FIFA 19 Career Mode: Best midfielders (CDM, CM, CAM)


Regardless of what formation or style you play, you need central midfielders. They don't all come in the same form though. Attacking, defensive, and balanced midfielders are all key parts of a teams strategy and play.

How to choose the best midfielders in FIFA 19 career mode

We are looking for the best central midfielders in FIFA 19. These are players with their primary position as either CAM, CM, or CDM and an overall rating of 82 or more. All these players are quality options for any team, but to get them you'll need to be ready to open your wallet and pay the price.

A complete list of all best midfielders can be found at the bottom of the page

Attacking midfielders (CAM)

Kicking us off are the number 10s these are quality players that can unlock the defence.

Kevin De Bruyne (OVR 91 - POT 92)

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+ 12

Age: 27

Positions: CAM, CM

Club: Manchester City

Country: Belgium

Work rate: High/High

Best stats: 93 crossing, 92 short passing, 91 long passing

Cost: £148.3 million

Wage: £348k

Manchester City's creative dynamo Kevin De Bruyne is the best attacking midfielder in FIFA 19. The 27-year-old Belgian is at home behind the striker or in the heart of the midfield, and is one of the best passers in FIFA 19 (92 short pass, 91 long pass) and can even send in excellent crosses (93) if he drifts out wide. De Bruyne is not only a creative genius but has the skill to go past defenders (91 ball control, 86 dribbling) and is deadly in front of goal (91 shot power, 91 long shots, 83 finishing).

Paulo Dybala (OVR 89 - POT 94)

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+ 12

Age: 24

Positions: CAM, CF, ST

Club: Juventus

Country: Argentina

Work rate: High/Medium

Best stats: 92 dribbling, 92 ball control, 88 long shots

Cost: £135.1 million (release fee)

Wage: £189k

Paulo Dybala is one of the best young stars in world football. He has terrific skill on the ball (92 dribbling, 92 ball control) and has good athleticism to allow him to burst into space (87 acceleration, 83 sprint speed, 91 agility). Dybala is excellent at distributing the ball (87 vision, 87 short passing, 82 crossing) and can be deadly in front of goal too (84 finishing, 84 composure, 88 long shots).

Isco (OVR 89 - POT 92)

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+ 12

Age: 26

Positions: CAM, CM, LW

Club: Real Madrid

Country: Spain

Work rate: High/Medium

Best stats: 95 ball control, 94 dribbling, 90 balance

Cost: £128.3 million

Wage: £299k

Isco is one of the main reasons Real Madrid felt they could sell Ronaldo this summer. The young Spanish star is a creative genius who can take on defenders or distribute the ball. He isn't a speedster (69 sprint speed, 75 acceleration) but he is a wizard with the ball at his feet (95 ball control, 94 dribbling). Isco can find a pass in almost any situation (90 vision, 89 short pass, 84 long pass, 86 composure) and is also deadly around the goal (89 long shot, 85 finishing).

David Silva (OVR 89 - POT 89)

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+ 12

Age: 32

Positions: CAM, CM

Club: Manchester City

Country: Spain

Work rate: High/Medium

Best stats: 92 short pass, 92 composure, 92 vision

Cost: 53.2 million

Wage: £251k

David Silva is no spring chicken, but he is still one of the best midfielders in the world. The Spanish star is a creative genius in the centre of the park that can generate chance after chance for the rest of his team. With excellent ball skills (93 ball control, 89 dribbling) and good small-area quickness (92 agility, 90 balance), Silva can slip past defenders to put himself in a goal-scoring position or find a teammate seemingly at will (92 short passing, 92 vision, 81 long passing).

Central midfielders (CM)

The central midfielders are box-to-box players who can make tackles and hit passes.

Luka Modric (OVR 91 - POT 91)

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+ 12

Age: 33

Positions: CM, CDM

Club: Real Madrid

Country: Croatia

Work rate: High/High

Best stats: 94 balance, 93 short pass, 93 ball control

Cost: £73.2 million

Wage: £414k

Luka Modric has long been the model centre midfielder. The Real Madrid man is the perfect distributor (93 short pass, 92 vision, 88 long pass) and has excellent quickness (94 balance, 93 agility) to get himself space. He is brilliant with the ball at his feet (93 ball control, 90 dribbling) and can also score when the opportunity presents itself (82 long shots, 79 shot power, 72 finishing). 

Toni Kroos (OVR 90 - POT 90)

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+ 12

Age: 28

Positions: CM, CDM

Club: Real Madrid

Country: Germany

Work rate: Medium/Medium

Best stats: 93 long pass, 92 short pass, 92 long shots

Cost: £92.6 million

Wage: £312k

Toni Kroos is, like his Real Madrid teammate, a brilliant centre midfielder. A remarkable passer (93 long pass, 92 short pass, 88 crossing), Toni Kroos is also deadly from range (92 long shots, 86 curve, 84 fk accuracy) making him one of the best attacking players in FIFA 19. Kroos can also make tackles when needed (82 stand tackle) and break up opposition attacks (81 interceptions).

Paul Pogba (OVR 88 - POT 91)

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+ 12

Age: 25

Positions: CM, CDM

Club: Manchester United

Country: France

Work rate: High/Low

Best stats: 90 long pass, 90 ball control, 90 stamina

Cost: £123.7 million (release clause)

Wage: £242k

Paul Pogba has been around forever and yet is only 25. The Manchester United midfielder is a powerful player (90 stamina, 89 strength) and excellent on the ball (90 ball control, 87 dribbling). Pogba can make every pass (90 long pass, 87 short pass, 87 vision) and can score too (90 shot power, 85 volleys, 81 long shots, 73 finishing). Pogba isn't great without the ball, but his strength allows him to muscle others off the ball and he is decent tackler (70 stand tackle, 68 slide tackle).

Marek Hamsik (OVR 87 - POT 87)

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+ 12

Age: 31

Positions: CM

Club: Napoli

Country: Slovakia

Work rate: High/Medium

Best stats: 88 short pass, 88 positioning, 87 ball control

Cost: £53.2 million

Wage: £110k

Marek Hamsik is Napoli's creative force in the middle of the park. A strong passer (88 short pass, 86 vision, 83 long pass) who can pose a threat to goal (83 long shots, 82 shot power, 80 curve, 79 finishing), Hamsik is one of the most complete forward-thinking midfielders in FIFA 19. He is well-rounded too, capable of playing without the ball (75 marking, 73 stand tackle).

Defensive midfielders (CDM)

Central defensive midfielders are vital to keeping the midfield ticking. These players act as the engine room, shield the defence and connect the attack.

N'Golo Kante (OVR 89 - POT 90)

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+ 12

Age: 27

Positions: CDM, CM

Club: Chelsea

Country: France

Work rate: Medium/High

Best stats: 96 stamina, 92 interceptions, 91 stand tackle

Cost: £73.2 million

Wage: £202k

Ngolo Kante is the best defensive midfielder in FIFA 19. He is a workhorse who can run forever (96 stamina) and is a master at breaking up opposition attacks (92 interceptions, 91 stand tackle, 90 marking, 85 slide tackle). Kante can also participate going forward as well (86 short pass, 81 long pass), making him one of the most complete midfielders around.

Casemiro (OVR 88 - POT 91)

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+ 12

Age: 26

Positions: CDM

Club: Real Madrid

Country: Brazil

Work rate: Medium/High

Best stats: 90 stand tackle, 89 strength, 88 marking

Cost: £71.4 million

Wage: £273k

Casemiro doesn't fit the stereotype of a Real Madrid midfielder, but every team needs their water carrier, and his presence allows the likes of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos to play with more of an attacking mindset. Casemiro's physicality (89 strength, 87 stamina, 87 aggression) and brilliant tackling ability (90 stand tackle, 87 slide tackle) make it tough to navigate the ball around him as he shields the back four, and thanks to good passing stats (85 short pass, 82 long pass) he can launch attacks after winning the ball back.

Sergio Busquets (OVR 88 - POT 88)

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+ 12

Age: 30

Positions: CDM, CM

Club: Barcelona

Country: Spain

Work rate: Medium/Medium

Best stats: 90 marking, 88 short pass, 87 interceptions

Cost: £58.2 million

Wage: £286k

Sergio Busquets performs the same job for Barcelona as Casemiro does for Real Madrid. As the defensive shield, Busquets can track attackers and pick off passes well (90 marking, 87 interceptions) even if he isn't as strong in the tackle as others (86 stand tackle, 80 slide tackle, 77 strength). Busquets is able to launch attacks well too (88 short pass, 86 vision, 79 long pass).

Nemanja Matic (OVR 86 - POT 86)

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+ 12

Age: 30

Positions: CDM, CM

Club: Manchester United

Country: Serbia

Work rate: Medium/High

Best stats: 87 interceptions, 86 short pass, 85 stand tackle

Cost: £42.6 million

Wage: £185k

Nemanja Matic has followed Jose Mourinho to Old Trafford and immediately done everything his manager could want. An expert at breaking up attacks (87 interception, 85 marking, 85 stand tackle), Matic is also a capable passer (86 short pass, 84 long pass) and is also an aerial threat at set pieces (74 heading accuracy). He's got good physicality (85 strength, 84 stamina) too, making him a very well rounded player.

All the best Attacking Midfielders (CAM) in FIFA 19

Name
Age
Pos
Club
Country
Cost
Wage
OVR
POT
Kevin De Bruyne
27
CAM CM
Manchester City
Belgium
£148.3m
£348k
91
92
Paulo Dybala
24
CAM CF ST
Juventus
Argentina
£135.1m
£189k
89
94
Isco
26
CAM CM LW
Real Madrid
Spain
£128.3m
£299k
89
92
David Silva
32
CAM CM
Manchester City
Spain
£53.2m
£251k
89
89
James Rodriguez
26
CAM CM RM
Bayern Munich
Colombia
£61.2m
£299k
88
89
Christian Eriksen
26
CAM RM CM
Tottenham Hotspur
Denmark
£124.5m
£194k
88
91
Mesut Ozil
29
CAM RM RW
Arsenal
Germany
£72.7m
£180k
86
86
Nabil Fekir
24
CAM ST
Olympique Lyonnais
France
£86.9m
£81k
85
89
Dele Alli
22
CAM
Tottenham Hotspur
England
£76.7m
£110k
84
90
Henrikh Mkhitaryan
29
CAM LM RM RW
Arsenal
Armenia
£51m
£154k
84
84
Dimitri Payet
31
CAM LM
Olympique Marseille
France
£46m
£72k
84
84
Bruno Fernandes
23
CAM CM
Sporting CP
Portugal
£62.1m
£16k
83
87
Shinji Kagawa
29
CAM CM
Borussia Dortmund
Japan
£38.1m
£62k
83
83
Giuliano
28
CAM RW
Al Nassr
Brazil
£38.9m
£51k
83
83
Ever Banega
30
CAM CM CDM
Sevilla
Argentina
£45.3m
£23k
83
83

All the best central midfielders (CM) in FIFA 19

Name
Age
Pos
Club
Country
Cost
Wage
OVR
POT
Luka Modric
32
CM CDM
Real Madrid
Croatia
£73.2m
£414k
91
91
Toni Kroos
28
CM CDM
Real Madrid
Germany
£92.6m
£312k
90
90
Paul Pogba
25
CM CDM
Manchester United
France
£123.7m
£242k
88
91
Marek Hamsik
30
CM
Napoli
Slovakia
£53.2m
£110k
87
87
Ivan Rakitic
30
CM
Barcelona
Croatia
£83.9m
£229k
87
87
Andres Iniesta
34
CM LM
Vissel Kobe
Spain
£27m
£20k
87
87
Marco Verratti
25
CM CDM
Paris Saint-Germain
Italy
£93.2m
£128k
86
89
Parejo
29
CM CDM CAM
Valencia
Spain
£78.5m
£68k
86
86
Thiago
27
CM CAM CDM
Bayern Munich
Spain
£66.1m
£123k
86
86
Miralem Pjanic
28
CM CDM
Juventus
Bosnia Herzegovina
£63.9m
$172k
86
86
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic
23
CM CAM
Lazio
Serbia
£78.9m
£65k
85
90
Saul
23
CM LM RM
Atletico Madrid
Spain
£103m
£68k
85
91
Paulinho
29
CM CAM CDM RM
Guangzhou Evergrande
Brazil
£32.6m
£207k
85
85
Sami Khedira
31
CM CDM
Juventus
Germany
£47.9m
£141k
85
85
Radja Nainggolan
30
CM CAM
Inter Milan
Belgium
£53.1m
£92k
85
85
Jorginho
26
CM
Chelsea
Italy
£64.4m
£145k
84
87
Illarramendi
28
CM CDM
Real Sociedad
Spain
£57.3m
£49k
84
84
Ilkay Gundogan
27
CM CDM
Manchester City
Germany
£59.3m
£167k
84
85
Cesc Fabregas
31
CM CDM
Chelsea
Spain
£43.1m
£145k
84
84
Moussa Dembele
30
CM CDM
Tottenham Hotspur
Belgium
£47.2m
£128k
84
84
Naby Keita
23
CM CDM CAM
Liverpool
guinea
£57.6m
£97k
83
88
Corentin Tolisso
23
CM CDM
Bayern Munich
France
£51.6m
£69k
83
88
Adrien Rabiot
23
CM CDM
Paris Saint-Germain
France
£55.9m
£73k
83
87
Leon Goretzka
23
CM CAM CDM
Bayern Munich
Germany
£51.6m
£69k
83
88
Mateo Kovacic
24
CM
Chelsea
Croatia
£30.8m
£132k
83
89
Manu Trigueros
26
CM CDM LM
Villarreal
Spain
£60.3m
£40k
83
86
Julian Draxler
24
CM LW LM CAM
Paris Saint-Germain
Germany
£55.1m
£73k
83
86
Pizzi
24
CM
Benfica
Portugal
£44.9m
£17k
83
83
Kevin Strootman
28
CM CDM
Olympique Marseille
Netherlands
£42.6m
£58k
83
83

All the best defensive midfielders (CDM) in FIFA 19

Name
Age
Pos
Club
Country
Cost
Wage
OVR
POT
N'Golo Kante
27
CDM CM
Chelsea
France
£73.2m
£202k
89
90
Casemiro
26
CDM
Real Madrid
Brazil
£71.4m
£273k
88
91
Sergio Busquets
29
CDM CM
Barcelona
Spain
£58.2m
£286k
88
88
Nemanja Matic
29
CDM CM
Manchester United
Serbia
£42.6m
£185k
86
86
Fernandinho
33
CDM
Manchester City
Brazil
£29.3m
£176k
86
86
Fabinho
24
CDM
Liverpool
Brazil
£72m
£114k
85
89
Arturo Vidal
31
CDM CM
Barcelona
Chile
£46.9m
£180k
85
85
Blaise Matuidi
31
CDM CM
Juventus
France
£37.8m
£128k
85
85
William Carvalho
26
CDM CM
Real Betis
Portugal
£60.3m
£36k
84
86
Javi Martinez
29
CDM CB
Bayern Munich
Spain
£34.8m
£101k
84
84
Danilo Pereira
26
CDM CM CB
Porto
Portugal
£49.3m
£17k
83
86
Luiz Gustavo
30
CDM CB
Olympique Marseille
Brazil
£31.8m
£50k
83
83
Lucas Leiva
31
CDM CB
Lazio
Brazil
£26.2m
£52k
83
83
Daniele De Rossi
34
CDM
Roma
Italy
£12m
£64k
83
83

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