The finest in the middle of the park on the planet featuring Manchester City and Barcelona.
Football analysts told us that the box-to-box midfielder was a dying art a few years ago, before a false nine was introduced to sides such as Barcelona and lately Bayern Munich.
Yet a revival has happened in recent times and the role is back with a vengeance and here are the 10 best currently playing in world football.
10. Sami Khedira – Real Madrid
More on the defensive side of the spectrum but Manchester United recognised enough creative talent in the German to try and bring the 26-year-old to Old Trafford in the summer.
Has been cruelly sidelined for the season and probably the 2014 World Cup after rupturing cruciate ligaments.
9. Hernanes – Lazio
Was much hyped about but things seem to have gone a little quiet where this Brazilian is concerned, although has three goals and three assists this term and is certain to play a part at the World Cup.
8. Paul Pogba – Juventus
Is likely to rapidly rise up these ranks in the coming years as at just 20-years-old there is much more to come from this Frenchman, who is now an established star for club and country.
7. Luka Modric – Real Madrid
With such an abundance of attacking talent at the Santiago Bernabeu the Croatian has been required to become more defensively minded and has mixed the two disciplines with aplomb.
6. Lars Bender – Bayer Leverkusen
As German football continues to get better and better the nation is producing more box-to-box players than seemingly any other country and Bender is a real talent.
5. Xavi – Barcelona
Now 33-years-old but the Spain international is still one of the finest players on the planet and has a passing array and sense for creating space to prove it.
4. Ilkay Gundogan – Borussia Dortmund
Another who has been sidelined for much of this term due to injury, but Arsenal, Madrid and United have all been tracking this brilliant Germany international.
3. Bastian Schweinsteiger – Bayern Munich
The third on this list from the increasingly impressive Bundesliga and when Bayern won the treble last season Schweinsteiger was one of their finest players, dominating the middle of the park.
2. Arturo Vidal – Juventus
Juve are quite spoiled in this department with Pogba and Claudio Marchisio also at the club, but Chilean star Vidal is head and shoulders above the rest.
1. Yaya Toure – Manchester City
Just edging ahead of Vidal however is this brilliant Ivorian, who has won African Player of the Year three times running and is now the complete player for the Citizens.
