An eye for the goal, precise passing and dictating the attack. The role of an attacking midfielder is really specific yet impactful. Hard to predict yet simple. Biggest threat on the pitch? Oh boy, they are. Football Express presents to you the Top 10 attacking midfielders of 2020.
There were some absolutely stunning displays in 2020. It had every kind of performance. A dynamic duo helping their team win 5 trophies, a single player who transformed the look of an entire team, a career revival and some showing that class never goes away.
Football came to a halt for about 3 months as the world battled against the deadly virus. It took tremendous hard work of so many people off the pitch to ensure that the fans do not stay away from the beautiful game for too long. Before we rank the heroes on pitch, we must thank the actual heroes, the healthcare workers who ensured everything went without a hitch.
The long break meant that most of the players were not as physically fit as before. Injuries were getting too common and players struggled to chase the ball for 90 minutes. But not our Top 10 attacking midfielders of 2020.
Our attacking midfielders came to the limelight. These players play with their brains and do not physically exert themselves. The magicians, the wizards and in some cases the clown.
We at Football Express have compiled the top 10 attacking midfielders of 2020. I bet you will not disagree.
Top 10 Attacking Midfielders of 2020
Kaka, Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini – these players set the bars for an attacking midfielder. The world has not forgotten what these Houndinis did. Over the years we have seen some brilliant performances by those who tried to emulate them. Here are the ones who came closest to them in 2020.
10.James Maddison
We had a number of player to choose from but James Maddison’s role in Leicester City has been so vital that we could not omit him from this list. Last season, he was instrumental in helping Leicester City finish off the season 5th.
He was not able to feature for Leicester in the ‘Project Restart’ which resulted in Leicester giving away too many points. Had he been fit, Leicester would have been playing in the Champions League this season.
This season he has scored 5 goals and given two assists. Though he has not received an England call-up yet, he is always threatening the oppositions box.
9.Houssem Aouar
Lyon’s run to the semi-finals of the Champions League was simply stunning. From a cloud of many impressive performances, the hero was Houssem Aouar.
Outstanding technical abilities and a cool head. Those are the words to describe this magician. He loves to play simple and was a huge transfer target this summer.
Arsenal and Real Madrid have been heavily linked with this youngster. He received his first call-up for France in 2020. An impressive career lies ahead of this youngster.
8.Hakan Çalhanoğlu
Hakan Çalhanoğlu seem to be getting the no.10 jersey of AC Milan as much praise it deserves. The Turk has been phenomenal for AC Milan this year.
With Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Theo Hernandez and an array youngster AC Milan have turned into title contenders. They are running a rampage and currently lead the Serie A table.
Last season, he scored 11 goals and this season he already has 5. Known for his powerful shots and accuracy from free-kicks, we may see the Rossoneris win the Scudetto this year.
7.Leon Goretzka
Bayern Munich had an incredible year. With the world class talent they had, they were running a rampage wherever they went. Leon Goretzka had his part to play and he impressed everyone.
In a midfield along with Thiago Alcantara, Philippe Coutinho and Thomas Müller, Goretzka was phenomenal. While his efforts may not be highlighted like his teammates, his predatory instincts and intelligent passing received much acclaim from fans as well as pundits.
He has scored 4 goals and given 3 assists in 15 appearances for Bayern this season. A versatile player, he can be deployed in multiple positions.
6.Kevin de Bruyne
Let us all agree that Kevin de Bruyne is still an elite player but there were some names that simply stood out to go ahead of him. He was the best attacking midfielder in the world for the past couple of years and has not lost his class.
De Bruyne had a record equalling 20 assist last season which got him not only the Playmaker of the Season award but even the Premier League Player of the Season. This season he has scored 2 goals and given 7 assists in 13 Premier League matches.
He has been excellent for Belgium and shown that at 29 he is still a useful addition to any attack.
5.Kai Havertz
Kai Havertz was brilliant for Bayer Leverkusen last season with his cheeky passing and goals. He was has been a rising German talent and has been lauded by many legends.
Scoring 18 goals and giving 6 assists, he was instrumental in Leverkusen’s run to the quarterfinals of the Europa League. His efforts made him a top target in the transfer window.
Chelsea signed him in the summer transfer window for £70 million. He scored a hattrick against Barnsley in the EFL Cup. He is doing what he does best, just in a different league now.
4.Alejandro Gomez
Atalanta was surprise package last season. The energy with which they played shocked everyone across the globe. And the spearhead of that pack was Alejandro Gomez.
Quick feet, darting runs and killer instincts in front of goal makes this guy impossible to contain. The daft movement with the ball at his feet is enough to wreck havoc in any defence.
With 16 assists last season, he set the Serie A record for the most assists. He has already scored 5 goals in 16 appearances this season. At 32, this guy seems to have nothing stopping him.
3.Jack Grealish
Mr. Jack-of-all-trades is a one man show. He is all over the pitch and influences every part of the game. He helped Aston Villa move up from the Championship, then prevented them from relegation and now they are a team fighting for a top-4 spot.
Jack Grealish has been so influential on the pitch that when he was dropped from the England squad, twitter went into a frenzy. A player with killer technical abilities and great movement off the ball, Grealish is always a threat to any defence.
Last season, the nimble footed midfielder was the most fouled player in the Premier League. Opponents would do absolutely anything to stop his mazy runs. He has been a top target by some of the top clubs in Europe. However he penned a five year deal with Aston Villa last year.
2.Thomas Müller
LewanGOALski, LewanGOALski. And that is not complete without ThomASSIST Müller. Who said that an assassin does not smile? Just as much as he makes all of us laugh with his antics off the pitch, he makes his opponents cry on the pitch.
Even when he is in a team that oozes class, Thomas Müller always adds something special to the pitch. His crafty passes, deceiving link-up plays and a foot that always swings for the goal, he simply is too good.
He finished off last season with a record-breaking 21 assists in the Bundesliga. He won five titles with Bayern Munich which made him the most decorated German player of all time. With 27 trophies, he has one more trophy for Bayern than Bastian Schweinsteiger.
1.Bruno Fernandes
2020 was a really sad year for football as we lost one of the greatest footballers on the planet, Diego Maradona. His most famous feat perhaps is how he single-handedly carried Argentina to a World Cup trophy.
Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’s Manchester United were in deep trouble in January 2020. They were 7th in the league, their main players – Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford- were injured and the fans wanted to sack the manager. Ole Gunnar signed Bruno Fernandes for £47 million from Sporting Lisbon. The rest, how do you not know it?
The Portuguese had an instant impact. Manchester United have not lost a single away game in the Premier League. They finished the season 3rd, reached the semi finals of the FA Cup and the Europa League and are one of the most lethal counter attacking sides across Europe.
His stats are shocking. After 29 appearances in the Premier League, he has 18 goals and 14 assists. This season alone, he has scored 16 goals and given 9 assists across all competitions. He is always within the top 5 for goals and assist in the Premier League in a chart ruled by strikers.
Apart from his staggering stats he has had a huge influence on the mentality of the team. He is a success-hungry player and drives his teammates to work hard. A leader by nature, he is always instructing others, a quality the fans praise him for.
Honourable Mentions
These were our top 10 attacking midfielders of 2020. Some players did have an exceptional year but did not make this list. They include Mason Mount, Bernado Silva, Philippe Coutinho, James Rodrigues and Marcos Llorente.
