The position of midfielder is one of the most important and strategic in soccer, acting as a key piece between defense and attack. Among the main characteristics of best midfield defenders in Portugal are their marking power and tackling ability.
Also known as a “defensive midfielder” or “wide midfielder”, this position requires players to have not only technical skills, but also great tactical intelligence and vision.
So let’s get to know the stars who play as midfielders in Portugal today, and who are making a name for themselves in the league.
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10 best midfield defenders in Portugal: career, titles and records
Here’s a list of the best midfield defenders in Portugal today:
- Morten Hjulmand
- Alan Varela
- Nico González
- Florentino Luís
- Zanocelo
- Hidemasa Morita
- Daniel Bragança
- Mirko Topić
- Vítor Carvalho
- Tomás Händel
Read on to find out about the careers and titles of each of best midfield defenders in Portugal.
1. Morten Hjulmand (Sporting CP)
Morten Hjulmand began his career in Danish soccer, playing for FC Copenhagen’s youth team. After making a name for himself, he moved to Lecce, in Italy, where he gained recognition in Serie B, helping the team climb to Serie A.
Morten is currently one of Sporting’s key players and one of the team’s captains.
Morten won the Portuguese championship with Sporting in the 2023/24 season and continues to play impressive games in the quest to keep the team in the top flight of Portuguese soccer.
Titles for Sporting
Premier League: 2023-24
2. Alan Varela (Porto)
Varela began his career in Argentine soccer, making a name for himself in the youth ranks of Boca Juniors, where he quickly caught the eye of coaches and pundits. In 2020, he was promoted to Boca’s senior squad and in 2023, he was signed by FC Porto.
He quickly established himself as an important cog in the midfield.
With his defensive ability and tactical intelligence, he has become one of the most reliable players, both to protect the back line and to initiate offensive transitions.
Varela is known for his excellent passing accuracy and ability to mark intensively, contributing to the team’s balance in all parts of the field, establishing himself as one of best midfield defenders in Portugal.
Titles for Porto
- Portuguese Cup: 2023-24
- Cândido de Oliveira Super Cup: 2024
3. Nico González (Porto)
Following on from the list of the best midfield defenders in Portugal, we need to talk about Nico González, who began his career in the youth ranks at Barcelona, reaching the first team of the La Liga team in 2021.
His time at the Catalan club was important, but the search for more minutes and a challenging experience led him to a new destination.
In 2023, Nico González was signed by Porto, where he quickly adapted to the team’s intense and dynamic style of play and became known for his precision in passing and vision.
As one of best midfield defenders in Portugal, the star also has characteristics such as great marking ability and excellent positioning, making him indispensable in the team’s most important matches.
Titles for Porto
- Portuguese Cup: 2023-24
- Cândido de Oliveira Super Cup: 2024
4. Florentino Luís (Benfica)
Florentino Luís began his career in Benfica’s youth ranks and quickly stood out for his natural talent and tactical intelligence.
His progress was remarkable, and in 2018 he was promoted to the first team, earning his place as one of the most promising midfielders at the club and in Portuguese soccer.
In 2020, he was loaned to Monaco, where he had the opportunity to gain experience in a competitive league like Ligue 1.
After his time in France, he returned to Benfica more mature and ready to establish himself as a first-team regular. Since then, he has been a key player in Benfica’s midfield, combining his marking ability with excellent vision.
Titles for Benfica
- National Junior Championship: 2017-18
- Primeira Liga: 2018-19 and 2022-23
- Cândido de Oliveira Super Cup: 2019 and 2023
5. Zanocelo (Estoril)
What can you say about a player who has 100% of his minutes played in the national league? Without a doubt, he can’t be missing from the list of best midfield defenders in Portugal!
Zanocelo, born in São Paulo, began his career in professional soccer at Santos FC, one of Brazil’s most traditional clubs, with whom he still has a contract. However, the star is on loan at the Portuguese club until the end of the year.
The star has a great tactical understanding, which helps him to position himself correctly on the pitch, covering spaces and contributing in both defense and attack.
This powerful combination of characteristics has made the Brazilian star one of best midfield defenders in Portugal.
6. Hidemasa Morita (Sporting CP)
Morita is the first Japanese player to play for Sporting. The star began his career in Japanese soccer with Kawasaki Frontale, attracting attention for his tactical discipline and physical endurance
In 2021, he was signed by Santa Clara, another team from Portugal, however, his performances in the Primeira Liga made him one of the most solid midfielders in the Portuguese league, even in a smaller team, with the result that the player caught the eye of Sporting.
With that, in 2022, Morita signed with Sporting CP, and established himself as a starter and one of the best midfield defenders in Portugal.
Among the characteristics that contribute to this is his unique ability to cover large areas of the pitch, intercepting passes and winning tackles with ease.
Titles for Sporting
Premier League: 2023-24
7. Daniel Bragança (Sporting CP)
Daniel Bragança began his career in Portuguese soccer, excelling in Sporting’s youth ranks. In 2019, he made his professional debut and made a name for himself with his vision and technical ability.
Since his promotion to the first team, Bragança has won significant titles including the Portuguese Championship and the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira.
The star has been praised for his performances and is often mentioned as one of the best midfield defenders in Portugal. In fact, in the 2019/2 season, he was chosen as the best young player in the Segunda Liga: 2019-20. Since then, the star has matured and remains one of the most important players in the country.
Titles for Sporting
Portuguese Championship: 2020-21, 2023-24
League Cup: 2020-21, 2021-22
> Read also: Portuguese soccer: the biggest teams in Portugal
8. Mirko Topić (Famalicão)
When we talk about the best midfield defenders in Portugal, we can’t fail to mention a player who has played EVERY game as a starter this season, right?
At Famalicão, Mirko Topić stands out for his marking ability and ball control. He’s a player who doesn’t shy away from making tough tackles and has a good reading of the game, a characteristic that allows him to anticipate opposition moves.
In addition, his versatility makes him capable of playing in different roles in midfield, making him a key player for the coach.
9. Vítor Carvalho (Braga)
Another player who has 100% first-team appearances in the Portuguese league is the excellent Brazilian midfielder Vitor Carvalho, who plays for Braga.
Vitor Carvalho came through the youth ranks at Coritiba and made his professional debut for the club in 2016, moving to Gil Vicente in 2021, where he made his debut in European soccer.
In 2023, Vítor Carvalho was signed by Braga, one of the country’s most traditional clubs, where he found a suitable environment to continue his development and solidify his position as one of best midfield defenders in Portugal.
Titles for Braga
League Cup: 2023-24
10. Tomás Händel (Vitória de Guimarães)
To round off our list of the best midfield defenders in Portugal, we’ve selected a promising player aged just 23 who plays for Vitoria de Guimaraes. The player has been the team’s standout performer, featuring in all the team’s league games as a starter.
His tackling, vision and positioning are his main characteristics. He has an excellent reading of the game, initiating offensive transitions and distributing decisive passes.
Now, yes, that concludes the list of the 10 best midfield defenders in Portugal today. And, if you’re a fan of Portuguese soccer, read on:
- TOP 5 Best goalkeepers in Portugal: the walls of today’s Liga
- 10 Best right-backs in Portugal this season!
- Top 10 Best left-backs in Portugal this season!
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