From past to present, the world of football has produced numerous famous stars in defensive positions. They are indeed the true "warriors" who always take to the field with passion and the highest determination. Defenders often possess towering height along with exceptional tackling and interception abilities. Moreover, they sometimes serve as a mental pillar for their teammates in the forward lines. With such an important role, many have become legends. Perhaps you haven't guessed who they are yet? Let's find out together with admin Wintips through the list The best centre backs in the world below.
Top 10 the best centre backs in the world - Contemporary football legends
1/ Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Beckenbauer is widely regarded as the greatest legendary defender in the world. He is not only an exceptional technical defender but also an icon in the history of world football, known for his versatility, leadership, and profound influence.
He played as a central defender but was also capable of playing as a central midfielder and winger. He helped Bayern Munich win 4 Bundesliga titles, 4 UEFA Champions League titles, and 1 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. In 1974, Beckenbauer led the German national team to win the World Cup and became the first and only player in World Cup history to score in all 7 matches of the tournament.
2/ Marcel Desailly - The best centre backs in the world
Marcel Desailly is a legendary French football centre-back. The male player served as captain of the France and AC Milan teams. Desailly began his career at Nantes in 1983 and helped Nantes win a Ligue 1 title, a Coupe de France, and a Coupe de la Ligue title.
In 1992, Desailly moved to Milan for €7.5 million. He helped Milan win 5 Serie A titles, 4 Champions League titles, and 2 Intercontinental Cup titles. Desailly was also an important member of the French team. He helped France win the World Cup in 1998 and 2002, and the Euros in 2000.
3/ Gaetano Scirea - The best centre backs in the world
Italian football legend, Gaetano Scirea, began his career at Atalanta in 1967 and quickly became one of the world's finest defenders. He helped Atalanta win 1 Serie B title and 1 Coppa Italia title. Next, in 1972, Scirea moved to Juventus for 1 million euros and played a pivotal role in the club's success, winning 7 Serie A titles, 1 Coppa Italia title, and 1 UEFA Champions League title.
M. Scirea was also a crucial member of the Italian national team. He helped Italy win the World Cup in 1982 and the European Championship in 1968. The legend Scirea retired in 1988 and stayed at Juve to work as a scout. In 1989, Scriea died at the age of 36 in Poland after a traffic accident.
4/ Bobby Moore
Bobby Moore is considered one of the greatest legendary defenders of all time. He played as a center-back and captained both the England national team and West Ham United. Moore began his career at West Ham United in 1958 and quickly became one of the world's finest defenders. He helped West Ham United win 1 FA Cup, 1 European Cup Winners' Cup, and 1 FA Community Shield.
He was the first and only player in World Cup history to receive the FIFA World Cup Best Player award. Beckenbauer also listed Moore as one of the greatest "rocks" in football history. Moore captained the Three Lions (England national team) to victory in the FIFA World Cup 1966, and he was also the leader of West Ham United for over 10 years, making 664 appearances for the club.
5/ Fabio Cannavaro - The best centre backs in the world
Fabio Cannavaro, another legendary Italian football defender, is highly regarded for his abilities on the field. He is not only an outstanding defender but also possesses the skill to initiate attacks from the defensive line. Cannavaro began his career at Napoli in 1992 and went on to captain both the Italian national team and Juventus.
In 1995, he transferred to Juventus for €10 million. He helped Juventus win 5 Serie A titles, 4 Coppa Italia titles, and 1 UEFA Champions League title. Cannavaro was also a crucial member of the Italian national team. He played a pivotal role in Italy's victory in the 2006 World Cup, where he was named the Best Player of the tournament.
6/ Franco Baresi - The best centre backs in the world
Before Cannavaro, Italian football boasted Franco Baresi at the heart of the defence. AC Milan's No. 6 won 1 World Cup, 3 C1/Champions League cups and 6 Serie A titles. In 1994, Baresi showed top form in the World Cup final against Brazil. But fate did not choose Baresi and Italy as the Azzurri lost on penalties to the Selecao.
Franco Baresi, the legendary leader of AC Milan for over 20 years, played a pivotal role in the club's success under coach Arrigo Sacchi, contributing significantly to 3 Champions League titles and 6 Serie A championships, ushering in an era of brilliant achievements for the Rossoneri.
7/ Sergio Ramos
The next name to appear on the list of legendary center-backs in the football world is Sergio Ramos – the Spanish football icon, who once captained both Real Madrid and the Spanish national team. Ramos began his career at Sevilla in 2004 before moving to Real Madrid in 2009 for a fee of 27 million euros. He has helped Real Madrid win 5 La Liga titles, 4 UEFA Champions League titles, and 2 Copa del Rey titles.
S. Ramos has also been a crucial member of the Spanish national team. He played a pivotal role in Spain's victories in 2 World Cups, 1 European Championship, and 1 UEFA Nations League title. In fact, Ramos often causes division in the eyes of experts and fans with his tricks and ungainly red cards.
8/ Ronald Koeman - The best centre backs in the world
Another famous legendary center-back to add to the list is Ronald Koeman, the Dutch football icon. Koeman began his career at Ajax in 1983 and helped Ajax win 4 Eredivisie titles, 3 KNVB Cups, and 1 UEFA Champions League title. In 1989, Koeman moved to Barcelona for a fee of 7.5 million euros.
He played a key role in Barcelona winning 4 La Liga titles, 4 Copa del Rey titles, and 1 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. Koeman was also a crucial member of the Dutch national team. He helped the Netherlands win the Euro 1988 championship and was named the Player of the Tournament.
9/ Matthias Sammer - The best centre backs in the world
Matthias Sammer began his career at Dynamo Dresden in 1985, and quickly became one of the best legendary centre-backs in the world. He helped Dynamo Dresden win 3 Bundesliga titles, and 1 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup title. In 1990, Sammer moved to Bayern Munich for €2 million.
He helped Bayern Munich win 6 Bundesliga titles, 4 Champions League titles, and 1 Intercontinental Cup title. Sammer was also an important member of the German team. He helped Germany win the World Cup in 1990, and the Euros in 1996.
10/ Alessandro Nesta
Alessandro Nesta's career was on the rise, with major European clubs always eyeing and recruiting the talented defender. After impressive performances with precise headers and beautiful ball clearances, Alessandro Nesta's name unexpectedly appeared on the Italian national team's roster. He was one of the youngest players, a talented seed at the 2006 World Cup. The young man made a name for himself on the international stage, alongside legendary figures like Lionel Messi and Ronaldo.
However, after the 2006 World Cup season, Alessandro Nesta suffered a severe injury and was forced to temporarily halt his career for treatment. Since then, fans have not seen Nesta wearing his jersey, executing those beautiful ball clearances on the field. It was a significant loss for both A.C. Milan and the Italian national team.
Conclude
Above is the The best centre backs in the world list of the greatest defenders in the history of world football. Undoubtedly, many of these names have appeared in your memories, representing a glorious era of their own. Not only are they the greatest defenders in history, but they also serve as role models for young players to emulate and learn from. We have seen how outstanding players like Saliba, Dias, or Van Dijk are. Hopefully, one day these names will be added to the list of legends above. Our trader bookmaker website will continue to provide updates on various interesting sports news, so don't forget to visit our website every day.
See also: Ranking of the most expensive goalkeeper is in history
