Players like Thiago Maia
CM/CDMInternacional · 2025 · ranked by tactical + market fitThiago Maia's profile ↗
The players most similar to Thiago Maia are Nacho Martín, Youri Regeer, Calvin Twigt. Doppel rates Nacho Martín (Sporting Gijón) a 79/100 overall match — 91/100 on tactical profile. For a cheaper option, Pelle Clement scores 79/100 at about €600k. Data as of October 2026.
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Thiago Maia is a robust defensive midfielder known for his aerial presence and ability to clear danger, making him a reliable shield in front of the backline. With a Sofascore rating in the top 30% of his peers, he demonstrates solid defensive capabilities, particularly in clearances and aerial duels. However, his injury history raises concerns about consistency, as he has missed a significant number of games in recent seasons. Overall, when fit, Maia is a valuable asset in breaking up opposition play.
Strengths: Clearances, Aerial duels won, Aerial duels won %. Availability: 21 games missed in the last 3 seasons.
12 players most similar to Thiago Maia
| # | Player | Club | Age | Value | Tactical | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nacho Martínsimilar↗ | Sporting Gijón | 24 | €1.0m | 91 | 79 |
| 2 | Youri Regeersimilar↗ | AFC Ajax | 23 | €4.7m | 90 | 81 |
| 3 | Calvin Twigtsimilar↗ | Willem II Tilburg | 23 | €700k | 90 | 78 |
| 4 | Beñat Gerenabarrenasimilar↗ | Athletic Club | 23 | €1.0m | 89 | 81 |
| 5 | Pelle Clementsimilar↗ | FC Groningen | 30 | €600k | 88 | 79 |
| 6 | Joris van Overeemsimilar↗ | FC Utrecht | 32 | €900k | 88 | 79 |
| 7 | Enric Llansanasimilar↗ | RSC Anderlecht | 25 | €2.1m | 86 | 78 |
| 8 | Jochem Ritmeester van de Kampsimilar↗ | SC Telstar | 23 | €1.6m | 86 | 80 |
| 9 | Mika Baursimilar↗ | SC Paderborn 07 | 22 | €4.7m | 86 | 80 |
| 10 | Filippo Ranocchiasimilar↗ | Palermo | 25 | €3.9m | 86 | 79 |
| 11 | Vincent Sierrosimilar↗ | Parma | 31 | €3.2m | 85 | 80 |
| 12 | Neil El Aynaouisimilar↗ | RB Leipzig | 25 | €29m | 85 | 80 |
* estimated market value · scores 0–100, league-strength adjusted · last 3 seasons
Why these players match Thiago Maia
≈ 100% Thiago Maia · strong: Tackles + interceptions · medium reliability
Strengths: Tackles + interceptions /90
≈ 100% Thiago Maia · strong: Accurate final-third passes · medium reliability
Strengths: Accurate final-third passes /90
≈ 100% Thiago Maia · strong: Accurate crosses, Accurate long balls · medium reliability
Strengths: Accurate crosses /90, Accurate long balls /90, Key passes /90
FAQ
Who is the closest look-alike to Thiago Maia?
Statistically, Nacho Martín (Sporting Gijón) is the closest look-alike to Thiago Maia — a 79/100 profile match (91/100 on playing style). Here "look-alike" means the most similar playing style and output, not appearance.
Who is the best replacement for Thiago Maia?
By Doppel's fit score, Nacho Martín (Sporting Gijón) is the closest profile to Thiago Maia, with a 79/100 overall match. Youri Regeer and Calvin Twigt are the next best fits.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Thiago Maia?
Yes. Pelle Clement (FC Groningen) plays a similar central midfielder role and rates 79/100 at roughly €600k.
How does Doppel find players similar to Thiago Maia?
Doppel builds a statistical role profile from Thiago Maia's 2025 season, then ranks central midfielders across the big-5 leagues and more by how closely they match, adjusting for league strength and market value.
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