Top 5 center-back pairing of the 21st century

#3 Sergio Ramos and Pepe

Impenetrable pair of Real Madrid

This pair defines aggression when it comes to intercepting the opponent’s attack with conviction. A perfect manifestation of strength and imprudent defending makes this duo a menace for any strikers in the world.

Cards are merely a tool that keeps them at bay to an extent while they remained unstirred in their approach. Pepe was a fighter who simply wouldn’t let his opponent win a duel and could go to any extent, while Sergio Ramos would create space to move up apart from partnering Pepe in critical situations, courtesy to his pace. The goal-scoring attribute of Ramos from set-pieces makes this defensive pair from Madrid even more fearsome.

Unlike the previous two duos, who shared the same nationality, Ramos and Pepe came together to rule Europe for almost a decade, 2007-2017, for the Spanish giants. In that period, Real Madrid won UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, Copa del Ray, and La Liga multiple times which includes a hat-trick of Champion league trophies to go into the history books.

The most successful pairing in terms of trophies won at club level along with dominating for a decade makes this pair a natural fit inclusion the list.