Ranking the best defenders in world football in the 2020s
In football, the offence is the part of the game that gets talked about more often than not, as many people find it more exciting to watch than purely defending. However, both sides of the sport are as important as the other, so defenders also deserve recognition.
The 2020s have been a time when defenders have reached great heights similar to attackers. It is a great moment for the top defenders as they have earned recognition for their contributions to the clubs and countries.
Have a look at some of the best defenders in this decade:
5. RĂºben Dias (Manchester City and Portugal)
After joining Manchester City in 2020 from Benfica, RĂºben Dias has become one of the world’s best defenders. He is a key figure for Man City, as they have dominated England and the rest of Europe. Dias’ best strength is his leadership for the defence since he is stable to lead that backline.
At the same time, Dias is also a composed defender, who does not get rattled by pressure. Even if the opponent’s forwards are trying to pressure and throw him off his game, Dias remains a cool cucumber when playing. He helps the team play with more confidence because of his composure under pressure and how he organises the surrounding defence.
Pep Guardiola is known by a large part of the football world as the best manager. The Spanish manager has always trusted Dias to be an influential leader who takes charge of setting up the Man City system properly.
4. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool and England)
Across history, there are only a few full-backs that are as influential as Trent Alexander-Arnold. Of course, the knock against Trent is his indifference to his primary job, defending. Alexander-Arnold is not the best at defending, but he is elite in almost every other area.
Trent is most known for his contributions to the attack as he has a wide passing range. He can pick out almost every player on the pitch with the accurate yet powerful crosses he sends into the box, but he also has a sense for the weight of his through-ball passes.
Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah should credit Trent for helping him succeed as a player since a lot of his goals have come from Trent's assists or key passes. Set pieces are also a big part of Alexander-Arnold's style, as he can curve a ball into the box through corner kicks and free-kicks.
3. William Saliba (Arsenal and France)
The youngest defender in the top five, William Saliba is a special talent. He has the body to compete with almost any top defender as he is built like a brick wall and is arguably the most composed defender.
Every time he gets pressured by an attacker, he just does a dribble move that leaves fans in the stadium impressed. Saliba is also an excellent passer, as he typically starts the attack by finding a good pass to his teammates like Martin Ă˜degaard or Declan Rice for Arsenal and French teammates such as AurĂ©lien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga.
Since he is playing for Arsenal, he also has opportunities to score quite regularly due to their exquisite set-piece play. Saliba’s only weakness is his lacklustre aerial ability, but he is learning well by playing alongside his Arsenal teammate Gabriel MagalhĂ£es, who is arguably the best header of the ball.
The partnership consists of him and Gabriel, and they can challenge each other to become the best partnership in the world, while Saliba will likely remain the standout between the duo.
Saliba is still in his early 20s, so he has room to grow and become even better than the two players above him. He is only getting started and could be the clear-cut best defender in the long run.
2. Antonio RĂ¼diger (Real Madrid and Germany)
Antonio RĂ¼diger is one of the most aggressive players in his position as he always finds tackles to get the ball back. That fearlessness makes him a formidable defender since his pressure and strength make them uncomfortable.
He is a key cog for both Real Madrid, Germany, and former club Chelsea. Since he is an essential part of his new club, he continues to outshine everyone, making him a vital piece of their defensive setup, leadership, and overall morale.
The club knows that having RĂ¼diger in the back helps the players since they know they have a mad dog manning the backline. When it comes to instilling fear into their opponents, RĂ¼diger is likely the worst player to go against as he makes forwards’ lives miserable.
The combination of mind games and physical dominance discourages attackers from trying. With RĂ¼diger as the central defender for Real Madrid, he can make any opponent uncomfortable, which is vital for the club’s success.
1. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool and Netherlands)
Virgil van Dijk has been the best defender in the world for almost a decade due to his success for Liverpool. He is a skilled defender as he can make some pinpoint passes to his forwards while dominating the opposing forwards with his body.
In the air, there is no one better than van Dijk as he always finds a way to win his duels through sheer physicality and athleticism. Virgil is also a recognised leader for Liverpool and the Netherlands, which means he is a vital cog in how the teams work.
With this list of the top football defenders, Virgil still holds the crown as the greatest. Along with rising stars like Pau CubarsĂ and Dean Huijsen, the defending side of the sport is in good hands.
