Discussing the best right-backs in the world was not something most would have considered doing even 15 years ago.
Famously, no one “grew up wanting to be Gary Neville”. Well, things have changed a little. Judging modern right-backs is about far more than just their defensive capabilities, as we assess who offers something bombing down their flank and even inverting into midfield.
Who'd have thought it 20 years ago, eh?
How our experts decided the best right-backs in the world
We asked our football experts to give us a list of the top 10 right-backs in the world right now. The criteria was simple: the list had to reflect current form and ability, of course, yet pay respect to the last 24 months or so and players' standing within the game.
Players top of an expert's respective list got 10 points, down to the 10th-placed players, who received just one. Overall, only 13 right-backs received votes: Joshua Kimmich, for example, receives an honourable mention – but omitted in favour of our ranking of the best defensive midfielders in the world, given that he's played there much more this season.
This is one of 10 positions that FourFourTwo experts were asked for their picks on. Goalkeepers, defence (right-backs, centre-backs and left-backs), midfield (defensive midfielders, central midfielders and attacking midfielders), and attack (right-wingers, left-wingers and strikers) have all been split, with the same criteria presented for each list.
On top of all of that, our list of the best players in the world right now covers right-backs and beyond. So let's get started, shall we?
Honourable mentions
Honourable mentions
The full list
10. Marcos Llorente
Age: 30
Club: Atletico Madrid
Nationality: Spain
A key part of the Diego Simeone experience at Atletico Madrid over the past six seasons, there aren’t many positions the Spain international can’t play. But he appears to have settled into the right-back position which suits his defensive ability, stamina and above all pace.
The former Real Madrid man turned 30 in January but shows few signs of slowing down as he can be found week-in week-out hurtling down the flank and embodying the exacting standards that Simeone demands from his players.
9. Tino Livramento
Age: 22
Club: Newcastle United
Nationality: England
Livramento is one of England’s best options in a post-Kyle Walker set-up.
A first senior England call-up this season was a just reward for Livramento’s continued progress with Newcastle United, where he has formed one of the best young full-back pairings in the game alongside Lewis Hall.
The pair will hope to become Three Lions regulars under Thomas Tuchel, with Livramento’s defensive nous, pace and desire to improve making him one of England’s best options in a post-Kyle Walker set-up.
8. Giovanni Di Lorenzo
Age: 31
Club: Napoli
Nationality: Italy
The past two seasons have been an up-and-down time for the Italy defender. After captaining Napoli to the 2022/23 Scudetto (something only Diego Maradona had previously done), the team made a mess of their title defence, with Di Lorenzo enduring a tough Euro 2024 with Italy.
But the appointment of Antonio Conte and a new system has revitalised the 31-year-old for both club and country and he is now back to being one of Serie A’s most effective attacking full-backs.
7. Malo Gusto
Age: 21
Club: Chelsea
Nationality: France
Gusto's speed and athleticism make him the ideal modern full-back.
In a crowded field, Malo Gusto is one of Chelsea’s best signings of the past couple of seasons. Taking advantage of Reece James’ injury woes, the former Lyon youngster has been a beacon of consistency for the Blues over the past 18 months and one of the first names on the team-sheet.
His speed and athleticism make him the ideal modern full-back and at 21 years of age, he should be a staple of lists like these for a long time to come.
6. Denzel Dumfries
Age: 28
Club: Inter Milan
Nationality: Netherlands
Dumfries emerged as a leading talent relatively late in his career, as a 2018 move to PSV Eindhoven saw him find his groove. His defensive solidarity, speed and attacking instincts saw him force his way into the Netherlands side, where Ronald De Boer’s 3-5-2 formation played to his strengths and he would emerge as one of the best attacking full-backs in the tournament.
Now, he’s an integral attacking weapon for Inter Milan, winning the Scudetto last season and replacing Achraf Hakimi’s output with relative ease. He’s no slouch going the other way, either – and rumours linking him with the Premier League are seemingly never-ending.
5. Jules Kounde
Age: 26
Club: Barcelona
Nationality: France
Now pretty solidly a right-back for club and country after starting out as a centre-back before gradually transitioning into the job full-time – and for good reason.
The France and Barcelona star is not upsetting any assists tables, but he fits in well in a pair of sides where the full-backs play a rather more traditional role: take the work off the wingers defensively, and offer them a solid platform in attack. Kounde is doing both parts of that job while still working hard to add to his game in the final third - and there are signs of that starting to pay off.
4. Jurrien Timber
Age: 23
Club: Arsenal
Nationality: Netherlands
Timber's mentality might just be his most impressive trait.
Having returned from an ACL injury, Timber has had to play almost every week, owing to Ben White’s knee surgery and absences at left-back and centre-back. The Dutchman is yet to drop anything less than an 8/10.
Timber is the complete full-back, offering excellence on the ball, the ability to invert and an aggression that makes him a favourite in most duels. It’s his mentality that might just be his most impressive trait, however, as he’s risen from the darkness of injury hell to be one of Arsenal’s players of the season and a leader in the team.
3. Achraf Hakimi
Age: 26
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Nationality: Morocco
Achraf Hakimi has established himself as a monster in this position. He’s a bona fide superstar in a more low-key Paris Saint-Germain team, and seems to have finally found his home, recently penning a new deal in Paris following stints at Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan.
The third-most expensive African player of all-time, Hakimi is now playing the best football of his career under Luis Enrique, defensively rock-solid and full of energy down the right-hand side. His new deal in the French capital runs until 2029 and sent a notable hands-off message to Real Madrid, who were looking to lure him back the Bernabeu as a long-term replacement for Dani Carvajal.
2. Jeremie Frimpong
Age: 24
Club: Bayer Leverkusen
Nationality: Netherlands
Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong is very much a modern full-back, more concerned with bursting forward than rushing back to defend. Typically utilised as a wing-back by Xabi Alonso, the Dutchman has been given scope to repeatedly attack, netting an impressive 14 goals in all competitions as Leverkusen went unbeaten on the way to the Bundesliga title in 2023/24.
Frimpong’s pace and directness make him a nightmare for opposition full-backs, particularly when he is in a system that gives him free rein to venture forward uninhibited.
1. Trent Alexander-Arnold
Age: 26
Club: Liverpool
Nationality: England
Trent Alexander-Arnold is still the best around: the most unique, the most creative and a key reason that his team are flying right now. The England right-back has not let the ongoing speculation over his future derail Liverpool’s promising season, as he has seamlessly fit into a new manager’s style of play showcasing his trademark pinpoint deliveries and technical ability.
Alexander-Arnold recently broke Steven Gerrard’s record to become the youngest player to reach 250 Premier League starts for the Reds and it’s now up to him to decide if he wants to keep taking apart the Anfield record books or spread his wings and try his luck in Europe.
