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Sir Alex Ferguson once said, "attack wins you games, but defence wins you titles."
That could not have been more true in the world of football. Every title-winning squad in the game's history has had a solid defensive line. No matter how many plaudits the goalscorers and attacking midfielders garner, defenders are a key cornerstone of all major teams. Without a robust backline, a team can fall apart easily, and there are many such examples in this regard.
In the modern era, there has been a host of incredibly talented defenders, some of whom have also made their mark on the biggest of stages. While the debate for who's the best defender rages on, let's whittle them down to just five based on their market values.
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On that note, here are the five most valuable defenders in the game right now:
Note: All stats courtesy Transfermarkt.
#5 Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich) - €70 million
Bayern Munich were on a rampage last year, storming their way to all six major titles available for grabs. While that was the result of a phenomenal collective effort, one of the highlights of their campaign were the eye-catching displays of Alphonso Davies.
Davies broke into the side in 2018 and gradually established himself as one of the best young defenders in the game with a series of scintillating performances in the left-back position.
An incredible player with blistering pace and supreme ball control, Davies, with his marauding runs, allow the Bavarians to play a high line. He has contributed 17 goals in 84 appearances in all competitions for the club.
#4 Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain) - €75 million
It might be surprising to see him instead of many other star defenders, but Marquinhos has earned his place as one of the game's best defenders, and his quality speaks for itself.
The Brazilian is a warrior at the back, throwing his body on the line to defend against the mightiest of attackers while also displaying his excellent aerial prowess.
He has consistently delivered for Paris Saint-Germain for half a decade now but remains grossly underrated. Nevertheless, the centre-back played a key role in their Champions League campaigns in the last two seasons, taking them to the final in 2019-20.
Marquinhos is also a huge threat from set-pieces, with most of his 31 goals for PSG being headers off corners and free-kicks; he has also chipped in with eight assists thus far.
#3 Ruben Dias (Manchester City) - €75 million
Ruben Dias was thought to have been overpriced when Manchester City broke their transfer record to sign him from Benfica for £51 million last year. But just a few games into his Premier League debut, the Portuguese demonstrated his prowess as he ended the season as the league's best centre-back.
He transitioned seamlessly into the team and also forged a stellar partnership with Aymeric Laporte at the heart of City's defence, which eventually helped the team win the league title.
Dias brought tremendous composure, leadership and stability to Manchester City's defence, finishing the 2020-21 campaign with a staggering 93.2% pass-completion rate.
Considering his exploits during the season, Dias won the Player of the Season award for the Sky Blues as well as the Premier League.
#2 Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) - €75 million
It's a testament to a player's quality that despite a 'decline' in form last season, he remains very high on this list. Trent Alexander-Arnold remains one of the best right-backs in the game.
An injury to Nathaniel Clyne opened up an opportunity for Alexander-Arnold, and he grabbed that with both hands, establishing himself firmly in the side and eventually developing into a world-class player.
Alexander-Arnold played a key role in helping the Reds clinch their sixth Champions League title in 2019 before building on those performances to drive the team to their first Premier League title last year.
The 22-year-old's stats are outrageous; he has scored ten times and made 44 assists in 179 games for the Merseyside outfit. He will be looking to add plenty more in the new season as he prepares to bounce back from a disappointing last season.
#1 Matthijs de Ligt (Juventus) - €75 million
Matthijs de Ligt's heroic performances with Ajax landed him a big-money move to Juventus in 2019, which also made him the most expensive defender in Serie A history.
While the Dutch starlet couldn't hit the ground running and struggled to adapt to his new surroundings, De Ligt eventually found his feet and is now almost indispensable to the Old Lady.
A natural defender with great physical and technical skills, the 21-year-old reads the game brilliantly and times his tackles to perfection. He also shows incredible anticipation, strength and marking prowess.
Although scoring is not his forte, De Ligt has still managed five strikes, including a winner against Torino in his first season.
Juventus saw their nine-year dominance in Italy end in limp fashion last season, mainly due to some woeful defending, but the youngster was one of their bright spots in an otherwise dismal campaign.
De Ligt's defensive nous will now be key in helping the Bianconeri restore their lost glory this season.
