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Cafu, Javier Zanetti, Gianluca Zambrotta, Lilian Thuram are perhaps some of the greatest defenders to have played football. But they all have something in common - they were right-backs, who revolutionised the beautiful game. They were not just a part of the defence, instead, these players formed the first line of attack for their teams. Since then, the role of a right-back has evolved to a great extent.
The right-back is fast becoming an extremely important position in the team, however, not every player can carry out the role to perfection. He needs to be fast, skilful and full of running. He has to defend, attack and even score and set up goals for his team.
Like the great men of the yesteryear, this season too has seen some extremely gifted right backs who have lit up the football world. Today, we take a look at the 5 best right backs in the world right now.
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#5 Matt Doherty (Ireland, Wolverhampton Wanderers)
The Irishman is a proper defender who is very strong in the air. Doherty is very composed at the back and is a player who likes to defend. He is not the best tackler in the world but has still managed a 61% tackle success rate in the Premier League this season.
Doherty is a decent player with the ball at his feet and can spot a pass on the field. However, his crossing abilities are not the greatest and it is an area that the Wolves right-back will be looking to improve.
This season, the Irishman has caught the eye for a resolute Wolves side, who have matched pace with the big boys of the Premier League. Doherty has marched down the right tirelessly for his club in every game. His versatility is an asset too as the Irishman can play both at right-back and right midfield and has done so for his club this season.
But it is in the final third that the right-back has impressed the most this season. Doherty has an eye for the goal and averages over 1 shot per game in the Premier League. He already has 6 goal and 4 assists from 36 games in all competitions so far. On current form, Doherty is the fifth-best right back in the world.
#4 Aaron Wan-Bissaka (England, Crystal Palace)
The 21-year-old has improved by leaps and bounds this season and it is only a matter of time before big clubs come calling for him. Wan-Bissaka has all the ingredients that make a great right-back, but what makes him such an enticing prospect is that he already is one of the best right-backs in the world right now.
The Englishman is fast and strong, a combination that makes him a daunting prospect for the opposition. Wan-Bissaka likes tackling and is pretty good at it too. He is also excellent in intercepting the opposition play and is a handy player to have in the defence when the team has the back against the wall.
His only weak point might be his discipline as Wan-Bissaka has already picked up 4 yellow cards and 1 red card this season. He likes to run down the flanks, where his dribbling skills are pretty useful. Wan-Bissaka has already picked up 2 assists from 31 games this season and is the fourth-best right-back in the world this season.
#3 Łukasz Piszczek (Poland, Borussia Dortmund)
The veteran right-back is 33 years old now but is still going strong. Piszczek might have lost a yard of pace, but he still is full of running and has been in fine form for his club this season. He is currently out with a heel injury and has been sidelined for over a month now. But up until his injury, Piszczek was having a great season.
The Polish right-back is a strong defender who is good in the air and is an expert tackler. He is also good at intercepting the play and can press the opposition pretty well. Piszczek has a tendency to play short passes and build play from the deep. He is quite decent with the ball at his feet and is averaging around 55 passes per game this season, with almost 82% completion rate.
Piszczek has also been impressive in the attacking third and has thus far scored 1 and set up 6 goals from 23 games in all competitions.
#2 Trent Alexander-Arnold (England, Liverpool)
The Englishman is a part of a formidable Liverpool back-line that has let in just 18 goals in the Premier League this season, the lowest in the division. The 20-year-old is one of the hottest properties in world football right now and is tipped to take up the role permanently for his country in the years to come.
Alexander-Arnold is blessed with scintillating speed and has flourished extremely well under the attacking tactics of Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool. He is very good at his tackles and likes to press on the field. However, he comes into his own once he runs into the opposition third. It is from here that he uses his brilliant crossing ability to hurt the defences. He also has an eye for the final pass and it is not surprising that Alexander-Arnold has already set up 6 goals.
The Englishman has also scored once in 29 appearances and is the second-best right-back in the world this season.
#1 Joshua Kimmich (Germany, Bayern Munich)
The German international is another young footballer who has taken the world by storm this year. Kimmich has set up 12 goals already this season and shows no signs of stopping any time soon.
The Bayern Munich footballer is extremely versatile and is equally comfortable in the midfield - he has appeared 11 times already in the midfield this season! But it is at the right-back position that Kimmich has been in fantastic form so far.
The German defender is a fast and skilful player, who likes dribbling and needs no invitation to run at the opposition defences. Kimmich's crossing ability is among the best in the world right now and the 24-year-old can also spot a pass. He also likes to take set pieces and is quite good at them too.
This season, the Bayern Munich right-back has been fantastic for his club and in addition to his assists, has also scored twice from 37 games in all competition. He is the best right-back in the world right now.
