Consistency, agility, precision and vision: these are the main characteristics of the best Brazilian defensive midfielders in activity, the subject of this text.
In the past, defensive midfielders were better known for their physical strength and lack of skill (with a few exceptions, of course) and yet it was a position that revealed and consecrated players we will never forget, such as Paulo Roberto Falcao, Andreas Pirlo, Andres Iniesta, among others.
Today, the scenario is more demanding. With technology and advances in fitness techniques, the bar for assessing the best Brazilian defensive midfielders has become much higher.
Having said all that, it’s time to reveal our top 15 best Brazilian defensive midfielders, their numbers and also which ones are the most overpriced on the football market.
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How do you know who the best Brazilian defensive midfielders are today?
We’re going to use the SofaScore platform, which compiles data and information on all active players on the planet, as the basis for our analysis.
- Douglas Luiz from Aston Villa (England)
In first place on our list of the best Brazilian defensive midfielders is Douglas Luiz. With a score of 7.27, the defensive midfielder has been a starter in 31 matches in the English Championship 23/24, scoring 9 goals and providing 5 assists so far.
| Age | Height | Strong points |
| 25 years | 1,78 cm | Long ball Creating moves |
- Bruno Guimarães from Newcastle (England)
In second place in the ranking of the best Brazilian defensive midfielders is ex-Athletico-PR midfielder Bruno Guimarães. With a score of 7.25, the defensive midfielder has started 30 matches in the English Championship 23/24, scoring 4 goals and providing 5 assists so far.
| Age | Height | Strong points |
| 26 years old | 1,82 cm | Positioning High pressure Creating moves |
- Casemiro from Manchester United (England)
Taking bronze among the best Brazilian defensive midfielders was our star man Casemiro. With a score of 7.18, the defensive midfielder has started in 17 matches in the English Championship 23/24, scoring 1 goal and providing 2 assists so far.
| Age | Height | Strong points |
| 32 years old | 1,85 cm | Positioning |
- Fernandinho from Athletico-PR
A veteran, but very good on the ball, Fernandinho is fourth among the best Brazilian defensive midfielders. With a score of 7.07, the defensive midfielder was a starter in 23 matches in the 2023 Campeonato Brasileiro, scoring 1 goal and providing 3 assists.
| Age | Height | Strong points |
| 38 years old | 1,79 cm | Creating moves |
- Marlon Freitas of Botafogo
In fifth place, Marlon is also among the best active Brazilian defensive midfielders. With a score of 7.07, the defensive midfielder started in 33 matches in the 2023 Brazilian Championship, scoring 1 goal and providing 2 assists.
| Age | Height | Strong points |
| 29 years old | 1,85 cm | Creating moves Long balls |
- Andreas Pereira from Fulham (England)
Andreas Pereira has secured sixth place in the list of the best Brazilian defensive midfielders. With a score of 7.04, the defensive midfielder has started 29 matches in the English Championship 23/24, scoring 1 goal and providing 7 assists so far.
| Age | Height | Strong points |
| 28 years old | 1,77 cm | Creating moves |
- Matheus Fernandes from RB Bragantino
Matheus Fernandes ranks seventh in our list of the best Brazilian defensive midfielders. With a score of 7.03, the defensive midfielder started 31 matches in the 2023 Campeonato Brasileiro, scoring 1 goal and providing 3 assists.
| Age | Height | Strong points |
| 25 years old | 1,83 cm | Disarm Positioning Long ball |
- Gérson from Flamengo
Gérson occupies eighth place in our ranking of the best Brazilian defensive midfielders. With a score of 7.01, the defensive midfielder was a starter in 31 matches in the 2023 Campeonato Brasileiro, scoring 5 goals and 8 assists.
| Age | Height | Strong points |
| 26 years old | 1,85 cm | Long balls Shots from outside the box Foul tackles |
- André from Fluminense
The ninth-placed player on the list of the best Brazilian defensive midfielders is from the tricolor carioca, that’s enough, André! With a score of 7.01, the defensive midfielder was a starter in 29 matches in the 2023 Brazilian Championship, hitting more than 90% of all types of passes and with an average of almost 7 tackles per game.
| Age | Height | Strongest points |
| 22 years old | 1,76 cm | Positioning Long ball |
- Joelinton do Newcastle (Inglaterra)
In tenth place, Bruno Guimarães’ teammate at Newcastle and also on our list of the best Brazilian defensive midfielders, Joelinton. With a score of 6.92, the defensive midfielder has been a starter in 14 matches in the English Championship 23/24, scoring 2 goals and providing 1 assist so far.
| Age | Height | Pontos fortes |
| 27 years old | 1,86 cm | Long ball High pressure Positioning |
- Pablo Maia from São Paulo
São Paulo’s Pablo Maia is in eleventh place in our ranking of the best Brazilian defensive midfielders. With a score of 6.98, the defensive midfielder started 29 matches in the 2023 Campeonato Brasileiro, scoring 4 goals and averaging 6.3 tackles per game.
| Age | Height | Strong points |
| 22 years old | 1,78 cm | Long balls Shots from outside the box Foul tackles |
- Caio Alexandre from Bahia
In twelfth place on the list of the best Brazilian defensive midfielders could not be missing Caio Alexandre. With a score of 6.92, the defensive midfielder started 32 matches in the 2023 Brazilian Championship, scoring 2 goals and providing 2 assists.
| Age | Height | Strongest points |
| 25 years old | 1,74 cm | Creating moves |
- Zé Rafael from Palmeiras
In our thirteenth position among the best Brazilian defensive midfielders is Zé Rafael. With a score of 6.88, the defensive midfielder was a starter in 31 matches in the 2023 Brazilian Championship, scoring 3 goals and providing 3 assists.
| Age | Height | Strong points |
| 30 years old | 1,75 cm | Long balls |
- Matheus Rosseto from Fortaleza
In fourteenth and penultimate place on the list of the best Brazilian defensive midfielders, we have the new signing from Fortaleza. With a score of 6.84, the defensive midfielder was a starter in 21 matches in the 2023 U.S. Championship, scoring 1 goal and providing 1 assist.
| Age | Height | Strong points |
| 27 years old | 1,80 cm | Long balls |
- Otávio from Atlético-MG
Coming in thirteenth place, Otávio is also among the best Brazilian defensive midfielders. With a score of 6.80, the defensive midfielder was a starter in 27 matches in the 2023 Campeonato Brasileiro, catching 90% of his passes and averaging 5 tackles per game.
| Age | Height | Strong points |
| 29 years old | 1,73 cm | Positioning |
List of the best Brazilian defensive midfielders
- Douglas Luiz
- Bruno Guimarães
- Casemiro
- Fernandinho
- Marlon Freitas
- Andreas Pereira
- Matheus Fernandes
- Gérson
- André
- Joelinton
- Pablo Maia
- Caio Alexandre
- Zé Rafael
- Matheus Rosseto
- Otávio
Best Brazilian defensive midfielders: the most expensive on the market
How does the list of the best Brazilian defensive midfielders look when it comes to market valuation? Check out the values we found on the football market:
- Bruno Guimarães – R$ 477.8 million
- Douglas Luiz – R$ 407,2 million
- Joelinton – R$ 244,3 million
- Casemiro – R$ 146,6 million
- André – R$ 141,1 million
- Andreas Pereira – R$ 105,3 million
- Gérson – R$ 84,1 million
- Pablo Maia – R$ 73,8 million
- Caio Alexandre – R$ 28,2 million
- Zé Rafael – R$ 25,5 million
- Otávio – R$ 23,3 million
- Marlon Freitas – R$ 18,4 million
- Matheus Rosseto – R$ 7,6 million
- Fernandinho – R$ 2,5 million
*The values are approximate, depending on the Euro exchange rate.
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