Defenders have a tough job in football. They do the gritty work on the field. They tackle opponents, block shots, and fight for the ball. When we talk about defenders, we mean both center-backs and full-backs.
Full-backs are more involved in attacking, but their main job is to defend. A strong defense is crucial for any good football team. If a team has reliable defenders, they’re halfway to success.
Today, we’ll talk about defenders who have achieved a lot in their careers. They’ve consistently performed well at the highest levels of the game and made a big impact.
Now, let’s look at 10 of the best defenders ever.
10. Gaetano Scirea
Gaetano Scirea was one of the best ‘liberos’ ever. A ‘libero’ plays just behind the main defenders and steps in to stop attacks. Scirea was exceptional in the early 1980s.
He achieved a remarkable feat by winning every major club trophy recognized by FIFA and UEFA. Scirea played a key role in Italy winning the 1982 FIFA World Cup. He spent 14 years at Juventus from 1974 to 1988.
During his time there, he won seven Serie A titles, two Coppa Italias, one European Cup, one UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, one UEFA Super Cup, and one Intercontinental Cup.
He sadly passed away at the age of 36. However, he is remembered as one of the greatest of all time (GOAT) for his strong defending and fair play.
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9. Alessandro Nesta
In the early 2000s, Alessandro Nesta was considered the best defender worldwide. He played for AC Milan, known for their tough defense. Nesta wasn’t just strong and athletic; he was also skilled with the ball. He could pass well and was crucial in starting attacks from the back.
Nesta had a keen sense of where to be on the field and was smart tactically. This helped him later in his career when he lost some speed. Despite injuries, he achieved a lot in football. He was named Serie A defender of the year from 2000 to 2003 and won multiple championships: three Serie A titles, two Champions League titles, one FIFA Club World Cup, and three Coppa Italias.
8. Philipp Lahm
Philipp Lahm was a rare player who spent his entire club career at Bayern Munich, except for a short time on loan at Vfb Stuttgart. Lahm could play on either side of the field and later also played as a defensive midfielder.
He led Bayern Munich to win three major trophies in 2013. He was also part of the German team that reached the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2006 and 2010 before winning it in 2014.
During his career, Lahm won eight Bundesliga titles, six DFB Pokals, one Champions League title, and one FIFA Club World Cup with Bayern Munich. He is considered one of the most skillful defenders ever and is widely regarded as one of the best full-backs in football history.
7. Sergio Ramos
Sergio Ramos is widely considered one of the best central defenders of the 21st century. The Spanish player has had a remarkable career and is the most decorated defender ever in soccer.
Not only is Ramos incredibly strong in defense, but he also contributes a lot on offense. He’s known for his skill in heading the ball and winning aerial battles. Throughout his career, Ramos has scored 105 goals in 721 club games, which is exceptional for a central defender.
Ramos was part of the dominant Spanish national team that won consecutive European Championships in 2008 and 2010. He also played a key role in Spain’s victory at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
In his club career, Ramos has won five La Liga titles, four Champions League titles, four FIFA Club World Cups, two Copa del Reys, and three UEFA Super Cups.
6. Giacinto Facchetti
Giacinto Facchetti was a great defender who scored many goals. He played for ‘Grande Inter’ in the 1960s, when they were very successful in Italy. He is known as one of the best full-backs who could attack well.
Starting as an attacker helped Facchetti become a strong player on the sides of the field. His speed, smart moves, strength, and endurance made him shine for his club and his country.
Facchetti led Italy to win the 1968 European Championship as captain. He also played in the Italian team that came second in the 1970 FIFA World Cup.
In his club career, Facchetti won four Serie A titles, two European Cups, two Intercontinental Cups, and one Coppa Italia. He was also the second-best player in the 1965 Ballon d’Or competition.
5. Daniel Passarella
Daniel Passarella, like Facchetti and Ramos, was a defender who knew how to score goals. In 556 games, he scored 182 goals. He was the top-scoring defender until Ronald Koeman surpassed him.
Passarella was from Argentina and was a strong leader. He won the Argentinian Premier League four times. His biggest achievement was leading Argentina to win the World Cup in 1978.
He was known for his toughness. The Times ranked him 36th on a list of the toughest footballers ever. He had a public disagreement with Diego Maradona and coach Carlos Bilardo. Passarella accused them of not giving him a fair chance during the 1986 World Cup. However, he is the only player who played for Argentina in both of their World Cup wins.
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4. Bobby Moore
Bobby Moore is a famous English footballer. He led the England team to win the FIFA World Cup in 1966 as their captain. Many consider him the best player ever for West Ham United. Even the legendary Pele praised him as the greatest defender he ever faced.
Moore is so admired in English football that they put up a statue of him outside Wembley Stadium. He was a skilled centre-back known for his smart play and ability to read the game well.
Moore’s style focused on blocking passes and making quick steals. This was different from the tough tackling usually seen in defenders. In 1970, Moore came in second place for the Ballon d’Or award.
3. Franco Baresi
During a certain time in history, Italian defenders were incredibly strong and hard to beat. Franco Baresi is a legendary player for AC Milan. He led the team for 15 years and is widely seen as one of the best center-backs ever.
Baresi spent his entire 20-year club career with AC Milan. During that time, he won six Serie A titles, three UEFA Champions League titles, four Supercoppa Italiana titles, two European Super Cups, and two Intercontinental Cups.
He also won the 1982 FIFA World Cup with Italy. In 1994, he captained Italy in the World Cup final, where they unfortunately lost. Baresi missed his penalty during the shootout that night.
In 1999, Baresi was voted Milan’s Player of the Century. He was known for being a complete defender, strong in defense and technically skilled. His ability to read the game and predict plays was outstanding.
Moreover, Baresi was known for his passing skills and vision, making him excellent at distributing the ball. This helped him become one of the greatest sweepers the game has ever seen.
2. Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Beckenbauer was the best defender of the 1970s. He played for both his club and his country, Germany, and won the Ballon d’Or award twice.
He was known as “Der Kaiser,” which means “The Emperor,” because of his strong presence on the field, smooth playing style, and ability to lead. Beckenbauer started his career as a midfielder but later became a centre-back, where he excelled. He’s famous for creating the ‘libero’ or sweeper position in football.
Beckenbauer was the captain when West Germany won the European championship in 1972 and then led his team to win the World Cup in 1974. He also won three consecutive European Cups with Bayern Munich from 1974 to 1976.
He’s one of only three people who have won the World Cup as both a player and a coach. In 1990, he coached West Germany to their World Cup victory. Beckenbauer was named the German Footballer of the Year four times during his career.
1. Paolo Maldini
Paolo Maldini had a career that lasted 25 years, all with AC Milan. He played 902 games for them and 126 times for Italy. He was known for his consistency throughout his career.
Maldini was a legendary player who inspired many defenders. He was skilled with both feet and started as a right-back before switching to the left to accommodate another player. He could play any defensive position well, known for his awareness, tactical thinking, and precise tackling.
Besides his defensive skills, Maldini was good at attacking too. He could make great crosses and score goals. Later in his career, he moved to center-back and continued to excel. He was also excellent at passing the ball from defense.
During his career, Maldini won many titles with AC Milan, including seven Serie A titles and five Champions League titles. He also achieved success with the Italian national team, finishing as runners-up in the 1994 World Cup and the 2000 Euros.
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