A comprehensive list of the best defenders in the game.
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20) Alberto Moreno (Sevilla)
A terrific up-and-coming left-back, Sevilla’s Alberto Moreno has been the subject of some transfer speculation this summer after attracting strong interest from Liverpool. A move to a top club is surely just around the corner for the highly promising 22-year-old, who is arguably already up there with the best defenders in the world.
19) Per Mertesacker (Arsenal)
A highly dependable and solid centre-back, Per Mertesacker has done well to respond to those who initially doubted him when he moved to the Premier League. Although not the quickest in the world, the German international, now a World Cup winner with over 100 caps, is an intelligent reader of the game and knows how to time his challenges to perfection. He is also solid in the air and scores the occasional important goal for club and country.
18) Bacary Sagna (Manchester City)
A new signing for Manchester City, Bacary Sagna has shown himself to be one of the most solid right-backs in Europe in recent times, becoming a vitally important player for Arsenal during his seven years with the club. Highly capable at the back and going forward, the Frenchman should prove a useful addition for Manuel Pellegrini’s side.
17) Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City)
Sagna’s competition at right-back, Argentine defender Pablo Zabaleta is also among the world’s finest defenders after his recent performances for Manchester City. The 29-year-old has made himself undroppable for City after taking Micah Richards’ place at right-back a few years ago, and he will make it a tricky job for new-boy Sagna to get into the team on a regular basis.16) Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich)
Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng has shown himself to be a top player at the back after a brief but difficult spell at Manchester City earlier in his career. The German international can fill in a number of roles at the back but now looks most comfortable in the centre, becoming a key player for Bayern in their recent success and attracting recent interest from Barcelona.
15) John Terry (Chelsea)
An all-time great Premier League defender and Chelsea legend, John Terry is still up there with the very best despite his age. The former England international may not be popular for some of his high-profile mistakes in the past, but as a player there are few better at commanding a backline the way he does, and he will prove hard to replace for the Blues when he eventually does make way for a new generation.
14) Ricardo Rodriguez (Wolfsburg)
A superb young talent, Swiss left-back Ricardo Rodriguez looks like potentially one of the best attack-minded full-backs in the game at the moment and will surely find himself at a top club before long after his performances for Wolfsburg and for his national side in recent months. Still only 21 years of age, Rodriguez can and will improve and that is a very exciting prospect indeed.13) Dejan Lovren (Liverpool)
Liverpool’s new £20m signing, Dejan Lovren arrives at Anfield on the back of a superb first season in the Premier League with Southampton. Having initially impressed in Ligue 1 with Lyon, The Croatian international has now truly established himself as up there with the best in Europe and should benefit from playing at a bigger club, surrounded by superior players. Although there are some question marks over his transfer fee, Lovren looks a great addition for the Reds as they look to tighten up in that area after conceding too many goals last season.12) Gary Cahill (Chelsea)
A vastly under-rated player, Chelsea’s Gary Cahill deserves to be mentioned as among the best defenders in world football at the moment after the rock-solid partnership he formed alongside John Terry last season. Forcing the more glamorous David Luiz out of the exit door, one can only wonder how much Cahill would be worth to the club if his former team-mate went for a crazy £50m to Paris Saint-Germain.
11) Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain)
Perhaps the best young defender in the world, Paris Saint-Germain’s Brazilian starlet Marquinhos is a genuinely world class talent who will go on to achieve great things in the game. Signed for big money after just one highly impressive season with his previous club Roma, Marquinhos is now a key player for the Ligue 1 champions, and attracted strong interest from Barcelona earlier this summer before they deemed him too expensive. Still, PSG will be glad they forked out for him last summer, as he could go down as one of the greats in the next few years.
10) Vincent Kompany (Manchester City)
Known for his leadership and personality, Vincent Kompany is also a top class central defender, and up there with the best in the world in his position. The Belgian international would certainly benefit from a better player alongside him, as he perhapd didn’t find his best form last season, despite City’s Premier League title win.
9) Eliaquim Mangala (Porto)
The player who could be trusted as being Kompany’s partner is French defender Eliaquim Mangala, who is expected to make a big-money move to Manchester City this summer. The Porto starlet is a superb talent, and will now be hoping to show that in a more competitive league after making a reputation for himself in the Portuguese top flight. Other big clubs such as Manchester United and Barcelona were after the Frenchman as well, so it will be interesting to see what he can offer.
8) Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)
A vital player for Real Madrid as they won the Champions League last season, with two goals in the semi-final win over Bayern Munich and a crucial equaliser in the final against Atletico, Sergio Ramos has cemented his status as one of the best defenders in the modern era. Initially a right-back Ramos now plays centrally more often and is world class in both positions, despite his questionable red card record being something of a blot on his fine career with club and country.
7) Filipe Luis (Chelsea)
One of several new signings for Chelsea this summer, Brazilian left-back Filipe Luis looks a terrific purchase for the club to replace the long-serving and legendary Ashley Cole. The 28-year-old was a key member of Atletico Madrid’s title-winning side last season, establishing himself as one of the most solid full-backs in the game with his consistent performances in Diego Simeone’s well-drilled team. He should go down a treat at Stamford Bridge.
6) Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid)
A superb defender and great leader as well, Diego Godin of Atletico Madrid and Uruguay has developed the habit of scoring important goals for his team in recent months. The commanding centre-back was rock-solid for Atletico as they won the title, and scored the all-important goal to claim the title against Barcelona in the Nou Camp. He then followed this up with a goal in the Champions League final, though he was on the losing side that night, before then repeating the trick for his country at the World Cup, as his headed winner against Italy saw them edge past the Azzurri into the knockout stages.
5) Miranda (Atletico Madrid)
Linked with the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea this summer, it is no surprise to see Atletico Madrid star Miranda attract so much attention after a superb campaign for the club. The Brazilian is undoubtedly one of the best defenders in the world at the moment, and will prove crucial for Diego Simeone’s side if he commits his future to the Vicente Calderon club.
4) Mehdi Benatia (AS Roma)
One of the best defenders in Serie A for the last few years, Moroccan centre-half Mehdi Benatia is another who could lay a claim for being one of the best defensive players in the world at the moment. The 27-year-old was superb for Roma last season, helping them to the best defensive record in the Italian top flight, having previously impressed for Udinese as well.
3) Thiago Silva (Paris Saint-Germain)
Long regarded as the best central defender in the world, Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil star Thiago Silva may not quite be the very best anymore, but he remains a world class talent and one of the finest of his generation. Some questionable displays for Brazil this summer at the back perhaps put some doubt into his all-round ability to lead a backline, but he will be looking to prove a point when he returns to club action this season.
2) Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund)
A World Cup winner for Germany this summer, scoring two important goals along the way, the immense quality of Borussia Dortmund centre-back Mats Hummels can no longer be questioned. A superb tackler and reader of the game, Hummels is a solid and intelligent player who would be a big hit if he moved to any one of Arsenal, Manchester United or any of the other clubs chasing him at the moment.
1) Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich)
So good and so versatile, he’s not always a defender these days, but Bayern Munich’s Philipp Lahm is establishing himself as one of the best full-backs in the modern era. The World Cup-winning captain, now retired from international duty with Germany, has played at both right-back and left-back in his career, excelling on both sides, and is now looking like becoming a top class defensive midfielder under Bayern boss Pep Guardiola.
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