The best soccer players of all time aren't always the ones right in the action, sometimes all it takes is a step back and a bit of appreciation to realize that the grunts who are defending the goal are the best. These best football defenders (as they're called everywhere besides the US) are in the ranks of the best athletes in the world, and have earned their spots by being the best footballers in the world.
What are the qualities of the best defenders in soccer? These men are equal parts the best defense men in soccer, the top players in soccer, and the best conditioned athletes in the sport of soccer. To truly be the greatest, defenders must be quick runners and possess the ability to kick the ball FAR, all the way to the other side of the field. Defensive soccer players must also have a mastery of fancy footwork - lest they let an offensive player weave past them. All these factors and more combine to determine who should be called the best defenders in soccer.
Who are the best soccer defenders of all time? Who are the top defenders in soccer? Who are the best football defenders of all time? SO MANY QUESTIONS, all which need to be answered in this compilation of the top soccer defenders ever. If your favorite soccer player in the position of defender isn't on the list, make sure to add them so others can vote for them as the best football defender ever. If you don't add them, they won't get any play.1
6,6071,125Paolo Maldini
ItalyPosition: Defender
Birthplace: Milan, Italy
Paolo Cesare Maldini (Italian pronunciation: [ˈpaːolo malˈdiːni]; born 26 June 1968) is an... more2
3,2071,555Franco Baresi
ItalyPosition: Defender
Birthplace: Travagliato, Italy
Franco Baresi (Italian pronunciation: [ˈfraŋko baˈreːzi; -eːsi]; born 8 May 1960) is an... more3
3,7431,184Franz Beckenbauer
GermanyPosition: Defender, Sweeper
Birthplace: Munich, Germany
Franz Anton Beckenbauer (pronounced [ˈfʁants ˈbɛkn̩ˌbaʊɐ]; born 11 September 1945) is a German... more4
2,3491,081Cafu
BrazilPosition: Defender
Birthplace: São Paulo, Brazil
Marcos Evangelista de Morais (born 7 June 1970), known as Cafu [kaˈfu], is a Brazilian former... more5
925554Cesare Maldini
ItalyPosition: Defender
Birthplace: Trieste, Italy
Cesare Maldini (Italian pronunciation: [ˈtʃeːzare malˈdiːni, ˈtʃɛː-]; 5 February 1932 – 3... more6
1,469968Bobby Moore
United Kingdom, EnglandPosition: Defender
Birthplace: London, Barking, United Kingdom
Robert Frederick Chelsea Moore OBE (12 April 1941 – 24 February 1993) was an English... more7
1,089903Frank Rijkaard
NetherlandsPosition: Defender, Midfielder
Birthplace: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Franklin Edmundo Rijkaard (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈfrɑŋk ˈrɛi̯kaːrt] (listen); born 30... more8
1,014894Giacinto Facchetti
ItalyPosition: Defender
Birthplace: Treviglio, Italy
Giacinto Facchetti (Italian pronunciation: [dʒaˈtʃinto fakˈketti]; 18 July 1942 – 4 September... more9
691605Daniel Passarella
ArgentinaPosition: Defender
Birthplace: Chacabuco, Argentina
Daniel Alberto Passarella (born 25 May 1953) is an Argentine retired footballer who played as... more10
640400Position: Defender
Birthplace: Jerago con Orago, Italy
Alessandro "Billy" Costacurta (Italian pronunciation: [alesˈsandro ˈbilli ˌkɔstaˈkurta]; born... more11
3,1681,116Alessandro Nesta
ItalyPosition: Defender
Birthplace: Rome, Italy
Alessandro Nesta (Italian pronunciation: [alesˈsandro ˈnɛsta]; born 19 March 1976) is a... more12
341268Mauro Tassotti
ItalyPosition: Defender
Birthplace: Rome, Italy
Mauro Tassotti (Italian pronunciation: [ˈmauro tasˈsɔtti]; born in Rome, 19 January 1960) is... more13
956528Lilian Thuram
FrancePosition: Defender
Birthplace: Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe
Ruddy Lilian Thuram-Ulien (French pronunciation: [li.ljɑ̃ ty.ʁam]; born 1 January 1972) is a... more14
332287Fulvio Collovati
ItalyPosition: Defender
Birthplace: Teor, Italy
Fulvio Collovati (Italian pronunciation: [ˈfulvjo kolloˈvaːti]; born 9 May 1957) is an Italian... more15
5624José Ramón Alexanko
SpainPosition: Defender
Birthplace: Barakaldo, Spain
José Ramón Alexanko Ventosa (Spanish pronunciation: [xo'se ra'mon alek'saŋko βen'tosa]; born... more16
2,6791,594Sergio Ramos
SpainPosition: Defender, Midfielder
Birthplace: Camas, Seville
Sergio Ramos García (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈseɾxjo ˈramoz ɣaɾˈθi.a]; born 30 March 1986) is... more17
454314Giuseppe Bergomi
ItalyPosition: Defender
Birthplace: Milan, Italy
Giuseppe "Beppe" Bergomi (Italian pronunciation: [dʒuˈzɛppe ˈbɛrɡomi]; born 22 December 1963)... more18
392327Claudio Gentile
Libya, ItalyPosition: Defender
Birthplace: Tripoli, Libya
Claudio Gentile (Italian pronunciation: [ˈklaudjo dʒenˈtiːle]; born 27 September 1953 in... more19
450376Lucio
BrazilPosition: Defender
Birthplace: Planaltina, Federal District, Brazil
Lucimar Ferreira da Silva (born 8 May 1978), commonly known as Lúcio, is a Brazilian... more20
1,361881Thiago Silva
BrazilPosition: Defender, Midfielder
Birthplace: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Thiago Emiliano da Silva (Brazilian Portuguese: [tʃiˈaɡu ẽmiliˈɐ̃nu dɐ ˈsiwvɐ]; born 22... more21
275264Alan Hansen
Scotland, United KingdomPosition: Defender
Birthplace: Sauchie, United Kingdom
Alan David Hansen (born 13 June 1955) is a Scottish former football player and BBC television... more22
2,411969Fabio Cannavaro
ItalyPosition: Defender
Birthplace: Naples, Italy
Fabio Cannavaro (Italian pronunciation: [ˈfaːbjo kannaˈvaːro]; born 13 September 1973) is an... more23
2,6091,041Roberto Carlos
BrazilPosition: Defender, Midfielder
Birthplace: Garça, Brazil
Roberto Carlos da Silva Rocha (born 10 April 1973), more commonly known simply as Roberto... more24
299110Virgil van Dijk
NetherlandsPosition: Defender
Birthplace: Breda, Netherlands
Virgil van Dijk is a Dutch footballer who currently plays as a centre back for Scottish... more25
3,0321,115Carles Puyol
SpainPosition: Defender
Birthplace: La Pobla de Segur, Spain
Carles Puyol Saforcada (Catalan pronunciation: [ˈkaɾles puˈjɔl i safoɾˈkaða]; born 13 April... more
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