The Top 10 Best Football Defenders of All Time

Football has always had some crazy fans that follow this sport with all passion. And these fans have some favorite players who have some amazing skills and abilities. That’s why we have compiled a list of the best football defenders for you to check out. 

Any football defender’s main responsibility is to make the first break against an enemy’s attack. They primarily stop the opposing striker from entering their goal box and scoring. Unquestionably, a defender is a crucial component of a football team. Here, we’ve selected the best defenders in football history and explained why they are so well-known. 

Best Football Defenders in Football History

Here is the list of the greatest football defenders that earned their place in the history of the Football world. Their achievements can never be forgotten.

1. Virgil van Dijk

Virgil van Dijk is without a question among the top football defenders playing today. He now works for Liverpool in the Premier League. In addition, he leads the national football team of the Netherlands. He began playing football in 2011 with Groningen. 

After that, in 2013, he moved to Celtic; in 2015, he got Southampton. And then in 2018, he made his Premier League debut with Liverpool. Additionally, he has earned a spot in the 2019 IFFHS Men’s World Team.

2. Sergio Ramos

Sergio Ramos, another of the highest-paid football players in the world, is presently a member of the Paris Saint-Germain team. Real Madrid of La Liga was the team he formerly captained. 

In addition, he represents and leads the Spanish national football team. He began playing senior football in 2003 with the Sevilla B team. 

Eventually, in 2005, he became a member of the Real Madrid squad. And ever since, he has been an essential member of the group. However, he chose to join PSG in France in 2021.

3. Thiago Silva

Thiago Silva, one of the top-rated defenders in 2022, is presently a center defender for Premier League team Chelsea. Silva’s name has to be on this list of the top ten greatest defenders of all time. 

 Additionally, he participates in national team play for Brazil. He began playing football in 2002 with RS Futebol before switching to Juventude in 2003. 

Thiago Silva contributed to Brazil’s 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup victory. But also most recently in 2019, he contributed to the team’s victory in the Copa América.

4. Giorgio Chiellini

Giorgio Chiellini, one of the top defenders in football, is the present captain of Juventus in Italy’s Serie A. In addition, he leads the national football team of Italy. 

With Livorno, he began playing senior football in 2000. He initially joined AS Roma in 2002 before transferring to Juventus in 2005. 

In 2004, he also became a crucial member of the Italian national squad. Juventus Player of the Year was awarded to Giorgio Chiellini in 2009. 

5. Raphaël Varane

Raphael Varane, a French football star, is presently a player for Manchester United, one of the wealthiest football organizations. He graduated from the Lens youth academy and began playing for the Lens first team in 2010. 

And in 2011, he ultimately joined the La Liga team Real Madrid after just one season with their club. He has now developed into a significant member of the group. 

However, he recently joined Manchester United, where Cristiano Ronaldo had already moved. Raphael Varane successfully assisted France in winning the 2018 FIFA World Cup. In 2018, he also most recently acquired the Chevalier of the Légion d’honneur.

6. Gerard Piqué

Gerard Piqué, one of football’s most attractive players, presently represents Barcelona in La Liga. Additionally, he plays for the national football teams of Catalonia and Spain. He began playing senior football in 2004 with Manchester United.

 Later, in 2006, he debuted for Zaragoza on loan. Finally, he accepted a transfer to Barcelona in 2008 and quickly solidified his place on the team.

In 2011, Gerard Piqué was awarded the Royal Order of Sporting Merit’s Gold Medal. He most recently was named Catalonia’s 2019 Footballer of the Year.

7. David Luiz

David Luiz, a football superstar from Brazil, is presently a Flamengo player. He had previously served for Arsenal, a Premier League champion. He began playing football in 2006 with Vitória and switched to Benfica in 2007. 

In 2011, he then switched to Chelsea, which is yet another Premier League team. He soon joined Paris Saint-Germain and then, in 2016, returned to Chelsea. And ultimately, he signed with Arsenal in 2019. 

 His selection to the 2019 UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season was most recently made. He is one of the top ten defenders in the world. 

8. Mats Hummels

He represents the German national football team as well. In 2007, he was promoted after beginning his senior football career with Bayern Munich’s second side. Soon after, in 2009, he moved to Borussia Dortmund. In 2016, he returned to Bayern.

Finally, he opted to move to Borussia Dortmund once more in 2019. The 2014 FIFA World Cup was won by the German national team with Mats Hummels’ assistance

9. Diego Godín

Diego Godin, one of the top football defenders, is presently a member of the Cagliari Serie A side in Italy. Additionally, he presently competes for the national football team of Uruguay. 

He began playing senior football back in 2003 with Cerro before switching to Nacional in 2006. After that, he relocated to Villarreal, then in 2010, he joined Atlético Madrid. Then he signed up with Serie A team Inter Milan in 2019. 

He has earned a spot on the 2018 IFFHS Men’s World Team and the FIFA World Cup Dream Team as well.

 10. Jérôme Boateng

Jérôme Boateng is a well-known football player from Germany who plays soccer. He is presently a defender for Lyon of the French Ligue 1. 

He had previously played for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. Additionally, he represents the German national football team as well. 

He began playing football with the Hertha BSC II squad. Before joining Hamburger SV in 2007, he gained his breakthrough to the team’s first squad shortly afterward. After that, he relocated to Manchester City, and in 2011, he eventually joined Bayern Munich.

Conclusion

With this, we concluded the list of the best football defenders currently playing in the world. They are all now performing in their finest capacities and winning over crowds every day. If you liked this article let us know what your suggestion is in the comments below.

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