Busquets, Barcelona

Sergio Busquets is a defensive midfielder for the best team in the world.

Barcelona employed Busquets over 50 times in the last year, and Spain picked him over a dozen times. He steps into passing lanes well, slows down the opponent's attack and starts the counterattack as well as anyone.

He does a lot of things well, but his diving hurts his reputation. The man seems to hit the ground once someone steps in his personal bubble. He has cut down on the diving a little bit, but he still likes to go down.

Until he stops the diving nonsense, I can't put him much higher on this list.

23. Samir Nasri, Arsenal and Manchester City

This year was a tale of two seasons for Samir Nasri.

At the beginning of the year, he was one of Arsenal's best players. Despite a poor ending to the season, Nasri helped lead the Gunners to European play.

Then, after being transferred to Manchester City, his role diminished. City have the deepest attacking roster in the world, and Nasri doesn't stand out like he did at Arsenal.

He is still a very good player, but I think City's style has prevented Nasri from solidifying himself as a world-class attacker.

Things have worked out relatively well for him at City. However, unless he returns to being the focal point of an attack, I think he will continue to underwhelm.

22. Angel Di Maria, Real Madrid

Angel Di Maria plays with incredible pace.

As Real Madrid attacks, Di Maria flies down the wing as dangerously as anyone. He already has 13 assists this season, and he has been one of the most impressive players on a dominant Madrid team.

In the past, he has been knocked for holding onto the ball too long, but he has improved that for this year. He plays quicker, and he is a major reason Madrid are at the top of the table.

Di Maria has entered the conversation for the best winger in the world. If he continues to play like he has, he could be considered the best soon enough.

21. Charlie Adam, Blackpool and Liverpool

Last season, Charlie Adam nearly led fan-favorite Blackpool to a return to the Premier League. Upon their demotion, he quickly left to high-profiled Liverpool.

While I can't blame him for the change, the 26-year-old has not been as dominant for Liverpool.

He has played well, and he is a regular in the crowded Liverpool midfield. However, Adam does not dazzle as much when he's surrounded by other extremely talented players.

That is to be expected. However, it's always fun to watch a player dominate nearly on his own. His vision and passing ability are elite, and his grit is essential to his game.

Between his two stops in 2011, Adam has become one of the elite midfielders in the English Premier League.

20. Franck Ribery, Bayern Munich

Franck Ribery continues to play well on the wing.

He had 15 goals and 19 assists in all competitions for Bayern Munich, and he tormented anyone who tried to play him on the wing. He stayed relatively healthy, which allowed him to play as much as he's ever played for Bayern.

As he starts to get a little older, he will lose a step or two. That being said, his control and passing will stay with him for a long time.

He is one of the best wingers in the world, and he will be considered that for a long time.

19. Nigel De Jong, Manchester City

Nigel De Jong is one of the most imposing defensive midfielders in the world.

Despite his small stature, De Jong is one of the strongest players in the world, both on the ball and with his tackles. He wins the ball regularly, and he is a rock in the middle of the field.

With Manchester City's new attacking mindset, De Jong isn't the regular of Roberto Mancini that he used to be. Still, when De Jong enters the game, attackers are aware of it.

He may not play as often this season, but De Jong has proven this past year that he is one of the best defensive midfielders in the world.

18. Rafael van der Vaart, Tottenham Hotspur

Rafael van der Vaart is one of the trickiest, most clever attacking midfielders in the world.

When Tottenham Hotspur comes on the counterattack, van der Vaart is in the middle pushing things to one wing or the other. His touch is pristine, and his final ball is usually always on target.

Spurs have a spectacular midfield, and van der Vaart is a major reason why. He plays well in the open field, can play anywhere and has some of the best set pieces around.

He had 11 goals and seven assists for Spurs in 2011 in the Premier League, including a brace in the 3-3 draw against Arsenal.

When he's healthy, van der Vaart does damage. In 2011, he was able to stay healthy, and his performances demonstrated that.

17. Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid

Xabi Alonso plays the defensive midfield position as calmly as anyone.

Alonso reads the game well, and he almost always has a calm, concentrated look on his face. The Spaniard defends well, and he makes attacking up Real Madrid's midfield nearly impossible.

While he doesn't do much to attack, Alonso does enough defensively to liberate his Madrid players to push forward. When he is sitting in the midfield, most players would do better to avoid him.

As Madrid attempts to surpass Barcelona in Spain, Alonso will play a major role. His strong tackling and pass-intercepting ability puts him amongst the best in the world.

He may be getting a little older, but Alonso continues to dominate.

16. Mesut Ozil, Real Madrid

Mesut Ozil had a coming-out party at the 2010 World Cup.

He followed that up with a pretty impressive 2011.

He may not score many goals, but his assist tally rivals the best. He has great vision, and his passing ability leads to countless Real Madrid goals.

Even with his great passing ability, Ozil has been known to be slightly inconsistent. He was virtually invisible against Barcelona in the latest El Clasico, and great players don't let that happen.

Nevertheless, his pace and passing ability allow him to dominate slower teams. If he plays well against the Catalans, Ozil could solidify himself as one of the best midfielders in the world.

15. Javier Mascherano, Barcelona

Javier Mascherano is a tricky player to put on this list.

While you can't deny his defensive prowess and versatility, he played a lot of centre-back. Since he is normally a defensive midfielder, I decided to put him on this list.

Back to his versatility. When Carles Puyol went down last January, Marcherano was able to step into the defense without missing much of a beat. He wasn't a regular in the defensive line, but his ability to step in made Barcelona that much scarier.

Mascherano is a great player. Although he doesn't push forward offensively too often, he is still able to disrupt opposing attacks often enough to keep Barcelona as the best team in the world.

He is a great defensive player, but his versatility puts him higher than most other defensive midfielders.

14. Luka Modric, Tottenham Hotspur

After all the transfer talk this summer, Luka Modric still came back to Tottenham Hotspur.

Since then, he has been the maestro for the third-place Spurs, as they hope to return to the Champions League. Modric can do just about it all when attacking.

His passing is accurate, his pace is quick and his shooting is incredible. He creates goals for Spurs, and his contributions on the offensive end make Spurs one of the most dangerous counterattacking teams in the world.

Modric's transfer talk will most likely pick back up in January, but I think he's in a good spot in North London. Accordingly, I think he will continue to create great goals for Spurs for the foreseeable future.

13. Bastian Schweinsteiger, Bayern Munich

Bastian Schweinsteiger is a dominant German midfielder.

His motor is always running, and his skill with the ball is incredible. He can push up both wings, or he can play the ball from the middle of the field, depending on what's necessary.

His shooting ability is elite, and he intimidates most defenses with his explosive play. Whether he's on the ball or making an intelligent run, Schweinsteiger is one of the best players in the German Bundesliga.

He's a great technical player, and he has been one of the best for a while.

Even though Bayern Munich didn't have the best season last year, they are back on the top of the table and hope to reclaim the Bundesliga title.

12. Nani, Manchester United

Nani is one of the best wingers in the English Premier League.

He has been a regular for Manchester United for a few years now, and he has been a nightmare for defenders. At times, he is guilty of trying to do too much, but that can sometimes lead to a spectacular goal.

In 2011, Nani had 10 goals and 13 assists in the Premier League, helping United win the league last spring.

Despite his inconsistencies and inability to defend, Nani is one of the most dangerous attackers in the world.

11. Gareth Bale, Tottenham Hotspur

Gareth Bale is one of the most fun players to watch in the world.

His control is great, his play in the attacking third is dangerous and his pace is blistering. Whatever a winger could be asked to do, Bale accomplishes.

He leads Tottenham Hotspur down the wing, and he can abuse even the best defenders. With his skill and pace, Spurs can tire out a team, simply by attacking down his wing.

Bale did a pretty good job staying healthy in 2011, which allowed him to dominate his side of the pitch more often.

If he can help lead Spurs back to the Champions League, Bale would solidify himself as one of the most dangerous attacking players in the world.

10. Wesley Sneijder, Inter

Wesley Sniejder might not finish the year with Inter, but he continues to play well for them.

After an embarrassing defeat to Schalke in the Champions League, Sneijder helped Inter finish second in Serie A. He has great pace, and he plays powerfully for such a small man.

There was plenty of transfer talk in the summer, and that will continue with such a talent. However, I think Sneijder is a good fit for Inter, and his skills will be on display at Euros this summer.

Sneijder had a pedestrian year by his standards, but I still think he was one of the 10 best midfielders this past year.

9. Juan Mata, Chelsea

After leading Valencia to European play once again, Juan Mata came to Chelsea.

He's been great ever since.

Mata has been the Blues' best player, and he dominates large stretches of games. His technical skill is as elite as anyone's, and his passing is fun to watch. He creates goals on a regular basis, and he has been the most consistent player for Chelsea this season.

In the past, it was easy to overlook Mata considering all the other great midfielders in (and from) Spain. This year, however, it is clear how great Mata truly is.

While he isn't on the same level as some of the other Spanish midfielders, he is still a tremendous talent, currently taking the English Premier League by storm.

8. Ashley Young, Manchester United

Ashley Young is the best pure wing player in the world.

He likes to stay on the outside, and he puts pressure on the defense from the outside and when he cuts inside.

He crosses the ball better than anyone in the world, and he caught the eye of Sir Alex Ferguson this past summer. After he carried Aston Villa last year, Manchester United picked him up in the summer to add some depth to their wings.

Young has not disappointed. He has played well all season, and he has taken some games over, including an incredible performance in the Arsenal demolition.

Young is the best winger in the world, and he will continue to improve under Ferguson. He's fun to watch, and he is one of the few wing players that can truly take over a match.

7. Scott Parker, West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur

Scott Parker made 2011 his best year ever.

Even though West Ham United were relegated, he won the Footballer of the Year Award presented by the Football Writers Association. His play was inspiring, and he kept the Hammers competitive.

After relegation, he started playing regularly for England for the first time in his career. Fabio Capello has been impressed with how he's played as of late, and his abilities on the ball allow him to keep possession.

He plays a little further back for Tottenham Hotspur, for he has plenty of talent around him. While he hasn't stood out for Spurs, Parker certainly has been a strong addition to their title-aspiring side.

Parker is a tremendous midfielder, and 2011 was a great year for the English international.

6. Yaya Toure, Manchester City

Yaya Toure has become one of Manchester City's best players.

He plays all over the field, and he can do just about anything on the pitch. He intercepts passes, tackles strongly and starts many attacks.

City have been impressive all year, and Toure has been one of their best players. He scored the lone goal in F.A. Cup semifinal and final to lead City to the title. He is one of the most consistent players on one of the best teams in England, and that means a lot.

City are hoping to win the Premier League title, but with Toure going to the African Cup of Nations, they'll have trouble keeping up their blistering pace.

Toure is a great player, and he has proven that in the past year. His great play, leadership and sense of the moment make Toure make him one of the best midfielders in the world.

5. Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal and Barcelona

Cesc Fabregas was (arguably) the best player for Arsenal last spring. He was slowly becoming a legend in North London, before promptly asking to go back to Barcelona.

The move was a long time coming, and Fabregas has looked like he never left. After suffering a horrible tackle in his first Barca appearance, Fabregas hasn't missed a beat.

His passing ability fits in well at Barcelona, and his ability to find the net at key moments is more than simply impressive. Fabregas is an elite player, and he continues to prove that as time goes on.

At Arsenal, Fabregas was the main player. Now that he's surrounded by other great players, it is clear that he belongs with other greats.

4. David Silva, Manchester City

David Silva has been the English Premier League's best player this year.

He isn't scoring goals as often as Robin van Persie, or been as routinely incredible as Tim Krul. Still, when you watch him play, Silva is always doing damage.

He attacks persistently, and his dribbling is infectious. He holds onto the ball for long periods, but it never seems like he's slowing up the attack. His dribbling has a purpose, which makes Manchester City's attacks so quick.

Silva can be dribbling and dribbling, then he will suddenly make a fantastic through-ball, leading to an easy finish for one of his world-class strikers.

His volley pass to Edin Dzeko remains one of the most impressive plays this year, for his vision and execution was incredible (go to 5:00).

Silva had his coming-out party in 2011, solidifying himself as one of the best midfielders in the world.

3. Andres Iniesta, Barcelona

Andres Iniesta continues to impress.

Even though he is (at best) the third-best player on Barcelona, he makes plays that no one in the world can make. He controls the ball as well as anyone, and his vision is unreal. He sees passes that no one else could even fathom.

On top of that, he makes that incredible pass.

In my opinion, Iniesta does not get nearly enough credit. He makes some incredible plays, and he is arguably the man of the match nearly every time he steps on the pitch.

Iniesta is a master of his craft, and at 27 years old, he has plenty of great years left in front of him.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo is truly one of a kind.

There is no player that has his speed, skill and flair—let alone, having all three at once.

Ronaldo makes some plays that other players can only dream of. His goal-scoring ability is unbelievable, and his drive to win seems to mean something to him now.

Still, I don't think he is the best midfielder in the world.

Ronaldo has great talent around him. Not to mention, he has one of the best managers in the world creating their tactics.

Nevertheless, he went 1-3-3 against Barcelona in 2011. In those seven games, Ronaldo had three goals and zero assists. Sure, he can score hat tricks against teams like Real Zaragoza and Rayo Vallecano, but what about against the best team in the world?

The man that scores dozens of goals simply doesn't show up against them.

I know it's not the only way to measure a player. However, since he hasn't truly shown up against Barcelona, and he has only one trophy this past year, I have put Ronaldo at No. 2.

1. Xavi, Barcelona

There's simply no one better than Xavi.

The Spanish maestro conducts the best club in the world. In addition, he mans the midfield for the best country in the world. When you combine those two things, it's tough to say someone is better.

In 2011, Xavi helped Barcelona win four trophies, while solidifying themselves as the best club in recent memory. They are arguably the best club team of all time, and a lot of the credit ought to go to Xavi.

He makes great plays, but his calming demeanor in the midfield is what sets him apart. He makes quick, smart passes that are impossible to intercept.

Xavi's ability to hold possession is second to none, and he continues to set the standard for possessing football. As long as Xavi is in the midfield, Barcelona and Spain remain the teams to beat.

He truly is the best midfielder in the world, and he proved that once again in 2011.