If Jude Bellingham is something of a hybrid 8/10 in Carlo Ancelotti’s scheme, then Fede is the true center midfielder shuttling the ball from defensive to attacking lines, keeping possession, and defending at the level of an elite defender.

There’s nothing Valverde can’t do in the Real Madrid midfield, and, quietly, he is becoming the most respected player on the team alongside veterans Thibaut Courtois and Luka Modric.

In La Liga, Real Madrid still has the finest No. 8 thanks to Toni Kroos’ departure.

After an amazing 2023–24 season with Real Madrid in La Liga and the Champions League, where he finished as the best No. 8 in European football during what turned out to be his final season as a professional, Toni Kroos was a strong contender for the Ballon d’Or award.

However, Real Madrid still have the finest No. 8 in Spanish football at the moment, especially in light of Kroos’ retirement and the inevitable inability to instantly replace the German international.

Fede Valverde deserves this distinction because, despite playing for a star-studded Real Madrid team, he has been the Merengue club’s most outstanding player through the first six league games of the 2024–2025 season.

Valverde completed 92.4 percent of his 79 ball attempts and registered five combined tackles and interceptions in the 4-1 victory over Espanyol. It was another excellent, albeit underappreciated, performance from him.

Real Madrid’s captain, Fede, continued to wear the recognizable No. 8 Real Madrid uniform with pride, continuing Toni Kroos’ tradition in midfield with another classic, everyman performance.

Fede is the real center midfielder in Carlo Ancelotti’s lineup, moving the ball between defensive and attacking lines, holding onto possession, and playing outstanding defense if Jude Bellingham is something of a hybrid 8/10.

Valverde is demonstrating his skill as a creator and defender this season by averaging 3.5 combined tackles and interceptions per game with 1.7 crucial passes each contest. In addition, the Uruguayan No. 8 is contributing two goals to the game and is finishing 91 percent of his about 67 pass efforts.

With the likes of Luka Modric and Thibaut Courtois, seasoned players Thibaut Courtois and Jérémy Valverde is quietly becoming the most regarded player on the Real Madrid midfield.

While no one can fully replace Kroos’ skill set, Valverde is essentially taking over as leader and even modifying his style to help at least partially fill the voids left by the German sharpshooter.

Finding a genuine box-to-box midfielder who is performing at a higher level in La Liga than Fede Valverde right now would seem to be an extremely foolish errand. He has the entire podium to himself at the top.