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There are some excellent centre-back partnerships in world football right now. And it is often said that attack wins you games but defense wins you titles. Although this motto has always been true in football, we continue to admire the attackers in the game while defenders are consigned to second thoughts.
The greatest teams in football have been built around a strong backline. A stable and formidable defense at the back helps each and every individual in the team, including the attackers, express themselves to the fullest.
Who are the best centre-back pairings in the world right now?
Nowadays, a three-man defense at the back is widely used but the traditional four-man defense with two centre-backs in the middle is still very much reliable. To form a formidable partnership, the centre-back duo need to complement each other well and should be able to play to each other's strengths.
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The centre-backs should also possess the quality of a modern day defender. They should not only be able to stop the attackers in their tracks but should also be able to help the team in building attacks from the back.
Considering all these factors, let's take a look at the five best centre-back pairings in world football at the moment:
#5 Harry Maguire & Raphael Varane - Manchester United
Although they have not played together yet, Harry Maguire and Manchester United's new signing Raphael Varane have the potential to form one of the best centre-back pairings.
United were on the lookout for a centre-back this summer and they got it in the form of World Cup winner Varane. The Frenchman joined United in a deal worth around £41 million.
Varane arrives from Real Madrid with a massive reputation, having won the UEFA Champions League four times. He is expected to slot straight into the starting eleven alongside Maguire.
The centre-back duo have a commanding aerial presence, with Maguire winning 77.5 per cent of his aerial duels last season while Varane managed to win 75.3 per cent of the same.
Varane has a cautious playing style as he averages 0.83 tackles per 90 minutes. Maguire, meanwhile, is slightly more aggressive and produces 0.88 tackles per 90. So the centre-backs could perfectly complement each other, with Maguire going into the tackles and Varane covering him.
With both their main defenders aerially dominant and comfortable on the ball, this could be a match made in heaven for Manchester United.
#4 Virgil van Dijk & Joe Gomez - Liverpool
Liverpool were marred by injuries to their centre-backs last season which led to a poor title defense from the Reds. The club's main centre-back Virgil van Dijk managed to make just five appearances last season before suffering a knee-injury that ended his season.
Joel Matip and Joe Gomez also suffered critical injuries as they made just 17 appearances between them. Nevertheless, Liverpool managed to finish fourth after a flurry of late wins towards the end of the season.
The return of all three centre-backs for the 2021-22 season will certainly boost Liverpool's credentials to regain the title from Manchester City. The centre-back pairing of Van Dijk and Joe Gomez, who played together in defense for the majority of Liverpool's title-winning season, can work well in tandem.
The duo played a crucial part in the club's first league title in 30 years before injuries restricted them from playing alongside each other last season. They conceded just 33 goals throughout the title-winning campaign, ending with the best defensive record in the league. Van Dijk and Gomez also played a big role in the Reds' Champions League winning campaign in 2019.
Since returning from injury, Van Dijk has already been integrated into the first team and is looking solid at the back. But Gomez is a long way from his former self as things stand.
Understandably, Gomez will need time to rekindle his best shape and form. Liverpool will be hoping he can be as effective as in the past and return to partner Van Dijk as their first-choice centre-back pairing.
#3 Marquinhos & Presnel Kimpembe - Paris Saint-Germain
Since the departure of centre-back Thiago Silva to Chelsea last season, Marquinhos and Presnel Kimpembe have formed a rock-solid defensive partnership for PSG. The former is the current club captain for PSG while the latter is a guaranteed starter at both club and international level.
It took both of them time to get compatible with each other but the pair formed a formidable partnership towards the end of last season.
Both Marquinhos and Kimpembe are comfortable on the ball, which has often helped PSG build out their attacks from the back. In fact, Marquinhos had a 93 per cent passing accuracy in Ligue 1 last season, while Kimpembe boasted an astonishing 95 per cent passing accuracy. Kimpembe also ranked third in passes into the final-third.
The centre-backs have also been good in the defensive side of things for PSG. While Marquinhos made 27 interceptions and 33 tackles in Ligue 1 last season, Kimpembe registered 30 interceptions and 56 tackles.
Sergio Ramos' arrival means the duo will face competition from the Spanish centre-back. But his recent injury problems mean that the current centre-back pairing is likely to continue blossoming together.
Having lost the league title to Lille last season, they will be hoping to regain the title for PSG this season.
#2 Ruben Dias & John Stones - Manchester City
The defending Premier League champions Manchester CIty arguably have the best centre-back pairing in the league in the form of Ruben Dias and John Stones.
The duo managed to play 19 league games together last season and kept 13 clean sheets. They were not only solid at the back but even provided a goal threat from set-pieces, scoring five goals between them in the league.
In the 2019-20 season, Stones struggled to get any game time due to his poor performances and was also tipped to leave the club. But the arrival of Dias completely revitalized the Englishman and he formed a formidable partnership with the Portuguese at the heart of City's defense. He even managed to keep Aymeric Laporte out of the team.
The centre-back duo's performances last season saw them secure a spot in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year.
Manchester City are expected to be involved in the Premier League title yet again this season and will be hoping the centre-backs can maintain their stellar form.
#1 Leonardo Bonucci & Giorgio Chiellini - Juventus/Italy
The Italians are arguably one of the best centre-back pairings we have seen in football history. Both Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci are still at the top of European football at the age of 37 and 35 respectively.
The centre-backs have been crucial to Juventus' dominance in Serie A and also played a big part in Italy's win at Euro 2020. The uncompromising duo put in a stellar performance at the tournament, offering masterclasses in defending en route to Italy's first European Championship title since 1968.
Chiellini and Bonucci have been playing alongside each other for more than a decade now, building a telepathic understanding. They have complemented each other really well over the years.
Chiellini usually offers the brute force in their partnership, while Bonucci sweeps behind him and likes to bring the ball out from the back. The duo have won eight Serie A titles together for Juventus.
They have received plenty of praise for their defending over the years, but Jose Mourinho's comments after Manchester United's 1-0 defeat to Juventus in 2018 were arguably the best:
Mr. Bonucci and Mr. Chiellini could give some Harvard University classes about how to be a central defender.
The centre-backs have an understanding like no other and Chiellini claimed in an interview during the Euros that he knows Bonucci better than his wife.
The duo are still together at Juventus and it will be interesting to see whether they represent Italy at next year's World Cup.
But one thing is for sure: Chiellini and Bonucci are the last of the old-school defenders in football. It could be a long time before we see a centre-back partnership as great as them.
