Stats Analysis: WhoScored's Top Rated Centre-Midfielders

WhoScored continues our series of articles focusing on the top five players per position across Europe’s top five leagues. Having run the rule over the goalkeepers, full-backs and centre-backs already, we turn our attentions to the central midfielders. Four of the top divisions are represented here, with only Ligue 1 the odd one out: 

1. Xavi, Barcelona. WhoScored Rating 7.98

The man that makes the Champions League holders tick; it’s no real surprise to see Xavi is the top rated central midfielder in the WhoScored rankings. Barcelona average 70.2% of possession – the highest in Europe’s top five leagues - and Xavi’s role at the heart of their play is highlighted by an incredible 102.9 passes per game; the only player to break 100 in the five elite leagues.

His ability to find a team mate when in possession is demonstrated by a 92.6% accuracy, with 8 long balls per game the highest of any player for Pep Guardiola’s side, as he searches for his frontmen from deep. When it comes to creating goalscoring opportunities, Xavi is just edged by Lionel Messi for key passes, producing 2.4 per game to the Argentine’s 2.6 and, to date, has provided 6 assists, fourth at Barca to Messi’s 9.

While Andres Iniesta makes an average of 2.2 successful dribbles, Xavi’s lowly 0.6 highlights the difference in the duo’s respective games, but while the former has scored just a single goal, Xavi has hit the net 8 times already; joint third for Barca, alongside Alexis Sanchez.

Given his side’s dominance of possession, Xavi’s defensive stats are relatively low, with less work required than the majority of sides to regain the ball. He makes just 0.9 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per game; Sergio Busquets’ 2.7 and 3 respectively is indicative of his ball-winning role alongside Xavi in the Barca midfield three. A WhoScored average of 7.98 is second only to Messi (8.72) in the WhoScored rankings and has earned Xavi 2 man of the match awards so far.

2. Bastian Schweinsteiger, Bayern Munich. WhoScored Rating 7.75

He may have missed a good part of the season with an ankle injury but the Bayern vice-captain still sits second in the overall WhoScored rankings for midfielders, achieving a rating of 7.75 over 15 games. Bayern’s average of 65% possession is second top in Europe’s top five leagues, bettered only by Barcelona and, sitting in the double pivot, Schweinsteiger dictates the play, with 77.5 passes per game.

He plays 9.3 long balls from deep, far more than Luiz Gustavo (5.6), his central midfield partner in front of the Bayern backline and, in terms of creating goalscoring opportunities, Schweinsteiger stands out, in spite of his deep-lying position. An average of 1.7 key passes is fifth overall for Jupp Heynckes’ side and more than Mario Gomez (1.2); as a result, he’s provided 3 assists for the second-placed side.

In terms of goal threat, Schweinsteiger again impresses; he’s found the net 3 times  – more than Toni Kroos (2) – from an average of 1.3 shots per goal, while 1.5 successful dribbles are indicative of his ability to bring the ball forward and start up attacks.

His defensive contribution is just as crucial for Heynckes’ side. With the likes of Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery wreaking havoc ahead of him, Schweinsteiger’s ball-winning abilities come to the fore. An average of 2.6 tackles is second for Bayern, with Gustavo’s 3 further indication of how busy the Bayern central midfield need to be.  With 1.5 interceptions and an impressive 1.9 successful aerial duels per game – third highest, behind Holger Badstuber (2.5) and Daniel van Buyten (2.2) - Schweinsteiger’s recent return from injury will be key to his side’s chances of chasing down Dortmund’s 5 point lead at the top of the Bundesliga.

3. Andrea Pirlo, Juventus. WhoScored Rating 7.63

The top rated player in the last unbeaten side in Europe’s top five leagues, Pirlo’s deep-lying playmaker role in Juventus’ 4-3-3 has earned him an average of 7.63 in the WhoScored ratings. Flanked by the tenacity of Arturo Vidal and Claudio Marchisio, Pirlo shows plenty of versatility from his 80.1 passes per game.

In terms of distribution stats, he’s top for every key area for Antonio Conte’s side. An average of 10.6 long balls, 0.6 through balls and 2.3 successful crosses sums up his ability to vary his passing, while 3.1 key passes is almost double second placed Simone Pepe (1.6) for Juve. Indeed, Pirlo is joint-third in Europe’s top five leagues for key passes, with only Nene (3.7) and Juan Mata (3.3) providing more. His number of assists sums up Juve’s reliability on Pirlo’s creativity - with 8 so far, he is far ahead of next best Marko Vucinic, with just 3 to his name.

Over his 26 appearances, Pirlo has managed plenty of efforts at goal; an average of 1.9 shots (or a total of 46) has produced just a single goal this term so far, with his shooting proving the least impressive aspect of his displays. His skill in possession stands out, however, with an average 1.2 successful dribbles second only to Vucinic’s 2.

Pirlo’s defensive stats also catch the eye. While Vidal’s ball-winning ability leads the way with 5 tackles and 2.7 interceptions, the former has produced a steady 2 tackles and 2 interceptions in comparison. His overall contribution has earned him 5 WhoScored man of the match awards, which is again more than any teammate for Conte’s side thus far.

4. Luka Modric, Tottenham. WhoScored Rating 7.63

While Gareth Bale has hogged most of the headlines for Tottenham this season, Modric has the edge on his team mate in the WhoScored rankings. Stationed alongside Scott Parker in Harry Redknapp’s 4-4-1-1, Modric has made more passes (68.2) than any other player for the London outfit, with an impressive 88% accuracy summing up his ability to pick out a teammate when in possession.

While Parker’s safety-first approach is shown by a mere 2.8 long balls per game, Modric plays the most of any Spurs player, with 8 in comparison, while his 0.4 through balls is also number one at the club. When it comes to creating goalscoring opportunities, Modric has proven to be the equal of Bale; the pair have averaged 2.6 key passes per game, with Bale picking up 7 assists to Modric’s 4.

The little Croatian’s eye for goal is highlighted by an impressive 2.3 shots per game, which have returned a tally of 3 goals to date, while his 1.5 successful dribbles – second only to Bale’s 1.7 - shows how Modric is capable of bringing the ball forward even in the congested centre of the park.

Much of Modric’s offensive threat is down to Parker’s crucial ball-winning role alongside him. The former West Ham man is Spurs’ stand-out defensive performer with 4.1 tackles and 2.8 interceptions, with his work rate allowing Modric to forage forward and join in the attacks. The latter still impresses when it comes to winning back possession, with 1.7 tackles and 2.2 interceptions indicative of his willingness to graft, too. With 3 WhoScored man of the match awards, he’s the top midfielder in the Premier League and fourth in our rankings after 26 appearances.

5. Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid. WhoScored Rating 7.55

The former Liverpool man is a crucial figure in Real’s bid for La Liga title, producing 84.7 passes per game from his role alongside Sami Khedira in the double pivot. Alonso is second only to Xavi in Europe’s top five leagues here - given that Sergio Ramos is next best for Madrid with 62.6, the reliance on Alonso to dictate play for Jose Mourinho’s side is obvious.

Alonso’s passing is well-suited to Madrid’s rapid attacking game - an average of 10.1 long passes supply the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria on the wings from deep, with Khedira making a mere 1.1 beside him. In terms of creating goalscoring opportunities, Alonso is third top for Madrid; an average of 1.8 key passes betters Ronaldo’s 1.6 and is inferior only to Mesut Ozil (2.6) and Di Maria (2.1). Of all the side’s main creators, Alonso has the most impressive accuracy –  88.5% - and has so far provided 5 assists over his 25 appearances.

A look at his attacking stats indicate that Alonso is quite happy to stay in a deeper role, allowing the front four in Mourinho’s 4-2-3-1 to provide the vast majority of the forward threat. A mere 0.6 shots - which have returned a single goal - in addition to 0.1 successful dribble per game highlights just how rarely he advances forward when in possession.

Alonso’s defensive contribution is also impressive. His reading of the game means he makes the same number of interceptions (2.2) as the likes of Pepe, with his tally superior to both Khedira (1.4) and Lassana Diarra (1.5) in the central midfield area. Alonso is second only to Diarra when it comes to tackles (4.3 to 3.1), with Khedira (1.6) making just more than half the playmaker’s average in comparison. Yet to pick up a WhoScored man of the match award, his average of 7.55 is third for Mourinho’s title-chasers, behind Ronaldo (8.39) and Di Maria (7.65) with just twelve games of the season remaining.