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#5 Gaetano Scirea
Gaetano Scirea is one of only five players to date to have won every single trophy recognised by UEFA and FIFA. Scirea, at his peak, was a behemoth of a defender and easily the best in the world for a time.
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Luckily for his country, his extraordinary peak coincided with the 1982 World Cup, and with the legendary Dino Zoff behind him in goal, Italy's star defender could do no wrong.
The Italian centre-back started his career at Atalanta but made his name in Juventus alongside the likes of Antonio Cabrini and Claudio Gentile.
In contrast to his defensive partners, Scirea was known for his finesse and technical ability and is often seen as a precursor to the defensive styles of Baresi and Maldini.
Scirea went on to win seven Serie A titles with Juventus and stayed with Italy's most successful club till the end of his career. The southern stand of the Juventus Stadium is named the Curva Scirea in honour of the legendary defender.
#4 Bobby Moore
Comparisons between players across generations generally tend to be unfair, given the number of variables involved in every football player's unique career. Bobby Moore, however, was no mere mortal.
Songs are still sung in tribute to the legendary icon 27 years after his death, and more will likely be composed to commemorate England's best-ever defender.
Lauded by Pele as the greatest defender he has ever played against, Moore was the perfect leader on the pitch. The centre-back played more than 600 games for West Ham, winning the FA Cup and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.
Moore took up the England national team's captaincy at the age of 23 and did wonders with the role. He inspired the team to their first World Cup triumph in 1966, keeping clean sheets in every group game and holding off the legendary Eusebio in the semi-finals.
In the 1970 World Cup, Moore wrote himself into the echelons of football history with a brilliant tackle to take the ball off the mesmerising Jairzinho, inspiring generations of English defenders.
#3 Franco Baresi
It is, in hindsight, quite peculiar that Franco Baresi began his career in the shadow of his talented older brother, Giuseppe Baresi. Franco Baresi was AC Milan's knight in shining armour for over 20 years.
The talented defender was largely responsible for the club's astronomical highs and stood firm in the club's defence during its worst periods. To AC Milan, Baresi was the definition of a leader and messiah, injecting life into teammates and fans alike every time he won the ball back in his trademark fashion.
Baresi was Arrigo Sacchi's go-to man during his time at the club, interpreting tactical instructions and holding together a world-class defensive line. Baresi was a Sacchi-certified expert at organising offside traps.
He would often leave strikers and wingers dumbfounded with his indomitable presence of mind. The defender led AC Milan to three UEFA Champions League and six Serie A titles, commencing an era of unprecedented success for the Rossoneri.
"Piscinin", or "the little one", as he was referred to in his early days, had emerged from his brother's shadow. Not only that, but he had also shaped the art of Italian defending and etched himself a permanent place in the soul of the San Siro.
#2 Franz Beckenbauer
Measuring the success of a football player is an insurmountable task. Silverware is one way of establishing the greatness of a player. However, assessing the influence of the player on the game as a whole is an equally dependable metric. Franz Beckenbauer ticks both boxes.
'Der Kaiser', as he was referred to by his teammates and fans, was a born leader. Beckenbauer carried himself on and off the pitch with all the class of a captain and was one of the most versatile defenders in the history of the game.
He is widely credited for inventing the role of the sweeper or 'libero' and made the position his own. Beckenbauer often dropped deep into his box to pick up the ball and silked through the opposition's first press and into the midfield.
From his deep position, the Kaiser not only provided his goalkeeper with the ultimate shield but also dictated play with his technical ability and understanding of the game.
Beckenbauer spent a majority of his playing career at Bayern Munich, winning three consecutive Bundesliga titles from 1972 to 1974 and three consecutive European Cups from 1974 to 1976.
The defender also led West Germany to the 1972 European Championship. The jewel in Franz Beckenbauer's crown was his performance against Johan Cruyff's Netherlands in the 1974 World Cup final.
Up against one of the greatest Dutch attacks in history, Beckenbauer and his legion of defenders played out of their skins to nullify Cruyff's 'Total Football' and emerged victorious. They lifted the coveted trophy and etched their names into the annals of football lore.
#1 Paolo Maldini
Defending is seldom regarded as the most beautiful skill in football. More often than not, defenders make use of ugly tackles, pulls of the shirt, and horrendous elbows to the face either to intentionally obstruct play or simply to send a message.
It comes as no surprise, therefore, that a popular notion exists which paints the art of defending in an exceedingly unflattering light. Paolo Maldini is the very antithesis of this notion.
In the blink of an eye, Maldini could take the ball off a striker's feet like a hot knife slicing through butter. Filling the massive boots of Franco Baresi is nearly impossible, but Maldini carved his own image at the San Siro, playing for his beloved AC Milan for an astonishing 25 years.
As far as one-club men go, there are only a handful of players in football history that can compare to Maldini's dedication and loyalty.
Maldini remained a constant in some of the greatest defensive lineups in the history of the sport. In his early twenties, he formed a legendary partnership with the likes of Franco Baresi, Mauro Tassotti, and Alessandro Costacurta.
His rapport with Baresi, in particular, was spectacular. The duo played together in central defence and are statistically one of the best pairings in history, conceding only 23 goals in 196 games.
Maldini was appointed captain of the team after the retirement of many of his senior teammates in the late 1990s and forged an excellent partnership with Alessandro Nesta and Cafu to elevate the Rossoneri to greater heights.
Maldini's presence on the pitch earned him the moniker 'Il Capitano'. The defender won seven Serie A titles and five UEFA Champions League titles. This placed him second on the list of most successful players in the tournament's history behind Real Madrid's Paco Gento.
Be it his influence on the pitch, his precise defensive play, or his ability to lead his teammates, Maldini's sheer talent and charisma make him the best defender of all time.
