Top 10 playmakers in the world right now as Messi and Fernandes make the list

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An effective playmaker can often be the difference between winning and losing football matches.

Influential in creating goalscoring opportunities and linking play, some truly talented individuals have occupied this position over the years.

But who are the best in this department in the present day? We have taken a look below.

10: Jack Grealish- Aston Villa

There is a reason Aston Villa were desperate to tie down their club captain to a new deal, lasting until 2025.

Grealish's numbers this season speak volumes of his talent. The talented midfielder has already broken double figures for assists, despite missing a number of matches through injury.

The Villa star has single-handedly won his side matches over the years and was the driving force behind Dean Smith's side sealing their return to the top flight two seasons ago.

9: James Rodriguez- Everton

A statement signing by Everton.

Rodriguez made a name for himself during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, finishing as the top scorer at the tournament with six goals to his name.

He earned a big-money move to Real Madrid on the back and was responsible for 26 goal involvements during his first league season with Los Blancos.

At Bayern Munich, Rodriguez's quality was again clear to see.

Now at Everton, the Colombian has injected quality into the Toffees' team as they bid for a European finish.

8: Martin Odegaard- Arsenal

A player with a big future ahead.

Despite only being 22, Odegaard has already gained plenty of experience at the highest level.

With first-team minutes proving hard to come by at Real Madrid, the Norwegian has spent the last few seasons out on loan.

In doing so, Odegaard has improved teams as well as growing as a player. He scored 11 goals and provided 12 assists at Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem in 2018/19 and produced similarly impressive numbers at Real Sociedad last campaign (seven goals, nine assists).

Arsenal are the latest side to witness his technical ability.

7: Thiago Alcantara- Liverpool

A winner wherever he has played, Thiago is a particularly unique talent.

Elegant and effortless when in possession, the Spanish midfielder has the ability to dictate play and pick a pass that others would fail to spot.

When signing for Bayern Munich in 2013, Pep Guardiola's words emphasised just how the 29-year-old is viewed in the game.

"I spoke to the club about my concept and told them why I want Thiago. He is the only player I want. It'll be him or no one," said the now Manchester City boss.

Thiago is continuing to adapt to the Premier League, with Liverpool certain to reap the rewards of his performances.

6: Toni Kroos- Real Madrid

Toni Kroos rolled back the years with a man-of-the-match display versus Liverpool as Real Madrid secured a first-leg victory in their Champions League showdown.

The German played a defence-splitting pass to help open the scoring for Los Blancos and later controlled the tempo of proceedings to see out of the game.

Kroos has been a mainstay in two of Europe's biggest clubs, achieving great success with Bayern and Madrid.

5: Thomas Muller- Bayern Munich

An extremely underrated figure, Muller has consistently performed at the highest level over a number of years.

The German is by no means the most elegant player on this list, but his unselfish nature and faultless work ethic makes him the outstanding player he is.

At 31 years of age, many would expect a gradual decrease in Muller's productivity. Instead, he has reached new heights with astonishing numbers.

Muller scored 14 goals and recorded a mesmerising 26 assists in all competitions as Bayern won the treble last season and is approaching similar statistics for this campaign.

4: Neymar- PSG

Injury setbacks have taken their toll on Neymar in recent times, though the Brazilian makes the most of every minute he is on the pitch.

Unpredictable when in possession, the 29-year-old has the power to cause mayhem in the final third operating behind the prolific Kylian Mbappe.

Neymar rarely disappoints on the biggest stage and possesses technical traits that are hard to come by.

3: Bruno Fernandes- Manchester United

Rarely has a player had the same impact of Bruno Fernandes at Manchester United.

The former Sporting Lisbon man arrived at Old Trafford with the expectation of injecting quality into the team, though he has achieved much more than that.

Fernandes scored 27 goals and contributed 22 assists in 50 appearances last season and has continued to deliver on a weekly basis this term of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side.

2: Kevin De Bruyne- Manchester City

De Bruyne will go down as one of the Premier League greats.

The Belgian has produced moments of magic on countless occasions since signing for the club in 2015, leading City to trophy after trophy.

In 2019/20, De Bruyne equalled Thierry Henry's record of 20 assists in a Premier League season and has consistently ranked highly in this department each year.

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  • 1: Lionel Messi- Barcelona

    Who else?

    The Barcelona great has developed his game in recent years, dropping into a deeper role within the team.

    Known best for his phenomenal goalscoring exploits, Messi's passing range and vision is equally as remarkable.

    Nearing the end of his career, the 33-year-old is still the man who can decide a contest in a split second or attempt a passage of play that others could not even contemplate.

    A true genius of the game.

    • Barcelona FC
    • Champions League
    • Football Wire
    • Premier League
    • La Liga
    • Aston Villa FC
    • Everton FC
    • Arsenal FC
    • Liverpool FC
    • Real Madrid FC
    • Bayern Munich FC
    • PSG FC
    • Manchester United FC
    • Manchester City FC
    • Lionel Messi
    • Bruno Fernandes
    • Neymar

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