To describe someone as one of the best left-backs in the world used to be damning them with faint praise. Left-back used to be where you'd stick the worst player on the team. No left foot? No problem; left-back was the spot for anyone who didn't have a specific job.
Boy, have things changed. Left-backs these days are multifunctional footballers capable of providing stability and creativity. They're just as valuable a member of anyone else and these days, some of the best footballers on Earth are tasked with holding down the position.
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How our experts decided the best left-backs in the world
The entire FourFourTwo team had some input on this one, voting for their favourite left-backs based on their current form, technical ability and their legacy as a player over the last couple of years. We wanted to produce a list that was not just reflective of the current state of the role but who's ruled the roost at left-back over the last two or three seasons.
Our experts submitted their own lists with scores, providing a shortlist of 17 players for consideration. From that, we cut the bottom seven out of the equation to provide you with a top 10.
We did the same across the board, analysing the other defensive positions in football. We've got the best goalkeepers on Earth for you, while just ahead, we've ranked the best centre-backs in the world, the best right-backs in the world and the best centre-backs in the world.
We've also listed the best defensive midfielders in the world, while these are the best central midfielders in the world and these are the best attacking midfielders in the world. We also have lists of forwards, including the best right-wingers in the world, the best left-wingers in the world and the best strikers in the world.
10. Luke Shaw (Manchester United)
It’s been a year of frustration for Luke Shaw in 2024. A series of injuries have wrecked his progress at Manchester United, but his pedigree remains and was enough to convince Gareth Southgate to gamble on the 29-year-old’s fitness when the former England boss named his Euro 2024 squad this summer.
Shaw was able to play in England’s final three matches in Germany, but another setback followed, meaning this worrying trend of Shaw not being able to get on the pitch has rumbled on into another season.
9. Federico Dimarco (Inter Milan)
A key part of Inter Milan’s dominant Serie title win this season, Dimarco went to Euro 2024 as one of the best attacking weapons at the tournament – but Italy floundered in defence of their title.
A return of five goals and six assists for Inter last term, however, only tells half the story when it comes to his bursts down the flank, while he is also a reliable defender and a threat from set-pieces. A goal from near the halfway line last November against Frosinone shows how alert he can be, too.
8. Alejandro Balde (Barcelona)
A member of that new generation of Barcelona youth products who they hope can put them firmly back on the top of the Spanish pile, Balde sadly missed the second half the La Liga season and the Euros with a hamstring tendon injury he suffered in January.
The left-back completed his return over the summer and has gone straight back into the Barcelona starting line-up, however, with his capable passing and brilliant running setting him up to be a potential long-term solution for years to come. There’s still work to be done on his final product – his 2023/24 was far less productive than his six-assist breakthrough season the year before – but at 20 years old, there’s still time for that to come.
7. Lucas Hernandez (Paris Saint-Germain)
It’s hard not to feel sorry for the Paris Saint-Germain defender after he missed out on Euro 2024 thanks to a torn ACL that he suffered in the Champions League semi-final defeat to Borussia Dortmund. That came after he ruptured a ligament in France’s World Cup 2022 opener and robbed him of the chance to play alongside brother Theo for Les Bleus this summer.
This latest injury came at the end of a solid first season, though, at PSG following his €40 million move from Bayern Munich in 2023. On his day, he’s still an excellent option at left-back and centre-back.
6. Andrew Robertson (Liverpool)
A reliable presence on the left-hand side of the Liverpool defence for the past decade, Robertson’s indefatigable runs into the opponent’s half have been key to the Reds winning a slew of domestic and European honours in recent years. As well as this relentless energy and ability to get the ball into the box, Robertson’s defensive acumen is up there with the best players in his position.
Is he ever going to slow down? There’s no sign of it. Liverpool haven’t been linked with too many replacements for him over the years and even through subtle system tweaks, Robbo remains. He’s one of the league’s greatest-ever left-backs.
5. Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid)
Relatively understated by modern full-backs’ standards, Mendy is rarely among the goals or assists… but then, when you’re playing for Real Madrid with their wealth of attacking talent and Carlo Ancelotti’s often pragmatic tactics, you don’t especially need to be.
Ancelotti paid the ultimate compliment to Mendy last season in two ways: first calling him ‘the best defensive full-back in the world’, and then by resting him for much of their end-of-season run-in (La Liga title already in the bag) to make sure he was fully fresh and available for their Champions League games. Worked, didn’t it?
4. Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich)
One of North America’s best European imports, Canada international Davies’ six seasons at Bayern Munich have seen him use his lightning-hast pace and dribbling ability to become one of the best players in his position.
Still only 23, Davis has five Bundesliga winners’ medals and also won the 2020 Champions League with the German giants. His displays have placed him on the radar of the likes of Real Madrid and Chelsea as he enters the final year of his contract at Bayern.
3. Theo Hernandez (Milan)
Milan’s inconsistency held them back from mounting a more serious title challenge to inter-city rivals Inter, but Hernandez remained a pretty consistent source of goals and assists – and yellow cards – throughout the campaign.
The French international was in particularly excellent form around the turn of the new year as MIlan enjoyed their best run of the season, then played every minute for France as they made their way to the Euro 2024 semi-finals.
2. Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City)
Gvardiol’s bizarre purple patch of goalscoring form towards the end of last season is just one small factor behind his inclusion after an excellent year for Manchester City, for whom he played a starring role on their way to the Premier League title.
Now found more often at centre-back again, the versatile Croatian is just the right fit for Pep Guardiola’s complex system that requires everyone to be a bit good at everything.
1. Alex Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen)
The Bayer Leverkusen wing-back has proven to be a superb pick-up since joining from Benfica in summer 2023, playing a massive hand in their remarkable Invincibles campaign last season with a frankly ridiculous 12 goals and 20 assists in all competitions.
We don’t think there’s another full-back or wing-back in Europe who comes close to matching that kind of contribution – and Grimaldo has carried his form into the new campaign, too. A stunning 12 months has been capped by Grimaldo also breaking into the Spanish national team and earning a winner’s medal for his bit-part contribution to their Euro 2024 victory.
