Best Defender in Soccer

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The Top Ten

1
Nemanja Vidic
Got to be the best at least better than terry and now also the manchester united captain he deserves full credit for their above expected performance.
The best he gets the job done with no fuss. You want the ultimate defense then here he is.

Nothing gets past him on the ground and definitely not in the air and he is strong
BRAVO SRBINE! SVI the ZNAJU KO JE NAJBOLJI!
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2Terry
Terry's displays are usually all-action affairs, characterised by aggression, last-ditch clearances and tackles and ruthless determination. He is also a decent passer of the ball. A natural leader, there's a reason why Fabio Capello was willing to lose his job over Terry's position within the England team. His partnership with Ricardo Carvalho under the stewardship of Jose Mourinho was the foundation of one of the meanest defences in English football history, and saw Chelsea win the league in both 2005 and 2006, and again in 2010 under Carlo Ancelotti. His aerial ability is one to be scared of; Terry is a major threat from corners and has scored plenty in his time at Chelsea thus far. John Terry has made it to the UEFA Team of the Year on four occasions during the last decade. He isn't just a brilliant defender but also a leader who is a constant support to his players on the pitch. His playing style reflects the passion he has for the game.


An inspirational player.. Never afraid to throw himself on the ball and clear it.. Can score with headers as well which is a bonus.. He is MR. CHELSEA!
Mr. Chelsea. By far, he is the best defender in the world. Provides great support to Cech 7 also motivates the youngsters. With amazing positioning, Terry provides a great link be/w Midfield and defense. Apart from that he has a hunch for goals. Go Terry!
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3Puyol
you need a beast to guard a cave just like puyol defends the goal
He is the Worlds most AGGRESSIVE defender.
Shrewd Leader with aggressive looks.
Every match he changes his position where the opponent best striker or midfielder is prone.
He is the fastest defender.
Even if the goalkeeper is lost he safeguards the goal, the whole net just by his foots and head.

Puyol... He's the defending legend. The best European Club's best captain.. He is my favourite defender
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4Paolo Maldini
Paolo maldini went against the best ronaldo maradona rivaldo henry no other defender has done what he accomplished. Ronaldo admitted he never was able to get past him zidane also commented he preferred to be on the opposite side of maldini
25 years in top flight football?! How can you vote the others ahead of him, I mean Terry can be pretty inconsistent, this guy played solid for 25 seasons!
The most accomplished defender in the history of football, with great vision, technique, tackling, cool and constant perfomance given both in country and club
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5Franz Beckenbaur

Beckenbaur is the best that's why everyone knows him he is just simply the best no one shows the talent this man had when he played

You kidding me with this list?! Gattuso isn't even a defender! And John Terry the best of all time, the no.1 defender? What the hell?! Have a memory that's longer than the last 5 seasons! Proper Chelsea fans with more than a decade of football knowledge would surely have Ron Harris in ahead of JT. Use your heads here kids, if you don't know the guys on this list you need to get out there and watch them on Youtube or ask your elders, there are great players you've never seen and are ignoring. Baresi, Maldini, Ayala, Cannavaro, these guys were genuine greats. And "Der Kaiser", Beckenbauer, he was the best of all time

HE's just the best. How is beckenbauer no.7. He helped win 2 world cups for west germany. Maldini isn't even a defender. Marquez sucks now.

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6Sergio Ramos
He has everything. Terry, Vidic, etc all have the touch of a Rapist. Ramos has skill, pace, strength, he does not make costly errors, he is versatile and he score goals. I don't even like Real Madrid, but Ramos is exceptional.
Sergio ramos is amazing. He will KILL HIMSELF for the ball. He has dived for the ball(in terms of when someone is shooting he throws his body to protect the goal), done defensive bicycle kicks, heads like a boss, and runs pretty fast for a defender.
No 1 player on this position RB. Nemanja Vidic is the second and on the third place is Patrice Evra
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7Roberto Carlos
Best player of all times I think.. his famous freekicks are simply the best
the best free kicker in defense history ever and maybe even in all time. just powerfull kicks

nbaallstar

He's is the best period so start voting for him
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8Gerard Pique
Gerard Pique is a great defender and done very well in euro 2012
He's gone and become the best in the world at present times and more is to come from him as the old Puyol reaches the later stages of his magnificent career. Pique rules the world of defense
A superb defender from LA Masia..

9Bobby Moore

what in hell is going on in this list how do you work out that maquez or w. e is better thn bobby moore you lot know nothing about football

I find it offensive he is not top, he was quite simply the perfect defender.


10Rio Ferdinand
His peak came during the years before his back injury. Especially in 2008, where despite Ronaldo's 40+ goals, Man Utd wouldn't have won the Premier League nor the Champions skipper
He's the kind of defender that's not too beastly from the agresiveness department. But he adds to his team an unbelievable amont of great understanding of how to defend in every situation.
He's the best game reader when defending and nobody like terry ever does well when they just dive in to every moving objects on the field including the opposition's legs.
RIO is one of the best central defenders that have ever existed in this World. Thanks to his game reading abilities and both influence and boost he gives to his team. Long live Gervin.
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The Contenders

11Nesta
This guy, Alesandro nesta was born to defend. And actually one goal was about to scored a goal but he actually saved it and kick it away.
No attacker can beat him one on one because he is the most best player in all the history of defenders
Nesta is just class, he can tackle, anticipate, or save a ball in the line. He has done an amazing job over the years, few can even compare to him.
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12Franco Baresi

Sure ... he is surely in the top 10 defenders in the world, Forza Italia


13Marquez

Rafael Marquez is a good defender, he has to be in the TOP 10 of the World

Great view of the game. Passes the cross the field. Great header. Polivalence. Excellent tackle.

what can we say about marquez he is the best of the best in all fiels he is a wall that cannot be penetrated

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14Ashley Cole
The best left back in the world!
There is no other player who is better than him in the position that he plays!
Nobody can deliver the crosses that he does from the position he plays.
His counter attacking skills are superb!
GOOD DEFENDER FROM CHELSEA ONE OF THE BEST LB IN GAMES
He plays very well
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15Cannavaro
Behind marquez and ramos? Really?
Who is voting on here, 9 year olds?
Internationally he is THE BEST defense, despite his lackluster club career, there is a reason that in 2006 they nicknamed him the Berlin wall, he simply couldn't be beat, 2 goals were scored on Italy, one was an own goal that he had no influence on and the other was a penalty shot by Zidane, a stellar performance by one of the best defenseman of all time
Best of the best!
A legend in the game
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16Philipp Lahm

Best defender of the best team of the best league of the best country so scare blue ha I know th

Best defender of the best team of the best league of the best country


17Gareth Bale

By far the best defender in Premier League and midfielder for that fact. Maybe he'll get more votes when Man UTD buys him...

Fast, powerful, vicious. He's UNSTOPPABLE. He was put in defense until. His goals came in handy therefore his manager put him midfield. He is number 1


18Ricardo Carvalho

19Thiago Silva

Actually the Strongest defender in the world!
Nobody like him! "O Mostro" The next Ac Milan captain.


20Vincent Kompany

21Fernando Hierro

22Fabio Cannavaro

Only defender to win a ballon d or


23Maicon

Number 1 in the field and number 1 in the peoples heart. he more championships won than anyone he, and with his international team. He is a defensive man package, his a complete defender.

Quick as lightning and has an incredible shot from distance. His runs up the sideline should impress anyone in the right mind.

He is the total package at Defenseman. He can conver anyone in his path and is strong enough to take down any Attacker. He can run and do everything. Maicon is a stud.

welter64


24Lothar Matthäus

25Lucio

yes, he's the best and he's playing in the best team

richie4life


26Marcelo

27Jamie Carragher

Heart of LFC, will be sad to see him go...


28Dani Alves

He is the best right back in the world by far and part of one of the best teams ever. Named in the world XI but still placed in the 50s? Really?

onedaywecanrun

I joke at this page how can dani alves be 49th when people like terry carragher and luiz etc are in front of I'm laugh out loud by far the best attack minded defender in the world


29Thuram

Simply the best. An incredible defender with speed and a lot of intelligence in his moves.
He didn't score much in his career but it's all thanks to him that France beat Croatia in semi final of 1998 world cup.

Thuram quickly became one of the best defenders in the world after his debeut he became a very essential part of the France national soccer team he was fast and reliable on corner kicks he deserves to be on the top ten of this list not 17.

7th is too low for a great defender like Thuram. He doesn't let anything through. Top 5 definitely.


30Pepe
haha pepe his defender the best

31Elias Figueroa

I saw him play for Penarol of Montevideo when he was 20, I saw him play at 16 in Valparaiso, Chile (Santiago Wanderers) he was playing professional AT 16, class, skill, strong, dribbling like striker, his header goals remarkable. An then Brazil best player of Brazil for 3 yrs.

1 Elías "Don Elías" Figueroa
2 Franco Baresi
3 Franz Beckenbauer
4 Bobby Moore
5 Daniel Pasarela

alexthecat

Don Elías! It's the greatest defender in soccer history. He was three times awarded the best player of america. "The area is my home, and only enters whoever I want"


32Jaap Stam

Jaap Stam has had a wonderfull footballing career playing as the heart of many world class team defence such as manchester united , ac milan and now ajax .stam should be atleast in the top 10

he has played for arsenal as well

immabe


33Javier Zanetti

Come on people! Javier is the captain of both Internazionale and world-class team Argentina. He is quite old, I get it, but sometimes overall means better. Javier Zanetti:Overall is 90/100.


34Patrice Evra

Patrice Evra (born 15 May 1981 in Dakar, Senegal) is a French-Senegalese international footballer, who plays for English Premiership side Manchester United. He plays in the left back position although he can also play on the left wing.


35Tony Adams

Amazing player well under rated

What, Tony was and is an arsenal legend. To be 27 is an insult. He is a fantastic defender and knew the game like the back of his hand. The only other better arsenal player was Thierry Henry, the best striker in the world when he was at his peak

how can this man not be in the top 30 let alone the top ten he wos a rock for arsenal and england for years


36Giorgio Chiellini

the wall for juventus and become the captain for juventus... good luck for the eye of tiger for italy

Cheillini has proven that he is an amazing defender. When he defends on a player, the player can never pass him. His wide shoulders are very handy when blocking an opponent shot. He has great leading skills and is a very accurate passer. He can also use his head effectivly in deffence and attack.

people who vote on this site don't know football so well
please be objective guys...


37Kolo Toure

38Mats Hummels

39Frank Rijkaard

40Gaetano Scirea

make the italian catenaccio look's perfect, and he is a holy guy...

This Guy was never sent off in his whole career or suspened which must be some sort of a record for an International defender.


41Hong Myung-Bo

Hong Myung-Bo (born February 12, 1969 in Seoul) is a South Korean football legend. Hong was a key member of the Korean national team in four World Cups, and was the first Asian player to play in four consecutive World Cup finals tournaments. He retired from playing following the end of the 2004 Major League Soccer season, having finished his career with the Los Angeles Galaxy. He is among the "FIFA 100", a FIFA's selection of the 125 greatest living footballers in the world.


▶Selected to FIFA 100: 2004

▶2002 FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball Award Winner : 2002

▶2002 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team : 2002

▶Asian Cup Best Eleven: 2000

▶J-League Best Eleven: 2000

▶K-League Best Eleven: 1996, 1995, 1994, 1992

▶Major League Soccer Best Eleven (All-Star): 2003


42Ronald Koeman

One of the best defenders that Holland ever had.
Played very well for Barca, good Free kicks and very strong.


43Roberto Ayala

One of the best headers of the ball in professional soccer. for a man of his height, he climbs very high - has a great leap. Very clean defender.

Regarded as one of the best central defenders in the world, has been captain of the Argentine national team for almost 10 years and has played in three World Cups.


44Mattias Sammer

One of the few defenders to win a Ballon D'or.

Beckenbauer's true heir.

Nothing else to be said.


45Ferreira

46Cafu
He's good at croosin, sliding

47Maza Rodriguez

I'm entirely confused as to how Rodriguez isn't in the top ten defenders. Someone who moves as swiftly as he does while maintaining strict defenses deserves to be among the best.

kusanagi_sanasara

best defender deserves to be in the top ten list

hes the best defender in the world and no one coul pass him


48David Luiz
Great defender and great attacker in corner kicks! Has scored even more goals than torres.
Luiz is my man I love him so much he deffend well I am most happy
and I don't want him to live chelsea at all cost
Best defender in the world as at now.

49Gennaro Gattuso

he is simply a beast of defending and has real heart for the game


50Ricardo Osorio

51Tony McManus

52Alex Rodrigo Dias da Costa

he a quality defender and he plays for chelsea
VOTE FOR HIM!!!!!!


53Radostin Kishishev

Great name- Great Player

Cannot fault this guy... Great 40 yarder the other day... Top Quality


54Pejman Montazeri
Just pejman I love him very very much I am amir haqiqi from iran mashhad
Pejman is the best defender in iran and asia. He is play in esteghlal team of iran - tehran

55Herman Abanda

56Paolo Montero

57Jose Santamaria

58Berti Vogts

he's that smelly poor indian lfjhufg dfstayhbv ds


59Nilton Santos

Godfather of attacking fullback.

thebest


60Maman Abdurahman

61Diego Michiel

62Raphael Varane
The best defender in real madrid I'd say... Very outstanding performance and top class defending..

63Brede Hangeland

64Carlos Salcido

I don't know why this guy doesn't get more credit. The fact that he does not play in europe is puzzling me. Did any one watch him in world cup?


65Takis Fyssas

66Jan Vertonghen

67Thomas Vermaelen

68Carlos Gamarra

69Lucas Neill

70Robby Darwis

71Alessandro Costacurta

72Daniel Passarella

73Abanda Herman

74Haziq Zikri Elias

75Zulkifli Syukur

76Arne Friedrich

77Cristian Chivu

78Ali Krieger

79Nuno Pinto

80Julien Escude

81Billy Wright

82Diego Reyes

83Ledley King

84Lionel Messi
The best player in the world that ever lived and has won a lot of games and has also broke the record of eighty five goals a by a year and no one can score an amazing goal from a poor pass and is the main reeason to the success of barcenola

85Amir Hossein Sadeghi

86Branislav Ivanovic

87Cesar Azpilicueta

88Carlos Alberto Torres

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List Info

This list was created 6 years, 95 days ago and has been voted on over 7,000 times. This top ten list has been remixed 6 times.

Updated Saturday, May 18, 2013


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