The 10 best defensive midfielders on the planet: Chelsea man just misses out on top spot

2) Nemanja Matic (Chelsea)

Nemanja Matic has contributed as much as anyone to Chelsea’s impressive start of the season, with the Serbian showing that the Blues should never have let him go in the first place since he returned to the club from Benfica in January. Hard-working, tough in the tackle and with seemingly endless energy, Matic is like a central midfield juggernaut, hunting down the ball whenever it looks as though the opposition might construct an attack.