In football, both historically and today, defence wins titles. While attacking talent frequently dominates headlines, history has shown that a strong centre-back tandem is the bedrock of any successful team. Whether it’s the impenetrable walls of past greats like Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidić at Manchester United, Carles Puyol and Gerard Piqué at Barcelona, or Sergio Ramos and Raphaël Varane at Real Madrid, shutting down opposition attacks and controlling the defensive third is just as important as scoring goals.
When determining the top 15 centre-back combinations in the globe in 2025, I carefully analysed a number of critical aspects to guarantee an objective and comprehensive analysis. The first and most obvious metric is goals conceded. Regardless of the system in which they play, a great defence combination should limit the number of goals conceded by their club. Teams with a strong backline tend to concede fewer goals per game, which has a direct impact on their league place and overall performance.
Beyond simple defensive metrics, I considered their team’s standing in the league table. Center-backs play an important role in establishing a team’s defensive structure, and those who regularly anchor top-tier leagues deserve special praise. A centre-back tandem that helps a team battle for the title or finish in the top four is far more valuable than one that plays for a mid-table or relegation-threatened team, even if their individual stats are good.
Another key component was the league’s difficulty. Not every league presents the same level of difficulty to defenders. Playing in the Premier League, for example, entails confronting high-intensity, fast-paced attacks week after week, with opponents continually pushing and counterattacking. In contrast, leagues like as Serie A are more tactical and defensive in nature, requiring center-backs to be very disciplined and positionally aware. In La Liga, however, defenders must be superb in possession and capable of dealing with technically adept attackers. Given these distinctions, I graded performances accordingly—shining in a physically challenging league like the Premier League or Bundesliga is more important than succeeding in a league with a lower overall level of competition.
I also considered each defender’s particular characteristics, including tactical knowledge, aerial supremacy, ball-playing skill, pace, and leadership. The best pairings are based not only on two talented defenders, but also on how effectively they compliment one another. A perfect pairing typically comprises of one physically strong enforcer and another who specialises at reading the game, making interceptions, and initiating attacks.
Keeping all of these factors in mind, I’ve selected the top 15 centre-back partnerships in international football (2025). These two have demonstrated their defensive prowess by their teams’ success, consistency, and ability to thrive under duress in their respective leagues.
15. David Hancko and Gernot Trauner (Feyenoord, Netherlands). 🇳🇱
Hancko and Trauner have created a dependable centre defence for Feyenoord. Their collaboration has been critical in preserving the team’s defensive strength in both home and European games.
This duo earned qualification for the new structure of the UEFA Champions League, defeating European giants such as AC Milan and Bayern Munich.
These defensive combinations have been critical to their respective teams’ success, demonstrating the value of cohesion, tactical understanding, and resilience in modern football defences.
14. André Ramalho and Olivier Boscagli (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands). 🇳🇱
In addition to finishing top in their league, they qualified for the round of 16 by defeating Juventus.
Ramalho and Boscagli have played key roles in PSV’s defensive lineup. Their coordination and defensive qualities have been critical to the team’s success in the Eredivisie and UCL competitions.
13. Lisandro Martínez and Matthijs de Ligt (Manchester United FC,
Manchester United as a team hasn’t been doing well since the start of the 2024/25 season, but this defence unit deserves to be recognised for their work for the squad, particularly against top rivals.
The reuniting of Martínez and de Ligt at Manchester United has strengthened the team’s defence. Their prior experience and complimentary playing styles have been crucial in United’s defensive plans.
12. Jonathan Tah and Edmond Tapsoba (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany 🇩🇪)
Tah and Tapsoba have been critical to Bayer Leverkusen’s defensive success. Their partnership has given stability and resilience, contributing significantly to the team’s performance in the Bundesliga.
Tah has been strongly linked with a move to Barcelona, but Bayern Munich is also believed to be interested in the defender.
Tah is expected to join Barcelona after his contract with Leverkusen expires in the summer, according to recent reports.
11. Clément Lenglet and José María Giménez of Atlético Madrid, Spain 🇪🇸.
Atlético Madrid now has a dependable defensive duo. Their combined expertise and defensive strength have been critical in preserving Atlético’s image as a formidable defence.
The fact that Lenglet has regained his form with Atletico Madrid must be one of the most thrilling aspects of this collaboration and story.
10. Federico Gatti and Gleison Bremer (Juventus FC, Italy). 🇮🇹
Gatti and Bremer have strengthened Juventus’ central defence with their strong performances.
Their cooperation has been crucial in Juventus’ defensive plans, leading to the team’s dominance in Serie A. They did, however, fail to go beyond the first round of the UEFA Champions League.
9. Dean Huijsen & Illya Zabarnyi (AFC Bournemouth, England) 🏴
Huijsen and Zabarnyi have developed as a potential defensive partnership for Bournemouth. Their youthful enthusiasm and defensive qualities have greatly improved the team’s Premier League success.
Bayern are considering teaming Upamecano and Huijsen in centre defence next season!
Indeed, Bayern is monitoring Dean Huijsen’s status and enquired in January about the terms of his €60 million release clause.
8. Dayot Upamecano and Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich, Germany 🇩🇪)
Upamecano and Kim have emerged as the cornerstones of Bayern’s defence under coach Vincent Kompany. Bayern’s domestic and European campaigns have relied heavily on their high duel success rates and passing accuracy.
According to Fabrizio, Bayern is now focused on Dayot Upamecano’s contract extension. The negotiations are going quite well, and Upamecano is anticipated to sign a new contract.
7. Murillo and Nikola Milenković (Nottingham Forest, England) 🏴.
The relationship between Murillo and Milenković has improved Nottingham Forest’s defence. Milenković’s leadership and aerial ability, paired with Murillo’s defensive savvy, have helped Forest maintain an exceptional defensive record, conceding only 19 goals this season.
Nottingham Forest are performing much better than predicted. Impressive!
6. Antonio Rüdiger and Asencio (Real Madrid, Spain) 🇪🇸
Asencio was able to break through due to injuries in Madrid’s defence (Militao and David Alaba), which has greatly aided Real Madrid’s discovery; he has been compared to Real Madrid legend Ramos. So, alongside the veteran Rudiger, he’s able to slot in quickly and seamlessly. Their collaboration has been critical in preserving the team’s defensive strength throughout all competitions.
5. Alessandro Bastoni and Stefan de Vrij (Inter Milan, Italy). 🇮🇹
In addition to his defensive abilities, Bastoni has five assists this season. Bastoni and de Vrij have formed a strong defensive partnership for Inter Milan. Their cohesion and understanding have been critical to Inter’s defensive systems, contributing to their success in Serie A and European games.
4. Marquinhos and Pacho (Paris Saint-Germain, France 🇫🇷)
Marquinhos’ considerable experience, along with the burgeoning brilliance of 23-year-old Pacho, has strengthened PSG’s centre defence. Pacho joined PSG from Frankfurt, and the club has since seen significant transformations in both defence and offence. Their teamwork has been critical to PSG’s domestic dominance and deep runs in European championships, particularly their defensive performance.
3. Ibrahima Konaté & Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool FC, England) 🏴
The combination of Konaté’s agility and van Dijk’s leadership has strengthened Liverpool’s defence.
This season, the Premier League had the best aerial duel win rates (70 or more contested):
Ibrahima Konaté has 78.1%, James Tarkowski has 76.4%, Virgil van Dijk has 73.4%, Nikola Milenkovic has 70.4%, and Max Kilman has 68.6%.
Their connection has been critical in maintaining Liverpool’s defensive sturdiness, giving them one of the most difficult defences to break down in the Premier League.
2. Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba (Arsenal FC, England) 🏴.
This season, he has been the top centre defender in the Premier League, with no errors that have resulted in a goal. This defensive partner is the second best in the world, and the best in the Premier League. Arsenal could have been the top team in the Premier League if their offence was as good as their defence.
Gabriel and Saliba have developed a strong alliance at the heart of Arsenal’s defence.
Their combination of physicality and composure has been critical in sustaining Arsenal’s outstanding defensive record, which has helped the club compete in local and European championships.
1. Iñigo Martínez and Pau Cubarsí (FC Barcelona, Spain)
They were named the best at keeping offside traps, which is funny.
Despite facing elite players such as Victor Osimhen and Mbappe, 18-year-old Pau Cubarsí remains unchallenged in his Champions League career.
Their seamless understanding has helped reduce goals conceded and improve the team’s overall defensive stability. They are top of the plantables and finished second in the Champions League group stage. Remarkable.
