20 Best Defenders in World Football Right Now (Ranked)

A strong defender is important to any successful football team. Sorting out the back line is crucial and having some serious talent within it is a surefire way to build a team destined for silverware. A lot of focus is placed on attacking players, which is why any list of the best footballers in the world will always be dominated by that type of star.

However, we’ve decided to highlight the best defenders in the world right now and give them their flowers for a change. These men are top-notch at what they do and there is no one better than them at the time of writing.

From buccaneering full-backs to commanding centre-halves, the world game is laced with talented defenders in all shapes and sizes. Here are the best players who operate at the back in a role that has been unsung for too long.

Ranking factors

Given that trying to separate those on the list is such a difficult task, a number of factors will be taken into consideration as to where they end up in the rankings. These include:

The team they play for

Trophies won

How important they have been to their club’s success

Micky van de Ven

Tottenham Hotspur and Netherlands

Micky van de Ven is one of the youngest players on this list but has undoubtedly been a revelation since Tottenham Hotspur forked out £43m to sign the then 22-year-old from Wolfsburg in the summer of 2023. He has been one of the first names on the teamsheet for Ange Postecoglou’s new-look Tottenham side, and it seems no coincidence that their form dipped as soon as the Dutchman was struck down with a hamstring injury in November 2023.

Van de Ven’s height, searing pace and hulking physicality make him the ideal modern-day centre-back and has rightfully earned him a place in the Netherlands national team, with the defender earning his first cap in October 2023. His lack of honours limits his ranking, but it will come as a surprise to no one if he’s in a considerably higher position in a few years’ time.

Marquinhos

PSG and Brazil

With the departure of Kylian Mbappe this summer, Paris Saint-Germain have undergone a massive shift, but if anyone can lead the club through the upheaval without any major hiccups, it’s Marquinhos. The Brazilian has been an incredible leader for the French club and while he missed a large portion of the 2023/24 campaign due to injury, his impact when he’s on the pitch is undeniable.

Over the course of 11 years with the Ligue 1 side, the centre-back has been nothing short of incredible, playing close to 450 games as they won a ridiculous nine league titles since his arrival.

Achraf Hakimi

PSG and Morocco

Achraf Hakimi has played for some incredible football teams over the years and that’s a testament to how good he is. The full-back is dynamite on the right-hand side and has been vital for Paris Saint-Germain since joining the club in 2021. There are few defenders on the planet as effective as the Moroccan at driving forward, and this allows him to weigh in with numerous goals and assists for both club and country.

In three years with the Ligue 1 champions, Hakimi has earned 35 goal contributions, a record that most midfielders would be happy with. The full-back turned 26 at the end of 2024 and arguably still has his peak left to reach, which could see him climb even further up this list in the next few seasons.

Eder Militao

Real Madrid and Brazil

While he initially took his time making an impact at Real Madrid, the last couple of seasons have seen Eder Militao emerge as one of the best centre-backs on the planet. The former FC Porto man has been electric for the La Liga side and his influence on the pitch has been clear for anyone watching to see.

Whether it’s in the air, or on the ground, he’s been a nightmare for forwards to deal with over the last two years. A serious ACL injury on the opening day of the season ruled him out for the first eight months of the 2023/24 campaign, and another ACL tear will see him miss even more action until 2025. On his day, though, the Brazilian is incredible.

John Stones

Manchester City and England

John Stones has managed to completely revolutionise the idea of what a centre-back is capable of. Despite spending several years as a fairly reliable defender at City, he has now transformed into almost a new man, and he took charge of games for the side and emerged as one of the best players in England.

At times his future at the Etihad looked bleak, but that certainly isn’t the case these days. He’s now one of Guardiola’s most important players and whether it’s in the midfield where he spent time last year, or back in the defence, he’ll continue to serve as a game-changer for both club and country.

Ronald Araujo

Barcelona and Uruguay

Possessing the perfect blend of defensive solidity and intelligence, Ronald Araujo’s career may have been interrupted by a host of injuries from a 69-day absence in the 2022/23 season to his current issue, which has kept him out since July 2024. That said, on his day, there are very few defenders who can emulate his brilliance at the back.

At the tender age of 25, the 20-cap Uruguay international has been courted by Manchester United and the like for years – but has shown his dedication to his current La Liga employers, having racked up over 150 appearances for Barcelona since putting pen to paper in October 2020.

Joshua Kimmich

Bayern Munich and Germany

Willing to help Bayern Munich out from right-back to central midfield, there are very few deficiencies in Joshua Kimmich’s well-rounded tool kit. Labelled as a Phillip Lahm regen, what some do not appreciate about the diminutive German international is his dedication to performing on a week-by-week basis – an aspect that is, perhaps, hard to come by in the modern game.

Whether he could be making the jump to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the summer remains an unknown fact, but his versatility, combined with his concoction of technical and tactical expertise, would make the Rottweil-born gem a great fit for any team looking to add silverware to their trophy cabinet.

Alphonso Davies

Bayern Munich and Canada

It feels as though Alphonso Davies has been around for almost a decade, despite the fact he only joined Bayern Munich in 2019, but that’s due to the massive impact he’s had in such a short time. One of the fastest players in world football, the Canadian regularly bursts up and down the left wing for his club and country.

He’s been a game-changer for Bayern since he arrived in the team and there are no left-backs in football quite on his level right now. His exploits for his country have already made him a legend in Canada too. At just 24 years old, he’s already accomplished so much and the sky really is the limit for Davies.

Theo Hernandez

AC Milan and France

While AC Milan are counting their lucky stars that they took a punt on Theo Hernandez’s signature in the summer of 2019, it’s their previous employers, Real Madrid, who will be kicking themselves for letting him go for such a paltry fee. Since moving from Spain to Italy, there are not many fans who cannot say he’s one of the best at doing what he does best.

Quick enough to maraud forward with ease, while his high IQ allows him to marshal the back line from the left-back berth. Also, the Frenchman has every tool to play at the top level of the sport for the next decade or so, despite already being 27 years of age. Somehow capped by France on just 36 occasions, the bulky defender’s deliveries is what sees him stand tall above many on the continent.

Dani Carvajal

Real Madrid and Spain

Having played for a star-studded Real Madrid for so long means that Dani Carvajal is often Los Blancos’ forgotten man. But it’s hard to discount how much of a serial winner he is. With experience and know-how pouring out of both ears, the veteran Spaniard is part of the furniture at the Santiago Bernabeu and will call time on his career as a certified legend thanks to his unwavering dedication.

It takes a special kind of talent to cement yourself as a mainstay at a club of such a size and stature of the La Liga behemoths – but Carvajal, now 33, has done it at a canter, winning six Champions League crowns in the process. He possesses all the makings of a modern defender: he’s intelligent, able to attack and is defensively sound, too. The only reason he’s not inside the top 10 is because injuries are sadly taking their toll now.

Alessandro Bastoni

Inter Milan and Italy

Simone Inzaghi crafted the best defence in Europe at Inter Milan last season, with the elegant Alessandro Bastoni at its epicentre. Always in control of his impossibly long limbs, the veteran 25-year-old keeps the back door bolted while also cantering forward.

Relishing the freedom afforded to him by the dizzying positional interchange Inzaghi encourages, Bastoni has supplemented his undiluted defensive work ethic with a career-high tally of four direct goal involvements. The rampaging centre-back has provided as many assists as Inter’s talismanic striker Lautaro Martinez. Bastoni’s unique skill set helped the Nerazzurri romp to the Serie A title, wrapping up the club’s 20th Scudetto in April 2024 with a victory over fierce rivals AC Milan.

Pau Cubarsi

Barcelona and Spain

To be an 18-year-old regularly playing for Barcelona, one of the biggest clubs in world football, is the truest testament to what Pau Cubarsi can go on to achieve. And, when he plays, the young Spaniard does not stand out like a sore thumb like most of the youngsters being sprung into senior proceedings. Already a five-cap Spain international, where Estanyol-born Cubarsi could be in a decades’ time is unthinkable.

Seemingly following in the footsteps of Carles Puyol and Sergio Ramos, Barcelona and Spain have a gem at their disposal – it’s now about regulating his progression from boy to man as he continues to make waves across Europe. A Ballon d’Or may feel unlikely given his position, but the glittering centre-back has a high chance of bucking the trend.

Ruben Dias

Manchester City and Portugal

Ruben Dias has been a game-changer at Manchester City ever since he moved to the Etihad in 2019. You can count the number of bad games he’s had over the last five years on the one hand, and he’s been vital in every bit of the club’s success since then.

Dias was largely responsible for the Cityzens having the best defence in England during their treble-winning campaign of 2022/23, and he continued that level of performance into the following season, as City secured a fourth consecutive Premier League title. Guardiola has built the best backline in world football, and it takes someone special to stand out among the plethora of talent that they have in the side, but that’s exactly what Dias has done.

Ibrahima Konate

Liverpool and France

Ibrahima Konate’s partner in crime, Virgil van Dijk, will always be the headline-grabber thanks to the Dutchman’s imposing nature, but no football fan can overlook what the Frenchman has given to the Merseysiders. Still just 25 years of age, Konate has years aplenty left in the bank and could, upon Van Dijk’s eventual departure, continue to carry the torch.

Unfortunately, his stint at Liverpool – which began in the summer of 2021 when he arrived from RB Leipzig – has been marred by injury but, on his day, there’s no doubting that the Paris-born monster is among the sport’s greatest at the back. Equally calm as he is aggressive, all in a timely manner, there are not many strikers in world football who would fancy a battle with the man in question.

Josko Gvardiol

Manchester City and Croatia

What a signing Josko Gvardiol has been for Manchester City. The youngster was exceptional for RB Leipzig in the 2022/23 campaign, as well as bossing it with Croatia at the 2022 World Cup, and he became one of the most highly sought-after defenders in world football. It was Pep Guardiola’s side who won a hotly contested race.

Gvardiol’s integration into City’s treble-winning backline was gradual. Guardiola admitted that he didn’t want to overload the 23-year-old with too many complex tactical instructions during his debut campaign and described his new arrival as “a little bit shy”. Gvardiol emphatically rediscovered his confidence during the season’s run-in with a prolific burst of scoring form, offering hope of solving City’s long-standing left-back issue.

Gabriel

Arsenal and Brazil

Gabriel Magalhaes went 14 months without making what Opta defines as an error which led to an opponent’s shot – let alone a goal – between February 2023 and April 2024, despite playing almost every available minute across that period. Arsenal’s enigmatic Brazilian seems to have matured over the last 12 months, channelling his innate aggression to win the ball back at the right time rather than every time.

A settled personal life off the pitch and an ever-improving grasp of the English language has helped Gabriel establish himself as one of the Premier League’s best defenders. The fact that he, with the aid of Nicolas Jover’s genius, offers a potent threat for Arsenal in both boxes and his ability from set pieces is a bonus.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Liverpool and England

A lot of criticism has been aimed at Trent Alexander-Arnold’s defensive abilities over the years, which means he’s actually become somewhat underrated. Make no mistake about it, though, he’s still one of the best defenders on the planet. Few players have ever revolutionised a position in the manner in which he has done at right-back.

The role changed significantly due to his performances there and that’s a testament to how special a talent he is. He’s deceptively strong defensively and more than exceptional going forward. Liverpool have experienced some incredible highs over the years, but there’s no chance they’d have been quite as successful without the boyhood supporter at the back.

Antonio Rudiger

Real Madrid and Germany

Antonio Rudiger was regarded as one of the very best defenders in the world during his time at Chelsea and, after a period of adaptation during his debut campaign at Real Madrid, the punchy German has only improved. His combination of strength and speed set him apart from the majority of players in football.

Last season, injuries hit Madrid’s defence hard, cranking up Rudiger’s importance to Carlo Ancelotti’s side and, of course, he thrived under the mounting pressure. Relishing every physical battle he encountered, Rudiger’s unwavering form underpinned Madrid’s charge to the La Liga title and Champions League triumph in 2023/24.

William Saliba

Arsenal and France

After several years out on loan, William Saliba finally broke into the Arsenal first team in the 2022/23 season, and no party involved has looked back since. The Frenchman almost immediately became one of the best defenders in England and, over the last two years, he’s blossomed into one of the best defenders on the planet.

With blistering pace and the strength to out-muscle almost anyone, Saliba hasn’t faced a forward yet who had his number. He was able to keep Erling Haaland quiet on multiple occasions during the 2023/24 season and this year, he’s set to play a crucial role in Arsenal’s campaign once again. The Gunners face an uphill battle trying to usurp City at the top of the Premier League, but with the terrificly talented defender on their books, they’ll feel confident they can get the job done.

Virgil van Dijk

Liverpool and Netherlands

Virgil van Dijk may have turned 33 in the summer, but he is still inarguably the best defender in the world. You’d be hard-pressed to find any centre-back who transformed a side’s fortunes in the manner in which he did when he joined Liverpool, and it genuinely appeared for a time that he was on the verge of winning the Ballon d’Or.

A long-term injury sustained in October 2020 knocked the Dutch international out of his stride like no striker could. After a couple of seasons below his lofty standards, Van Dijk played a huge role in guiding Liverpool back to their best in the 2023/24 season. The imperious centre-back stole the spotlight in February 2024 by captaining a youthful side to League Cup success over Chelsea, a game in which he scored the winning goal. Under Arne Slot, he continues to be one of Liverpool’s most important figures.

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