Trying to define a “central midfielder” in modern soccer is no simple task. With positions more fluid than ever and tactical roles constantly evolving, midfielders today are asked to do a bit of ...

The competition is ridiculously fierce.

Rejecting comparisons to his predecessor, the dynamic Japanese midfielder details his unique box-to-box identity and how he plans to redefine the champions' midfield on his own terms.

With the World Cup over, who were the best men's soccer central and/or defensive midfielders in the world this past year? Our global vote has you covered in the 10th anniversary edition of the ESPN FC ...

With the World Cup over, who were the best men's soccer attacking midfielders in the world this past year? Our global vote has you covered in the 10th anniversary edition of the ESPN FC 100.

The 2026 World Cup is over. Spain defeated Argentina in the final, with England having finished third overall. Now that the dust has settled, let’s take a look back at the action that unfolded. Today, ...

Mikel Arteta worked with Kevin De Bruyne for more than three years at Manchester City before taking charge of Arsenal, and ...

Defensive midfielders rarely grab the headlines. They are not the players scoring spectacular goals or making dramatic goal-line clearances, yet they are often the foundation upon which great teams ...

Barcelona and Spain midfielder Pedri has been lauded as the best in the world in his position by Thiago Alcantara. Thiago Alcantara believes there is no better midfielder in the world than Barcelona ...

Everyone is so busy ripping apart the current Premier League for not being as good as it was, but instead of getting swept up in nostalgia, let’s actually appreciate some of the young guns who are ...

True attacking midfielders are a rare breed at the elite level. As the game’s tactical trends have evolved, the traditional No. 10 role has slowly started to disappear (defensive midfield string ...