From Xavi and Andres Iniesta to modern greats like Kevin De Bruyne and rising stars such as Jude Bellingham, the debate over just who takes the midfield crown has been rumbling on for quite some time.
In many ways, the question is what do you want to see from a midfielder? If you require technical excellence, then look no further than those Spanish superstars and the likes of Zinedine Zidane. They have often been the jewels in football's crown no matter the occasion.
The best midfielders in the world right now
Rank
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
But sometimes beauty is in the long-range strikes, the ruthless tackles and the workhorse engines. And if that is the case, then the attention should drift towards stars such as Manchester United's Roy Keane and Paul Scholes.
If it's simply a matter of honours on the table, then it would be Barcelona and Real Madrid who shine brightest, as La Liga's two mega clubs have dominated the European scene while several of their biggest names thrive on the international stage.
Best midfielders of all time in pictures
Then there is the measure of iconic moments to remember. Steven Gerrard in Istanbul, Modric taking the Ballon d'Or crown and Iniesta's World Cup winning goal - the list could quite easily go on.
Perhaps the best measure of all-round talent however is the verdicts from those who played with the greats, and Spain legend and superstar goalscorer Fernando Torres believes there is only one answer.
liverpool-kit-gerrard-torres
Torres says Gerrard is the best player he ever played with
Torres is perhaps one of the best placed figures in football to judge greatness, having starred for Spain's dominant international side that won the European Championships in 2008 and 2012, either side of the World Cup in 2010.
And the former Liverpool and Chelsea striker, who spent four seasons on Merseyside with Gerrard, revealed the Liverpool captain was even better than his Spain teammates.
"The highest compliment I can pay him is that he’s as creative as a Xavi at Barcelona, with something extra as well. When you add his energy, toughness, leadership and goalscoring ability and the result is a fantastic all-round player. He is without doubt the greatest player I have ever played with, he has everything.”
From his very first Liverpool game, Torres and Gerrard's partnership blossomed into one of the most clinical that Anfield has ever seen. The Spaniard was quick and deadly in front of goal and Gerrard was as precise as it gets behind him to form the perfect duo.
Times Steven Gerrard Assisted Fernando Torres (via LFC History)
2007/08 8
2008/09 2
2009/10 1
2010/11 2
Assisting 13 of Torres' 81 Liverpool goals, Gerrard's partnership with the Spaniard was particularly strong during his debut season. It's then that the forward may have realised just how talented his captain was, perhaps reaching the conclusion then and there that he would never play with better.
Torres played with Frank Lampard - in what is a debate for another day - as well as Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets and others. Yet, even without a Premier League medal to his name, El Nino still believes that Gerrard is the best midfielder that he's ever seen.
Sir Alex Ferguson Related
Sir Alex Ferguson named Liverpool star as the best player in England and as good as Keane
This could settle the debate once and for all...