Post last updated on 29/05/20
Modern day fullbacks have completely revolutionised the game in recent years, changing the way they defend and becoming a crucial part of any attacking side and in many cases one of the primary attacking weapons in a team’s arsenal.
Whether it’s the best right-backs in the world or the best left-backs in the world, this is a position that can be remoulded and interchangeable.
So we’ve taken a look at the top 10 fullbacks in the world, with a range of betting markets available for you from the push of a button to bet on here.
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So, without further ado…
10) Dani Carvajal
There can be no doubting that the Spaniard is one of the top 10 best fullbacks in the world. His place on this list is ensured courtesy of the defensive steel he possesses which, like all good fullbacks worth their salt, is coupled with magnificent offensive aggression that poses a problem for any defence in the world.
The Real Madrid man boasts of 1.5 tackles per game and is a tough nut to crack when faced on the pitch. Yet his tireless overlaps and efforts on either flank are where he can be most problematic for defenders.
Indeed, Carvajal’s forward bursts allow the likes of Lucas Vazquez and Gareth Bale to make runs into more promising positions, while his ability to track back ensures no gaps are left to exploit.
And none more so evident than in the early stages of this season…
| Appearances | Minutes Clocked | Goals Scored | Assists | Pass Success Rate | Aerial Duels Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 1,980 | 1 | 5 | 87% | 35 |
Despite not having scored nearly as many goals as some of the others on this list, who can really complain of such a crucial cog of the machine leading the charge?
9) Kyle Walker
Having impressed at Tottenham with his pace and skill on the flank alongside Danny Rose, Walker’s style of play revolutionised the fullback position and modernised the role for others to follow suit.
Under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, this is an attribute he has used time and again to huge success. His speed and attacking prowess has often been the instigator of attacking movements for the Citizens and his country too.
Defensively sound, he has been a key factor in keeper Edison being deemed one of the best goalkeepers in 2020.
And his performances last season epitomised this:
| Appearances | Goals Scored | Clean Sheets | Tackles | Interceptions | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | 1 | 7 | 22 | 20 | 2 |
It’s been quite the ride for the Englishman…
This will be fun pic.twitter.com/PkJ2tGAbe0
— Kyle Walker (@kylewalker2) March 15, 2019
And what’s more, the Englishman possesses the ability to pass well and transform defence to attack quickly, much to the joy of the City offence.
All in all, not bad, eh?
8) Lucas Hernandez
The Frenchman’s versatility and natural flair in the modernised fullback role give him the number eight spot in our top 10 best fullbacks in the world.
At the tender age of 22, Hernandez has already bagged himself a World Cup when he played a crucial role in France’s success at Russia 2018.
It was his ability to play at both left-back and centre back that provided Didier Deschamps with more option in the position and therefore more width and attacking flair in the final third.
It was these traits that convinced Bayern Munich to cough up a Bundesliga record £72 million to take him to Germany from Atletico Madrid.
His tenacity in the fullback role has been on display during the 2019/20 season too. Lo and behold:
| Appearances | Minutes Clocked | Goals Scored | Assists | Pass Success Rate | Tackles Per Game | Dribbles Per Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 843 | 0 | 0 | 88.6% | 1 | 0.7 |
7) Alejandro Grimaldo
Our top 10 best fullbacks in the world list would go amiss if we didn’t mention Benfica’s Alejandro Grimaldo.
The Spaniard has racked up six assists in Portugal’s Primera Liga this season with his efforts helping to pull his side up to second in the table.
Indeed, Grimaldo’s pace and flair down the left flank has allowed teammates Carlos Vinicius and Pizzi to lead the Portuguese goal scoring charts thanks to his brilliant crosses and through-balls alike.
But his tenacity has just been just as useful, evident in the stats he’s racked up in the opening stages of the season…
| Appearances | Minutes Clocked | Goals Scored | Assists | Pass Success Rate | Tackles Per Game | Dribbles Per Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | 2147 | 1 | 7 | 81.7% | 2 | 1.5 |
Continue in this vein of form and he could be on his way to helping his side reach bigger peaks.
6) James Tavernier
With 16 assists to his name this season, Tavernier has impressed for Rangers and the stats speak for themselves.
On average, the Englishman has produced 0.46 goals and/or assists per 90 minutes, akin to that of a striker or midfielder, never mind a defender.
What’s more, he has played nearly double the key passes per 90 minutes (0.49) this season than he did last year (0.27), proving his goal scoring abilities are improving to boot.
This should not detract for his steely defending skills that have proved crucial for Steven Gerrard’s men this year.
The kind we’ve already seen in the opening stages of this season…
| Appearances | Goals Scored | Assists | Tackles Per Game | Clearances Per Game | Dribbles Per Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 3 | 15 | 1.6 | 3 | 0.9 |
With 151 interceptions racked up this year – the most by any player in the side – Tavernier carefully balances his attacking contributions with defensive stability making him the perfect all-encompassing fullback. Not bad for a free transfer.
5) Marcel Halstenberg
Halstenberg’s heroics have deservedly earned him fifth place in our top 10 best fullbacks in the world list.
Not only did the German secure his side, RB Leipzig, a place in the semi-finals of the DFB Cup, but his brace against Borussia Monchengladbach last season ensured that his side would be playing European Champions League football this season (where they were grouped with Liverpool) , much to the delight of the Die Roten Bullen fans.
Even former team-mate and current Liverpool man Naby Keita was impressed, saying:
”He can not only dribble past one, two or three players, but he can also even take on four or more”
Two perfect goals from the 25-year-old were the ticket to Europa League glory for the likes of the Liverpool linked Timo Werner and co.
What’s more, this season has seen Halstenberg pick up where he left off last year:
| Appearances | Minutes Clocked | Goals Scored | Assists | Tackles Per Game | Dribbles Per Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | 2517 | 3 | 2 | 1.9 | 1 |
4) Jordi Alba
His consistency, pace and skill on the flank makes Jordi Alba the fourth hottest prospect out there in our top 10 best fullbacks in the world rankings.
The Spaniard has been prolific in the attack across his time for the Catalan club, with 15 goals and 57 assists racked up in 298 appearances.
Fortunately for Barca, he’s producing the same calibre of performances so far this season too:
| Appearances | Minutes Clocked | Goals Scored | Assists | Pass Success Rate | Interceptions Per Game | Dribbles Per Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | 1553 | 1 | 1 | 88% | 1.5 | 0.5 |
And this season, Alba has taken his offensive performances to another level, frequently working in tandem with Lionel Messi – one of the top 10 best strikers in the world 2020 – providing the necessary pace and width on the counter, as seen in Barca’s ill-fated Champions League semi final against Liverpool last season.
Thus, he easily fits into the top four of those revolutionising the fullback game.
Messi Pass > Jordi Alba >Coutinho goal,what an outstanding performance from Barcelona #BARMUN#BarcaMUFChttps://t.co/iy3TeEdLSI
— Pye Waw (@pyewaw) April 16, 2019
3) Joshua Kimmich
The Bayern Munich right-back is faring up to be one of the best fullbacks in the world at the moment, and you only have to watch him play to understand why he upholds such a stellar reputation in the role.
With 14 goals scored when fielded in that position, the German’s ability to seamlessly fit into the attack and become the provider is second to none.
Indeed, Kimmich was the highest assists provider in Bayern’s title-retaining season with 18 assists to his name in the Bundesliga, rivalled only by Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho who netted 14.
And it’s the kind of performances we’re seeing in the early stages of this season too:
| Appearances | Minutes Clocked | Goals Scored | Assists | Pass Success Rate | Dribbles Per Game | Tackles Per Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | 2924 | 5 | 5 | 89.8% | 0.7 | 1.4 |
Kimmich has proved that he is one of the best at what he does in the world and could go on to become even better next season.
2) Andrew Robertson
The penultimate name in our top 10 best fullbacks in the world comes from a team that has just about broken every record this season in the Premier League without getting their hands on the coveted trophy, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.
Their fullbacks have been monumental this season and are at the heart of a large chunk of their goals.
Scotsman Andy Robertson, has racked up a personal record of seven assists in the Premier League so far this season.
| Appearances | Clean Sheets | Assists | Recoveries | Tackles | Tackle Success Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | 9 | 7 | 174 | 47 | 62% |
The 26-year-old has been a force to be reckoned with both offensively and defensively, with high pressing, gutsy tackles and sumptuous crosses you can only marvel at.
Even Jose Mourinho had ‘nothing to say’ other than:
”I am tired just by looking at him”.
High praise indeed!
The likes of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah have had it easy with him providing from the flanks, with so many assists to his name.
Yet there was another that emerged from the Reds ranks that surpassed Robertson’s efforts…
1) Trent Alexander-Arnold
At the tender age of 21, the local lad spearheads our top 10 best fullbacks list by a country mile.
With 12 assists to his name so far this year and 15 previously – the most amassed by a fullback in Premier League history – he and Robertson have completely changed how we should perceive the fullback role providing from an attacking perspective, akin to that of attackers themselves.
Trent’s stats can be marvelled at below.
| Appearances | Goals Scored | Assists | Clean Sheets | Recoveries | Tackles | Tackle Success Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | 2 | 12 | 10 | 182 | 45 | 67% |
Klopp and co have readily invested in both Trent and Robertson becoming a crucial part of the Liverpool attack, critical in the Champions League success of 2019 and a driving force in their charge to be Premier League champions by the end of this season.
It is their seamless transition from defence to offence that has put them head and shoulders above the rest.
The pair, who admit to being in competition with each other, were among the highest assist providers in the division following their service from wide positions, and notched 23 assists between them a year ago.
Such a dynamic duo are deserved leaders of our list-making and pose a thrilling prospect at how this season will unfold at Anfield where 30 years of Premier League hurt are likely to be ended.
