Sol Campbell reckons Declan Rice is the best midfielder in the world right now, and who am I to argue with that? The Arsenal legend knows his stuff, and Rice has been a rock for both club and country since his £100million move to the Gunners in 2023.
Rice's impact at Arsenal
Rice has been a mainstay in Arsenal's midfield, missing just two league games this season. He's not just a holding midfielder, though - he's chipped in with 12 goals and 17 assists since his arrival. Not too shabby for a player who's main job is to break up play and protect the back four.
Other contenders for the title
Of course, there are other top-class midfielders out there. Rodri has been a big miss for Manchester City this season, but he's not been fit enough to challenge Rice for the title of world's best. And what about Jude Bellingham? He's been a revelation since joining Real Madrid, but he plays in a more advanced role than Rice.
Barcelona star Pedri is another player who's caught the eye, but he's not quite at Rice's level yet. And let's not forget about Federico Valverde, Alexis Mac Allister and Nico Barella - all top players, but not quite in Rice's league.
The greatest midfielder of all time?
Campbell also had his say on the greatest midfielder of all time, and he went for a surprising choice - Paul Gascoigne. Gazza was a hero to many, including Steven Gerrard and Gary Lineker, but injuries robbed him of his best years. If he'd stayed fit, who knows what he could have achieved?
But back to Rice - is he really the best midfielder in the world right now? It's hard to argue with Campbell's assessment. Rice has been a revelation since joining Arsenal, and he's only going to get better. The Gunners have a real gem on their hands, and they'll be hoping he can lead them to glory in the years to come.
