Football fans have been spoilt by many energetic and hard-working midfielders who have not only wowed fans but also come to the fore as match winners. This profile of a player can vary from hardmen such as Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane to heroic heartbeats like N'Golo Kante and Park Ji-Sung.

With that said, we look at the top 10 tireless midfielders who don't stop battling away with their persistence until the final whistle.

10 Steven Gerrard 

Career span: 1998–2017 

Gerrard’s stamina was vital for the Merseysiders during his 17-year Anfield career, where he became arguably their greatest player. His hunger and passion translated into the heartbeat of a Liverpool side that secured perhaps the greatest comeback in football history. He was captain when the Reds beat AC Milan on penalties following a 3-3 draw after extra time to win the UEFA Champions League in 2005.

9 Park Ji-Sung 

Career span: 1999–2014 

Park Ji-Sung will arguably go down as one of the most underrated players in Manchester United's history. The South Korean was nicknamed ‘three-lungs Park’ because of his incredible endurance, constantly chasing the opposition for 90 minutes.

Sir Alex Ferguson often picked Park for big games to man-mark the opponents' star man, but he was also a bright spark going forward. Fergie admits he regrets not bringing him on to counteract Lionel Messi in the Red Devils’ defeat to Barcelona in the 2011 UEFA Champions League final.

8 Claude Makelele 

Career span: 1992-2011 

 

Claude Makelele made the defensive midfield position his own during his illustrious career, leading to the term ‘the Makelele role’. The French icon sat in front of the back four and recovered the ball, which he did with aplomb in Jose Mourinho’s two-time Premier League-winning Chelsea team.

Makelele’s energy made him a nightmare for attackers, who were deprived of freedom when trying to venture forward. He was a workhorse who used his pace effectively, as seen during his playing days at Real Madrid. Many current-day holding midfielders display characteristics that The Tripod made more prominent in the game. He allowed his more exciting attacking teammates, such as Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo, to shine brighter because of his reliability and tireless work rate.

7 James Milner 

Career span: 2002-present 

 

James Milner’s longevity is astounding and a testament to his work ethic, which has seen him perform at a high level throughout his career. Just when you think the veteran English midfielder might be fading, he continues to display relentlessness, which Jurgen Klopp admired during his Anfield reign.

Milner has consistently put up impressive running numbers and won Liverpool’s pre-season lactate test each year under Klopp. His constant success in that test led the iconic German coach to call it ‘the James Milner Award.’ He’s continued to display high endurance levels at Brighton and will likely finish his career as the player with the most Premier League appearances to his name.

6 Roy Keane 

Career span: 1989-2006 

Roy Keane was a proper leader whose dominant displays in the middle of the park were crucial for Fergie at United. The fiery Irishman was an excellent box-to-box midfielder, and he possessed energy for days which made him a nuisance for opponents. His aggression and grit remained intact in the latter stages of games, key attributes that led to him captaining the Red Devils to glory.

Keane’s devotion to the sport was second to none, and you can see YouTube clips of him intensely rehabbing an ACL injury. That mental strength was why many deem him the greatest captain in Premier League history. He was a warrior who teammates such as Gary Nevilledescribe as the greatest leader they played alongside.

5 Patrick Vieira 

Career span: 1993-2011 

 

Patrick Vieira was a machine in Arsenal-midfield and his presence was what got Arsene Wenger’s team ticking in the 2000s. The French legend was a key cog in driving the Gunners to an Invincibles season in 2004, using his energy, long legs and enthusiasm to drive up and down the pitch.

Wenger explained why he signed Vieira by talking up his on-field charisma and how he’d fight for the team no matter the opposition. There perhaps hasn’t been a more all-rounded midfielder to grace the north London outfit and his work rate was one of his major attributes.

4 Clarence Seedorf 

Career span: 1992-2014 

Clarence Seedorf is the only player in history to win the UEFA Champions League with three different clubs (Ajax, Madrid and AC Milan). Dutch football’s Il Professore was crucial in all of those European triumphs and much of that was down to his engine and a footballing IQ that wowed fans. He enjoyed a legendary career and his stamina was key to maintaining a high-level game after game.

The Dutchman possessed physical attributes that also made him a nightmare to defend against. He’d often dictate games with his elegance on the ball while always covering up ground and the intensity he played at throughout his career is perhaps unmatched. His importance to Milan was alluded to by Carlo Ancelotti en route to their 2003 Champions League triumph, with the Italian saying ‘he really gets us going’.

3 Johan Neeskens 

Career span: 1968-1991 

Johan Neeskens is another Dutch midfield maestro whose work rate was second to none and allowed him to become one of the all-time greats. A box-to-box midfielder whose stamina was remarkable and helped Ajax win three European Champion Club’s Cups, his former teammate Sjaak Swart said ‘he was worth two men in midfield’.

Johan the Second was like a flea, hounding the opposition and never tiring. His superb fitness levels meant he was also extremely versatile, able to flourish as a defender and a forward. He is often deemed the man who innovated the box-to-box midfield profile that Keane, Vieira, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Gerrard went on to excel in.

2 Lothar Matthaus 

Career span: 1978-2001 

Lothar Matthaus is, for many, the greatest midfielder in football history, and he was an omnipresent gem in the hugely successful west Germany side of the 1980s and 1990s. He was captain and his staying power allowed him to control midfield on the international stage for two decades. The 1990 Ballon d’Or winner was a talent who transcended the game, but this also wouldn’t have been possible without his high endurance levels.

Der Panzer was a menace for the opposition to deal with and a player whom Diego Maradona viewed as his biggest rival during his career. He’d go to war with the Argentine legend and many other household names by using his commanding presence. The German Tank had long set the record for most World Cup appearances (25) in five tournaments before Lionel Messibroke it in 2022.

1 N’Golo Kante 

Career span: 2012-present 

 

N’Golo Kante is football’s most tireless player in history, and you needn’t look for further evidence than to re-watch him in action at Euro 2024. The veteran midfielder was everywhere for France during the competition in Germany. Some were surprised by Didier Deschamps' decision to call him up, but his seamless performances quickly explained why.

The 5ft5in midfield engine is small, but this helps him speed his way around the pitch like the Flash. He’s constantly putting out fires while showing composure on the ball and finding his man with intricate passes. He’s not only tireless but timeless and continues to roll back the years even after leaving Chelsea.

Gary Lineker best described why Kante is football’s stamina supremo when watching him win the 2018 World Cup. He said: 'With Kante, France play with 12 men. He counts as two midfielders on his own. He’s everywhere.' You can never dwell too long on the ball when coming up against the nonstop Frenchman.