The most important part of a football pitch is arguably the midfield. It’s where teams begin plays, looking to pass or drive forward while the opponent seeks an opening for an interception. The best midfielders always control the ball with ease and heavily contribute to offensive or defensive play. In FIFA, one mistake from a player can lead to a failed attack or a devastating counter attack. It’s vital to possess personnel with quality in multiple areas in order to achieve consistent success. For those who have read our guides for other positions, this is the last crucial piece of the puzzle. Forwards and defenders need great teammates in the centre of the pitch who will supply and protect them. Here are 7 of the best midfielders in FIFA 22 Ultimate Team.
N’Golo Kante (Chelsea, 192k)
Chelsea’s happiest man is at the peak of his career. He is regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world, and a 90 overall this year shows that EA agree. There is no one better in defensive midfield than N’Golo Kante. Three of his defending attributes are 90+, including 91 interceptions. Coupled with 93 aggression, he will always be on the hunt to snatch the ball away from the opposition. 82 dribbling makes him easy to control on the ball. His biggest attribute, though, is his staggering 97 stamina. You’ll never need to substitute him nor lay off the sprint button. When other players are beginning to tire, Kante will keep on pushing.
Many have said that Kante has more than two lungs
The Frenchman’s lowest attribute category being a respectable 66 shooting shows how well-rounded he is. He can defend, pass, dribble, score etc. One nit-pick, however, is that Kante is quite short at 5’6″. He will struggle to win aerial battles even with 77 jumping. An easy solution, though, is to make sure that his midfield partner(s) is/are tall enough to compete better in the air. He may be expensive too at 192k coins, but some may agree that this is a bargain for one of the top 2 best midfielders in FIFA 22.
Breakdown:
- Three defending attributes at 90+
- 91 interceptions
- 93 aggression
- 82 dribbling
- 97 stamina
- 66 shooting
Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid, 12.25k)
Another well-rounded midfielder, Marcos Llorente’s attribute categories are all rated 78 and higher. He doesn’t excel at anything, but he is very good at everything. The Spaniard will play defense-splitting passes with his 86 vision and score goals with 81 finishing, as Liverpool fans found out two years ago. Like Kante, 90 stamina means that Llorente will always last a full match playing at the same level of quality. 90 sprint speed is a surprising attribute for a central midfielder. This allows you, though, to drive him forward at pace when he’s in control of the ball.
Llorente would be more than capable of playing up front or in a defensive line
There are midfielders who pass better, shoot better, defend better etc, when compared to the Atletico Madrid man. However, there are very few other players who possess high ratings for so many attributes. The Bundesliga’s Leon Goretzka is one example, but he doesn’t have the pace that Llorente does. For just 12.25k, he is a must-buy for everyone who owns a La Liga squad. Even if he comes off the bench, he will make a great impact in all areas of the pitch for your team.
Breakdown:
- Attribute categories rated 78+
- 86 vision
- 81 finishing
- 90 stamina
- 90 sprint speed
Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United, 20k)
The Portuguese maestro has flourished in the Premier League since his 2020 transfer to Manchester United. His outstanding record of goals and assists have been reflected this year with an 88 overall. Attacking wise, Bruno Fernandes is the best midfielder in FIFA 22 Ultimate Team excluding Icons. He boasts 91 penalties, 89 long shots and more, totalling a shooting rating of 86. Passing is where he really excels, however, with a rating of 89. He is almost guaranteed to find offensive teammates with his 89 long passing and 90 vision. A price of 20k is a bargain for a player of his calibre.
Fernandes is a special talent
Physicality is an area where Fernandes struggles. 70 strength isn’t bad, but his lack of pace means he will occasionally fail to get away from strong defenders when battling for the ball. He will certainly try to hold his own, though, with an overall defensive rating of 70. Regardless, creating and finishing chances is what he’s most known for. No matter how good you are at FIFA, Fernandes will get you and your strikers goals.
Breakdown:
- 91 penalties
- 89 long shots
- 86 shooting
- 89 passing
- 89 long passing
- 90 vision
- 70 defending
Franck Yannick Kessie (AC Milan, 2.6k)
This is someone who has the ability to dominate any midfield battle. Standing at 6’0″ and possessing 87 physicality, Franck Yannick Kessie is an imposing figure. He will be a big help for those who enjoy having a lot of possession in a match. 84 ball control and composure ensures that Kessie will be easy to control. Don’t be afraid to drive him forward and take a shot with him either, as 84 shot power and 78 long shots show that he’s capable of scoring from long-range. Defensively, he is a very reliable player. 85 awareness means that he will often be in the right place at the right time to make tackles.
If only it was possible to partner Kessie and Kante together
One thing to watch out for with the AC Milan star is his 74 passing. 84 short passing is trustworthy enough but 78 short passing is less so. Mistakes will be uncommon, though they will happen now and again. If you win a tackle with Kessie and quickly try and play a short pass, it’s possible that he will fluff his lines and give the ball away. Thankfully, he has the abilities to rectify those incidents. While that downside could be a reason for his low valuation, it doesn’t reflect his overall talent. Kessie is still, defensively, one of the best midfielders in FIFA 22.
Breakdown:
- 6’0″ height
- 87 physicality
- 84 ball control + composure
- 84 shot power
- 78 long shots
- 85 def. awareness
- 84 long passing
Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City, 41.75k)
Another man who’s been referred to as one of the best midfielders in world football is the Belgian superstar. EA believe he’s no.1, rating him at an outstanding 91 overall once again. They have also given him a position change from CAM to CM. Playing in the centre of midfield allows Kevin De Bruyne to show off his incredible passing skills. 94 vision and 93 long passing reflects his real-life ability to find anyone in front of him no matter how deep he’s playing. His calmness on the ball is outstanding with 91 ball control, and you’ll be constantly tempted to aim for goal because of his 91 long shots.
The best midfielder in the world?
A major flaw of De Bruyne playing in central midfield is his lack of defensive skill. A rating of 64 defending is not too impressive, especially with an attribute like 53 slide tackling. This would explain why he’s so cheap for a 90+ rated player. The best solution is to either play him in a diamond formation where a defensive midfielder is behind him, or change his position back to an attacking midfielder. Do either of these, and you’ll get a lot of joy from using De Bruyne. He is a very special footballer.
Breakdown:
- 94 vision
- 93 long passing
- 91 ball control
- 91 long shots
Kai Havertz (Chelsea, 2.3k)
Chelsea’s Champions League final goalscorer may be an unexpected entry, but he is certainly one of best midfielders in FIFA 22 from an attacking perspective. Kai Havertz is a great supplier for strikers with his 84 short passing. 86 sprint speed and dribbling allows him to go on runs with the ball and create his own scoring opportunities. Boasting 81 finishing, he will score a few for your team. The main reason why Havertz is being highlighted, though, is his height. Standing at 6’2″, he towers over most high rated midfielders and matches many defenders. From goal kicks, try to reach the ball with him and he can head it straight to your striker for a possible sprint through on goal.
He hasn’t exactly flourished at Chelsea, but Havertz is a quality player
It’s best to keep Havertz high up the pitch, as defensively he is very poor. It’ll be a struggle to for him to win midfield battles, so leave those for your deeper lying midfielders. The German’s 69 strength shouldn’t be of concern. His height and 75 balance should counteract it and make sure that he stays on his feet when challenged. Havertz is, by far, the cheapest player on this list at 2.3k coins. For starter squads, he is a must-buy for his aerial ability and superb attacking skills.
Breakdown:
- 84 short passing
- 86 sprint speed + dribbling
- 81 finishing
- 6’2″ height
- 75 balance
Michael Ballack (Icons, 693k)
The Icon player selected for this list is Germany legend Michael Ballack. The central midfielder has been recognised for his excellent career with a 91 rated card. As expected, he is highly rated in every attribute. 68 agility is the lowest, and that’s mainly down to his 6’2″ frame. In any team, Ballack will control the game and find seemingly impossible passes. 94 short passing and 93 long passing are outstanding. Shooting is where he really excels, however, possessing a rating of 90 with high shot power and long shots in particular. Don’t be afraid to attempt those 30-yard screamers.
Ballack is capable of dominating any midfield
Ballack’s only downside is his work rates. A high defensive rate compared to medium attacking rate means he will prefer to stay back when your team is on the offensive. Considering the level of his offense-based attributes, it’s unfortunate that he won’t get too many chances to show them off. As a deep lying playmaker, though, Ballack is still well worth his expensive valuation. He’ll provide strikers with a lot of great chances and easily win possession battles against the opposition.
Breakdown:
- 6’2″ height
- 94 short passing
- 93 long passing
- 90 shooting
- High shot power and long shots
What other players do you think are the best midfielders in FIFA 22 Ultimate Team? Let me know in the comments below!
Player prices correct on PlayStation at time of writing.
