Xavi seems to be the only pure tempo controlling midfielder that’s called one of the greatest, but still get less attention than Iniesta, even though I strongly believe he was more intelligent on the ball and better overall.

Modric, who’s less of a controller for the first half of his career, is called one of the greatest as well, but Kroos gets pushed aside. In fact, a lot of fans call him sideways passers.

Midfielders like Gerrard, KDB, Lampard get lauded because it’s pretty easy to catch what they do on the pitch.

A lot of fans see the work of tempo controllers as meaningless.