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Shoring up the defence ought to be a priority for any ambitious footballing side. Like the great Sir Alex Ferguson once said, "Attack wins you games, defence wins you titles.” There's no point in having great goalscorers on your side if your defence is a leaky mess.
Defenders can help their side eke out results even when the rest of the team is not performing. They will dig their heels in and refuse to let their line of defence be breached. While the full-backs or wing-backs are additionally tasked with joining in attack on the other side of the pitch, it's down to the centre-backs to hold down the fort.
That's why centre-backs are such a vital part of any team. Remember how Virgil van Dijk's entry into the fray transformed Liverpool into European champions? That's the kind of effect a world-class centre-back can have at a club.
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Without further ado, let's take a look at five of the most underrated centre-backs in the world right now.
#5 Eder Militao (Real Madrid)
When both Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane were sidelined with injuries during the 2020-21 season, Real Madrid desperately wanted someone to step up. Eder Militao did exactly that last season and has now established himself as a mainstay in the starting lineup.
Last season, Militao turned in excellent performances in some big games, notably against the likes of Liverpool and Barcelona. The 23-year-old is also confident with the ball at his feet and is an excellent passer as well. He had a 90.6% pass completion rate in La Liga last term.
Militao can pass through the lines and does not shy away from taking risks in the form of ambitious long balls either. Despite being just 23, he shows great maturity and can read the game well and anticipate moves. Militao is also a brave defender who is willing to put his body on the line to protect his goal.
#4 Sven Botman (LOSC Lille)
Lille had the best defensive record in the Ligue 1 in their triumphant 2020-21 league campaign. They conceded just 23 goals in 38 matches last season. Sven Botman started as a centre-back in 37 of those matches.
The 21-year-old was linked with several European giants in the summer. Despite being really young, Botman showcases a lot of maturity when he is on the ball and he was Lille's commander-in-chief at the back last term. He is an Ajax academy graduate and is a technically proficient campaigner.
Botman is also an imposing figure on the football pitch, standing at 6 ft 4 and possesses adequate strength as well. All in all, he is the archetypal modern centre-back. He also has a long time to learn and evolve into one of the best in the world given where he is at already.
#3 Niklas Sule (Bayern Munich)
Niklas Sule is Bayern Munich's backup option at centre-back. But there's no doubt that he will be able to walk into the starting lineups of several European giants. Former manager Hansi Flick didn't seem to be much of a fan, using him as a secondary option and deploying him at right-back on occasion.
Sule has had some injury problems with an ACL rupture marring his early days with the Bavarians. Although he stands at 6 ft 4, there's much more to Sule's game than sheer physicality. He had the best pass completion rate of all Bayern defenders in the 2020-21 season at 90.7%.
He possesses an excellent reading of the game and maintains his composure even in tight situations. Sule is not one to smash the ball away to clear the danger. Instead, he is always looking to find a teammate and is a technically refined footballer.
#2 Joel Matip (Liverpool)
While Virgil van Dijk is Liverpool's main man in defence, Joel Matip's contributions at the back cannot be overlooked. In the 2020-21 season, Liverpool were hit hard by the injuries to all three of their main centre-backs.
But now that they've returned, Jurgen Klopp's men seem to be getting back to their best. Even better, Matip seems to have a bigger role to play for the side. He is seen carrying the ball as far as the final third and conducting play on occasion. Matip is able to do this thanks to his technical brilliance.
The Liverpool centre-back has helped his side keep three cleansheets in four Premier League matches so far this season. This might finally be the season where the 30-year-old is truly recognized for his talents.
#1 Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea)
Antonio Rudiger had become a peripheral figure during Frank Lampard's tenure as Chelsea manager. The German international was heavily linked with an exit in the 2021 January transfer window. However, Thomas Tuchel's entry has turned his fortunes around and Rudiger has become an undroppable member of the starting lineup.
Rudiger was a vital cog in the Chelsea side that won the Champions League last term. A bullish defender who is also excellent with the ball at his feet, Rudiger hounds opposition attackers relentlessly. He loves a tackle and is constantly seen marshalling his troops and making sure his teammates stay focused.
His mentality and overall technical ability has gone a long way towards making Chelsea the strongest defensive unit in the Premier League.
