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Whilst they’re often underrated by fans, full-backs are becoming increasingly important in the modern game. Just like goalkeepers, the average price for a top-quality full-back continues to soar.
Given the number of responsibilities the modern full-back has, it isn’t hard to see why. Especially for top European sides, full-backs need to be strong defensively as well as going forward. They need to be able to lock down opposing wingers whilst also delivering quality crosses in attack.
Right-back, in particular, is an everchanging position and the quality continues to improve this season. When creating this list, I aimed to look at both their defensive and offensive ability as well as their longevity at the top. Without further ado, let’s get into it.
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5. Sergi Roberto
Roberto has definitely emerged as one of the world’s premier right-backs in recent seasons for both club and country. Despite the acquisition of Nelson Semedo, Roberto’s strong performances have made him a key part of the Barcelona side.
Having played a lot in midfield previously, Roberto excels with the ball at his feet. This makes him an excellent fit at Barcelona, with his passing and movement ability fitting seamlessly into their attacking system. In addition to providing a strong creative outlet going forward, he has also worked hard to improve his defensive abilities and he is now more than an able defender.
On pace to have 30 La Liga appearances for Barca for a 4th straight season now, Roberto is definitely a key component of the Barca side. He has also been very strong internationally, representing both Spain and Catalonia at the highest level. At just 26 years of age, he is definitely poised to climb this list in the coming seasons.
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4. Cesar Azpilicueta
Having spent the majority of his time as a centre-back in recent years, Azpilicueta is back to his natural right-back position under Mauricio Sarri. Since joining Chelsea in 2012, the Spaniard has been one of the Premier League’s most consistent performers.
Whilst he doesn’t sparkle going forward, his defensive ability is second to none. Despite only standing at 178 cm, he has the athleticism and physicality to match up with opposing forwards. His speed and recovery ability is also excellent at allowing him to contain tricky wingers.
Azpilicueta has also played a solid role for the Spanish national side, making 25 appearances since 2013. Soon to turn 30 years old, his defensive-based game should age relatively well. Even as this Chelsea squad remains in flux, expect Azpilicueta to be a solid player for a few more seasons at least.
3. Kyle Walker
In 2017/18, one could make a very strong case that Kyle Walker was comfortably the best right-back in world football. He was fantastic for the centurion Manchester City side, completely dominating the right side of the pitch.
Renowned for his elite athleticism, Walker is one of the most physically imposing active defenders. Not only does he stand 184 cm tall, but he also has a very strong case as the world’s fastest defender. This tall frame also helps him slot into the centre-back role when needed due to his strong aerial ability.
Given how quick most opposing wingers at top clubs are these days, the pace is an incredible asset for Walker to have. He appears to have dipped somewhat this season, likely due to fatigue after a long World Cup campaign. Still only 28 years of age, he should have enough in the tank to patrol City’s right flank for a few more seasons.
2. Dani Carvajal
Despite Real Madrid’s inconsistencies this season, Carvajal has still been a very solid performer down the right flank. Whilst he has unfortunately battled injuries in recent years, he has largely held down the right-back position at the Bernabeu for 6 seasons now.
He has also contributed for his country when called upon, making 20 appearances for Spain since 2014. Standing only 173 cm, Carvajal definitely isn’t the most physically imposing full-back. That said, he makes up for it with his tenacity, pace, and footballing intelligence.
Very rarely is he caught out of position and his deceptively quick pace can help bail teammates out of trouble. He is also relatively strong going forward, more than capable of delivering a juicy cross into the middle. Having just turned 27 in January, expect Carvajal to feature in this list for a few more seasons.
1. Joshua Kimmich
Given his very strong recent performances, Bayern’s wunderkind is very deserving of his place in this list. Despite being just 24 years of age, he has done a fantastic job in one of Europe’s top sides for 3 seasons now.
Just like Sergi Roberto, he started out initially as a central midfield player. As such, he is simply excellent with the ball at his feet and is capable of making pinpoint forward passes. He was an ideal fit as an inverted full-back under former Bayern manager Pep Guardiola.
In addition to impressing for Bayern Munich, he has become a fixture of a very strong German national team. Having already made 40 appearances since his debut in 2016, he could well be another German centurion one day. As the youngest player on this list, the sky really is the limit for Kimmich going forward.
