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There is perhaps no player in modern football that is required to do as much as a modern center-back. They are expected to fulfill their traditional duties of solid positioning, resolute tackling and aerial prowess on both attacking and defending set-pieces. In addition, they are also required to fulfill their more "modern" responsibilities of pressing and being accurate distributors of the ball. These myriad responsibilities are why having an excellent pair of center-backs will be crucial for any team to be successful in the upcoming World Cup. After all, winners this century have needed the defensive solidity (and occasional goals) of the likes of Mats Hummels, Jerome Boateng, Carlos Puyol, Gerard Pique, Fabio Cannavaro and Marco Materazzi.
Honorable Mentions
Even when including 20 center backs in this list, there are many excellent central defenders that had to be left off.
Davinson Sanchez
When Davinson Sanchez was signed by Tottenham Hotspur, even the Colombian’s biggest supporters would not have expected such an excellent debut season. Sanchez’s quality was such that Mauricio Pochettino permanently switched to a three-man defense (a formation that he previously flirted with) to accommodate the 22-year-old. Tottenham was far better defensively with the Colombian in the side as they only conceded 0.83 goals per game in the Premier League. When Sanchez didn’t start, Spurs conceded 1.33 goals per game. This difference illustrates Sanchez’s importance to the London side. The Colombian is also an excellent passer with an average pass success percentage of 89.4% (13th in the Premier League). While Sanchez’s defensive stats are unimpressive, his overall impact has been positive for Tottenham. Colombia will need such performances if they are to fulfill their potential as a dark-horse candidate. Interestingly, Sanchez is more experienced than his likely partner Yerry Mina (the Barcelona prospect) despite himself being 22 years old.
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Harry Maguire
Maguire looks like the typical English center-back: tall, strong, tough and aerially dominant. The latter skill was very important for Leicester on both ends of field as Maguire managed to win 65.3% of his aerial duels (3.1 per game), scored two goals and provided four assists (mainly from set-pieces). Maguire’s defensive statistics are also excellent, as the 25 year old made 1.7 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game. More importantly, Maguire has been incredibly consistent as the centre back started all 38 games for Leicester City this past season, while achieving an average WhoScored player rating of 7.08. These attributes are why Maguire has managed to establish himself as a first-choice player for Gareth Southgate’s England. Nonetheless, limitations remain in Maguire’s game as he struggles when it comes to distributing the ball- a must for a modern centre-back. The defender’s pass success percentage is a lowly 78.4%. Fortunately for Maguire, he is likely to play in a three-man defence surrounded by Manchester City duo John Stones and Kyle Walker- both excellent passers. Hopefully for England, the trio will gel by the Three Lions’ last group game where they face Belgium- one of the best attacks in the tournament.
Simon Kjaer
Christensen’s likely partner at the center of Denmark’s defence, Simon Kjaer had an up and down first season at Sevilla in 2017-18. The Denmark captain missed 20 games with a variety of knee and back issues. However, when the 28 year old did play, his performances were commendable. Kjaer averaged 1.8 tackles and 1.6 interceptions in La Liga, while also pitching in with two goals in eighteen games. Kjaer’s excellent defensive stats bode well for Denmark as it suggests how he can help cover for Christensen’s weaknesses. Unfortunately, the lack of playing time and a paucity of excellent center-backs prevent Kjaer from making this list.
Niklas Sule
One of the brightest young prospects in Europe, Sule was brilliant for Bayern Munich last season. As first choice centre-back Jerome Boateng missed time due to a variety of injuries, Sule made 32 appearances in all competitions for the German giants. The 22 year old is an excellent passer with a pass success percentage of 92.7%. Perhaps more telling than any statistic are Sule’s usually understated manager Jupp Heyncekes’ comments where the German coach described Sule as “world class” and claimed that “in a couple of years, he’ll be the most sought-after central defender in Europe”. Indeed, perhaps in the 2022 World Cup, Sule will rank near the top of such a list. Unfortunately for the Bayern Munich defender, he will probably not be the first choice for Germany in this World Cup and that along with his inexperience are why he was left off these rankings.
Phil Jones
The much-maligned centre back has been consistently underrated. A rare centre-back who is decent aerially, has significant pace and is a decent passer of the ball. Statistically, Jones was one of the best central defenders in the Premier League last season as he had a WhoScored player rating of 7.21. He made 1.1 tackles and 1.8 interceptions per game, along with an excellent 5.6 clearances per game. Nonetheless, his frequent errors make him unlikely to start at the World Cup and also prevent him from making this list.
Kamil Glik
An underrated player, Glik will be entrusted with providing defensive compactness to a Polish team led by Robert Lewandowski. The Pole was excellent for Monaco last year as he won 61.4% of his aerial duels. He also used this prowess to help score 3 goals and provide four assists for the French side. Unfortunately, his defensive statistics (1 tackle and 1.7 interceptions per game) are too low for him to make this list.
20. Salif Sane
Part of a giant center-back partnership with Kalidou Koulibaly (spoiler alert!), the 6’4 Sane just had a statistically outstanding season for Hannover 96. In fact, the 27-year-old finished with the 8th highest player rating in the Bundesliga. Perhaps even more impressively, the Senegalese won five ‘Man of the Match’ awards- tied for third-most among defenders in the Top 5 European league. As suggested by his height, Sane is one of the most aerially dominant players in the World. The Senegalese won 5.7 aerial duels per game, 1st in the Bundesliga and tied for 5th in the Top five European league. Sane also used this ability to help out his team’s (mediocre) attackers by scoring four goals for Hannover.
What is more surprising is Sane’s pace, positioning, technique, and passing, all of which are excellent. The Senegalese managed to win 0.8 offsides per game, which ranked eighth in the Bundesliga. He also managed to bail out his fellow defenders with an outstanding 7.3 clearances per game- top in the German league. The defender’s ball distribution is also a major strength as he managed to make 4.2 successful long balls per game. Considering all these excellent statistics, Sane’s tackle and interception numbers (both 1.8 per game) seem ordinary but are still above average. Despite all these incredibly impressive statistics, the recent Schalke signing is only ranked 20th because of his lack of international experience (only 14 caps and none at a major international tournament). Hopefully, those concerns will be removed after the World Cup.
19. John Stones
The second English centre-back to appear on these rankings, John Stones managed to vindicate Pep Guardiola’s faith in him last season. After a tough first season with Manchester City, Stones has managed to establish himself as one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League. Stones’ strongest attribute (and the reason Guardiola made him one of his first signing) is his passing. The Englishman had a pass success percentage of 95.8%, which would have ranked highest among all Premier League players if he had played enough games to qualify for WhoScored’s list. He had such a high pass percentage despite making 69.2 average passes per game- 13th in the Premier League. Such passing performances also helped Stones achieved an average rating of 6.89. Yet, the Englishman was even better in the Champions League with an average rating of 7.87. This ranked 11th in the European Competition, again mostly due to the 24 year old’s excellent passing. In fact, Stones made an average of 111.6 passes per game- the type of number not seen in the Champions League since the prime of Xavi. After all, it was with good reason that Rio Ferdinand said that the City defender has potential “to become world class”.
What prevents Stones from being consistently “world class” now (thus higher in these rankings) is his defensive play (along with his frequent injuries this season). The Manchester City defender only made 0.8 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game for the Citizens. While this is partially due to the fact that City did very little defending last season, his 66.7% success rate with tackles was also unimpressive-suggesting a fundamental problem with his game. Thankfully for England, one of Stones’ partners in central defence will likely be Maguire- whose skills complement that of the Manchester City defender.
18. Federico Fazio
Once a Tottenham flop, Fazio has resurrected his career in the Italian capital playing for AS Roma. The Argentine is one of the tallest players in the World Cup, measuring at 1.95 metres. This height has been a great asset for Fazio throughout his career, as the Argentine won 4.4 aerial duels per game, a number ranking third in Serie A (and highest for a defender). His aerial prowess is also vital in attacking set pieces for Roma as he has scored six goals for the Italian team over the past two seasons. The defender also made 1.6 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per game- both excellent numbers considering that the 31 year old plays for a fairly attacking Roma team. Overall, Fazio had an average WhoScored player rating of 7.26 which was tied for the 17th highest player rating in Serie A. Perhaps most comfortingly for a fragile Argentina team, Fazio also performed well at the highest stage with an average player rating of 7.07 in the UEFA Champions League for a Roma team that reached the semi-finals. However, Fazio’s passing was rather poor for a centre-back with only a 84.4% pass success percentage. This will have to improve for Argentina, as the Albiceleste look to win their first World Cup since 1986.
17. Andreas Christensen
One of the positives from what was a very disappointing Chelsea season, Christensen has proven himself to be an excellent centre-back. Christensen’s best attribute last season was his passing, as he managed to help build Chelsea attacks from the heart of Antonio Conte’s three man defence. The Dane had the highest pass success percentage (93.4%) in the Premier League. The Chelsea defender’s passing was also complemented by his aerial excellence as he won 68% of his aerial duels. The Dane also showed outstanding discipline throughout the Premier League season as he only committed 0.3 fouls per game in 2017-18. This was also replicated in his tackling where he won 91% of his tackles. Unfortunately the Chelsea defender perhaps lacks the experience that Denmark will need in the World. That along with his poor defensive statistics (as he only averaged 1 tackle and 1.4 interceptions per game) prevent Christensen from rising further in these rankings.
16. Thiago Silva
Four years ago when similar lists were made pertaining to the best centre-backs in the 2014 World Cup, Thiago Silva finished at or near the top in almost every single list. The Brazilian was widely regarded as one of the five best centre backs in the World. Those lists were proven right in the actual tournament as Silva finished with an average player rating of 7.16. Perhaps there was no better example of this than that famous game. Everyone remembers that Neymar missed the 7-1 loss to Germany but perhaps an even important loss to Brazil was Silva’s as the centre-back was suspended for the game.
While Silva’s skills have declined over the past four years, the Brazilian still remains one of the best centre-backs in the world. Silva had an average player rating of 7.08 in Ligue 1 last season, interestingly significantly more than club/country teammate Marquinhos (and Miranda). The Brazilian has significantly developed his passing, with a pass success percentage of 96.1% which was highest not only in Ligue 1, but in the Top 5 European leagues. Yes that’s not a typo, the most accurate passer in Europe’s top leagues was Silva. This was only done at a high volume with the Brazilian making 68.5 average passes per game. His defensive stats were also excellent as Silva won 65.5% of his aerial duels and 75% of his average tackles. Nonetheless, the Brazilian still continues to be reckless with fouls (his aforementioned suspension was due to two yellow cards) as he averaged 1 per game in the Ligue 1 season. This along with his lack of pace prevent him from being higher in this list (and in the starting lineup of Brazil manager Tite).
15. Miranda
The likely Brazilian captain is one of the most respected central defenders in the World Cup. However, some may use statistics to show that the Brazilian is past his prime as last season, the defender was merely competent (a WhoScored rating of 6.89). After all, the defender only made 1.5 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per game, numbers exceeded by most players in these rankings (those who did not mainly played for more attacking teams than Miranda’s Inter Milan). While this is true, what this ignores is Miranda’s efficiency. He never dives in needlessly as his tackling success percentage was an astronomical 94%. The defender also won excellent 58% of his aerial duels. Moreover experience and consistency are unquantifiable commodities and the Brazilian has a paucity of both. Miranda also has a history of stepping up for Brazil, having consistently eclipsed his club performances when putting on the Selecao jersey. For example, in the 2015 Copa America (when the rest of his teammates struggled), Miranda had an excellent player rating of 7.03. These qualities propel the Inter Milan defender above his compatriot Silva.
14. Jan Vertonghen
When one thinks about Tottenham’s renaissance over the past decade there are quite a few players that come up. Gareth Bale, Harry Kane, Dele Alli. Yet, there has been one player who has been vital for the Spurs alongside all of those players: Jan Vertonghen. Vertonghen joined the Spurs in 2012 and since then, has become one of the best centre-backs in the world. In fact statistically he had a player rating of 7.26, which ranked third among centre-backs in the Premier League. The Belgian had excellent defensive statistics as he averaged 1.8 tackles, 1.7 interceptions and 4.7 clearances per game. He also had an incredible tackling success percentage of 85.7%, a number not matched by most in these rankings. While the Belgian does not look like the most aerially dominant player, the defender won 3.3 aerial duels per game (31st in the Premier League) with an excellent percentage of 64.7%. Vertonghen’s pass success percentage is an average 86.3%, an aspect of his game that clearly needs improvement. However, perhaps the most important concerns surrounding the Belgian pertain to his durability as he played more than 40 games in the Premier League for the first time. Considering the English league’s infamously tough schedule, this may be a problem for the notoriously injury-prone Belgian going into the World Cup. These injuries along with his poor passing prevent the Belgian from being ranked higher.
13. Medhi Benatia
When making these rankings, one realizes how top-heavy international football is when it comes to centre-backs. Within the top 20, one can see two French centre-backs, two German centre-backs, two Belgian centre-backs, two Uruguayan centre-backs, two Brazilian centre-backs, two Senegalese centre-backs and two Belgian centre-backs. One exception to this is Medhi Benatia, one of the few (in addition to Koulibaly and Sane) excellent centre-backs who doesn’t play for a prohibitive favorite in the World Cup. While much of the discussion surrounding Juventus’ defence is around their Italian veteran defenders, Benatia has become an equally crucial part of one of the world’s best defensive teams. Benatia had an average player rating of 7.25 which ranked 20th in the Serie A (second among central defenders). Benatia’s positioning was particularly excellent as he averaged 2.2 interceptions per game. The Moroccan also won an outstanding 78% of his tackles, averaging 1.4 per game. Benatia is also solid aerially, winning 67% of his aerial duels. His passing was also excellent as he had a pass success percentage of 90.5%. Like many other players in these rankings, what prevents Benatia from rising higher are his injuries. Moreover without being surrounded by excellence as he is in Juventus, the Moroccan might not be at his best. Yet a below-par Benatia is still one of the better centre-backs in the world.
12. Nicolas Otamendi
Stones’ partner for most of the Premier League season was Nicolas Otamendi, who along with the Englishman helped provide defensive solidity to Manchester City’s rampant attacking juggernaut. In fact, the Citizens conceded the least goals in the Premier league. Otamendi’s role in that defensive performance was even greater than Stones’ as he achieved a player rating of 7.13 in the Premier League. The Argentine’s defensive statistics were excellent (considering Manchester City’s attacking style) as he made 1.7 tackles, 1.4 interceptions and 3.6 clearances per game. The 30 year old showed incredible discipline as he won 72.4% of tackles. Otamendi was also excellent in the air, winning 80.5% of his aerial duels and also managing to score four goals during the league season. Like any Guardiola player, Otamendi is also an excellent passer, with a pass success percentage of 91.9% in the Premier League- a number which ranked 4th in the Premier League. A great sign for Argentina is the fact that Otamendi managed to rise to the moment in the Champions League, achieving an even higher player rating of 7.28.
What prevents Otamendi from rising even higher in these rankings is his lack of pace and tendency to make major errors. The former issue is especially important considering that Argentine manager Jorge Sampioli is likely to play an incredibly aggressive 2-3-5 formation. In such a formation, the role of the centre-back in preventing counter-attacks is immense- something that the 30 year old Otamendi (who was never pacey in his younger days) may not be able to do.
11. Marquinhos
It seems like just yesterday, when Marquinhos was considered one of the best centre-back prospects in the world. In 2013, he became one of the World’s most expensive teenagers when he was signed for 31.4 million euros- an astronomical fee for a defender. While the Brazilian struggled in his first few seasons, he has now begun to live up to those aforementioned expectations. The 24 year old had a decent WhoScored player rating of 6.91 in Ligue 1 last year. Marquinhos was excellent in the air, winning 64% of aerial duels and even more impressively, 78.6% of tackles. Moreover, the Brazilian was extremely disciplined, committing only 0.3 fouls per game. Perhaps, his biggest improvement has been in his passing and ball distribution. While previously a decent passer, the 24 year old is now one of the best passing defenders in the world. He had a pass success percentage of 93.9% and had 4.1 successful long balls per game. The latter bodes well for Brazil in games where the Selecao struggle to break down inferior teams. An even better sign for Brazil is Marquinhos’s performances at the highest stage: the Champions League. The PSG player had an average player rating of 7.08 in Europe’s premier competition.
However, Marquinhos is still an imperfect player who hasn’t reached his potential. The Brazilian’s defensive stats were poor with 1.1 tackles, 0.6 interceptions and 0.8 blocks per game. This will have to improve if Marquinhos is to help Brazil win a record sixth World Cup.
10. Kalidou Koulibaly
No defender has seen his stock improve among football pundits over the past season than Koulibaly. The Senegalese defender has gone from a virtual unknown to every footballing hipster’s favorite centre back. For good reason too, Koulibaly had an excellent season for Napoli with a player rating of 7.04 in Serie A. The 26 year old averaged 1.5 tackles and 1.1 interceptions, again decent numbers considering Napoli’s high pressing style of play. The defender won 56.25% of his aerial duels and in fact scored five goals (three with his head) for the Italian side. He also showed excellent discipline as he won 73% of tackles (showing a tendency not to dive in). Surprisingly for a tall strong defender, Koulibaly is an excellent passer as he had a pass success percentage of 91.2%. However, perhaps the best way to understand Koulibaly’s value is by looking at his impact on Napoli last season. Manager Maurizio Sarri played an incredibly attacking style of play which made them one of the most exciting teams in Europe. One would expect them to be a poor defensive team especially considering they play the ageing Raul Albiol in defence, yet Napoli had the third best defence in Serie A. A lot of that can be attributed to Koulibaly’s excellence. While the centre-back has some issues (disciplinary recklessness and occasional poor decision-making), his performances over the past season bode well for Senegal.
9. Jerome Boateng
It seems like a million years ago (it was actually 2010) when Manchester City signed a raw German centre-back named Jerome Boateng. That defender struggled as Roberto Mancini played him out of position at right-back and by 2011, looked like a transfer flop. Little did we know that within the next year, that young defender would be starting in the Champions League final for Bayern Munich. Since then Boateng hasn’t looked back as he has become one of the best centre-backs in the world. Boateng’s defensive excellence has been vital for Bayern Munich’s dominance of the Bundesliga and of course, Germany’s victory in the 2014 World Cup.
Over the past season, Boateng had a player rating of 7.14 which ranked 21st in the Bundesliga. The German is excellent in the air, winning 68% of his aerial duels. The defender also had 1.4 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game, also winning 67% of his tackles. The Bayern Munich defender also provides another dimension to Germany’s pass-heavy attack with 8.6 long balls per game over the past season. Nonetheless, there are concerns surrounding Germany’s defensive rock. 1.4 tackles is rather low for a defensive centre-piece and his performances are not as excellent as they were a couple of years ago. The defender also had a variety of injuries (including a hamstring issue at the end of the year), which may affect his performances in the tournament. In the end though, Boateng is the very definition of a big-game player. He had a player rating of 7.21 in the 2014 World Cup and was arguably their best player in the final. Germany will need those types of performances if they are to win the World Cup again.
8. Jose Gimenez
One half of an incredible club-country partnership, Gimenez has become one of the most exciting centre-backs in Europe. In fact, the Uruguayan defender has been so good that he is constantly linked with a move from Atletico Madrid (no one’s definition of a small club). Gimenez’s excellence doesn’t really lie in individual statistics. Perhaps the best way to understand his impact on Atletico Madrid by looking at the team’s statistics over the past three seasons. Atletico have been La Liga (and arguably the world’s) best defense over the past three seasons, as Gimenez has become a regular starter along with compatriot Diego Godin. The Uruguayan won 64.9% of his aerial duels and 76.5% of his tackles. The rumored Manchester United transfer target also had 1.7 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game. Such defensive value was clear in Uruguay’s opening game of the World Cup where Gimenez’s defensive steel managed to ensure that his team did not concede to a clearly inferior yet gritty Egypt side. The icing on the cake was Gimenez’s crucial injury-time goal which allowed Uruguay to escape with a win in a match they really should not have gone down to the wire. However, the defender’s rather low player rating of 6.95 and his constant injuries prevent him from ranking higher.
7. Toby Alderweireld
Perhaps no two players are more crucial to Belgium’s chances in the upcoming World Cup than Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen. While the Red Devils have incredible attacking talent, their defense may not be strong enough to withstand attacks from some of the other favorites in the tournament. This is mostly due to Roberto Martinez’s tactical preferences, where he has insisted on playing winger Yannick Carrasco as a left wing-back. Considering the various injury issues (and age) of Vincent Kompany, there is extreme pressure on Alderweireld and Vertonghen. Thankfully for Belgium, Alderweireld is certainly up to it. While the 29 year old had his worst statistical season last year with a WhoScored player rating of 6.68, this was likely due to his various injuries (including an hamstring problem that had him out for four months). It is easier to understand Alderweireld’s impact on a defense by looking at his statistics in the 2016-17 season. That year the Belgian had 1.4 tackles, 0.9 interceptions per game and 5.4 clearances per game- quite decent considering Tottenham’s high pressing style. Alderweireld also had 7.1 successful long balls per game which added another dimension to Tottenham’s play. The Belgium defender also has a history of performing well at the highest level as he hasn’t had a player rating lower than 7 in three Champions League campaigns along with his two international tournaments with Belgium.
Nonetheless, the Belgian’s issues with injuries will be troubling for Belgium. Moreover, there will be some concern considering the defender’s relative decline over the past season. In addition, the Belgian’s average pass success percentage has been around 85% over the past few years- a rather poor number for a defender. While this can partly be attributed to his tendency for long balls, it also reflects a recklessness which can prove costly in international tournaments. However, Alderweireld’s international experience along with his big-game expertise carry him over Gimenez.
6. Mats Hummels
Mats Hummels is generally considered an excellent centre-back yet one cannot the feeling that his great performances often remain unacknowledged. Perhaps this is due to Hummels playing for a dominant Bayern Munich side whose only real challenge tends to occur in the latter stages of the Champions League. The Bayern defender has been one of the most consistent centre-backs in the world over the last nine years as the German’s lowest player rating in the Bundesliga over that spell was 7.25- a number that would be a career-high for almost all defenders. Last season, the German averaged an incredible 2.4 tackles (winning an amazing 80% of his tackles) and 2.1 interceptions per game. While the German’s pass success percentage was an average 87.3%, this was partially due to the defender playing a large number of long balls (5.8 successful ones per game). Hummels does not look like the most aerially dominant defender, yet still won 62.2% of his aerial duels. Perhaps the best way to understand Hummels’ excellence is by looking at his performances in the 2014 World Cup. The Bayern Munich defender had a spectacularly good player rating of 7.85 which ranked 12th in the tournament and 2nd for the champions (also 2nd among centre-backs). Nonetheless, what prevents Hummels from breaking into the top 5 of these rankings (along with his average passing numbers) is his failure to help Bayern reach the Champions League final since 2013. During that spell the Germans have struggled defensively in key moments- having conceded 16 goals in eight Champions league semi-final ties.
5. Gerard Pique
Alex Ferguson did not make many mistakes in his 27 year stint at Manchester United, yet selling Gerard Pique (albeit at the request of the defender) back to Barcelona may have been one of them. Since then Pique hasn’t looked back as he has become one of the best central defenders in the world. Despite being 31 years old, Pique had the highest player rating (7.16) of any centre-back in La Liga last season. While his raw defensive statistics are rather mediocre as he averaged exactly 1 tackle and 1 interception per game, this is mainly due to Barcelona’s attacking dominance in La Liga last season. The Spaniard won 59% of his tackles indicating the defender’s ability to stop dribbling moves by opposing players. The Barcelona defender also won 71% of his aerial duels, vital for a Spanish side which will be targeted on set-pieces by technically inferior teams. Pique may also provide an unique dimension to La Roja’s usual tiki-taka style of play by being an aerial threat on set-pieces. Nonetheless, Pique also has the ability to support ‘tiki-taka’ as his pass success percentage was a rather excellent 89.4%. Looking at these statistics along with Pique’s history of success at international tournaments with Spain, one must be wondering why Pique is only ranked 5th. The main reason for this is his occasional tendency to make major errors (especially in the Champions League over the past couple of seasons). Despite this, if Pique can continue his excellent league performances while playing for Spain, La Roja may still be one of the favorites.
4. Raphael Varane
Samuel Umtiti and Varane are always going to compared together- the two best French centre-backs of this Golden Generation and likely starting centre-backs for Barcelona and Real Madrid for probably the next decade. In the World Cup, they will be inseparable in the centre of France’s defense and they are situated similarly in these rankings. Both are excellent passers, great tacklers, strong in the air and have understated leadership qualities. What gives Umtiti the edge is Varane’s inconsistent La Liga performances where he had a lower player rating than Varane’s. Nonetheless, Varane was excellent in the Champions League. Indeed the Frenchman’s consistent performances have been a major reason why Real Madrid have managed to win three Champions League titles in a row. Over the past four years, Varane’s player ratings in Europe’s premier club competition have been 7.45, 6.94, 7.08 and 7.07 respectively. Impressive numbers indeed. Those statistics will need to be replicated (and not Varane’s La Liga form) if France are to finally win a major tournament for the first time since 2000.
3. Samuel Umtiti
Unquestionably the world’s best centre-back under 25, Umtiti has established himself as first-choice centre-back at Barcelona. The Frenchman had a decent player rating of 7.03 in La Liga last season. The Frenchman had excellent defensive statistics as he averaged 2 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per game. The Barcelona defender also showed a tendency not to dive into tackles, winning an incredible 83.3% of his tackles. The defender is also extremely strong in the air, winning 67.9% of his aerial duels. The Frenchman has also managed to adjust to the Barcelona tiki-taka way, becoming an excellent passer with a pass success percentage of 91.2%. These excellent all-around statistics bode well for the French national team which will rely on his and Raphael Varane’s performances to provide defensive solidity in addition to an attack that is among the most talented in the tournament. What must worry the Les Blues is the relative inexperience of the defensive partnership and the fact that Umtiti’s performances have declined in important stages of the UEFA Champions League and the Euros.
2. Sergio Ramos
Oh Sergio Ramos- Real Madrid defender and the most hated man in all of Liverpool (except for perhaps Goodison Park). Over the past few weeks, the centre-back has (rightly or wrongly) been vilified in a manner not seen since Luis Suarez’s last bite. The centre-back continues to be in the news as the Spanish captain has been reported to have pleaded with the Spanish football association to save manager Julian Lopetegui’s job. It is easy to forget amidst all this hoopla that Ramos is among the best defenders (if not among the best players) in the world. The Real Madrid defender had an excellent player rating of 7.09 in La Liga last season. Despite playing for a relatively attacking Real Madrid side, Ramos had excellent defensive statistics as he averaged 1.5 tackles, 1.8 interceptions and 3.2 clearances per game. Aerially, the Spaniard has always been dominant and this didn’t change last season as the Real Madrid man only won 63.5% of his aerial battles. Ramos has also managed to effectively use that aerial dominance in attacking set pieces as he has developed a reputation as a goal scorer in key moments, contributing 11 goals over the past two seasons in La Liga. What propels Ramos above compatriot Pique is his performances in the Champions League over the past three years where the central defender’s player ratings have been 7.56, 7.26, 7.10 in 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 respectively. Such performances bode well for the World Cup especially as Ramos will be playing alongside the more error-prone Pique. Ramos would be ranked first in this list if it were not for his disciplinary problems. While Ramos’s aggressive style of play is usually an asset for his team, it can become a liability when Ramos goes too far (as he may have with the Salah challenge). Such a disciplinary mistake could be fatal to Spain’s chances (if Lopetegui’s firing hasn’t already) and that separates Ramos from the top spot.
1. Diego Godin
There is perhaps no defender who has scored more crucial goals over the last half-decade than Diego Godin (apart from perhaps Sergio Ramos). It was Godin who equalized for Atletico Madrid in the decisive match of the 2013-14 La Liga season against Barcelona. It was Godin who scored the opening goal of the 2014 Champions League final. And of course, it was Godin whose goal for Uruguay eliminated Italy in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Usually when defenders make a habit of scoring such important goals, they tend to get overrated because of the emphasis is on their goals rather than actual defending. This couldn’t be farther from the truth when one discusses Diego Godin. In fact, the Uruguayan remains underrated perhaps as a result of playing for the relatively low-profile Atletico Madrid. Godin has been the unquestioned leader of one of the best defensive teams in Europe. Even as a 32 year old, Godin had a player rating of 7.07 in La Liga last season which ranked third among centre-backs. Godin averaged an excellent 1.7 tackles and an even more impressive 2 interceptions per game. The Uruguayan was also extremely efficient with his play, winning 71% of his tackles and 59% of his aerial duels. Moreover, the Atletico Madrid defender’s aforementioned penchant for crucial goals and his big-game performances will be crucial for Uruguay in the World Cup and are also what propel him to the top of these rankings.
