Few positions have as much influence on a game of football as centre midfield. Pulling the strings in the middle of the pitch, central midfielders possess excellent passing ability, creativity, vision, composure and decision making, enabling them to dictate play and control the tempo of a match. With PES 2021 now available to gamers worldwide, let’s look at the top 10 central midfielders in the game:
Best Central Midfielders (CMF) in eFootball Pro Evolution Soccer 2021 – Season Update:
10. Luis Alberto
Age: 28
Country: Spain
Club: Lazio
Rating: 86
Luis Alberto had another incredible season last year as he scored 5 and provided 15 goals in a largely successful season for Lazio. His excellent form means he has been upgraded from 85 to 86 overall. The good thing about having a player like Luiz Alberto in your team is his versatility. Perfectly capable of playing on the wings and as an attacking midfielder, the Spanish dazzler would be an asset for any team. His PES 2021 attributes include 91 ball control, 87 passing, 88 lofted pass and 85 dribbling.
9. Paul Pogba
Age: 27
Country: France
Club: Manchester United
Rating: 86
It does look like Paul Pogba has been on a steady decline since his move to Manchester United from Juventus. This decline has been reflected in his rating as he has dropped from 88 to 86 overall. That said, the Frenchman is still a formidable presence in any midfield and he is more than capable of picking a pass and striking the ball with power and accuracy. His in-game attributes include 87 kicking power, 87 ball control, 85 dribbling, 85 passing and 88 physical contact.
8. Dani Parejo
Age: 31
Country: Spain
Club: Villarreal
Rating: 86
Dani Parejo has been a consistent performer over the last few years and has managed to establish himself as one of the best central midfielders in Spain. This is why it’s a bit of a shock that no other club came calling when it became clear Valencia were looking to sell. Dani is 31 now and would represent a short term fix for Master League coaches looking for a player who can make an immediate impact. He’s still an incredible player with 86 ball control, 89 passing, 91 place kicking and 88 lofted pass.
7. Sergej Milinković-Savić
Age: 25
Country: Serbia
Club: Lazio
Rating: 86
Milinković-Savić has kept his 86 rating in PES 2021. With the Serbian producing top-level performances in every game for Lazio, he’s proven himself to be one of the best midfielders in Serie A. His age and 93 potential means he’s able to develop into a world-class player in Master League mode and his best attributes include 86 kicking power, 92 ball control, 88 heading and 87 physical contact.
6. Saúl Ñíguez
Age: 26
Country: Spain
Club: A.Madrid
Rating: 87
Saúl Ñíguez has quickly developed into a midfielder any team would love to have. Sitting at the heart of Atletico’s midfield last season, plenty of the team’s attack went through him. Being a proficient long-range shooter, Ñíguez also chipped in with 6 goals. In Pro Evolution Soccer 2021, he’s kept his 87 rating and has 93 potential. At age 26, there’s still a lot of room for improvement and that’s good news for Master League players. His in-game attributes include 87 ball control, 85 dribbling, 88 low pass and 85 stamina.
5. Frenkie de Jong
Age: 23
Country: Netherlands
Club: Barcelona
Rating: 87
Frenkie de Jong was one of the few bright spots in Barcelona’s largely disappointing 2019/2020 season. Having arrived from Ajax the previous season, De Jong has settled in nicely and is one of the first names on the team sheet for both club and country. The Dutchman is now 23 years old and has 94 potential in the latest release of the game. Given his age and potential, there are few better signings to make in Master League in 2021. His best attributes include 86 ball control, 85 dribbling, 87 lofted pass and 88 tight possession.
4. Marco Verratti
Age: 28
Country: Italy
Club: PSG
Rating: 87
With just 15 starts, Marco Verratti didn’t exactly have a great campaign last season. Injuries and poor form meant he didn’t enjoy much game time. When he’s not injured though, Verratti is still an incredible player who is a good dribbler and an aggressive tackler. He still managed 6 assists last season, and that was enough to keep his 87 rating in PES 2021. His in-game abilities include 88 dribbling, 89 ball control, 90 lofted pass and 87 balance.
3. N’Golo Kanté
Age: 29
Country: France
Club: Chelsea
Rating: 88
N’Golo Kanté is one of the best midfielders in the business. What many didn’t know was that he was just as capable playing central midfield as he was playing as a defensive midfielder. In a season where Chelsea couldn’t make any signings, Kante’s experience, abilities, and leadership skills made him arguably the team’s most important player. He’s rated 88 in PES 2021 and has 92 potential. His best attributes are 93 balance, 93 ball-winning and 94 defensive awareness.
2. Thiago
Age: 29
Country: Spain
Club: Liverpool
Rating: 88
Thiago Alcantara enjoyed a hugely successful 2019/2020 season with Bayern after winning the treble. His man of the match performance in the UEFA Champions League final was his final goodbye gift to the Bavarians as he set out on a new challenge. After completing his move to England, he’s expected to become Liverpool’s midfield orchestrator this season. His abilities include 92 ball control, 90 dribbling, 89 curl and 87 lofted pass.
1. Toni Kroos
Age: 30
Country: Germany
Club: Real Madrid
Rating: 88
Although Toni Kroos’ performance levels may have dropped over the past few seasons, he’s still one of the best midfielders around. Now 30, his experience and abilities were crucial as Real Madrid were crowned Spanish champions last season. The German scored 4 and assisted 5 last season, helping him retain his 88 rating and keep his place as the best central midfielder in the game. His best in-game attributes include 87 kicking power, 94 ball control, 91 lofted pass and 85 curl.
If you’re looking to build a formidable team in PES 2021’s Master League mode, you may want to consider bringing in one of the players above to run the show in midfield. They won’t come on the cheap, but you’ll be getting a player of immense quality who will be able to take your side to the next level.
