Do you agree with our list of the top 10 defenders?
CaughtOffside counts down the ten greatest defenders in history, with brilliant stoppers from Bayern Munich, AC Milan, Real Madrid as well as German and English World Cup legends. Tell us your top 10 in the comments!
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Every day this week will be uploading our definitive top ten lists. Make sure to come back at 11pm tomorrow evening, when we’ll bring you the definitive top 10 midfielders in football history.
10) Roberto Carlos
The rampaging left-back played 125 times for Brazil, winning the World Cup in 2002. He also claimed four Spanish titles and three Champions Leagues with Real Madrid, as well as two Turkish cups as he earned his retirement bonus with Fenerbahce.
9) Philipp Lahm
Completed an outstanding career by taking Germany to an emphatic World Cup victory in Brazil this summer. Lahm’s speed across the ground, superb technique and wonderfully clean tackling have earned him a reputation as one of the best defensive players of the modern era.
8) Cafu
Captained Brazil to their fifth World Cup crown in 2002, having also been part of the victorious squad in 1994. Guided AC Milan to Champions League victory in 2007, with whom he was also a Serie A winner.
7) Djalma Santos
One of the greatest right backs of all time narrowly eclipses Cafu in this list. Santos played 98 games from Brazil, retiring in 1968. He is one of only three players to be included into three FIFA World Cup All Star teams (in 1954, 1958 and 1962).
6) Franco Baresi
The veteran of well over 500 league games for AC Milan, with whom he spent his entire career, he was voted Milan’s Player of the Century in 1999, while his number six shirt number was retired. World Cup winner with Italy in 1982.
5) Paolo Maldini
Another Italian legend. Maldini played 902 games for AC Milan, finally retiring in 2009. He won seven Serie A titles and five European Cups, but missed out on his country’s World Cup triumph in 2006, having retired four years earlier after 126 caps.
4) Nílton Santos
Still thought of as one of the best left backs of all time, Santos became famous for his goal against Austria in the 1958 World Cup. He was called “The Encyclopedia” because of his knowledge of the game.
3) Carlos Alberto Torres
Alberto captained the 1970 Brazil team at the World Cup, arguably the greatest team of all time. He also scored the fourth goal in the final, the goal considered by many to be the best in the tournament’s history.
2) Bobby Moore
England’s World Cup winning captain in 1966. He was also an FA Cup winner with West Ham United, who retired his number six shirt upon his untimely death in 1993, aged just 51. Also played over 100 league games for Fulham.
1) Franz Beckenbauer
Germany World Cup winner as both a player and a manager, a two-time Ballon d’Or winner. Has won multiple honours throughout his career, both as part of a team and individually. Surely the greatest ever.
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