Top 10 defenders of last decade (2010-2019)

#6 Dani Alves

Dani Alves redefined the role of a full back

Dani Alves, in many ways. redefined the position of the full-back with his exploits for club and country and the mercurial Brazilian combined the best of both worlds to become one of the biggest matchwinners in world football. Alves was a vital cog of the Barcelona side that dominated the La Liga in the past decade and his telepathic understanding with Lionel Messi was one for the ages.

Lightning-quick on the ball with commendable close control, Alves commanded the right flank for Barcelona and won them games on his own at times, be it with a killer pass or with a marauding run forward to put the ball into the back of the net himself. Alves also turned out for Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain after leaving the Catalan giants, making notable contributions with both clubs as he left Europe in 2019 with 36 trophies to his name in the continent.

For Brazil, the 36-year-old rolled back the years and produced an outstanding display in the Copa America 2019, as he was named MVP of the tournament after Brazil's successful campaign. Alves changed the perception of a modern-day full-back and is sure to go down as a legend of the game for his exploits for club and country over the years.