Best Retired Football (Soccer) Defenders
The Top Ten
1 Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Anton Beckenbauer (born 11 September 1945, died 7 January 2024) was a German professional footballer and manager. Early in his playing career, he was nicknamed "Der Kaiser" because of his elegant style, dominance, and leadership on the field. His first name "Franz" is reminiscent of the Austrian emperors... read more
Franz Anton Beckenbauer (born 11 September 1945, died 7 January 2024) was a German professional footballer and manager. Early in his playing career, he was nicknamed "Der Kaiser" because of his elegant style, dominance, and leadership on the field. His first name "Franz" is reminiscent of the Austrian emperors... read more
2 Paulo Maldini
3 Franco Baresi
4 Carles Puyol
Best defender of all time
5 Alessandro Nesta
6 Laurent Blanc
7 Bobby Moore
Robert Frederick Chelsea "Bobby" Moore was an English professional footballer. He captained West Ham United for more than ten years and was captain of the England team that won the 1966 World Cup.
Robert Frederick Chelsea "Bobby" Moore was an English professional footballer. He captained West Ham United for more than ten years and was captain of the England team that won the 1966 World Cup.
8 Fernando Hierro
9 Fabio Cannavaro
10 Marcel Desailly
The Contenders
11 Philipp Lahm
Philipp Lahm is a German professional footballer who plays as a right back or defensive midfielder for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich.
Philipp Lahm is a German professional footballer who plays as a right back or defensive midfielder for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich.
12 Nemanja Vidić
13 Giacinto Facchetti
14 Roberto Carlos
Roberto Carlos da Silva Rocha (born 10 April 1973), commonly known as Roberto Carlos, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who now works as a football ambassador. He started his career in Brazil as a forward but spent most of his career as a left back and has been described as the "most offensive-minded left-back in the history of the game". Carlos is also widely considered one of the best left backs in history, and was also known as a free kick specialist throughout his career—his bending shots have measured at over 105 miles per hour (169 km/h). In 1997, he was runner-up in the FIFA World Player of the Year. He was chosen on the FIFA World Cup Dream Team, and in 2004 was named by ...read more.
Roberto Carlos da Silva Rocha (born 10 April 1973), commonly known as Roberto Carlos, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who now works as a football ambassador. He started his career in Brazil as a forward but spent most of his career as a left back and has been described as the "most offensive-minded left-back in the history of the game". Carlos is also widely considered one of the best left backs in history, and was also known as a free kick specialist throughout his career—his bending shots have measured at over 105 miles per hour (169 km/h). In 1997, he was runner-up in the FIFA World Player of the Year. He was chosen on the FIFA World Cup Dream Team, and in 2004 was named by ...read more.
15 Cafu
16 Nilton Santos
17 Djalma Santos
18 Dani Alves
Daniel Alves da Silva, commonly known as Dani Alves, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a right back for Spanish club Barcelona and the Brazil national team.
Daniel Alves da Silva, commonly known as Dani Alves, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a right back for Spanish club Barcelona and the Brazil national team.
19 Daniel Passarella
Daniel Alberto Passarella is an Argentine retired footballer who played as a centre back, and former manager of the Argentina and Uruguay national football teams.
Daniel Alberto Passarella is an Argentine retired footballer who played as a centre back, and former manager of the Argentina and Uruguay national football teams.
20 Berti Vogts
21 Javier Zanetti
22 Elias Figueroa
23 Nemanja Vidic
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