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Right-backs and left-backs, often referred to together as full-backs, have some of the most versatile roles in football at the moment. While they are technically defenders; in the modern game, a player is not considered to be a good full-back if he does not actively contribute to the attack.
Some of the greatest right-backs to have graced the game were speedy, attack-minded players. Dani Alves, one of the best right-backs of his generation, currently enjoys the status of being the world's most decorated player.
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Trent Alexander-Arnold is the archetype of how managers and fans expect a right-back to be in the game. The Liverpool defender currently leads the assists charts in the Premier League (10 as of 20th February). Achraf Hakimi is also a player whose stock has risen a lot over the years.
Their attack-mindedness leaves something to be desired when it comes to defending. Nonetheless, it seems the defenders are going to keep on playing a big role for their teams going forward in the contemporary game.
As it happens in football often, some players often get overlooked by fans and pundits alike, and right-backs are no exception. On that note here we take a look at the five most underrated right-backs of the 21st century.
#5 Kyle Walker
Kyle Walker often gets overlooked because a lot of people just label him as a speed merchant. While it is true that he relies a lot on his trademark bursts down the right flank, he brings much more to the table than just pure speed.
He wins the ball back deep in his own half, while his overlapping runs create chaos in the opposing defensive lines. He failed to win a trophy with Tottenham Hotspur but has won 10 since the 2017-18 campaign with Manchester City.
He also made it to the EURO 2020 team of the competition as England made it to the final. Despite consistent performances on the right flank, he does not get the credit he deserves.
#4 Christophe Jallet
Ligue 1 is a one league always brimming with top-quality talents, so it is easy for a player to go under the radar. Christophe Jallet is one such player who did not find much fame despite consistent performances.
He spent his entire playing career in the French top-flight, which is one of the reasons why people outside France are not that familiar with his work. He was one of the few players who joined PSG before the takeover in 2011 and stayed with them afterward.
He won Ligue 1 with the club in the 2012-13 campaign while also making it to the Ligue 1 team of the season. His second appearance in the team of the season came in the 2014-15 season as he helped Lyon to a second-place finish in the league.
#3 Alvaro Arbeloa
Alvaro Arbeloa was a solid right-back, but for the majority of his career, he was used as a utility player. Though initially struggling to find his place at Real Madrid, his spells at Deportivo La Coruna and Liverpool helped him secure a move back to the club in 2009.
The departure of Míchel Salgado and Miguel Torres also played a part in the Spaniard’s return to the club. He won the first silverware of his career in the 2010-11 season as Los Blancos lifted the Copa del Rey that season.
He was also part of the Spanish national team at the EURO 2008 and FIFA World Cup 2010, though he was mostly on the bench. Carlos Puyol's injury helped him make it to the starting XI at EURO 2012, as Spain only conceded once in their title-winning run.
#2 Cesar Azpilicueta
Cesar Azpilicueta is one of the players who brings a lot of passion and loyalty to the table. He has played for just three teams throughout his career, making his debut for his boyhood club Osasuna in 2007.
He moved to France with Marseille in 2010 and won his first silverware in the Coupe de la Liga in the 2011-12 campaign. His stay at the club was limited to just two seasons, as he was sold to Chelsea in 2012 to help the club's finances.
Chelsea paid £7 million for his services in 2012, and in the 10 years since, he has won nine trophies. He has often been utilized as a center-back in a three-man backline at Chelsea but is an effective right-back whenever playing for Spain.
#1 Pablo Zabaleta
Manchester City's recent successes has been built upon their attacking prowess. Their defending has been an underappreciated aspect throughout the stella run. While they have had plenty of defenders in their ranks, Pablo Zabaleta stands out for his longevity.
The Argentine right-back joined the club in 2007 from Espanyol, choosing the English side over Juventus, who also wanted to secure his services. He won the Premier League twice with the club in 2011-12 and 2013-14 but made it to the team of the season in the 2012-13 campaign as City finished second.
The right-back also made it to the 2014 FIFA World Cup final with Argentina.
