Germany is set to welcome some of the finest players in football as it hosts the 17th European Championship competition. The tournament has been blessed with iconic midfield talents over the years, with players like Michel Platini, Lothar Matthäus, Zinedine Zidane, Xavi, Andrea Pirlo, and Andrés Iniesta all gracing the tournament.
From the most brilliant ball controllers to some of the finest playmakers in the world right now, here are the top midfielders to watch at Euro 2024.
Phil Foden
Phil Foden enjoyed a brilliant spell with Manchester City last season, stepping up for the team in the absence of Kevin De Bruyne and also producing magical goalscoring performances when the Belgian returned. It was his best year at City, and he was deservedly rewarded with the 2023-2024 Premier League Best Player of the Year after scoring 19 goals and providing eight assists in the Premier League alone.
Perhaps his most crucial contribution came in the final game of the season, with the 24-year-old dashing the hopes of Arsenal fans with two early goals in the title decider against West Ham.
Foden has yet to show flashes of his club heroics for England, with just four goals in 35 appearances and one in the two major tournaments he has played in. But Euro 2024 could be his time to shine for the Three Lions as they seek a first major trophy since 1966.
Jamal Musiala
Jamal Musiala has grown his game with each passing year and has been presented with the perfect opportunity to take another leap at Euro 2024. The Bayern Munich forward may have had an underwhelming season (for his standards), but he remains one of the brightest young players in Europe.
Musiala registered 16 league goals for Bayern Munich this season, but his ability to navigate tight spaces will prove most useful to Julian Nagelsmann this summer. Playing in front of home fans and familiar territory could give the 21-year-old all the momentum he needs to write his name in the history books.
Antoine Griezmann
Antoine Griezmann has already made his mark at the Euros, scoring six goals for France in Euro 2016, the second most in a single European Championship tournament behind country legend Michel Platini (9). The Atletico Madrid man also impressed for Les Bleus at the 2018 World Cup and could lead France to their first European Championship in 24 years.
At the club level, his journey to redeeming his old self since his underwhelming spell at Barcelona has been nothing short of a joy to watch. Since his move back to Atletico Madrid, the forward has shone under Diego Simeone, scoring 24 goals in all competitions last season.
For France, he has been given a deeper role under Didier Deschamps, operating more as a playmaker than the score-first player he was eight years ago. He has been the link between France’s midfield and attack and will play another crucial role for his country as they hope to redeem their disappointing exit from Euro 2020.
Jude Bellingham
Once a 16-year-old Birmingham City sensation, Jude Bellingham has morphed into one of the biggest stars in football today. He was the talk of the football world almost throughout last season, and rightly so.
The England midfielder opted to take his talents to Madrid after a successful individual stint at Dortmund, and his decision proved to be accurate. In just his first season in Spain’s capital, the 20-year-old helped Real Madrid to their 15th Champions League title and also won La Liga as the league's joint-third top scorer.
Despite primarily being a midfielder, Carlo Ancelotti proved that Bellingham could also be utilized as a poacher, and his 23 goals in all competitions, including crucial goals against Union Berlin and Barcelona, testify to his ability to score when required. He has given the world a taste of his brilliance on the pitch and is poised to be one of England’s most important players in their bid to win their first-ever European Championship.
Kevin De Bruyne
Lots of Belgium tickets will be sold in Germany, with many fans feeling that this could be Kevin De Bruyne’s last appearance in a major international tournament. The Manchester City star is among a few remaining players from a Golden Generation representing the Red Devils this summer, with the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Jan Vertonghen also in the squad.
Domenico Tedesco will be relying heavily on the midfielder in his first major tournament as head coach of the national team. While De Bruyne endured lengthy spells on the sidelines last summer, he was still able to produce some crucial performances when it mattered the most for his club, helping the Cityzens to their fourth consecutive EPL title, a feat no other team has achieved in the league history.
Toni Kroos
Despite being only 34 years old and with plenty of football left in him, Toni Kroos announced that Euro 2024 will be his last competitive tournament as a player. The World Cup champion and six-time UCL winner will be missed for his witty ability to control the midfield. You'll hardly find a better player who dictates the pace of games and distributes passes to the opposition's penalty area like Kroos.
The former Bayern Munich player enjoyed a befitting conclusion to his illustrious club career, winning yet another Champions League and La Liga double for Real Madrid. He will hope to also bid the beautiful game farewell by winning the European Championship, the only trophy that has eluded him, on home soil.
Kroos will be one of Julian Nagelsmann's key players and will be determined to give Die Mannschaft his best for one last push at silverware.
Rodri
Rodri has a reputation for not losing football matches, both for club and country. Since joining Pep Guardiola in 2021/22, Manchester City has lost just six times when he is on the pitch. He did not lose a single Premier League game in 34 appearances last season, only falling short twice in all competitions to Real Madrid at the Champions League quarter-final and Manchester United at the FA Cup Final.
The 31-year-old is easily the best at what he does. His ability to bring balance to the midfield, orchestrate attacking plays from deep, and fend off pressure is reminiscent of Barcelona legend Sergio Busquets. Rodri also showed this season that he can score goals when he needs to, registering eight league goals for City.
Spain’s talisman is hardly on the receiving end of referee bookings too. He is one of the most instinctive defenders in the world, and his ability to read the game and make clean tackles is second to none. He will, without a doubt, be the top midfielder to watch at the Euros as Spain hopes to secure their fourth championship.
