The showmen of the sport, attacking midfielders both create chances and score themselves. Confident and technically skilled, their dynamism and flair make them a joy to watch.
Though attacking midfielders, sometimes called No. 10s, are often expected to contribute more defensively now than in previous eras, their main duty remains making things happen in the final third. With grace and guile, they possess the talent to unlock a defense and change a game in a heartbeat.
All stats provided by ESPN Research; all ages and teams correct as of Aug. 18.
The 2026 FC 100, position by position
Go to: Goalkeepers | Fullbacks | Center backs | Defensive/central midfielders | Attacking midfielders | Wide forwards | Center forwards
15. Serge GNABRY, Bayern Munich/Germany, 31 years old
What makes him special: A seasoned, intelligent winger with superb off-the-ball movement who has found another vein of form after turning 30.
Rank in 2025 FC 100: Unranked
No. of FC 100 appearances: 3
One key stat: On Jan. 17, 2026, he became the 20th Bayern Munich player with 100-plus competitive goals in club history.
Why he's on the list: Bayern Munich shattered the Bundesliga single-season goal record last season thanks to their infamous front three of Luis Díaz, Harry Kane and Michael Olise. The man who didn't get quite the same applause was the No. 10 behind them, Serge Gnabry. The Germany international filled that central role, along with teenager Lennart Karl, while first-choice Jamal Musiala missed the first half of the campaign because of injury.
"Serge is a very underrated player," Bayern boss Vincent Kompany said last August. "There's the opinion of people outside. And there's our opinion at the club, and the opinion of his teammates. I think he's a very underrated player; he doesn't have many weaknesses."
Gnabry ended up notching 10 goals and eight assists across all competitions, including several impactful performances during Bayern's run to the Champions League semifinals. His season was cut short in April when he suffered an adductor injury during a shooting drill, which caused him to miss the remainder of the campaign as well as the World Cup, where he had been set to be a key starter for head coach Julian Nagelsmann. Germany missed him, too, as they were knocked out in the round of 32 in surprise fashion on penalties vs. Paraguay.
What's next: It's been nine years since Gnabry joined Bayern Munich and he has frankly won all there is to win, including seven Bundesliga titles. He earned a new two-year contract in February just weeks before his injury, and Bayern's director of football described him glowingly when that news broke. "Serge is one of the absolute pillars of this team. He's hugely important both on the pitch and in the changing room. He's won it all with this club and still wants more. That makes him a role model. He represents Bayern." Still, it wouldn't be a surprise if this was Gnabry's last Bayern contract.
His future with the German national team will be worth keeping an eye on, too. Gnabry will be 33 years old by the time Euro 2028 kicks off; will he be in new boss Jürgen Klopp's plans? -- Connor O'Halloran
14. John MCGINN, Aston Villa/Scotland, 31
What makes him special: Simply put, he is one of the most highly effective footballers around, and opponents still have no idea how to handle him even after seven years at the top level.
Rank in 2025 FC 100: Unranked
No. of FC 100 appearances: Brand new to the list
One key stat: By captaining Aston Villa in the Europa League final vs. Freiburg, he became the first Scotsman to captain a side in a major European final since Barry Ferguson for Rangers in the 2008 UEFA Cup, and the first for an English side since Graeme Souness for Liverpool in the 1984 European Cup.
Why he's on the list: McGinn enjoyed his best-ever campaign in 2025-26 and crowned it by lifting the Europa League trophy as Aston Villa captain. He brings an intensity and energy to the team that none of his teammates can replicate, along with a handy knack of scoring crucial goals. He plays a similarly influential role for Scotland, and it was no shock to see him score the goal that earned the Tartan Army their first World Cup win in 36 years when they beat Haiti 1-0. It was always going to be him.
Worldwide, McGinn is best known for two things: First, his large backside, which he uses brilliantly to protect the ball and flummox opponents trying to tackle him; second, his iconic goal-scoring celebration -- forming eye goggles with his fingers -- to show support for his nephew, Jack, who has eyesight problems and needs specialized glasses to play soccer.
What's next: There has been a lot of turmoil and change at Aston Villa this summer, but their skipper remains. Amid a much-changed cast, his lead-by-example style of captaincy will be more important than ever. -- Sam Tighe
13. Jamal MUSIALA, Bayern Munich/Germany, 23
What makes him special: When healthy and fully in form, Musiala has just about the best close control -- and most ruthless scoring instincts -- in the world.
No. of FC 100 appearances: 4
One key stat: In 2025-26, he became the youngest German to reach 50 UEFA Champions League appearances and the fifth youngest overall (23 years, 48 days).
Why he's on the list: Here's what a bad season looks like for Jamal Musiala: After missing a few months following a gruesome ankle injury in the FIFA Club World Cup, he played just 1,175 minutes (equivalent to about 13 90s) in all competitions for Bayern in 2025-26. And in that period, he scored only five goals with six assists (an average of 0.84 goals plus assists per 90 minutes) while winning 80 ground duels and nine fouls in the attacking third. How terrible.
We were just beginning to see what Musiala was truly capable of at the time of last summer's injury. In under 3,000 minutes, he scored 21 goals with five assists and drew over 100 fouls during his 2024-25 campaign -- with his elite dribbling ability, body control and general craftiness, he's basically a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for soccer. And even after his supposed lost season of 2025-26, he is still only 23 years old. We might not have seen his top form yet.
What's next: Even with Musiala playing only a marginal role in 2025-26, Bayern still set a Bundesliga scoring record (and nearly a league points record as well) thanks to ridiculous seasons from their other forwards. Figuring out his role in such a potent attack might take a bit, but with his skill set -- and a contract that runs until summer 2030 -- he'll probably get there sooner than later. -- Bill Connelly
12. Dani OLMO, Barcelona/Spain, 28
What makes him special: One of the best first touches in Spain and an ability to come up with a goal from nothing.
Rank in 2025 FC 100: Unranked
No. of FC 100 appearances: Brand-new to the list
One key stat: He has the most goal contributions for Spain over the past four major tournaments, with 12 (four goals, eight assists) at the 2020 and 2024 European Championships, and the 2022 and 2026 World Cups.
Why he's on the list: Olmo was in and out of the Barcelona team during the first half of the campaign, in part due to injuries, but he nailed down his spot in the side in the second half of the season. After ending the club season with eight goals, nine assists and the LaLiga title, he then went from substitute to starter at the World Cup for Spain, where he was one of his country's best players at they won the tournament in North America.
Having been a substitute in two of the three group games, he was an undisputed starter in the knockout rounds. He improved as the tournament went on, too, delivering an assist in the semifinal win over France and playing well in the final against Argentina at the tip of La Roja's three-man midfield.
What's next: The question marks have never been about Olmo's ability, but about his consistency and his injury history. Too often he can follow up great games with poor ones, and he can drift in and out of matches. There have also been too many injuries throughout his career, which have not helped him in his search for consistency. Those are the areas where he must improve. The battle for a starting berth as Barça's attacking midfielder with Fermín López should ensure he does not take his foot off the gas after a stellar summer with Spain. -- Sam Marsden
11. Morgan GIBBS-WHITE, Nottingham Forest/England, 26
What makes him special: Goals and dynamism from midfield are valuable, and Gibbs-White offers both in abundance.
No. of FC 100 appearances: 2
One key stat: His 15 goals were tied for the most among midfielders in Europe's big five leagues last season (along with Michael Olise).
Why he's on the list: Few players had a wilder year than Gibbs-White did. Last summer he was booked for a medical ahead of a £60 million move to Tottenham Hotspur ... only for the move to collapse under the threat of legal action. He shrugged off the disappointment of that failed move spectacularly, plundering 15 Premier League goals and even making a strong case for England to call him up for the 2026 World Cup, until his momentum was scuppered by a fractured skull sustained against Chelsea in April.
Gibbs-White has a nose for goals -- whether poached finishes, headers or pure strikes -- that many No. 9s would be proud of, and his ability to drift across the pitch and find space makes him very difficult to stop.
What's next: At 26, Gibbs-White is clearly ready for a move to a top club and seems likely to get one in the near future. But Forest would be loath to lose him and Elliot Anderson in the same window, making it unlikely to happen this summer. -- Sam Tighe
10. Christoph BAUMGARTNER, RB Leipzig/Austria, 27
What makes him special: He's a creative midfielder who knows when to crash the box, and he seems to be picking up new tricks as he ages into his prime.
Rank in 2025 FC 100: Unranked
No. of FC 100 appearances: Brand-new to the list
One key stat: His 21 goal contributions in the 2025-26 Bundesliga season (13 goals, eight assists) were the fifth most in the league.
Why he's on the list: After a down season, RB Leipzig bounced back up to third in the Bundesliga in 2025-26, and while up-and-comers like Yan Diomande and Assan Ouédraogo earned plenty of headlines for their exciting play, who led the team in league goals (13), assists (eight), shots (81) and shots on goal (35)? Christoph Baumgartner -- a midfielder.
Baumgartner has always been regarded for his versatility, and he has always had a knack for crashing into the box: He scored at least five goals in five of his first six Bundesliga seasons with Hoffenheim and Leipzig. But he picked his whole game up a couple of notches in his age-26 season, setting career highs in everything from goals, shots and progressive passes to tackles and ball recoveries. He's a true do-it-all midfielder -- now doing more than ever -- and Austria missed his presence terribly when he suffered a thigh injury right before the summer's World Cup.
What's next: Thanks in part to Baumgartner's efforts, RB Leipzig returns to the Champions League this season. While Diomande is off to Real Madrid, Baumgartner is still in town to coordinate the attack, crash the box and do what he does. -- Bill Connelly
9. Arda GÜLER, Real Madrid/Türkiye, 21
What makes him special: A hugely gifted creator, with the self-confidence to go for the spectacular and with his best years still to come.
Rank in 2025 FC 100: Unranked
No. of FC 100 appearances: Brand-new to the list
One key stat: He became the third Real Madrid player to score two-plus goals from outside the box in a Champions League game, after Roberto Carlos vs. Bayer Leverkusen in 2000 and Cristiano Ronaldo vs Zürich in 2009 (first to achieve the feat for Real Madrid in the knockout stage).
Why he's on the list: Everybody loves watching Güler play. There's something about a left-footed playmaker who's always easy on the eye, and Güler exemplifies that. He joined Madrid as a talented, but raw, 18-year-old in 2023, and he has already shown enough at the Bernabéu -- with just a few growing pains along the way -- to get fans very excited about the future.
Güler hasn't yet made himself a regular starter with Madrid, but he still featured in 33 LaLiga games last season, scoring four goals and providing nine assists. He's mobile, with a great range of passing, and he's one of Madrid's biggest threats from set pieces. He's also willing to shoot from anywhere.
The only thing holding him back is learning to consistently dictate games, and nailing down his best position: Is he a deep-lying midfielder, or a No. 10? He has often been deployed out wide, but that surely won't last as he grows in stature. At the World Cup, he started Türkiye's three group games, scoring and being named MVP in a 3-2 win over the USMNT, with his country's elimination already assured.
What's next: Güler is another player who could benefit from the arrival of José Mourinho, but he'll have to convince the coach to give him regular minutes and hope his new boss isn't overly frustrated by his occasional youthful inconsistency. He has already featured heavily for Madrid in preseason, looking like one of the team's best performers in friendlies against Fiorentina and Ferencvaros. But can he keep a place on the team when competing for a spot with the likes of Jude Bellingham and Bernardo Silva? -- Alex Kirkland
8. Scott MCTOMINAY, Napoli/Scotland, 29
What makes him special: A physical, hard-working midfielder who scores plenty of goals.
No. of FC 100 appearances: 2
One key stat: He has scored 22 Serie A goals since arriving in the league in 2024-25. In just two seasons, he became Serie A's all-time scorer among Scottish players (Lewis Ferguson scored 14 in 83 games).
Why he's on the list: After being in and out of the team at Manchester United, McTominay has become a bona fide, needle-moving star at Napoli. He was named Serie A's footballer of the year as Napoli won the Italian title in 2025. He didn't hit the same heights last season but still scored 10 league goals from midfield. He also helped Scotland reach their first World Cup since 1998 with a miraculous overhead kick in the decisive qualifying victory over Denmark at Hampden Park in November. It was a goal so good and so important that it will go down as one of the greatest in the history of Scotland's national team.
What's next: Winning back the Serie A from Inter and having a better season in the Champions League. Napoli finished 30th last season, which meant a disappointing early exit. McTominay will also have ambitions to lead Scotland to another major tournament with Hampden set to host games at Euro 2028. -- Rob Dawson
7. Morgan ROGERS, Chelsea/England, 24
What makes him special: An attacking difference-maker who lives for the audacious, game-breaking pass or strike.
No. of FC 100 appearances: 2
One key stat: His 16 goal contributions were tied for the third most among midfielders in Premier League last season (Bruno Fernandes, 30; Morgan Gibbs-White, 19).
Why he's on the list: Rogers crowned his 2½ year spell with Aston Villa in the perfect way, scoring the third goal in a 3-0 rout of Freiburg in the Europa League final. It put into perspective how far he had come and how quickly he had developed, having signed for the club from Championship side Middlesbrough for just an £8 million initial fee.
With the help of Unai Emery's coaching, the Englishman became such an X factor in attack for Villa that the team's playing style was soon wired around him. Teammates got the ball to him whenever possible, encouraged him to dribble and shoot or carry over long distances. Rogers can change the face of a game in an instant, and that was leaned into heavily. At least half of his 25 goals and assists in all competitions last season were spectacular, and he quickly became known as a long-shot specialist.
What's next: His blockbuster £117 million move to Chelsea set a new British record, so all eyes will be on him to see if he can both cope with the pressure and keep rising. -- Sam Tighe
6. Martin ØDEGAARD, Arsenal/Norway, 27
What makes him special: A talented playmaker and leader.
No. of FC 100 appearances: 4
One key stat: He is the third man since 1966 to assist in each of his first three World Cup appearances, after Igor Belanov for the USSR in 1986 and Michael Ballack for Germany in 2002.
Why he's on the list: Ødegaard made just 16 league starts last season, just less than half of Arsenal's games on his way to becoming the first Arsenal captain since Patrick Vieira to hoist the Premier League trophy. That was mostly down to a repetitive knee injury, but also Arsenal's wealth of options.
He didn't always need to play to make his impact known -- Ødegaard was a brilliant dressing room leader for Arsenal in their title run-in -- and his most decisive moment came from off the bench. On May 10, when Arsenal were drawing 0-0 away to West Ham United and the Premier League title race was still very much in the balance, it was Ødegaard who found a way through West Ham's resolute defense to set up Leandro Trossard, who hammered home what proved to be the winning goal.
As impressive as he was with Arsenal, it was at the World Cup that Ødegaard shone most on an individual level. He was his country's top playmaker as they enjoyed a surprise run to the quarterfinals. He notched four assists in five appearances (he did not play a part in the group game against France with a spot in the next round already secured), and his superb leadership was on display again, too, banging the drum metaphorically and even literally: He led Norway's viral "Viking Row" chant after wins over Senegal and the Ivory Coast.
What's next: Ødegaard's time at Arsenal could be on the horizon. He is 27 years old with just two years left on his contract, meaning the club will likely need to decide within the next 12 months whether he is part of its long-term plans. Having Eberechi Eze and Bruno Guimarães around won't add confidence to the idea of the Norway star getting another contract at the Emirates. -- Connor O'Halloran
5. Nico PAZ, Como/Argentina, 21
What makes him special: The creative, all-action heartbeat of a Como team on the rise, and still so young.
Rank in 2025 FC 100: Unranked
No. of FC 100 appearances: Brand-new to the list
One key stat: He registered 18 goal contributions in Serie A in 2025-26 (12 goals, six assists), fourth most of any player in the competition and third most by a player in Europe's top five leagues aged 21 or younger, after Lamine Yamal (27) and Yan Diomande (20).
Why he's on the list: So many players emerge from the Real Madrid academy and go on to be credible, steady professionals around Europe's top leagues, but Paz might be one of those rare examples (after the likes of Dani Carvajal and Álvaro Morata) of a player who ends up leaving the Bernabéu, doing great things and then coming back. The 6-foot-1 playmaker was transcendent for Como in Serie A last season, contributing with 12 goals (fifth best in the league) and six assists -- 0.56 non-penalty goals plus assists per 90 -- over nearly 2,900 minutes played. He didn't get to play much during Argentina's run to the World Cup final this summer, tallying 71 minutes against Jordan and Algeria during the group stage, but he will factor massively for the Albiceleste if he continues to develop at this rate.
Como's brilliance owes a lot to the unpredictable creativity of Paz in the attacking third. He is their lock-picker, whether with clever runs into space between defenders or playing progressive passes, and his size means he's comfortable fending off pressure to advance the ball himself into shooting range. While he's still a bit too reliant on his left foot, which defenders might exploit to push him away from goal, Paz is good at finding another way to generate scoring chances for his teammates. Being mentored by coach Cesc Fabregas -- who was a brilliant progressive midfielder in his own right -- feels like the optimal tactical fit for him to continue to develop as Como prepare to contend higher up the table in 2026-27.
What's next: Paz is staying in Italy for at least one more year, with Real Madrid (who retain a buyback option for 2027 after agreeing to his permanent move to Como) happy to bide their time before calling him back to the Spanish capital. With his immediate future set, he'll want to build on his breakout 2025-26 season and make an impact as Como take on the Champions League for the first time in their history. -- James Tyler
4. Rayan CHERKI, Manchester City/France, 23
What makes him special: Creative and skillful forward at his best in tight spaces around the penalty area, Cherki has brought some fun and unpredictability back to Man City.
Rank in 2025 FC 100: Unranked
No. of FC 100 appearances: Brand-new to the list
One key stat: He is the first player with 10-plus assists (finished with 12) in his debut season in the Premier League since Dimitri Payet with West Ham United in 2015-16.
Why he's on the list: French fans already knew how good Cherki was, but the 22-year-old burst onto the world stage during the past 12 months. He enjoyed a successful first season at Manchester City following his move from Lyon. There were questions about whether he could fit into a Pep Guardiola system, and while the former City boss showed his frustration from time to time, Cherki still made 52 appearances and scored 10 goals. His performances in the Premier League have seen him nominated for both the PFA men's player of the year and young player of the year. He also made his international debut for France in June 2025, getting a goal and an assist in a 5-4 defeat to Spain.
What's next: Make the step up from promising young player to superstar. Guardiola believes Cherki can do it and he certainly has the talent. His first job is to impress two new managers, Enzo Maresca at Manchester City and Zinedine Zidane with France. -- Rob Dawson
3. Dominik SZOBOSZLAI, Liverpool/Hungary, 25
What makes him special: An all-action midfielder who leads by example, Szoboszlai was the brightest spot in a disappointing season for Liverpool
No. of FC 100 appearances: 2
One key stat: Scored seven goals from outside the penalty area last season in all competitions; only Kylian Mbappé (nine) and Harry Kane (eight) scored more such goals in 2025-26.
Why he's on the list: Szoboszlai was Liverpool's Player of the Season by a country mile last term, enjoying the most productive individual campaign of his career. With 13 goals and 12 assists in 53 appearances in all competitions, the Hungary international became the first Liverpool midfielder to reach 10 or more goals and assists in a season since a certain Steven Gerrard (14 goals, 14 assists) in 2013-14.
He also marked himself out as the Premier League's outstanding free-kick specialist, scoring an array of stunning goals against the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City. The fact that he was willing to play at right back in the midst of Liverpool's injury crisis showed how important he has become to the club.
What's next: Fresh from signing a new five-year contract at Anfield, Szoboszlai's stature is only set to grow, with the 25-year-old the favorite to become Liverpool's new vice-captain after the departure of Andy Robertson to Tottenham Hotspur. -- Beth Lindop
2. Jude BELLINGHAM, Real Madrid/England, 23
What makes him special: The ultimate clutch player, who delivers time and time again in big moments for club and country
No. of FC 100 appearances: 4
One key stat: He scored seven goals at the 2026 World Cup, the most in a single World Cup by an Englishman.
Why he's on the list: What else can we say about Bellingham's World Cup? He went into the tournament with some people questioning his place in the England XI, and ended it with seven goals scored, including a brace in one of England's biggest major tournament results -- their 3-2 win against hosts Mexico at the Azteca -- followed by another two goals against Norway in the very next round.
Bellingham is only 23, but his precocious talent means it already feels like he has been around for a while, starring as a teenager with Borussia Dortmund and then becoming a star at Real Madrid, where he won a LaLiga and Champions League double in his first season. As Madrid struggled in 2025-26, so did Bellingham; a delayed start as he recovered from shoulder surgery didn't help, and neither did a midseason thigh problem. But nobody doubts his talent, his maturity and his ability to deliver under pressure, always in the right place, at the right time.
What's next: It's a big year for Bellingham at Madrid. A stellar 2023-24 -- scoring 19 league goals -- has been followed by two up-and-down seasons. Now, with Mourinho in charge, and off the back of a stunning World Cup, Bellingham must perform consistently well for his club, or doubts about his long-term future at the Bernabéu will get louder. At least his role looks clear, playing behind Kylian Mbappé in Mourinho's 4-2-3-1. He should also continue his development into becoming England's most important player, even more so than Harry Kane. -- Alex Kirkland
1. Bruno FERNANDES, Manchester United/Portugal, 31
What makes him special: Manchester United's chief creator, captain and heartbeat, he has become a steady source of inspiration and excellent for club and country.
No. of FC 100 appearances: 7
One key stat: He tallied a record-breaking 21 Premier League assists in 2025-26 and became the first Manchester United player to be named Premier League Player of the Season since Nemanja Vidic in 2010-11.
Why he's on the list: Fernandes enjoyed a truly standout season at Old Trafford. The midfielder set a new Premier League assists record with 21 -- surpassing a benchmark reached by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne -- and won both the FWA Footballer of the Year and Premier League Player of the Year. He was particularly influential during the second half of the campaign when United put together an outstanding run of form under Michael Carrick to finish third and secure a return to the Champions League.
Fernandes had a disappointing World Cup along with almost everyone else in the Portugal squad, but he remains United's main man ahead of the new season.
What's next: There were doubts a year ago about whether Fernandes might be tempted by a big-money move to Saudi Arabia. United are keen for him to stay and lend his experience to a young squad that the club are hopeful can soon challenge for the Premier League title. -- Rob Dawson
The 2026 FC 100, position by position
Go to: Goalkeepers | Fullbacks | Center backs | Defensive/central midfielders | Attacking midfielders | Wide forwards | Center forwards