Skip to main content

FIFA 21 Best Midfielders | Where to find the best CAMs, CDMs, and CMs for your team

When heavy pressing is the most fashionable tactic in world football, athleticism in the middle of the park is vital. To win the midfield battle, you need the best-of-the-best both going forward and shielding the defence. To give you an edge, these are the best midfielders in FIFA 21, in the CAM, CDM, and CM positions.

Midfield is a tough position to plan for in FIFA 21. Well-rounded players can look great, but when it comes to gameplay their jack-of-all-trades stats make them feel sluggish and lacklustre.

In the CAM position, agility is key, letting your attacker wriggle through tight defences. While at CDM, pace and strength is incredibly important when you need to mop up counterattacks.

Then for a CM, you need to balance both of these attributes, while making sure your player has enough stamina and short passing to make a difference for the full 90 minutes.

First, we’ll list the highest overall midfielders in FIFA 21. While these might be exorbitantly expensive for most teams, they’re who to turn to for proven, world-beating quality.

Next we’ll run through some CAMs, CDMs and CMs with lower overalls, but plenty of room to grow. If you’re planning a long-term Career Mode, these are the names to look out for.

Finally, we’ll give a few suggestions for midfielders you can sign in the first season of your Career Mode - whatever the size of your budget.

If you're looking for wide options to add to your team, we've added wingers in with the strikers, here.

FIFA 21 Best Midfielders - Highest Overall CAMs, CDMs, and CMs

These are the highest rated midfielders in FIFA 21, representing the absolute best world football has to offer.

While many are reaching the end of their careers, there are plenty of new stars waiting in the wings.

FIFA 21 Best Midfielders - Highest Overall CAMs, CMs, and CDMs
Player Name:Age:Position:Overall:Potential:Current Team:
Kevin De Bruyne29CAM, CM9191Manchester City
Casemiro28CDM8989Real Madrid
N'Golo Kante29CDM, CM8888Chelsea
Joshua Kimmich 25CDM8890Bayern Munich
Toni Kroos30CM8888Real Madrid
Bernado Silva25CAM, CM8788Manchester City
Bruno Fernandes 25CAM, CM8790Manchester United
Fabinho 26CDM8789Liverpool
Sergio Busquets31CDM8787Barcelona
Luka Modric34CM8787Real Madrid
Marco Verratti27CM, CDM8687PSG
Paul Pogba27CM, CDM, CAM8687Manchester United
Thomas Muller30CAM8686Thomas Muller
Jordan Henderson30CDM, CM8686Liverpool
David Silva34CAM, CM8686Real Sociedad
Papu Gomez32CAM8686Atalanta
Kai Havertz 21CAM8593Chelsea
Rodri24CDM8588Manchester City
Frenkie de Jong23CM 8590Barcelona
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic25CM, CAM, CDM8589Lazio
Hakim Ziyech27CAM8586Chelsea
Luis Alberto27CAM, CM8585Lazio
Koke28CM8585Atletico Madrid
Cristian Eriksen28CAM, CM8585Inter
Parejo31CM8585Villarreal
Thiago Alcantara29CM, CDM, CAM8585Liverpool
Marco Reus31CAM8585Borussia Dortmund
Gini Wijnaldum29CM8585Liverpool
Miralem Pjanic30CM8585Barcelona
Arthur Melo23CM8489Piemonte Calcio
Leon Goretzka25CM, CDM8488Bayern Munich

FIFA 21 Best Midfielders - Lower Overall CAMs, CDMs, and CMs for the future

While these players don’t have the immediate quality of the ones listed above, if you’re in FIFA 21 Career Mode for the long-haul, then you’ll be facing off against more than a few names on this list - if not buying them yourself.

FIFA 21 Best Midfielders - Lower Overall CAMs, CMs, CDMs with a high ceiling
Player Name:Age:Position:Overall:Potential:Current Team:
Sandro Tonali 20CDM, CM7791Milan
Thiago Almada19CAM7389Velez Sarsfield
Takefusa Kubo19CM, CAM7589Villarreal (Real Madrid)
Houssem Aouar22CM8189Lyon
Florian Wirtz17CAM6888Bayer Leverkusen
Jude Bellingham17CM, CAM6988Borussia Dortmund
Pedri17CAM, CM7288Barcelona
Rayan Cherki16CAM6788Lyon
Eduardo Camavinga17CM, CDM7688Stade Rennais
Agustin Urzi20CM7388Atletico Banfield
Riqui Puig20CM7588Barcelona
Phil Foden20CAM, CM7988Manchester City
Reinier18CAM7187Borussia Dortmund (Real Madrid)
Bruno Guimaraes22CM, CDM7887Lyon
Mohamed Ihattaren18CAM7787PSV
Maxence Caqueret20CM, CDM7587Lyon
Ryan Gravenberch18CM, CDM7187Ajax
Gio Reyna17CAM7087Borussia Dortmund
Dani Olmo22CAM7987RB Leipzig
Pedro Goncalves22CM7787Sporting
Matheus Cunha21CAM7887Hertha Berlin
Dominik Szoboszlai19CAM7587RB Salzburg
Tanguy Ndombele23CM, CDM8087Spurs
Mason Mount21CAM, CM8087Chelsea
Nicolo Barella23CM, CAM8087Inter
Aster Vranckx17CM, CDM6686KV Mechelen
Yusuf Demir17CAM6586Rapid Wien
Gustavo Assuncao20CDM7486Famalicao
Tete20CAM7586Shakhtar Donetsk
Manor Solomon20CAM7386Shakhtar Donetsk

FIFA 21 Best Midfielders to sign in the first season

Best first season CMs

  • Mattias Zaracho - CM - 22 - €17m Value - Racing Club

What Mattias Zaracho lacks in stature, he makes up for with speed, technique, and versatility.

Boasting 90+ pace with 80 dribbling, stamina and short passing, he has enough ability to make an impact on even top squads from the start - plus 84 potential to grow into.

But unlike a lot of quick CMs, he actually has some decent defending stats, including 70 standing tackle.

  • Aster Vranckx - CM - 17 - €2.3m Value - KV Mechelen

A brilliant bargain with 86 potential, Aster Vranckx is a tall, classy midfielder with a 5 star weak foot.

His starting stats are easily good enough for a lower league road-to-glory team, or to loan and grow at a bigger club.

  • Nicolas De La Cruz - CM - 23 - €23.5m - River Plate

Boasting high/high workrates with an engine to match, Nicolas De La Cruz can excel either through the middle or out on the wing.

His high 80s pace and 93 stamina mean he can get around the pitch quickly to sweep up opposition attacks, then use his 80+ dribbling and 4 star skills to counter.

Since he’s only 5ft 6”, you’ll probably need to balance out your midfield with someone taller, but De La Cruz is dynamic enough to make that sacrifice worth it.

  • Eduado Camavinga - CM - 17 - €17m Value - Stade Rennais

Camavinga is one of the hottest prospects in world football, boasting decent starting stats despite only being 17 years old.

Often linked to Real Madrid and many others, you can grab him in the first transfer window for a cheaper price than you might expect - before he starts to grow into his 88 potential.

Slotted as a CDM in FIFA 20, Camavinga has been pushed further upfield in FIFA 21 and is well-rounded enough to pull it off. A great - if unrealistic - left-footed option for many different teams.

  • Marcos Antonio - CM - 20 - €5.5m Value - Shakhtar Donetsk

If Zaracho and De La Cruz are a bit too expensive for your club’s budget, take a look at Marcos Antonio in Ukraine.

He has a similar level of pace and stamina with decent technicals too.

Best first season CAMs

  • Anderson Talisca - CAM - 26 - €40m Value - Guangzhou Evergrande

If you’re looking for a more left-field option at one of the world’s top clubs, then try out Anderson Talisca.

Highly rated at both Benfica and Besiktas, Talisca has brilliant stats across the board on a rangy, 6ft 3” frame.

He’s got 80+ for key stats like acceleration, agility, shot power, stamina, dribbling, finishing, long shots, passing, and free kicks. 55 standing tackle isn’t even that bad as a more advanced member of a midfield 3.

He’ll cost a lot, but is sure to be a fun addition to any squad.

  • Sergej Milinkovic-Savic - CAM - 25 - €74.5m Value - Lazio

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, often shortened to SMS, has been linked away from the Olimpico for a few years now, but Lazio’s €100+ real-life asking price put off many potential buyers.

In FIFA 21, you’d be forgiven for seeing his nearly 80 defending and sticking him in front of the defence. But that is a waste of his incredible attacking talent, with 80 finishing, 85 short passing, and 86 heading and dribbling.

Another solid option for the game’s big-budget sides.

  • Dominik Szoboszlai - CAM - 19 - €13.5m Value - RB Salzburg

Tall, nimble and tricky, Dominik Szoboszlai can turn into a quality CAM with a bit of stamina training.

With 87 potential, his already great dribbling and free kick taking abilities grow quickly, while he already starts with 4 star skills and weak foot.

  • Thiago Almada - CAM - 19 - €8m Value - Velez Sarsfield

Thiago Almada is a bit further behind in his development than Szoboszlai, but has a higher ceiling. They’re very similar players, just Almada is much shorter at 5ft 7”.

Focus on training his stamina though and you’ll have a real quality player in no time.

  • Rayan Cherki - CAM - 16 - €3.2m Value - Lyon

A hugely unrealistic, but great fun signing for smaller budgets, Rayan Cherki burst onto the scene at Lyon last season.

While his starting stamina is poor, and a lot of his technicals could be better, he has 88 potential to grow into and 5 star weak foot and skill moves from the off. A true future star.

Best first season CDMs

  • Ryan Gravenberch - CDM - 18 - €4.7m Value - Ajax

Already a decent deep-lying playmaker, Ryan Gravenberch has a high potential ceiling - and standing at 6ft 3”, he’ll need it.

His defending needs serious work, as does his stamina, but those are easy to improve with the new training mechanics.

  • Denis Zakaria - CDM - 23 - €47.5m Value - Borussia Monchengladbach

Denis Zakaria has been awesome for years, but in FIFA 21 his starting starts are already at another level.

His key stats are incredible across the board, with 80+ pace and stamina, nearly 90 strength, 83 passing and 84 defending.

He’ll take a big investment, but should be worth it for any team.

  • Konrad Laimer - CDM - 23 - €40m Value - RB Leipzig

Lighter weight than Zakaria, but with a similar technical profile, Konrad Laimer is quick, neat, and can provide cover for right back too.

  • Frank Onyeka - CDM - 22 - €10.5 Value - FC Midtjylland

Frank Onyeka is one of those players whose overall just doesn’t do their key stats justice.

For a relatively cheap fee from Midtjylland, you get 90 sprint speed, 92 stamina, and 80 strength on a player with plenty of potential to improve his already 75 standing tackle.

This guy looks like a bargain for mid-tier teams, but could bulk out anyone’s squad.

  • Alhassan Yusuf - CDM - 19 - €3.1 Value - IFK Goteborg

When you’re working with a small budget, you need to make some sacrifices if you still want players with good potential. So while Alhassan Yusuf can become 83 rated, has mid-80s pace and 90 stamina, his 62 strength means he’s not quite as dominant as some of the other CDMs here.

However, he’ll easily do a good job at weaker teams, and turn a tidy profit if you need to buy a better player later down the line.

For more FIFA 21 career mode guides, we have a page on the best wonderkids and young players, here.

While if you need some attacking talent, we have a page on FIFA 21’s best strikers and wingers, here.

Then if it’s defensive steel you’re after, then we have a page on the best FIFA 21 defenders, here.

Read this next