No footy around most of Europe except for the UK, and we continue our Top 5 in the world by position rankings, this time listing the best central defenders in world football today.
Number 5 – Gerard Pique, Barcelona & Spain
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The 22 year old Catalan player has made an amazing transformation since leaving United and returning to the club he grew up in, transforming from an unwanted sub on Ferguson’s bench to a regular starter on one of the best side’s Europe has ever seen under Pep Guardiola. He’s a bit slow, but other than that, Pique is a fantastic player to have in your back four – tall, clever, strong and a fantastic aerial game on both sides of the pitch. When Puyol retires, Pique will probably be the new heart of Barcelona’s defense.
Number 4 – Rio Ferdinand, Manchester United & England
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So far an injury-riddled 2009-2010 campaign for Rio (only 5 league appearances), but despite his recent absence and shaky form when on the pitch, he’s still one of the premier defenders in the world, and not just because of his ability. Ferdinand is probably the main reason Vidic is in this top 5, as seen in the last two seasons. He does suffer from the occasional lack of concentration, but not as much like in his younger days, and generally beams of confidence and leadership, with a knack of being in the right place and the right time to put in that crucial tackle.
Number 3 – Nemanja Vidic, Manchester United & Serbia
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Always considered an excellent centre back, it seemed that 2008-2009 finally saw Vidic get the recognition he deserves, finally being put in the argument of the best central defender in the world. If it wasn’t for his temperament (which usually involves getting burnt by Fernando Torres) and certain “blackout” games, he’d be number one on this list. He’s got it all, and when partnered together with Ferdinand they form what is probably the best CB duo in the world, like last season’s 14 consecutive clean sheet run, helping Vidic to win the Manchester United Fans’ and the Players’ player of the year award.
Number 2 – Carles Puyol, Barcelona & Spain
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Heart and passion. No other footballer in the world has those qualities in him in the amounts that Barcelona’s captain has. Every tackle he dives into, every header he elevates towards, he goes into with full force, and usually wins it, first to get up when the dust clears. He gets shifted from Center to right back, depending on how healthy Dani Alves is at the moment, but even thought he doesn’t own the pace he used to have, he can shut down anyone (2009 Champions League final for example), including the world’s best (Cristiano Ronaldo). He’s not immune to an occasional blunder or mistake but he tends to make up for them with his non-stop effort during the whole 90 minutes, and despite all the flashy names playing upfront for Barca, Puyol is the heart & soul of this club.
Number 1 – John Terry, Chelsea & England
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So he missed the penalty in the 2008 Champions league final, ruining Chelsea’s best shot at winning their first UCL title. Like Puyol, Terry is Chelsea, the only London-born homegrown player in the first team and usually the senior squad unless some youth team player gets involved somehow. There’s no shot he won’t get in it’s way, hardly ever beaten in the air and probably there’s no one who can shove him around (good thing to have Drogba on your team). Even if there is, Carvalho will be there to stop them with a dirty tackle. So he isn’t lightning-bolt fast, it doesn’t stop him from being the top defender in the Premiership and the world.
25 responses to “The Top Five Centre Backs in the World”
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hola carles puyol
bs
where is nesta, lucio, cannavaro, samuel?
not in the top 5…
Er, John Terry at number one???? Peter, are you a Chelksi fan/dia hard patriot that you can’t see what everyone else sees? Namely a very good defender, just not on the same level as Vidic, Puyol & Lucio. Nesta, Cannavaro and Rio are all injury-riddled/winding down their careers, even then John Terry doesn’t top that roster of players I’ve mentioned!
LUCIO
Piqué in few years is going to be the best central defender ever. Now he is just the best.
piquez ovaratd.2reaznz y1.barcaz bst 4m of defens iz atak which covers up piquez defensv frailties 2.at man u he waz a 4th choice cb bhnd rio vidic n evans so my top10 is az foloz 1.canavaro, itz nt evrydae a def.winz da wurld playa awad ahed of dinho n ziz0u 2.jt 3.luci0 4.puyol 5.nesta 6.ri0 7.vidic 8.carra 9.juan 0 pepe 11.jus 4 da sake 0f it pique.
TERRY!? he is old and slow, his dad sells drugs and his mum is a theif! Rio, Puyol and Vidic are rocks
John Terry?! Better than Ferdinand? Really?! John!? Terry?! He’s slow. Resorts to last ditch sliding tackles and blocks far to easily. Is constantly caught out of position which necessitates the former. He’s brave yes but that does not a defender make. Carvalho is the reason he looked good for Chelsea last season and Alex will cover his ass this season. Also no Lucio? Do you even watch football?
Lol at Terry being 1st and Lucio not even making the top 5.
Rio and Terry dont deserve to be put in that top 5 like peopl have said lucio is one of the great cbs right now and you can take your pick to get rid of rio
every single one of them is a great defender and they are surely in the top ten in wich i would put john terry in th 9th or 10th place, but what shocks me is that besides Ricardo Carvalho is not on the list hes not even mentioned by anyone, probably the best central defender of the decade and at the same time the most underrated by nearly everyone! is faster than any of the above, as more tecnical than any of the above, smarter, flawless positioning, etc, etc, ask john terry, or even better, see the Chelsea defense this year, if it is better?
Portuguese compliments
This list is the worst I have ever seen. It is clearly rubbish
[…] you want to check how the list looked last year, go here. Tags: 2010-2011 season, best by position, best central defenders, best centre backs, best […]
John Terry ?no he´s slow,Ferdinand ? No his Time is out,Cannavaro ?no he is now too Old Grandpa. For Me Puyol is a very Good Defender but the best of best is LUCIO .
Yes For me he is one of the best Defenders in the World , he is sooooo underrated , very sad very sad . Go Lucio
sorry for my English im from Germany
Yes its true , Lucio is a Worldclass Player but he is soo underrated .
He is fast,strong , smart.
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your lovely player
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