The role of a central defender has changed over time, with those at the very top now not just world-class in the air and in a tackle, but also brilliant in possession with the ball at their feet.
The new generation of centre-backs are crucial to their team’s build-up play and, in some cases, pass more than most midfielders, but who is the best in the world at the back at this moment in time?
Ranking factors
To help rank the centre-backs in order, we have considered the following criteria:
Current form – how well a player has been performing Importance to their teams – how influential they are to their team Role – how unique their skillset is Reputation – what others are saying about them 15 Willian Pacho PSG and Ecuador
Willian Pacho has gone from strength to strength after joining PSG from Frankfurt in 2024 and now appears to be a regular at the Parc des Princes.
The Ecuador international is still only 23 years of age and has been described as the ‘wall nobody saw coming’ next to Marquinhos.
The €40m fee PSG paid for Pacho is now looking like a smart piece of business, with the player’s market value already increasing to €65m.
Champions League
2025
Ligue 1
2025
UEFA Super Cup
2025
French Cup
2025
French Super Cup
2025
Belgian Pro League
2023
Belgian Cup
2023
Belgian Super Cup
2023
Copa Sudamericana
2019
Ecuadorian Serie A
2021
14 Antonio Rudiger Real Madrid and Germany
Antonio Rudiger has gone from strength to strength after joining Real Madrid from Chelsea back in 2022, so much so that he was linked with a return to Stamford Bridge.
Over the last 18 months, Rudiger has been praised by Carlo Ancelotti and Mesut Ozil, who have said the German “is playing at his best” and in his “prime”.
However, he has missed the majority of the 2025/26 season so far with a hamstring injury which has dropped him down the rankings.
La Liga
2024
Champions League
2021, 2024
Europa League
2019
FA Cup
2018
Copa del Rey
2023
FIFA Club World Cup
2022, 2023
UEFA Super Cup
2021, 2022, 2024
FIFA Intercontinental Cup
2024
Spanish Super Cup
2024
Confederations Cup
2017
13 Eder Militao Real Madrid and Brazil
Dropping down the list due to serious injuries in recent years is Real Madrid’s Eder Militao. The Brazilian was dubbed the “best in the world” at the back by Carlo Ancelotti in 2023 and has won multiple honours at the Bernabeu since 2019.
At the age of 27, Militao should still have plenty of high-level years ahead of him and will be looking to remain fit over the coming seasons.
Champions League
2022, 2024
La Liga
2020, 2022, 2024
Copa America
2019
Copa del Rey
2023
FIFA Club World Cup
2023
UEFA Super Cup
2022, 2024
FIFA Intercontinental Cup
2024
Spanish Super Cup
2020, 2022, 2024
12 Dayot Upamecano Bayern Munich and France
Transformed into Bayern Munich’s Mr. Reliable under Vincent Kompany has been Dayot Upamecano, who has partnered Kim Min-jae at the Allianz Arena.
Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund has said in 2025 that the Frenchman “has become a leader” who “plays strongly and consistently at a high level.” At the age of 26, Upamecano appears to be entering his prime.
Nations League
2021
Bundesliga
2022, 2023, 2025
Austrian Bundesliga
2016, 2017
Austrian Cup
2016, 2017
German Super Cup
2021, 2022
11 Josko Gvardiol Man City and Croatia
Josko Gvardiol stars as a centre-back and sometimes as a left-back for Man City and Croatia.
Used as a centre-back in the Nations League for his country, Gvardiol turned out centrally under Pep Guardiola in the latter stages of the 2024/25 season, with City winning five out of six Premier League games with the 23-year-old at the heart of the defence.
Premier League
2024
HNL
2020, 2021
FIFA Club World Cup
2024
UEFA Super Cup
2023
DFB-Pokal
2021, 2022
Community Shield
2024
Croatian Cup
2021
Croatian Super Cup
2019
10 Alessandro Buongiorno Napoli and Italy
At the top of his game with a career-high €45m Transfermarkt valuation is Napoli and Italy’s Alessandro Buongiorno.
The 25-year-old is “extraordinary in one-on-one situations” and has been key for Napoli under Antonio Conte, winning the Serie A title in 24/25. Should his rapid rise continue, Buongiorno could climb up this list in years to come.
9 Dean Huijsen Real Madrid and Spain
One of the most in-demand defenders of the 2025 summer transfer window was Dean Huijsen, with Real Madrid winning the race to sign the Spaniard from AFC Bournemouth.
Wanted all across Europe, Huijsen starred in the Premier League after leaving Juventus and Tiago Pinto even said he “will be the best central defender in the world in two years”.
Coppa Italia
2024
8 Marquinhos PSG and Brazil
Paris Saint-Germain icon Marquinhos has been leading a new generation of stars at the Parc des Princes under Luis Enrique and has still remained at an extremely high level himself.
Now 31, Marquinhos continues to be a regular in a young PSG side and even became the first player in the club’s history to start 100 matches for PSG in the Champions League.
Ligue 1
2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Copa America
2019
Champions League
2025
Coupe de France
2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2024
Coupe de la Ligue
2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020
French Super Cup
2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025
Copa Libertadores
2012
7 Ruben Dias Man City and Portugal
Ruben Dias is coming up to five years as a Man City player and continues to be a regular under Pep Guardiola, with Transfermarkt having the Portugal starvalued at €65m.
Rated as good as Virgil van Dijk by Jamie Carragher 12 months ago, Dias’ displays have dipped slightly at the Etihad in 2024/25, however, there is no denying his quality.
Premier League
2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Nations League
2019
Champions League
2023
FA Cup
2023
League Cup
2021
UEFA Super Cup
2023
Community Shield
2024
FIFA Club World Cup
2024
Liga Portugal
2019
Portuguese Super Cup
2020
6 Marc Guehi Crystal Palace and England
Marc Guehi is becoming one of the most in-demand centre-backs in world football after his move to Liverpool from Crystal Palace collapsed in the summer of 2025.
Now a regular for England and starring at Selhurst Park, Guehi is on course to become a free agent in 2026 and is being linked with the biggest clubs in Europe.
It shows just how good Guehi has been under Oliver Glasner, lifting the FA Cup and Community Shield with Palace in 2025.
FA Cup
2025
Community Shield
2025