10 Best Attacking Midfielders in the World 2025

Football has always been shaped by the players who control the middle of the pitch, and in today’s game, the attacking midfielder is more important than ever. These are the players who link the midfield with the attack, creating chances, scoring goals, and making the game flow.

Young players shattering through with fearless creativity, the role remains ever-evolving. In this article, we'll see the 10 best attacking midfielders in the world right now.

10. Isco

Many people thought Isco was over his prime. Well, at Betis, he’s giving it another shot. He’s back to creating, scoring and having fun again. His return in 2024/25 led to a Conference League run to the Final and Player of the Season accolades.

Key stats: 9 goals and 8 assists in 22 La Liga matches with the most chances created. ( 100%)

What makes him special: That has not lost his touch and wits. He is still able to stay ahead of a game with only a couple of strokes.

What people say: Manuel Pellegrini said, “Isco has brought balance and creativity to this team. He is a leader on and off the pitch.

9. Scott McTominay

Scott McTominay sneaks in the list for his surprising goal haul at Napoli after leaving United. At 28, he's evolved from squad player to Serie A star, winning Player of the Month with clutch strikes.

Key stats: 12 goals in 34 Serie A matches in 2024/25, Plus 4 assists in 33 matches started.

What makes him special: A rushing goal-scorer in midfield, tall and powerful headers. First Scottish to win Serie A Player of the Month.

8. Martin Ødegaard

Martin Odegaard is on the list of captains for Arsenal, with unnerving instinct, a maestro of play, all at the helm of something that goes from day to day and keep Arsenal dreaming big with his constant assists and leadership.

One stats: Premier League best in terms of chances created over the past four years, with touches. 6 goals and 11 assists in 2024/2025 season.

Speciality: That left footed bend - dead balls, precise passes, compared with Özil and Guti in terms of creativity.

7. Morgan Rogers

Morgan Rogers is on the list for his explosive rise at Aston Villa, where his physicality and flair have lit up the Premier League and Champions League. At 23, he's England's new gem, with a hat-trick in Europe making him the second-youngest Englishman to do it.

Key stat: 14 goals and 13 assists in 55 games in 2024/25 a breakout with 27 goal involved.

What makes him special: His direct play and ability to link with Ollie Watkins and his teammates in attack make him hard to stop + his skillful dribbles.

What people say: Emery said recently, “Morgan brings energy and quality. He is growing every week.

6. Xavi Simons

Xavi has become one of Europe’s most exciting young playmakers. His energy and creativity give Leipzig a different edge.He is on the list  after his permanent Leipzig stint led to a Tottenham switch in 2025. At 22, his loan spells showed Bundesliga class, with a brace on his first start post-injury.

Scored two goals in a 4-2 victory over Werder Bremen in January 2025, for his 40th appearance. He scored 10 goals and 13 assists during his 2024/2025 season with 96 chance created in Bundesliga.

He has that Dutch strength. Attacking mid or winger, vision and dribbling which opens up defenses, positional freedom under Postecoglou, all there.

5. Bruno Fernandes

Bruno Fernandes runs the engines for Manchester United. He’s got both creativity and bite and, at 31, he’s still kicking double digit goals and assists each full season, helping Portugal to impressive runs at the Euros and taking United through difficult times.

Key stats: Double digits in goals and assists for each of his full United seasons, almost 100 club goals for the season (only the fourth overseas player to have achieved this). 22 goals and 19 assists in all competitions in 2024/2025 season with 98% chance created.

What people say: Erik ten Hag used to say: Bruno is our engine. He always wants to find the killer ball.

4. Cole Palmer

Cole Palmer makes the list for his breakout seasons at Chelsea, where he's gone from academy lad to penalty king and goal sco8. In 2025 he's helped bag Conference League and Club World Cup, where he was man of the match in both finals. At 23 he's England's rising star, after scoring in Euro 2024.

Stats: 15 goals in 37 Premier League games last season – just nineth in the league’s scoring chart, and 11 assists, and that's record-breaking contributions for a Chelsea player in a calendar year. 88% chances created 

Why he’s special: Curling shots from unknown distance, and picking locks with passes. Left footed magic and that mentality for playing on the pens makes him clutch. Got that streetball like Wayne Rooney.

3. Jamal Musiala

 Bayern Munich starlet Jamal Musiala has that effortless class, which blends scoring and creativity in the manner that few other players have, and at 22, he's already a prominent figure for Germany, with a hat-trick in the DFB-Pokal and some pretty decent Bundesliga form, despite suffering a frustrating injury setback in the Club World Cup.

Key stats: 24 goals and 8 assists in Bundesliga matches during 2024/25 and he was ranked 12th scoring from midfield. 88% chances created 

What they say: "He has a wonderful eye and sense for the right spaces, " said Hansi Flick, his old coach.

2. Florian Wirtz

At 22, Florian Wirtz already has Bundesliga Player of the Season  after playing at Leverkusen, helping the champions to an unbeaten double, and now in the Premier League. He's getting things down under quickly in England to make his mark.

key stats: 2024/24 season, 47 appearances, 22 goals and 18 assists. Even in his early Liverpool outings this year, he's creating chances left and right, with touches in the 97th percentile for attacking midfield and 91% chances created 

What makes him special: very versatile, playing as a false nine or inverted winger, always finding space and whipping in those pinpoint passes.

1. Jude Bellingham

Jude Bellingham deserves to be at the top of the list, mainly because he’s become this all-rounder, doing it all for Real Madrid and England, and has already won big trophies like La Liga and the Champions League.

key stats: He had four games with both a goal and an assist, the most of anyone in the league.That's 16 goals and 15 assists in all competitions, plus a 84% duel success rate that topped the charts for players with 31 goal contributions.

What makes Bellingham stand out is his energy and intelligence. He has that rare combination of physicality.

2024/2025 season has shown that attacking midfielders remain some of the most important players in football. These players remind us that this role is far from dying. Each of them brings something unique. Who's your number one pick?