In conclusion, there is an abundance of talent in the right-back position in international football, with most of the best players living in Europe.
The job of a right-back has evolved from only marking wingers to include offensive and defensive contributions.
Here are the best 10 right-backs in the world based on defensive prowess, honors, goals, assists, trophies, and longevity.
“No one wants to grow up and be a Gary Neville!” as former defender and now pundit Jamie Carragher memorably stated, yet he would be mistaken. From Ben White of Arsenal to Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool, there is actually an enormous amount of skill and experience in that position in world football.
The deployed full back continues to play an increasingly important role in how teams set up, play, and break down the opposition, thus even though they are both from the Premier League, there are plenty of talented right-backs available throughout the continent.
The most recent change in the constantly evolving rulebook may have been brought about by Pep Guardiola, as it has made defending wide less about locking up wingers. Instead, right backs now wander into midfield to either a) add a layer of security or b) spray passes over defenses.
We have thoroughly examined the current crop of right-backs available and created a list of the top 10—ranked from best to worst—taking into account the following ranking parameters.
Factors that rank
Trophies of Longevity
Objectives Helps
Ability to defend
Clean Sheets
Individual Honors
10Ben White
Arsenal and England
Ben White is also a skilled center-back, thus his ascent to prominence cannot be overstated. Prior joining Arsenal, the Poole-born star was a regular at Leeds United and Brighton & Hove Albion. There were questions about whether he could compete for the championship, but he has definitely put an end to those doubts.
The 27-year-old, who has been living in self-imposed exile in England, has consistently delivered strong performances for the north London team and has fully reimbursed the £50 million they spent on his services in the summer of 2021. It remains to be seen if he can maintain his position as Mikel Arteta’s first choice in light of the return of Jurrien Timber, who has covered for him during a season in which he has experienced injury issues.
Ben White: Statistics for 24/25
Looks
26
Objectives
0
Helps
2.
Red/Yellow Cards
3/0
9Giovanni Di Lorenzo
Napoli and Italy
For Giovanni Di Lorenzo, the last two seasons have been nothing short of a wild ride. The club messed up their title defense after the 31-year-old led Napoli to the 2022–2023 Scudetto, something only Diego Maradona had done before. He then had a dismal Euro 2024 with Italy.
However, the veteran full-back has been revitalized for both club and country by Antonio Conte’s arrival and a new system, and he is now once again among Serie A’s most productive attacking full-backs. He managed to secure a second league title with three goals and three assists in the most recent term.
Reece James: Statistics for 24/25
Looks
39
Objectives
3.
Helps
3.
Red/Yellow Cards
6/0
8Reece James
Chelsea and England
Without a doubt, one of the most dynamic full-backs in football is Reece James. Kyle Walker claims the Cobham graduate is the most complete player in that position and has all the attributes you would want in a contemporary right-back. He’s great in the back and can wipe up attackers with a great tackle or muscle them off the ball.
He is also a fantastic striker, frequently finding himself in a midfield position for both club and country. His inch-perfect crosses are an attacker’s dream. He should be far higher on this list, but it’s unfortunate that he gets hurt easily. However, a string of performances since the start of the season, including his first England cap in what seems like an eternity, is demonstrating that he still has a lot more to offer under Enzo Maresca and Thomas Tuchel.
Reece James: Statistics for 24/25
Looks
27
Objectives
2.
Helps
2.
Red/Yellow Cards
1/0
7Dani Carvajal
Real Madrid and Spain
Dani Carvajal of Real Madrid is a serial winner. The Spaniard is a part of Los Blancos and will hang up his boots as a true, if underappreciated, club legend. He is unfazed by a) playing for a team of that size and b) the weight of the armband.
Though his age and recent ACL injury prevent him from being any higher on this list (though there was a time he was at the very top), the decorated Spaniard has maintained the trust of a variety of managers over the years, most notably Zinedine Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti. He has been the truest of servants over a ten-year period, with six Champions League titles and four La Liga crowns to show.
Dani Carvajal: Statistics for 24/25
Looks
11.
Objectives
One
Helps
One
Red/Yellow Cards
2/0
6Jurrien Timber
Arsenal and the Netherlands
There are many of right-back possibilities for the Netherlands, and Jurrien Timber of Arsenal is the third player on this list after he performed admirably in replacing Ben White during the previous campaign. The 23-year-old is as well-rounded as they come; he is stocky, has been trained in defense during his previous years as a center-back, and is remarkably skilled at putting the ball into the box.
Timber, a former Ajax wonderkid, will be looking to contribute significantly the next season as Mikel Arteta’s team attempts to end a 20-year Premier League title drought. Having been on the outside of his first campaign, he may now be the primary choice after his recent season.
Statistics for Jurrien Timber, 24/25
Looks
48
Objectives
2.
Helps
4.
Red/Yellow Cards
9/0
5Jeremie Frimpong
Liverpool and the Netherlands
In addition to making sure that his defensive responsibilities are met, Jeremie Frimpong, who frequently plays as a right-wing back for Bayer Leverkusen, is expected to raid up the field and link up in attack. He flourished in Germany, apparently doing everything with relative ease, and has now joined Liverpool as an instant replacement for Alexander-Arnold, who is leaving.
During the 2023–24 season, the Dutchman had his most productive season, scoring 26 goals (14 goals and 12 assists) in all competitions as his team swept to a historic double-winning record. Watch this space as the 24-year-old, who has all he needs to become the best in the world, gets ready to play at Anfield.
Statistics for Jeremie Frimpong, 24/25
Looks
48
Objectives
5.
Helps
Twelve
Red/Yellow Cards
7/0
4Denzel Dumfries
Inter Milan and the Netherlands
Denzel Dumfries was given the difficult job of taking Hakimi’s place at Inter Milan, and he did so with little to no fuss. After moving to PSV Eindhoven in 2018, the towering Dutchman, who has 63 caps as a 29-year-old international, established himself as a dominant force on the right-hand side of defense.
Despite not being the most technically skilled player under Simone Inzaghi, he is now crucial to Inter and their Scudetto-winning run in 2023–2024 because of his relentless efforts to zoom up the wing and make the difference. As seen by his two-leg Champions League semi-final performance against Barcelona, which put Inter in their second major European final in three years, Dumfries is virtually unplayable when at the races.
Statistics for Denzel Dumfries, 24/25
Looks
44
Objectives
11.
Helps
6.
Red/Yellow Cards
8/0
3Jules Kounde
Barcelona and France
Jules Kounde became one of the most intriguing center-back prospects in international football after rising through the ranks of Sevilla. However, he has been forced into the right-hand side of both backlines throughout the years due to France’s and Barcelona’s relative lack of options, and he has since demonstrated why there was a battle for his signature three years ago, which Barca ultimately prevailed in.
The Frenchman has adjusted to the tactical requirements of a full-back, a positional change that in some situations might have raised concerns. He is a crucial option for Hansi Flick and Didier Deschamps, respectively, due to his defensively sound nature and development as a dependable option on the right.
Jules Kounde: Statistics for 24/25
Looks
53
Objectives
4.
Helps
8.
Red/Yellow Cards
6/0
2Achraf Hakimi
Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco
With 167 games played in the French capital, Achraf Hakimi has since established himself as one of the best right-backs in the world of football. His current employers, Paris Saint-Germain, made their presence known with a bid after he played a key role in an Inter Milan team led by Antonio Conte that won the 2020–21 Serie A title.
The 26-year-old Moroccan has played for several teams at the top of their respective leagues, including PSG, Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, and Inter. One of Hakimi’s best qualities is his athleticism, which enables him to cover a lot of ground when playing either defensively or offensively. After PSG plays his old team in this year’s Champions League final, he might win the league, and he undoubtedly contributed significantly to getting there in the first place.
Achraf Hakimi: Statistics for 24/25
Looks
47
Objectives
8.
Helps
14
Red/Yellow Cards
6/0
1Trent Alexander-Arnold
Real Madrid and England
Alexander-Arnold, a Real Madrid Galactico and one of Jurgen Klopp’s closest followers, has unmatched passing skill. He merits praise for revolutionizing the idea of a full-back in modern football by being able to place it on a six pence from as far as fifty yards. His lack of defensive expertise is one thing he has been criticized for over the years, albeit it depends on how you view his attacking aim.
But the former is far superior to the latter. With 64 assists in 259 games, he leaves the Premier League with the most of any defender in the history of the league.
Trent Alexander-Arnold: Statistics for 24/25
Looks
44
Objectives
4.
Helps
8.
Red/Yellow Cards
5/0
The World Football Ranking of the Top 10 Right Backs
Rank
The player
Club
Country of origin
1.
Arnold, Trent Alexander
Real Madrid
England
2.
Hakimi Achraf
Saint-Germain, Paris
Morocco
3.
Kounde, Jules
Barcelona
France
4.
Dumfries, Denzel
Milan Inter
The Netherlands
5.
Frimpong, Jeremie
Leverkusen Bayer
The Netherlands
6.
Timber, Jurrien
The Arsenal
The Netherlands
7.
Carvajal, Dani
Real Madrid
Spain
8.
James Reece
Chelsea
England
9.
Lorenzo Giovanni
Napoli
Italy
10.
Ben White
The Arsenal
England
xz
