Regarded as the best and most competitive football leagues in the world, the Premier League has been a melting pot for some of the finest players in the game in the past decades.
From the Eric Cantonas, David Beckhams, Frank Lampards, Steven Gerrards, Didier Drogba’s, and a host of others; the pantheons of legendary ballers who shaped the game and left lasting legacies, is endless.
In this article, we have decided to refine the aforementioned lists and beam searchlights on some of the greatest midfielders in the English top flight. The emphasis here is on known names, who combined playmaking and goalscoring roles with flair and style.
It is pertinent to note that opinions may differ, but players included in this list are carefually selected based on their outstanding individual records. Without much ado, follow us as we explore these iconic midfielders who left indelible marks in the game.
Frank Lampard – Chelsea
Frank Lampard left an indelible mark in the Premier League with his individual brilliance and heroic contributions to Chelsea.
The Chelsea legend was known for his prolific goal-scoring ability. He starred for the Blues, scoring 211 goals in 648 appearances in all competitions. He also scored 8 goals in 38 appearances for Manchester City. He was also prolific for Swansea in the English top flight, scoring 39 goals in 187 appearances.
Steven Gerrard – Liverpool
Steven also makes our list of the best Premier League midfielders of all time. Gerard is one of the few players, who spent their entire career at a club in the Premier League. He played for Liverpool in England before a short-term spell with La Galaxy. He scored 120 Premier League goals in
504 appearances.
Paul Scholes
Paul is also on our list of the best Premier League midfielders of all time. Scholes earned widespread acclaim for his vision and incredible passing skills. He was crucial to Manchester United’s long-running dominance of the Premier League. He scored 107 goals in 499 Premier League appearances for Manchester United.
Roy Keane – Manchester United
Roy Kean is another Manchester United legend who aced his game perfectly for the Old Trafford club. Keane already emerged into the limelight following his impressive performances for Nottingham Forest. At United, he found the back of the net 33 times in 326 Premier League appearances.
Patrick Vieira – Arsenal
Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira established himself as one of the best midfielders the Premier League ever had, due to his heroic campaign for the Gunners. While he had spells with other clubs outside the shores of England, his Arsenal career was the most impressive. He scored 29 goals in 279 Premier League appearances. He was crucial to Arsenal’s 2004 invincible squad under former manager Arsene Wenger.
David Silva – Manchester City
Silva had a legendary career with Manchester City in the Premier League. The former Spanish footballer was known for his incredible dribbling skills and playmaking roles.
Silva’s career peaked at the Etihad outfit, where he scored 60 Premier League goals in 306 appearances. Silva played a crucial role in the rise of Manchester City as a Premier League powerhouse.
Ryan Giggs – Manchester United
Although often playing on the wings, Giggs was known for his creative play and great passing skills. The Manchester United legend established himself as one of the finest Premier League midfielders ever.
In a legendary career that spanned 24 years from 1990 to 2014, Giggs scored 114 Premier League goals in 672 appearances for Manchester United.
Yaya Touré – Manchester City
Manchester City legend, Yaya Toure, is arguably among the best midfielders in the Premier League. The Ivorien did little of the dribbles but was known for his great attacking and defensive skills.
He could easily switch to attacking and defending roles and proved pivotal to Manchester City’s rise in the Premier League. He scored 59 goals in 230 Premier League games.
Cesc Fabregas
Known for his playmaking ability, Fàbregas was instrumental for both Arsenal and Chelsea during his time in the Premier League. Fabregas scored 35 goals in 212 appearances for Arsenal and 15 goals in 138 appearances for Chelsea.
Claude Makélélé – Chelsea
A defining figure in the defensive midfield role, Makélélé’s influence on the game was so profound that the position was often referred to as the “Makélélé role.” The former French did not have a knack for scoring goals but boasts a superb career.
