In brief
The best defenders in football history have been ranked by thousands of fans.
With four places in the top 10, Italy is well-represented at the top of the list.
Rio Ferdinand and Virgil van Dijk, who are considered to be among the greatest Premier League defenders of all time, are not included in the top 10.
One of the most difficult football abilities to perfect is defence. Defenders simply cannot make a mistake, or else they are thrust into the spotlight, whereas strikers can miss numerous opportunities and eventually score to silence any criticism.
If they do, the defensive art becomes extremely difficult to learn because their blunders are replayed for years. On the pitch, a full-back’s job is possibly the hardest. You won’t be able to compete at the highest levels of the sport if you lack the endurance of a marathon runner, attacking skill, and defensive steadiness.
However, a number of players have successfully mastered defensive positions in the centre and out on the flanks. Even the most advanced analytics of today find it difficult to determine a defender’s total contribution. Here is a look at the best backline players ever, based on the influence of popular opinion.
50–41
Mats Hummels, Lucio, and Gerard Pique are featured.
Mats Hummels, a former star for Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, sits in 47th place, barely making the top 50. Before spending three years filling his trophy cabinet at his boyhood club, Bayern, the outspoken World Cup champion was an integral member of Jurgen Klopp’s high-pressing team in the Ruhr region. Hummels had a spectacular comeback at Dortmund after reaching his mid-30s, helping BVB win an unexpected Champions League final in 2024. The centre-back was even considered for the Ballon d’Or because of his tough performances.
Frank de Boer is rubbing elbows with players like Gerard Pique, Alessandro Costacurta, and Lucio. At the height of his abilities, the renowned Dutch defender played an incredible 434 games for Ajax and won ten major titles for both Barcelona and the Dutch team.
Fans’ Ranking of the Greatest Defenders of All Time: 50–41
Rank
The player
50.
Pique Gerard
49.
De Boer, Frank
48.
Bergomi Giuseppe
47.
Hummels, Mats
46.
Lizarazu Bixente
45.
Evra Patrice
44.
Breitner, Paul
43.
Lucio
42.
Costacurta, Alessandro
41.
Vogts, Berti
40–31
36th place for Sol Campbell
Gaetano Scirea, the cult hero of Juventus, is breaking into the top 40. The 1982 World Cup winner was one of the first to design the sweeper role and was a fantastic player in his prime, despite being unknown to younger fans. All football fans have a positive memory of Frank Rijkaard, who completed his career as an Ajax legend despite finishing in 31st position.
Despite being regarded as the greatest of all time, the Dutchman may feel unfairly disadvantaged by his ranking on his list because of his understanding of the game. In retrospect, bad rankings are another issue that Rijkaard, Laurent Blanc, Sol Campbell—who is considered by many to be one of Arsenal’s finest players ever—and Andreas Brehme must contend with.
Fans’ Ranking of the Greatest 50 Defenders of All Time, 40–31
Rank
The player
40.
Kompany, Vincent
39.
Gentile Claudio
38.
Facchetti Giacinto
37.
Scirea Gaetano
36.
Campbell, Sol
35.
Godin, Diego
34.
Brehme, Andreas
33.
Carvalho Ricardo
32.
Zambrotta Gianluca
31.
Rijkaard, Frank
Rio Ferdinand and John Terry
Associated
The top ten defenders in Premier League history are listed by Ben Foster.
Some people could be offended by some of Foster’s decisions.
30–21
Thiago Silva and Ashley Cole do not make the top 20.
We’re making progress now. Perhaps unjustly, England’s sole World Cup-winning captain, Bobby Moore, is only given a 21st-place spot, sharing a pitch with Leonardo Bonucci and Fernando Hierro, both of whom were acclaimed as elite football players in their own right. However, because of the star-studded quality of this list, it is insufficient to make it to the top 20.
Given that he is frequently considered one of the greatest left backs of all time and is listed as the fourth-greatest Premier League defender ever, Ashley Cole, a former player for Arsenal and, controversially, Chelsea, may feel unfairly criticised for his ranking on this list. Marcelo, a five-time Champions League champion, is ranked 25th.
Fans’ Ranking of the Greatest 50 Defenders of All Time: 30–21
Rank
The player
30.
Blanc, Laurent
29.
Bonucci Leonardo
28.
Hierro, Fernando
27.
Ashley Cole
26.
Maldini Cesare
25.
Marcelo
24.
Koeman, Ronald
23.
Silva Thiago
22.
Terry, John
21.
Moore, Bobby
20-11, 14th, Vigil van Dijk
Despite having outstanding careers, players like Rio Ferdinand, Jaap Stam, and Marcel Desailly all fall outside of the top 10. Nemanja Vidic, Ferdinand’s partner, who is renowned for his unwavering love of defence and straightforward style, likewise loses out. It also includes Giorgio Chiellini, who is frequently regarded as one of the best centre backs of all time.
Remarkably, among those listed is Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, who is put in 14th place. Lothar Matthaus and Sergio Ramos, on the other hand, finish out the group in 12th and 11th place, respectively. Despite being regarded as one of the most versatile defenders the game has ever seen, the Spaniard, who has been given the most red cards since the year 2000, will have to make do for the time being with a position just outside the top 10.
Fans’ Ranking of the Greatest 50 Defenders of All Time, 20–11
Rank
The player
20.
Desailly, Marcel
19.
Alves, Dani
18.
Jaap Stam
17.
Thuram, Lilian
16.
Ferdinand, Rio
15.
Vidic Nemanja
14.
Van Dijk, Virgil
13.
Chiellini, Giorgio
12.
Matthaus Lothar
11.
Ramos, Sergio
The greatest advocates for the image gallery of all time
10Javier Zanetti
Inter Milan, Argentina
Javier Zanetti, who made 858 appearances for Inter Milan between 1995 and 2014, was renowned for his endurance at the height of his talent. He played his whole trophy-filled career in Europe. Even though he was the sixth-oldest goal scorer in the Champions League, his heroics in front of goal were not well-known.
He was such a beloved character at the Nerazzurri because of his flawless defence and admirable demeanour. Furthermore, his continuing playing until he reached 40 was a pleasing sight for their supporters and demonstrated the Argentine’s passion for Inter and football in general.
Statistics for Javier Zanetti’s Senior Career
Club/Nation
Games
Objectives
Helps
Red/Yellow Cards
Milan Inter
858
21
38
55/2
Argentina
144
5.
5.
9/1
The Greatest European Defenders in the Premier League
Football History’s Top 20 Defenders [Ranked]
The top 20 defenders in world football, both past and current, from Paolo Maldini to Javier Zanetti, have been arranged in chronological order.
Franco Baresi, AC Milan, Italy, 1 9
To be honest, they no longer produce defenders who are as good as Franco Baresi. The 15-year captain of AC Milan added three European Cups and a World Cup title to his resume while making defence at the top level seem easy. Three decades later, his career—which can be regarded as a work of art—remains the standard for aspiring defenders. What a remarkable player.
Between the 1978–79 and 1995–96 seasons, Baresi’s genius led the team from the Italian capital to six Serie A championships. He could also play any position along the back line, where his ability to combine his defensive skills with his forward thinking was essential.
Senior Career Statistics for Franco Baresi
Club/Nation
Games
Objectives
Helps
Red/Yellow Cards
Milan AC
716
33
24
85/6
Italy
81
One
0
4/1
8Cafu
Roma, AC Milan, Sao Paulo, Real Zaragoza, Palmeiras, Brazil
He is their most-capped player of all time, a mark that players like Neymar, who will be watching, might never surpass. The seasoned defender, who was once with Roma, played a key role in the team’s sustained supremacy on the international scene and has since carried the Selecao flag high and proudly beyond Pele and Garrincha’s prime.
Cafu: Statistics on Senior Careers
Club/Nation
Games
Objectives
Helps
Red/Yellow Cards
Roma
218
8.
35
36/1
Milan AC
166
4.
22
22/0
Brazil’s Sao Paulo
31
2.
One
0/0
Actual Zaragoza
13.
0
2.
2/0
The Palmeiras
2.
2.
0
0/0
Brazil
143
5.
18
23/2
7. Philipp Lahm
Germany’s Bayern Munich, VfB Stuttgart
It should come as no surprise that Philipp Lahm, who is renowned for his consistency, unyielding attitude, and devotion to Bayern Munich, is ranked in the top 10 as perhaps the best right-back of all time. And with good reason. Throughout his career, there were times when he was the finest in the industry.
Despite his little size, Lahm’s commitment to the art of defence made him an invaluable member of the team and his nation; he was the ideal utility man, if you will. The German played a variety of positions with ease, when many find it difficult. Lahm did more than a decent job, whether he was in the centre, on the left, or on the right.
Senior Career Statistics for Philipp Lahm
Club/Nation
Games
Objectives
Helps
Red/Yellow Cards
The Bayern Munich
517
16
70
38/0
Stuttgart
71
3.
7.
6/0
Germany
113
5.
17
11/0
6. Barcelona, Spain’s Carlos Puyol
Unfortunately, Carles Puyol’s days of leading a back line are over. He was perhaps Barcelona’s best defender and captain. The Spaniard was a fixture during Barcelona’s best years as a team and was the standard for those who came after him since he could play as well at full-back as he did centrally.
The defender is undoubtedly one of the best players in La Liga’s illustrious history, even if many will remember him for his unruly mane. The 100-cap Spain international, who has just about 600 Blaugrana matches under his belt, was an outstanding defensive player and a wonderful partner for Ramos. The two of them had a 2010 World Cup medal to show for their efforts.
Senior Career Statistics for Carles Puyol
Club/Nation
Games
Objectives
Helps
Red/Yellow Cards
Barcelona
593
19.
13.
108/3
Spain
One hundred
3.
3.
16/0
5. Juventus, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Napoli, Al-Ahli, Italy, Fabio Cannavaro Parma
Perhaps paving the way for center-backs of lesser height, Fabio Cannavaro won the Ballon d’Or during his incredible World Cup-winning season. Despite his height, the 5′ 9″ center-back’s leadership abilities, high IQ, positional ability, and speed won out, and he became well-known during his heyday.
He will be remembered with nostalgia for that calendar year, which was crucial to Italy’s World Cup victory in 2006. The Napoli-born diamond was not only the ideal professional but also an exceptional performer. He earned his maize at Parma, Juventus, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, and his childhood club, Napoli.
Senior Career Statistics for Fabio Cannavaro
Club/Nation
Games
Objectives
Helps
Red/Yellow Cards
Parma.
290
6.
2.
64/7
Juventus
128
7.
One
20/2
Real Madrid
118
One
0
24/3
Milan Inter
74
3.
One
12/1
Napoli
68
One
0
7/2
Al-Ahli
16
0
One
4/0
Italy
136
2.
2.
21/0
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3 4 Alessandro Nesta Lazio, Montreal, Chennai, Italy, AC Milan
Simply amazing. That tackle on Lionel Messi when the Italian was 36 years old is the moment that most exemplifies Alessandro Nesta as a football player. Due to the genius of his teammate Paolo Maldini, the former AC Milan star—the quintessential Rolls-Royce player—is frequently forgotten, yet it would be a mistake to ignore how beautiful he was.
Comparable to a brick wall, every attacker who had to defeat the Italian regretted their decision because it frequently led to Nesta regaining control. Nesta was the whole package—a precise tackler, excellent with the ball at his feet, and unbeatable in one-on-one scenarios.
Statistics for Alessandro Nesta’s Senior Career
Club/Nation
Games
Objectives
Helps
Red/Yellow Cards
Milan AC
326
10.
2.
54/4
Lazio
261
3.
0
51/2
Montreal
34
0
0
0/1
Chennaiyin
3.
0
0
0/0
Italy
78
0
0
7/0
3 Roberto Carlos Anzhi Makhachkala, Palmeiras, Odisha, Brazil; Real Madrid; Fenerbahçe; Corinthians; Inter Milan;
Roberto Carlos slips onto the podium, and that left foot alone is worth a good grade. In addition to his accomplishments with Real Madrid and Brazil, he was one of the most dangerous defenders, especially when it came to attacking, because to the strength in his tree trunk legs.
Carlos was renowned for being an excellent dead-ball specialist in addition to being a good defender for both club and country. To score one of the greatest goals in history (his incredible free kick against France in the summer of 1997) and to be remembered for so much more requires a very unique talent.
Senior Career Statistics for Roberto Carlos
Club/Nation
Games
Objectives
Helps
Red/Yellow Cards
Real Madrid
527
70
116
95/6
Fenerbahce
104
10.
10.
16/0
Corinthians
44
One
8.
7/0
Milan Inter
34
7.
3.
2/1
Makhachkala Anzhi
28
5.
3.
1/0
The Palmeiras
16
4.
5.
3/1
Odisha
3.
0
0
0/0
Brazil
127
11.
22
11/1
2 Franz Beckenbauer Hamburg, West Germany, Bayern Munich
The contemporary sweeper role, or “libero,” was invented by one of the best all-around football players in history. Having won the World Cup with Germany as a manager and player, Franz Beckenbauer was a genuine pioneer for the sport as a whole, and his career will always be respected despite his untimely death.
In addition to winning three Champions League titles, Beckenbauer, also known by his nickname “Der Kaiser,” was a constant in Bayern Munich’s backline during some of their most illustrious years. The German also achieved success on the individual front, winning two Ballon d’Or titles, which is the most ever for a defender.
Franz Beckenbauer: Statistics on Senior Careers
Club/Nation
Games
Objectives
Helps
Red/Yellow Cards
The Bayern Munich
582
74
75
4/0
Hamburg
38
0
0
1/0
West Germany
103
14
10.
1/0
1Paolo Maldini
AC Milan, Italy
An obvious and well-earned victor. Playing both left-back and centre-back came naturally to AC Milan’s one-club man Paolo Maldini. The seasoned Italian rarely made a mistake in his long career at the back, and it’s possible that years may pass before we see a stronger defender than him.
Zinedine Zidane described Maldini as his hardest opponent ever. He grasped his craft easily, and his impressive 126 caps for Italy and 901 games for the Rossoneri speak to his enduring genius, which includes a high IQ, clever tackling, and always being in the perfect place.
Statistics for Senior Careers by Paolo Maldini
Club/Nation
Games
Objectives
Helps
Red/Yellow Cards
Milan AC
901
33
43
94/3
Italy
126
7.
5.
9/0
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