Summary
While goal scorers may receive all of the attention, it is frequently stated that defences win titles in the modern game.
This superstar list includes players from Arsenal, Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Manchester City, among others.
Only one current England international has made the list.
A good defender is essential to any winning football team. Sorting out the backline is critical, and having some significant defensive talent is a definite way to develop a squad that will win championships. Attacking players receive a lot of attention, which is why any ranking of the world’s top footballers will always be dominated by them.
However, we’ve recognized the top defenders in the world right now to show them some appreciation. The world game is filled of outstanding defenders of various kinds and sizes, from buccaneering full-backs to domineering centre-halves. Here are the best players who play in the back and have gone underappreciated for far too long.
Ranking factors:
Given the difficulty of separating those on the list, a variety of characteristics will be considered to determine where they rank. These include the following:
Their team won trophies.
How vital they were to the success of their club.
20Jurrien Timber
Arsenal and Netherlands
Jurrien Timber, 23, makes a strong case for being one of the Premier League’s most underrated players right now. Since joining Arsenal in the summer of 2023, the Dutchman has had a long-term knee ailment, but he has returned looking even better than before. And that reflects not only his talent, but also his unwavering work ethic.
The ex-Ajax player can play left-back, right-back, and centre-back for the Gunners, but he has limited defensive options. The former Ajax player appears to be equally at ease in midfield with the ball at his feet as he is in shutting down the Premier League’s finest wingers.
Jurrien Timber’s Career Achievements
Trophies
Years
The Dutch Cup
2021
English Supercup
2024
Eredivisie
2021, 2022
19Alphonso Davies
Bayern Munich and Canada
Despite the fact that he only joined Bayern Munich in 2019, Alphonso Davies appears to have been around for over a decade, but this is owing to his huge influence in such a short period of time. The Canadian, one of the fastest players in international football, frequently dashes up and down the left wing for his club and country.
He’s been a game changer for Bayern since joining the club, and there aren’t many left-backs in football today who can compete with him. His accomplishments for his country have already made him a legend in Canada. At only 24 years old, Davies has already accomplished so much, and the sky is truly the limit for him.
Alphonso Davies: Career Achievements
Trophies Won
Year
The Champions League
2020
FIFA Club World Cup
2021
UEFA Super Cup
2021
Bundesliga
2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025
German Cup
2019, 2020
18Murillo
Nottingham Forest and Brazil
It’s becoming evident why Arsenal and Chelsea were so interested in Nottingham Forest’s Murillo during the 2024 summer transfer window. Despite only playing at the City Ground for a season, he soon established himself as one of the most sought-after defenders in English football, and his reputation has only grown since then.
While he is undeniably strong in the back, it is his forward-thinking mentality that truly stands out. The Sao Paulo-born defender, who has previously appeared for Brazil’s senior side, consistently presses forward with purpose and contributes on both ends of the play. Simply said, he provides the entire package, and whichever club signs him next will be gaining a dynamic and highly promising asset for the future.
18Achraf Hakimi
PSG and Morocco
The fact that Achraf Hakimi has played for some amazing football teams over the years is evidence of his skill. Since joining Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, the full-back has been essential to the team and is dynamite on the right side. The Moroccan contributes a lot of goals and assists for both club and nation because he is one of the best forward-driving defenders in the world.
Most midfielders would be pleased with Hakimi’s 35 goal contributions in three years with the Ligue 1 winners. In the upcoming seasons, the full-back may move even higher up this list because he turned 26 at the end of 2024 and may still have some peak left to achieve.
Achraf Hakimi’s Professional Accomplishments
Trophies Acquired
Years
League of Champions
2018
FIFA Club World Cup
2018
The UEFA Super Cup
2018
Serie A
2021
Ligue 1
2022, 2023, and 2024
17Eder Militao
Real Madrid and Brazil
Eder Militao took a while to establish himself at Real Madrid, but in the past two seasons, he has become one of the world’s top centre backs. For the La Liga team, the former FC Porto player has been terrific, and anyone watching can tell how much of an impact he has had on the pitch.
Over the past two years, he has been a nightmare for strikers to deal with, whether on the ground or in the air. He missed the first eight months of the 2023–24 season due to a major ACL injury sustained on the first day of play, and he will miss even more activity in 2025 due to another ACL tear. But the Brazilian is amazing on his day.
Eder Militao: Professional Accomplishments
Trophies Acquired
The year
League of Champions
2022 and 2024
FIFA Club World Cup
2023
The UEFA Super Cup
2023
La Liga
2022, 2024, and 2020
The Copa del Rey
2023
The FIFA Intercontinental Cup
2024
The Copa America
2019
16John Stones
Manchester City and England
The concept of what a centre-back can do has been totally transformed by John Stones. Even though he was a somewhat dependable defender for City for a number of years, he has since changed completely, taking leadership of the team’s games and becoming one of the top players in England.
His future at the Etihad seemed gloomy at times, but that is definitely not the case now. He is now one of Guardiola’s most crucial players, and he will continue to alter the game for the team and the nation whether he is back in the defence or in the midfield, where he played last season.
John Stones’s Professional Accomplishments
Trophies Acquired
The year
League of Champions
2023
FIFA Club World Cup
2024
The UEFA Super Cup
2024
The Premier League
2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2018, 2019, and
FA Cup
2019–2023
Cup of Carabao
2020, 2021, 2019, and 2018
15Ronald Araujo
Barcelona and Uruguay
Ronald Araujo, who possesses the ideal balance of defensive sturdiness and intellect, may have had a career marred by a number of injuries, ranging from a 69-day absence during the 2022–2023 season to his present problem, which has kept him out since July 2024. However, there aren’t many defenders who can match his skill at the back on his day.
The 25-year-old Uruguayan international with 20 caps has been courted by Manchester United and other teams for years, but he has proven his commitment to his present La Liga employers by making more than 150 appearances for Barcelona since signing his contract in October 2020.
Ronald Araujo’s Professional Accomplishments
Trophies Acquired
The year
La Liga
2023
The Spanish Cup
2021
The Spanish Super Cup
2023 and 2024
14Joshua Kimmich
Bayern Munich and Germany
Joshua Kimmich is willing to assist Bayern Munich in a variety of positions, from right-back to central midfield, and his versatile toolkit has very few weaknesses. Despite being referred regarded as a Phillip Lahm regen, some people do not value the small German international’s commitment to playing consistently week after week, which is possibly difficult to find in the modern game.
It’s unclear if he will join Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the summer, but his adaptability and unique blend of technical and tactical know-how would make the Rottweil-born gem an excellent addition to any team hoping to add trophies to their trophy collection.
Joshua Kimmich’s Professional Accomplishments
Trophies Acquired
The year
League of Champions
2020
FIFA Club World Cup
2021
Bundesliga
2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019
Cup of Germany
2016, 2019, 2020
The UEFA Super Cup
2021
Super Cup in Germany
2021, 2022, 2023, 2018, 2019, and 2017
The Confederations Cup
2017
13Alphonso Davies
Bayern Munich and Canada
Despite only joining Bayern Munich in 2019, Alphonso Davies has had a significant influence in such a short period of time that it feels like he has been there for almost ten years. The Canadian, who is among the fastest football players in the world, frequently rushes up and down the left wing for his team and nation.
Since joining the team, he has changed the way Bayern plays, and at the moment, no left-back in football is nearly as good as him. He is already considered a legend in Canada for his national heroism. The possibilities are almost endless for Davies, who is only 24 years old and has already accomplished a great deal.
Alphonso Davies’s Professional Accomplishments
Trophies Acquired
The year
League of Champions
2020
FIFA Club World Cup
2021
The UEFA Super Cup
2021
Bundesliga
The years 2019–2020, 2021–2022, and 2023
Cup of Germany
2020, 2019
12Theo Hernandez
AC Milan and France
Real Madrid, their former employers, will be hating themselves for allowing Theo Hernandez to leave for such a small money, while AC Milan will be happy that they gambled on his signing in the summer of 2019. Few supporters can argue that he is not among the finest at what he does best since relocating from Spain to Italy.
His high IQ enables him to lead the back line from the left-back position, and he is fast enough to charge forward with ease. Even though the Frenchman is already 27 years old, he has all the tools he needs to compete at the highest level of the sport for the next ten or so years. Despite only having 36 caps for France, the big defender’s deliveries are what set him apart from many other players on the continent.
Theo Hernandez’s Professional Accomplishments
Trophies Acquired
The year
League of Champions
2018
FIFA Club World Cup
2018
Serie A
2022
The UEFA Super Cup
2018
League of Nations
2021
The Spanish Super Cup
2018
11Dani Carvajal
Real Madrid and Spain
Dani Carvajal is frequently forgotten about Los Blancos because he spent so much time playing for a Real Madrid team full of superstars. However, it’s difficult to deny his status as a serial winner. The experienced Spaniard, who is a fixture at the Santiago Bernabeu and will retire as a verified legend due to his unshakeable dedication, has experience and knowledge that are abundant.
To establish oneself as a staple at a club the size and magnitude of the La Liga giants requires a unique kind of talent, but 33-year-old Carvajal has done it admirably, taking home six Champions League titles in the process. He has all the characteristics of a contemporary defender: he is smart, capable of attacking, and defensively sound. Unfortunately, injuries are now taking their toll, which is the only reason he isn’t in the top 10.
Dani Carvajal’s Professional Accomplishments
Trophies Acquired
The year
League of Champions
2022, 2024, 2016, 2017, 2018, and
Championships in Europe
2024
FIFA Club World Cup
2017; 2018; 2019; 2023; 2015
La Liga
2020, 2022, 2024, and 2017
The UEFA Super Cup
2015, 2018; 2023; 2025; and 2017
The Copa del Rey
2014 and 2023
The Spanish Cup
2014 and 2023
The Spanish Super Cup
2020, 2022, 2024, and 2018
The FIFA Intercontinental Cup
2024
League of Nations
2023
10Alessandro Bastoni
Inter Milan and Italy
Last season, Simone Inzaghi led Inter Milan to the strongest defence in Europe, with the dapper Alessandro Bastoni at its core. The 25-year-old veteran, who canters forward and keeps the back door latched, is always in control of his unnaturally long limbs.
Enjoying the flexibility that comes with the dizzying positional interchange that Inzaghi promotes, Bastoni has added a career-high four direct goal involvements to his unwavering defensive work ethic. The ferocious centre-back has contributed as many assists as Lautaro Martinez, the lucky striker for Inter. By defeating bitter rivals AC Milan in April 2024, Bastoni’s special skill set helped the Nerazzurri win Serie A and complete the club’s 20th Scudetto.
Alessandro Bastoni’s Professional Accomplishments
Trophies Acquired
The year
Serie A
2021 and 2024
European Championship
2021
Italian supercoppa
2021, 2022, and 2023
Italy’s Coppa
2022 and 2023
9Pau Cubarsi
Barcelona and Spain
Being a regular player for Barcelona, one of the largest football clubs in the world, at the age of eighteen is the best indication of what Pau Cubarsi might accomplish in the future. Additionally, unlike most young players who are thrust into senior proceedings, the young Spaniard does not stick out when he plays. It is unimaginable where Estanyol-born Cubarsi, who currently holds five caps for Spain, could be in a few decades.
Barcelona and Spain have a jewel at their disposal, perhaps following in the footsteps of Carles Puyol and Sergio Ramos. The only thing left to do is control his development from boy to man as he continues to make waves throughout Europe. Given his position, a Ballon d’Or would seem improbable, but the dazzling centre-back has a good chance of defying expectations.
Pau Cubarsi’s Professional Accomplishments
Trophies Acquired
The year
Olympic Gold Medal
2024
The Spanish Super Cup
2024
8Ruben Dias
Manchester City and Portugal
Since arriving at the Etihad in 2019, Ruben Dias has changed the game at Manchester City. He has had a lot of poor games over the past five years, but he has also played a key role in every aspect of the club’s success since.
During the Citizens’ treble-winning 2022–2023 season, Dias was primarily responsible for their having the greatest defence in England. He carried that level of play into the following season, when City won the Premier League for the fourth time in a row. It takes a unique player to stand out among the abundance of skill in the team, but Dias has done just that. Guardiola has assembled the best backline in world football.
Ruben Dias: Professional Accomplishments
Trophies Acquired
The year
League of Champions
2023
FIFA Club World Cup
2024
The UEFA Super Cup
2024
The Premier League
2021–2022–2023–2024
FA Cup
2023
Cup of Carabao
2021
The Portuguese League
2019
The UEFA Nations League
2019
7Ibrahima Konate
Liverpool and France
Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate’s co-conspirator, will always make headlines because of the Dutchman’s intimidating presence, but no football fan can ignore what the Frenchman has done for the Merseysiders. Konate, who is only 25 years old, has many years left in the bank and could carry on the tradition after Van Dijk eventually leaves.
Although he has suffered injuries during his time at Liverpool, which started in the summer of 2021 when he moved from RB Leipzig, there is no denying that the Paris-born giant is one of the best backs in the game on his best days. Few strikers in the world of football would want to engage in combat with the man in question since he is equally composed and aggressive, all in a timely manner.
Ibrahima Konate’s Professional Accomplishments
Trophies Acquired
The year
FA Cup
2022
League Cup
2022 and 2024
The English Super Cup
2023
6Josko Gvardiol
Manchester City and Croatia
Josko Gvardiol has been a fantastic addition to Manchester City. The teenage player became one of the most sought-after defenders in world football after excelling for RB Leipzig in the 2022–2023 season and dominating Croatia at the 2022 World Cup. In a fiercely contested race, Pep Guardiola’s team emerged victorious.
It took some time for Gvardiol to become a part of City’s treble-winning defence. Guardiola characterised his new recruit as “a little bit shy” and acknowledged that he didn’t want to overburden the 23-year-old with intricate tactical instructions during his first season. With a prolific scoring streak in the season’s final stretch, Gvardiol decisively regained his confidence and gave City optimism of resolving their long-standing left-back problem.
Josko Gvardiol’s Professional Accomplishments
Trophies Acquired
The year
FIFA Club World Cup
2024
The UEFA Super Cup
2024
The Premier League
2024
Cup of Germany
2022 and 2023
League of Croatian Football
2020 and 2021
The Croatian Cup
2021
5Gabriel
Arsenal and Brazil
Despite playing practically every minute that was available between February 2023 and April 2024, Gabriel Magalhaes lasted 14 months without making what Opta characterises as an error that resulted in an opponent’s shot, much alone a goal. Over the past 12 months, Arsenal’s mysterious Brazilian appears to have grown up, using his natural aggression to win the ball back when it matters most rather than every time.
Gabriel has become one of the Premier League’s top defenders thanks to a stable personal life off the pitch and a steadily growing command of the English language. He gives Arsenal a serious danger in both boxes thanks to Nicolas Jover’s brilliance, and his proficiency from set pieces is an added benefit.
Gabriel’s Professional Accomplishments
Trophies Acquired
The year
Prva HNL
2018
The Croatian Cup
2018
The Community Shield
2023
4Trent Alexander-Arnold
Liverpool and England
Over the years, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s defensive skills have drawn a lot of criticism, so in a way, he’s gone somewhat underappreciated. But there’s no denying that he remains one of the world’s top defenders. Few players have ever transformed a position as completely as he has at right-back.
His performances there had a huge impact on the role, which is evidence of his unique talent. He is more than outstanding going forward and has a deceptively powerful defence. Over the years, Liverpool has had some amazing highs, but without the boyhood fan in the back, they probably wouldn’t have had the same level of success.
Career Accomplishments of Trent Alexander-Arnold
Trophies Acquired
The year
League of Champions
2019
FIFA Club World Cup
2020
The UEFA Super Cup
2020
The Premier League
2020
FA Cup
2022
Cup of Carabao
2022 and 2024
3Antonio Rudiger
Real Madrid and Germany
During his time at Chelsea, Antonio Rudiger was considered one of the world’s top defenders. Since his first season at Real Madrid, the German puncher has only become better. He was different from most football players because of his strength and speed.
Rudiger’s significance to Carlo Ancelotti’s team increased due to injuries that rocked Madrid’s defence hard last season, and he naturally flourished under the increased burden. Rudiger’s consistent play supported Madrid’s run to the La Liga championship and Champions League victory in 2023–2024, and he relished every physical altercation he faced.
Antonio Rudiger’s Professional Accomplishments
Trophies Acquired
The year
League of Champions
2021 and 2024
The Europa League
2019
The UEFA Super Cup
2022 and 2023
FIFA Club World Cup
2022 and 2023
FA Cup
2018
The Copa del Rey
2023
The Spanish Cup
2023
The FIFA Intercontinental Cup
2024
The Confederations Cup
2017
2William Saliba
Arsenal and France
William Saliba finally made his debut for Arsenal in the 2022–2023 season after spending numerous years on loan, and nobody has looked back since. The Frenchman quickly rose to prominence as one of England’s top defenders, and in the past two years, he has developed into one of the world’s top defenders.
Saliba hasn’t yet encountered a forward who had his number because of his lightning-fast speed and ability to outmuscle nearly anyone. Throughout the 2023–24 season, he was able to silence Erling Haaland several times, and this year, he is expected to be a key player for Arsenal once more. Although it will be difficult for the Gunners to unseat City at the top of the Premier League, they will be optimistic they can succeed because they have the incredibly skilled defence on their roster.
William Saliba’s Professional Accomplishments
Trophies Acquired
The year
The Community Shield
2020 and 2023
1Virgil van Dijk
Liverpool and Netherlands
Even though Virgil van Dijk turned 33 this summer, he is still without a doubt the world’s best defender. It’s difficult to find a centre-back who changed a team’s destiny the way he did when he joined Liverpool, and for a while it seemed like he was actually going to win the Ballon d’Or.
The Dutch international lost his footing as no striker could after suffering a chronic injury in October 2020. Van Dijk helped lead Liverpool back to their peak in the 2023–24 season after a few seasons falling short of his high expectations. When he led a young team to League Cup victory over Chelsea in February 2024 and scored the game-winning goal, the imposing centre-back stole the show. He remains one of Liverpool’s most significant players under Arne Slot.
Virgil van Dijk’s Professional Accomplishments
Trophies Acquired
The year
League of Champions
2019
FIFA Club World Cup
2020
The UEFA Super Cup
2020
The Premier League
2020
FA Cup
2022
Cup of Carabao
2022 and 2024
Premiership of Scotland
2014 and 2015
League Cup in Scotland
2015
xz
