It is indeed true that for most of us, football is the most exciting sport!
The role of being a defender not only requires phenomenal physical and mental attributes, but also the capability to organise and lead a defensive line.
It is almost every time overlooked at times when the big awards are handed out, defenders hold a crucial role in a team and maybe more than that, as their fellow workers further up the ground.
Across various leagues and their respective playing techniques, the expectancy from the defensive players are a bit different.
So basically what follows now, is a ranked list of those players who have been considered as the best defenders in world football for the last few years now.
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Without indulging in any more discussions, let’s dive into the ranking list!
1. Cristiano Ronaldo:
ST, Portugal, Juventus.
OVERALL RATING= 94
- Pace = 90
- Passing = 81
- Shooting = 93
- Dribbling = 90
- Physical = 79
- Defence = 35
2. Lionel Messi:
CF, Argentina, Barcelona.
OVERALL RATING= 94
- Pace = 88
- Passing = 88
- Shooting = 91
- Dribbling = 96
- Physical = 61
- Defence = 32
3. Neymar:
LW, Brazil, PSG.
OVERALL RATING= 92
- Pace = 92
- Passing = 83
- Shooting = 84
- Dribbling = 95
- Physical = 59
- Defence = 32
4. Luka Modric:
CM, Croatia, Real Madrid.
OVERALL RATING= 91
- Pace = 76
- Shooting = 90
- Passing = 76
- Dribbling = 91
- Physical = 67
- Defence = 70
5. Kevin De Bruyne:
CAM, Belgium, Manchester City.
OVERALL RATING= 91
- Pace = 77
- Passing = 92
- Shooting = 86
- Dribbling = 87
- Physical = 78
- Defence = 60
6. Eden Hazard:
LW, Belgium, Chelsea.
OVERALL RATING= 91
- Pace = 91
- Passing = 86
- Shooting = 82
- Dribbling = 94
- Physical = 67
- Defence = 35
7. Sergio Ramos:
CB, Spain, Real Madrid.
OVERALL RATING= 91
- Pace = 75
- Passing = 71
- Shooting = 63
- Dribbling = 72
- Physical = 84
- Defence = 91
8. Luis Suarez:
ST, Uruguay, Barcelona.
OVERALL RATING= 91
- Pace = 80
- Passing = 79
- Shooting = 90
- Dribbling = 87
- Physical = 85
- Defence = 52
9. David De Gea:
GK, Spain, Manchester United.
OVERALL RATING= 91
- Diving = 90
- Kicking = 87
- Handling = 85
- Reflexes = 94
- Positioning = 88
- Speed = 57
10. Toni Kroos:
CM, Germany, Real Madrid.
OVERALL RATING= 90
- Pace = 67
- Passing = 89
- Shooting = 82
- Dribbling = 82
- Physical = 69
- Defence = 74
11. Robert Lewandowski:
ST, Poland, Bayern Munich.
OVERALL RATING= 90
- Pace = 78
- Passing = 75
- Shooting = 89
- Dribbling = 85
- Physical = 82
- Defence = 41
12. Manuel Neuer:
GK, Germany, Bayern Munich.
OVERALL RATING= 90
- Diving = 91
- Kicking = 91
- Handling = 88
- Reflexes = 88
- Positioning = 88
- Speed = 54
13. Diego Godin:
CB, Uruguay, Atletico Madrid.
OVERALL RATING= 90
- Pace = 68
- Passing = 65
- Shooting = 48
- Dribbling = 64
- Physical = 84
- Defence = 89
14. Thibaut Courtois:
GK, Belgium, Real Madrid.
OVERALL RATING= 90
- Diving = 86
- Kicking = 74
- Handling = 91
- Reflexes = 88
- Positioning = 87
- Speed = 46
15. Jan Oblak:
GK, Slovenia, Atletico Madrid.
OVERALL RATING= 90
- Diving = 86
- Kicking = 78
- Handling = 92
- Reflexes = 89
- Positioning = 88
- Speed = 43
16. N’Golo Kante:
CDM, France, Chelsea.
OVERALL RATING= 89
- Pace = 80
- Passing = 77
- Shooting = 66
- Dribbling = 81
- Physical = 84
- Defence = 87
17. Harry Kane:
ST, England, Tottenham.
OVERALL RATING= 89
- Pace = 70
- Passing = 79
- Shooting = 90
- Dribbling = 81
- Physical = 83
- Defence = 47
18. Antoine Griezmann:
ST, France, Atletico Madrid.
OVERALL RATING= 89
- Pace = 86
- Passing = 81
- Shooting = 86
- Dribbling = 88
- Physical = 70
- Defence = 50
19. Giorgio Chiellini:
CB, Italy, Juventus.
OVERALL RATING= 89
- Pace = 69
- Passing = 56
- Shooting = 46
- Dribbling = 60
- Physical = 82
- Defence = 91
20. Sergio Aguero:
ST, Argentina, Manchester City.
OVERALL RATING= 89
- Pace = 84
- Passing = 76
- Shooting = 89
- Dribbling = 89
- Physical = 73
- Defence = 28
Conclusion:
A defender’s basic job is to restrain penetration. The defender basically does this by stopping the attacker from shooting, dribbling towards the goal, shooting, or passing forward.
This is only obtained through positioning and pressure.
Unless you are in that, you will never know what to do.
The utmost priority of a defender should always be to stop the ball from reaching in the hands of the attacker or prevent the attacker from turning into the goal-side.
If that does not work, the final strategies should include guiding the attacker into a slightly different place or securing a position to divert the opponent’s pass or shot.
We all hold great memories when we shout with delight or curse by mumbling when a defender makes a goal or defends a goal.
