Letting the numbers pick the best attacking midfielders

Which 10s are dazzling in the ADAM system's eyes so far, and which are fading?

Everybody loves a number 10. Every central attacking midfielder is a little different, with some more adept at the razzle-dazzle dribbles and breath-catching passes, some more of the lather-rinse-repeat passers who seem to thread endless balls to teammates in the box and stitch move after move together, and others going an almost second striker route, popping up in space, receiving on the half-turn and creating chances for themselves.

That wide range can make attacking midfielders kind of a tough rank, because there are many ways to skin that proverbial cat. But as I am wont to do, I’ll rank ‘em anyway! Today’s list details the best of the best at creative play, be that passing, carrying or shooting, who also bring value in the other key areas of the game.

Before we dive into full rankings, some things I always like to cover off:

• This list is created relying fully on statistics from this season and last. Players are rated using a whole bunch of data points of varying weights.

• Minimum for inclusion was 1.0 90s, or 90 minutes of domestic league play so far this campaign. Players with more starts and minutes were weighted favorably.

• I don’t follow a hard-and-fast age limit, but I do prioritize players on the younger side of the “peak age” spectrum.

• All scores are subject to an adjustment according to league strength, so you shouldn’t have to mentally raise or lower rankings to make it more “fair.”

• Last but not least: I always encourage a healthy dose of the eye test before forming a final opinion on any player, so please consume this list responsibly. This list does not necessarily reflect my personal rankings, as I have been known to disagree with my own formulas from time to time.

Now, let’s get into the data!