Ranking the 5 best right-backs in world football right now

#3 Reece James

Reece James is one of the best right-backs in the continent.

Since making his debut for the first team in 2019, Reece James has established himself as one of the finest full-backs in world football currently.

The Chelsea player joined the club's youth academy when he was just six, and worked his way up to the senior setup. His debut for The Blues in a Carabao Cup game against Grimsby Town was the stuff of fairy tales. James notched up an assist in either half, and scored a late goal to help the Blues secure a 7-1 win.

That performance was an indication of bigger things to come, and James has now cemented his place as the first-choice right-back under Thomas Tuchel.

Replacing Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta at right-back, James has showcased his immense talent, especially in the attacking third. His accurate passing and pin-point crossing abilities have yielded several goals for the counter-attacking Chelsea outfit.

In the 2021-22 Premier League season, James has been directly involved in eight goals (four goals, four assists) from as many appearances. Along with Trent Alexander-Arnold, James is the best attacking right-back in English football right now.

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#2 Achraf Hakimi

Achraf Hakimi (left) is one of several PSG signings this summer.

Achraf Hakimi has arguably been PSG's best signing in the 2021 summer transfer window. He hit the ground running in the French capital.

He was the only new major signing this summer for whom PSG shelled out the bucks. The likes of Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos and Gianluigi Donnarumma all arrived on free transfers. However, the €60 million PSG paid to secure Hakimi's services from Inter Milan has proven to be a sound investment thus far.

The Moroccan's marauding runs down the flank and pin-point crosses into the box was a feature in Inter Milan's Serie A triumph last season. He has carried that form to his new club as well. In 12 Ligue 1 appearances for the Parisians this season, Hakimi has been directly involved in five goals (three goals, two assists).

In 42 appearances across the Champions League and Serie A campaigns last season, Hakimi racked up an impressive tally of seven goals and 11 assists.

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#1 Trent Alexander-Arnold

Trent Alexander-Arnold has sizzled for Liverpool.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is one of, if not the best, attacking full-backs in the game at the moment.

The Liverpool academy product's defensive frailties were massively exposed last season in the absence of Virgil Van Dijk. But that takes nothing away from his exploits in the opposition half.

In the 2020-21 Premier League season, Alexander-Arnold's contributions in the attacking third were on par with some of the league's best playmakers. The 23-year-old registered an impressive 23% cross-completion rate, delivering 297 crosses into the box. He also created 14 big chances and 151 accurate long balls.

Alexander-Arnold has also enjoyed a flying start to his 2021-22 campaign. The young Englishman has played a key role in Liverpool's dominance in the opposition third.

In 12 appearances this season, Alexander-Arnold has racked up seven assists. That includes a thunderous free-kick goal in Liverpool's most recent Premier League game against West Ham.

Still only 23, Trent Alexander-Arnold is only bound to get better, which augurs well for The Reds.