We as football fans exult in joy, clench our fists and turn celebrations into frenzy whenver our beloved team hits the back of the opposition net. We appreciate silky touches, dazzling footwork, nimble nutmegs and glittering dribbles. However there is a lot to the game than just scoring. Great managers and coaches have always stressed on the importance of fixing defending problems if the team are to win championships and knockout tournaments. Many a time, we have seen the team with perhaps the best defending record goes on to win the title at the expense of a team which might have a better goal scoring record but an inferior defensive discipline. Here is our list of the top ten defenders in the world right now. Feel free to slate us, if you don’t agree with our list. We would love our suggestions.
10. Raphael Varane Raphael Varane might not be in everyone’s list of the top 10 defenders at present but he just squeezes into it in this one just for the potential the guy has and also for the promising first few appearances that the young man made against the toughest of opponents. Plus when Zinedine Zidane says he’s a star, you can rest assured you’re picking a star.
9 Leonardo Bonucci– The Juventus' regular centre-back, the imposing Leonardo Bonucci, who has become a major player with both his club and the Italian national side since moving to Turin from Bari in 2010. Dominant aerially and an excellent man marker, Bonucci is a master of the arts of centre-back play. He is a classic modern day centre-back.
8. Sergio Ramos – The uncompromising Ramos has been a mainstay in the Real Madrid defense since his move from Sevilla in 2005. Ramos has excellent pace and is reliable in a tackle. His commitment often sees him getting in trouble with referees. When not getting himself into trouble, Ramos is exceptional. Despite being just 27, he already has over 100 caps for his country.
7. Pepe – The Portuguese has become one of the key elements of the current Real Madrid setup since his switch from Porto. Despite his reputation of being a hot-head and him losing his cool on some occasions, Pepe is one of the best defenders in the world with his presence in the center of defense and with set pieces.
6. Matt Hummels – The German International relies more on game intelligence than pace, Hummels is the elegant ball-playing half of the Dortmund central defensive pairing, with the aforementioned Subotic supplying the brawn. The German combines his clever positional play with a rugged side that allows him to get the upper hand on many elite strikers. Excellent at bringing the ball out of defence, he has become an important figure when it comes to starting attacks from deep for his club. He is truly a great all-around central defender.
5. Giorgio Chiellini - Giorgio Chiellini is the rock on which the Turin side has built their all-conquering Serie A side of recent years. Chiellini may lack the on-ball qualities of his two colleagues, but is the best defensive player at Juventus. With outstanding positional awareness and tackling technique, Chiellini is one of the most respected one-on-one opponents in world football. He is one of the most old-fashioned defenders, but also one of the best.
4. Vincent Kompany – The Belgium defender was heralded as one of the most exciting defensive prospects in the game in his early years at Anderlecht. He has duly delivered on that promise, and is now regarded as one of the best in the world. The unflappable Manchester City defender is quick, strong and dominant in the air. He grabs few headlines and goes about his business with the pure professionalism.
3. Phillip Lahm One of the mainstays of the Germany team for several years, Lahm's marauding runs from full-back are a good avenue of attack for Germany and Bayern Munich. The versatile Lahm is capable of shooting and passing with either foot. At club level he has won almost everything there is to win, including the 2013 Champions League and the treble. Bayern won the league title at a canter, with a remarkable record of just 18 goals conceded over the course of the campaign
2. Nemaja Vidic – The Manchester United defender may not be playing in one of the most prominent national teams, but he helps form a defense that has been particularly stingy over the years. A commanding presence who can also pop up with headed goals from time to time, Vidic has been beset by injuries in recent years but when he is at his best, he possesses all the experience and know-how to keep even the most dangerous strikers from the Premier League and across Europe at bay.
1. Thiago Silva – The Brazilian has almost everything - strong in the tackle and commanding in the air combining physicality, intelligence and high levels of skill to form an astoundingly good defensive player. His performances at AC Milan prompted PSG to pay 46 million euros for the player in July 2012 and he quickly helped the club to their first Ligue 1 title since 1994. He is undisputedly the best central defender in world football at present.
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