Stars from Real Madrid , Bayern Munich and Arsenal were listed as one of the top five midfielders globally in 2017 according to Xavi Hernandez.
Interestingly, N'Golo Kante from Chelsea was not included in Xavi's selection, nor were players like Kevin De Bruyne or Paul Pogba.
We've taken another look at Xavi’s five selections from 2017 and evaluated their current status.
Luka Modric
Since 2012, Modric has been unmatched in Real Madrid’s midfield, with even Xavi’s accomplishments being the sole comparable feat. Around the time when Xavi was mentioned, Modric was nearing his prime.
The Croatian legend guided his nation to the FIFA World Cup final in 2018, mere months after assisting Real Madrid secure their third consecutive UEFA Champions League trophy.
Modrić led Croatia to secure third place in the 2022 finals, further enhancing his impressive collection with an additional two Champions League winner’s medals.
As he nears 40, Modric continues to play but has become more of a rotational player at Real Madrid nowadays. Nevertheless, it still generates moments of enchantment. …
Toni Kroos
Among the top midfielders of his era, if not of all time, Kroos decided to call it quits following Germany’s loss to Spain at Euro 2024.
During his last season at Real Madrid, Kroos managed to secure victories in both La Liga and the Champions League. Over the course of 10 years at the Bernabéu, he accumulated an impressive tally of 21 trophies, which included four league championships and four UEFA Champions League titles.
Although the 34-year-old could still compete at the highest level, his choice to step away from the game while at the pinnacle of his abilities deserves praise.
After leaving the sport, Kroos established the 'Toni Kroos Academy' in Madrid, manages the Icon League in Germany, and co-hosts the podcast 'Einfach mal Luppen' ('Just Suck it Up') alongside his sibling.
Thiago Alcantara
The sole individual connected to Barcelona chosen by Xavi, Thiago stood out as an exceptional footballer during his peak years.
Able to perform passes beyond the imagination of ordinary players, let alone their execution, the midfielder was halfway through his seven-year tenure at Bayern Munich when he was mentioned by his ex-teammate.
In 2020, joining Liverpool seemed ideal in theory, and Thiago did generate several impressive instances during his time at Anfield; however, injuries diminished his overall influence.
The ex-Spain national team player retired in 2024 and briefly coached at Barcelona for about a month. Based on his Instagram activity, he seems to be relishing his time with his family right now.
Mesut Ozil
During the early 2010s, Ozil was at the height of his abilities and was considered one of the premier playmakers for generating creativity in global soccer.
Prior to joining Arsenal, he racked up 25 assists across various competitions and frequently set up Ronaldo, with whom his creativity and precise passes formed an ideal partnership.
Once he relocated to London, the German player shone brightly in the Premier League for several seasons. However, by 2017, he had started to decline before leaving Arsenal three years thereafter.
He subsequently played for Fenerbahçe and İstanbul Başakşehir in Turkey before announcing his retirement in 2023.
Ozil has ventured into politics and uses his time after retiring by building muscle at the gym.
Marco Verratti
While he was in Paris, Verratti stood out as one of the top midfielders across Europe, so his presence on Xavi’s list wouldn’t have raised any eyebrows.
Nevertheless, after relocating to Qatar in 2023, it's fair to conclude that his prominence in the sport has decreased.
After joining Al-Arabi, Verratti has not represented his national team internationally and has played just 40 matches for the club.
As his agreement in Qatar is set to conclude by the end of the season, his long-term prospects remain uncertain at this moment.
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