If you want to succeed in FM21, you'll need a strong midfield.
Having a solid central pairing is so important. An AMC who can dictate the play up top and a box-to-box DM who can clean up any counter attack opportunities.
Here are the best of the best in FM21.
Best FM21 Central Midfielders
As we've alluded to in the title of this article, we are looking at any midfielder who's primary position is one of the three central midfield spots.
Whether it's DM, MC or AMC, if they are at the top of the rankings, they will feature in this list.
We are focusing solely on the players Current Ability (CA) in order to ensure that we bring you the very best players from the beginning of your FM journey.
Kevin de Bruyne (CA 188)
Age: 29
Club: Manchester City
Position: MC, AMC, MR, ML
Best Attributes: 20 Vision, 18 Decisions, 18 Passing
Value: £86M
Wage: £230k p/w
The top-rated midfielder in FM21 should come as no surprise to you, it's Manchester City's Belgian genius, Kevin de Bruyne.
The 29-year-old has some incredible attributes, including a maxed-out 20-rated vision, which means if you can see a pass is available, KDB can too.
With 18-rated passing and 18-rated vision there is no-one better to orchestrate your attacking set up. That is highlighted by his £86M value.
Toni Kroos (CA 170)
Age: 30
Club: Real Madrid
Position: MC, DM
Best Attributes: 20 Passing, 19 Corners, 18 First Touch
Value: £53M
Wage: £325k p/w
De Bruyne is by far and away the best MC in FM21, with the 170-rated Toni Kroos the second best in his role.
The 30-year-old still has plenty of life left in him at the home of the Spanish giants, and, with 20-rated passing, he'll be dictating the tempo of the game for years to come.
His value is significantly less than that of KDB, but his wages are significantly higher.
David Silva (CA 168)
Age: 34
Club: Real San Sebastian (Real Sociedad)
Position: AMC, MC, M/AM L, M/AM R
Best Attributes: 19 Technique, 19 First Touch, 18 Dribbling
Value: £6.75M
Wage: £91k p/w
He may not be at the Etihad Stadium anymore, but David Silva remains one of the very best central midfielders for yet another year.
The Spaniard moved back to his homeland with Real Sociedad in the summer and has continued his fine form over in La Liga.
Picking him on FM21 will be tough given his age and newly transferred status, but could a Sociedad save be on the cards?
Luka Modric (CA 168)
Age: 34
Club: Real Madrid
Position: MC, AMC
Best Attributes: 19 Passing, 19 First Touch, 18 Technique
Value: £5.5M
Wage: £300k p/w
Another Madridsta who remains near the top of the rankings for yet another FM year is Luka Modric.
The 34-year-old still has plenty of life left in his legs yet, with a 19-rated first touch and 19-rated passing heading the way in terms of his best attributes.
His value is reflective of his age, however his extortionate wages will price most out of a deal.
Paul Pogba (CA 167)
Age: 27
Club: Manchester United
Position: MC, AMC
Best Attributes: 19 Technique, 18 Flair, 18 Balance
Value: £60M
Wages: £300k p/w
Paul Pogba has struggled to for consistency in the last couple of years, but he's still pretty good on FM!
A 167-rated CA means that Pogba still has the potential to fit into most midfield setups in the world and, with a 176 Potential Ability (PA) the Frenchman still has room to grow.
He won't come cheap though.
N'Golo Kante (CA 165)
Age: 29
Club: Chelsea
Position: DM, MC
Best Attributes: 20 Tackling, 20 Teamwork, 20 Work Rate
Value: £60M
Wages: £300k p/w
The best out and out defensive midfielder in FM21 is yet again, N'Golo Kante.
The 29-year-old is hitting his peak years and, with a maxed-out 20-rated tackling, he certainly still has the ability to break down those counter attacks.
£60M seems steep, but he's still got plenty left to give. We'd try talk down that £300k p/w wage though.
Philipe Coutinho (CA 165)
Age: 28
Club: FC Barcelona
Position: AMC, AML, ML, MC
Best Attributes: 19 Technique, 18 Dribbling, 18 Vision
Value: £57M
Wage: £400k
The final name in the top-seven midfielders in FM21 is Barcelona's Philipe Coutinho.
The Brazilian is back at the Camp Nou after a very successful loan spell with Bayern Munich, with the former Liverpool man back in the Catalonian sides plans under Ronald Koeman.
His value and wage are a bit too high for our liking though, there are better options out there in FM21.
All the best CMs in FM21
| Player | Age | Club | Position | CA | Value | Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin De Bruyne | 29 | Manchester City | AMC | 188 | £86M | £230k |
| Toni Kroos | 30 | Real Madrid | MC | 170 | £53M | £325k |
| David Silva | 34 | Real San Sebastian | AMC | 168 | £6.75M | £90k |
| Luka Modric | 34 | Real Madrid | MC | 168 | £5.5M | £300k |
| Paul Pogba | 27 | Manchester United | MC | 167 | £60M | £300k |
| N'Golo Kante | 29 | Chelsea | DM | 165 | £60M | £300k |
| Philipe Coutinho | 28 | FC Barcelona | AMC | 165 | £57M | £400k |
| Fernandinho | 35 | Manchester City | DMC | 164 | £5.75M | £180k |
| Miralem Pjanic | 30 | Barcelona | MC | 164 | £48.5M | £275k |
| Sergej Milinkovic-Savic | 25 | S.S. Lazio | MC | 164 | £47M | £105k |
| Koke | 28 | Atletico Madrid | MC | 163 | £52M | £275k |
| Mateo Kovacic | 26 | Chelsea | MC | 163 | £59M | £150k |
| Sergio Busquets | 32 | Barcelona | DM | 162 | £31.5M | £275k |
| Bruno Fernandes | 25 | Manchester United | AMC | 162 | £63M | £100k |
| Marco Verratti | 27 | Paris Saint Germain | MC | 161 | £49M | £250k |
| Leon Goretzka | 25 | FC Bayern Munich | MC | 161 | £48.5M | £175k |
| Ivan Rakitic | 32 | Sevilla | MC | 161 | £27.5M | £115k |
| Luis Alberto | 27 | S.S. Lazio | AMC | 160 | £39.5M | £81k |
| Joao Felix | 20 | Atletico Madrid | AMC | 159 | £50M | £165k |
