Current Analogue
Federico Valverde
Real Madrid
BRSTuttocampista92
CM
Win it back, then drive forward from deep
Rice's 2025-26 Arsenal role combined ball-winning (he led the squad for possession wins at the season's midpoint) with forward surges from a No 8 role and late runs into the box. Valverde has given Real Madrid similar two-way range, recovering possession and carrying from deep, and logged the most minutes in world football in 2024-25. The link is covering both phases, not matching output.
Shared qualities
- Ball-winning in midfield
- Driving forward from deep
- Two-way ground coverage
Main difference
Valverde has often been used on the right, covering at right-back and, in 2022-23, playing as a false right winger, while Rice works from a central or left-sided base and adds elite set-piece delivery.