Best defenders in the world 2024
Our comprehensive round-up of the 10 best defenders in the world in 2024.
The days of defenders being one-dimensional brutes are a thing of the past as they are also expected to dictate play from the back and help create overloads in midfield.
Welcome to the era of ball-playing central defenders and inverted full-backs, with managers looking for the slightest tactical gain to get their team taking control on the pitch and winning games.
The sheer variety of defenders that grace the modern game makes building a list of the world's best a tricky puzzle to piece together. However, the number of trophies a player has lifted, their current form and key long-term stats help inform our top 10.
RadioTimes.com brings you our definitive list of the 10 best defenders in the world in 2024.
Check our more football features: Best players of all time | Best players in the world 2024 | Best strikers 2024 | Best wingers 2024 | Best midfielders 2024 | Best goalkeepers 2024 | Best young players 2024 | Best teams in the world 2024
10. David Alaba (Real Madrid)
A trophy-winning machine, David Alaba is the defensive real deal as he's capable of playing at centre-back, left-back and further forward in midfield.
The Real Madrid man has all the attributes required from top-class technique to reading the game so well. A steal on a free transfer from Bayern Munich in 2021. Unfortunately, injury issues have piled up for him, limiting how high he can go in this list.
9. Eder Militao (Real Madrid)
Eder Militao's turn of foot and excellent reading of the game makes the Real Madrid man one of the most formidable defenders on the planet.
The Brazil international has won plenty of trophies for club and country, and after suffering an injury-plagued 2023/24 campaign, he's a sight for sore eyes in Madrid.
8. Marquinhos (PSG)
Marquinhos was never the highest-profile name at PSG, but he has been a leader at the back for the star-studded French side for a number of years.
A reliable figure is all a manager can ask for from his commanding centre-backs. The Brazilian has won more than 20 major trophies for club and country.
7. Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
Manchester City invested a huge sum to prise Ruben Dias from Benfica in the summer of 2020 – and he's been a top addition at the heart of Pep Guardiola's defence.
Named the Premier League Player of the Season in his first season, the Portuguese comprises pace and power with superb composure on the ball.
6. Gabriel (Arsenal)
Often overlooked at the expense of his flashy partner in crime, William Saliba, Gabriel is an imperious defender who loves a physical duel with the best of them.
Gabriel boasts plenty of aerial dominance too, at the back and going forward, as he reaps plenty of goals from Arsenal's revered set-piece routines.
By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. You can unsubscribe at any time.
5. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
It's tricky to compare Trent Alexander-Arnold in a list made up of centre-backs who stand head and shoulders above him.
Liverpool's revolutionary full-back is a constant menace going forward with lovely passing attributes, set-piece threat and a wicked delivery in his arsenal. His defensive game isn't his unique selling point, but he's certainly improved at the back.
4. John Stones (Manchester City)
John Stones is the Rolls Royce of defenders and has the talent to play pretty much anywhere on the pitch. The Manchester City star has become synonymous with stepping out of defence and moving into midfield thanks to his ease in possession and passing range.
Don't let his skills on the ball fool you, however, as the England international also does the dirty stuff well. A chequered injury record means he sometimes doesn't get the credit he deserves.
3. William Saliba (Arsenal)
After spending the first three years of his Arsenal career out on loan, William Saliba returned to the Emirates Stadium with a bang and has, arguably, become the most important member of Mikel Arteta's squad given their robust defensive record.
It's hardly surprising that the collapse of the Gunners' title challenge in the 2022/23 campaign coincided with the Frenchman suffering an injury, and their rebound campaign saw him feature prominently.
2. Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid)
Rudiger is a perfect blend of the old and the new. He's a physical brute with the ability to slam strikers into submission, as well as delicately dance out of the defence with the ball at his feet.
The former Chelsea ace has built himself into the mainframe of the Real Madrid winning machine and is likely to remain there for a few more years to come.
1. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
If there's one defender in world football you'd have picked for your money-no-object team over the last 10 years or so, Van Dijk is your man.
The towering Liverpool centre-back was one of the trailblazers of modern defending as the world realised big men at the back didn't necessarily have to be technically limited players. VVD remains the benchmark for modern defending.
Who is the best defender in the world?
Van Dijk is a wily operator at the back for Liverpool, capable of marshalling his team to glory, whether the Reds are on the front foot or under the cosh. Several contenders have come and gone, but VVD remains the best in class.
Check out more of our Sport coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Authors
Michael Potts is the Sport Editor for Radio Times, covering all of the biggest sporting events across the globe with previews, features, interviews and more. He has worked for Radio Times since 2019 and previously worked on the sport desk at Express.co.uk after starting his career writing features for What Culture. He achieved a first-class degree in Sports Journalism in 2014.
