Forget about Kroos, dude can't even run anymore.
Clearly Calhanoglu has been the better player the last 2 seasons.
While I agree that Rodri seems like the best midfielder in the world right now, let's not forget that Bernardo Silva, Wirtz, Odegaard, Vitinha, Barella, Zubimendi, Koopmeiners, Gundogan, Bellingham (who isn't really a CM right now tbh)... are all having impressive seasons. Help me out, I'm sure I've missed some players as well. Calhanoglu isn't just a de facto no.2 midfielder in the world right now, but he is in contention.
Pedri and Valverde have fallen a bit in 2023 and 2024, but they still have a nice chunk of their career in front of them, so they'll get there. De Bruyne haven't played that much, but dude is still effective on the pitch when he gets to play.