Right-backs have been the unsung heroes of many football sides. However, the role has become one of the most important on the pitch in recent years. No longer just defenders, the best right-backs in the world are playmakers, leaders, and in some cases, the heartbeat of their team’s attacking play.
From seasoned veterans still performing at the top level to dynamic young stars redefining the role entirely, the list of the best right-backs has never been deeper. Whether it’s overlapping runs, inch-perfect crosses, or perfectly timed tackles in key moments, they can often be the difference makers in 90 minutes. In this list, we examine the top 10 right-backs in the world right now.
10. Marcos Llorente
Midfielders playing in a backline is usually a sign of managers trying to fit square pegs in round holes. For Diego Simeone and Marcos Llorente, it was a stroke of genius. The Spaniard arrived at Atletico Madrid as a midfielder, usually playing in front of the defence or as a playmaking centre-mid. His move to right-back came as a surprise, but he immediately settled in and has since made that role his own at Atleti.
He already possessed some of the traits needed by modern full-backs to make that switch, specifically blistering pace and an excellent gas tank. Along the way, he has picked up excellent defensive awareness and tactical traits that are essential both as a right-back and as a player in a Simeone system.
Llorente is locked in a battle for a starting place with Pedro Porro for his national team, but coach Luis de la Fuente looks to be favouring the Atleti man in recent international breaks. His improvement since his move to right-back has only improved year-on-year, and he now has to be considered among the best right-backs in the world.
- 1x La Liga Winner
- 1x Champions League Winner
- 2x FIFA Club World Cup Winner
9. Giovanni Di Lorenzo
Napoli’s Giovanni Di Lorenzo has been a lynchpin of one of the most successful eras in the club’s history. Italian football has been rough for the last couple of years. The national side failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup and crashed and burned in their defence of the title at Euro 2024. However, Di Lorenzo has remained a consistent performer for Napoli and continues to age like fine wine under new head coach Antonio Conte.
Di Lorenzo was a late bloomer in every sense, not making his Serie A debut until 25. He spent most of his career in Italy’s Serie B and C. A move from Empoli and over 200 appearances have seen him become a hero in Naples. The Italian international captained Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years during the 2022/23 season and a second in 2024/25. Di Lorenzo is Mr. Reliable for Napoli and his national team, having helped Gli Azzurri to the European Championship trophy in 2021.
Giovanni Di Lorenzo may not have the flair that some modern full-backs boast, but his reliability when one-on-one with top forwards is priceless for Napoli. They are back battling for the Scudetto this season and could be a good pick to bet on winning Serie A next season. Di Lorenzo has led the charge with the captain’s armband wrapped proudly around his arm.
- 2x Serie A Winner
- 1x Coppa Italia Winner
- 1x Supercoppa Italiana
- 1x UEFA European Championships Winner
- 2x Serie A Team of the Season
8. Jeremie Frimpong
Jeremie Frimpong has firmly established himself as one of the premier right-backs in world football. Since joining Bayer Leverkusen from Celtic in January 2021, the Dutch international has been instrumental in the club’s resurgence. He was important during their historic Bundesliga title win in the 2023/24 season. His performances have not gone unnoticed, with top European clubs, including Barcelona and Bayern Munich, reportedly vying for his signature.
Frimpong is a diminutive figure as right-backs go, but combines agility with explosive pace to make him a formidable presence both defensively and offensively. His dribbling skills allow him to navigate tight spaces, while his crossing ability frequently creates goal-scoring opportunities. Defensively, he is adept at tracking back and making crucial tackles, ensuring his team’s stability in defence.
An impressive 24/25 season earned him a dream move to Liverpool. Injuries have kept him out of the team more than he would have expected, and he has not quite been able to kick on as expected. However, Frimpong’s talent is still undeniable and he remains one of the best right-backs in the world.
- 1x Scottish Premier League Winner
- 1x Bundesliga Winner
- 1x DFB-Pokal Winner
- 1x DFL-Supercup Winner
- 2x Bundesliga Team of the Season
7. Reece James
Many would have been forgiven for assuming Reece James’ top flight career was over after a nightmare couple of years. The Chelsea captain was handed injury blow after injury blow, to the point it was hard to imagine him ever being back to his best. He has proved all of his doubters wrong this season. Chelsea may not be in the best of form in 2025/26, but James’ performances have given Chelsea fans plenty to look forward to regardless.
When fit, Reece James has always been one of the most complete right-backs in world football. What sets him apart is his rare combination of physical dominance and technical quality. Few defenders can match his strength in one-on-one situations, and even fewer can deliver the same level of threat in the final third. His crossing remains elite, his ball-striking from distance is a constant danger, and his ability to step into midfield or drive beyond the winger gives Chelsea an extra dimension.
This season, James has looked sharper, stronger, and more confident in his movement. His defensive timing has improved, and he appears more measured in his decision-making, picking moments to surge forward rather than forcing the issue. While Chelsea’s inconsistency has limited his platform, James has still stood out as a leader and tone-setter whenever he has been available.
- 1x UEFA Champions League Winner
- 1x UEFA Conference League Winner
- 2x FIFA Club World Cup Winner
- 1x UEFA Super Cup Winner
6. Dani Carvajal
Dani Carvajal is the only right-back to reach the top four of the Ballon d’Or rankings. He was among the favourites to win the award with our online betting site. That alone tells you his quality. The Spaniard has been a mainstay in one of the best Real Madrid sides in history. He has been the first-choice right-back under two spells each from Zinedine Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti, winning six Champions League titles with the pair. Carvajal was a key cog in the wheel for one of the most successful spells for the biggest team in club football.
The Spaniard may not always command headlines like flashier full-backs, but his blend of tactical intelligence, tenacity, and experience makes him a pillar in any defence. His positional awareness is second to none, frequently shutting down some of the world’s most dangerous wingers. Whether it’s one-on-one duels or reading plays to intercept danger early, Carvajal consistently shows why he belongs at the top. He also brings plenty of attacking threat with his overlapping runs and pinpoint delivery.
Carvajal secured his legacy at Madrid in the 2024 Champions League final when he scored to help them to a 2-0 win and a record-extending 15th title. A man-of-the-match performance came with Ballon d’Or shouts, but even a fourth-placed finish was unprecedented for a right-back. He is still the first choice at Madrid at 33. The Spaniard may be winding down his career in the coming years, but Carvajal will be comfortably remembered as one of the best right-backs of all time. Now take a deep breath as you read through his outstanding achievements.
- 6x Champions League Winner
- 4x La Liga Winner
- 2x Copa Del Rey Winner
- 4x Supercopa de España Winner
- 5x UEFA Super Cup Winner
- 1x UEFA European Championships Winner
- 3x Champions League Team of the Season
5. Trent Alexander-Arnold
Trent Alexander-Arnold is a phenomenal footballer even without mentioning his move to Madrid, his Premier League titles, or his status as one of England’s most gifted technicians. The boy from West Derby is still one of the best right-backs in the world. His rise to the top of European football came with his boyhood club, Liverpool, where he quite literally redefined what a right-back could be. Since making his debut in 2016, Trent evolved from a traditional defender into a genuine playmaker, altering how the role is viewed across the sport.
Trent’s influence has been so profound that, at just 26, he already features in many fans’ and former players’ all-time Premier League XIs, often ahead of legendary, treble-winning right-backs like Gary Neville and Kyle Walker. His passing range, vision, and delivery are unprecedented for a defender. His record-breaking 13 assists in a single Premier League season remains one of the clearest examples of how central he became to Liverpool’s attacking identity.
Defensively, Alexander-Arnold has never relied on physical dominance. Instead, he reads the game superbly, positions himself intelligently, and uses anticipation to intercept and recycle possession. His versatility, particularly his ability to step into midfield and control tempo, is something very few full-backs in football history have ever offered.
That said, his move to Real Madrid has not been seamless. His early performances have been uneven, and adapting to the demands, structure, and scrutiny of Madrid has proved challenging so far. Even so, his talent remains unquestionable, and his revolutionary impact on the role of a full-back is already secure.
- 2x Premier League Winner
- 1x Champions League Winner
- 1x League Cup Winner
- 1x UEFA Super Cup Winner
- 1x Club World Cup Winner
- 3x PFA Team of the Year
- 2x Champions League Team of the Season
4. Denzel Dumfries
Inter Milan full-back Denzel Dumfries has experienced a somewhat slow ascendancy to recognition, but has finally received his flowers in the last couple of years. His performances as an attacking full-back for Inter and the Netherlands have shown fans how vast his skillset is.
Dumfries began to find his feet at PSV Eindhoven after moving there from Heerenveen in 2018 by way of Sparta Rotterdam. After three years, he earned a €15m move to the Italian giants. Dumfries has gone from strength to strength since arriving in Milan. He is now considered one of the best fullbacks in the world. His ability to move powerfully with the ball and track back at pace is incredible, and his gas tank is one of his best abilities. He can run the length of a football match at full throttle.
Denzel Dumfries has been integral to Inter’s success in recent years. He helped them to the Champions League final in 2023 and has several trophies under his belt with Nerazzurri. The Dutchman is arguably the most consistent performer on that Inter side and is just as important for his national team. Dumfries is undoubtedly one of the best right-backs in the world.
- 1x Serie A Winner
- 2x Coppa Italia Winner
- 3x Supercoppa Italiana Winner
- 1x Eredivisie Team of the Year
3. Jurrien Timber
Jurrien Timber had a nightmare start at his current club, Arsenal. The Dutchman signed from Ajax for £34m in 2023, but tore his ACL in his first Premier League start and virtually missed the rest of the season. However, he emerged as a key figure for the Gunners upon his return to the team and has tekn his game to new heights this season. Timber is versatile and adept at playing anywhere along the backline and in midfield, but has found a home at right back.
That versatility has given Timber all the tools to become a complete full-back. He is a powerful dribbler when roaming forward, highly skilled at inverting and overlapping and cool, calm and collected in one-on-ones. If there was any doubt about Timber’s place in this list, he wrapped up Vinicius Jr. across two legs in the 2025 Champions League quarter-finals to prove it.
The Dutchman may not have the silverware that most on this list boast, but there is plenty of time for the 24-year-old to get medals draped around his neck. He is part of an Arsenal team that seems on the precipice of something great. They are among the Champions League betting favourites this season. Whatever success they achieve, Timber will play a tremendous part as one of the best right-backs in the world.
- 2x Eredivisie Winner
- 1x KNVB Cup Winner
- 1x Eredivisie Player of the Year
- 1x Eredivisie Talent of the Year
2. Jules Kounde
Jules Kounde is the best right-back in La Liga. The Frenchman began his career as a centre back at Bordeaux. He earned a €25m move to Sevilla in 2019 before joining Barcelona for €55m three years later. It was at Barca where he began to settle into his new role as a full-back. What began as a makeshift switch has blossomed into a burgeoning career as a right-back for club and country.
Hansi Flick has masterminded that switch, forming Kounde into an integral recovery defender in his aggressive back line. His defensive intelligence and positional versatility have been a revelation at right-back, and few in the world possess his timing in challenges and anticipation of danger. Kounde can read the game with a clarity that many natural full-backs simply can’t match. Even more impressive is his tidy footwork, a rarity for a player who was a centre back for the majority of their career.
Koundé is already a seasoned international and a key figure for one of the biggest clubs in the world. He’s redefining what it means to be a modern right back. Many rely on attacking flair and ball delivery, playing like wide midfielders. Kounde is arguably the best in the world at balancing attacking support with elite-level defensive discipline.
- 1x La Liga Winner
- 1x Europa League Winner
- 2x Supercopa de España Winner
- 2x La Liga Team of the Season
- FIFA World Cup Runner Up
1. Achraf Hakimi
Achraf Hakimi has already represented four of the biggest clubs in world football at just 27 years old. His trajectory shows no signs of slowing. The Moroccan international captain began his career at Real Madrid, coming through their youth ranks, but after making just nine senior appearances behind Dani Carvajal, he truly announced himself during an outstanding two-year loan spell at Borussia Dortmund. That form earned him a €40m move to Inter Milan under Antonio Conte. There he played a pivotal role in ending the club’s decade-long wait for a Serie A title.
A further elite-level campaign in Italy led to a €60m move to PSG, and it is in Paris where Hakimi has reached his peak. The 2024/25 season cemented his status as the best right-back in the world. Hakimi was a constant force throughout PSG’s Champions League-winning run, delivering in the biggest moments on the biggest stage. His performances combined relentless athleticism with improved defensive maturity, while his attacking output remained devastating. He consistently stretched elite defences, contributed crucial goals and assists, and dominated entire flanks against Europe’s best opposition.
Hakimi’s numbers, particularly in big games, underline his influence. Last season, he scored in the Champions League quarter-finals, semi-finals and final. Beyond statistics, his leadership has grown,. Hakimi has worn the captain’s armband on multiple occasions and sets the tone for PSG in high-pressure matches. His blend of pace, stamina, intelligence, and end product makes him a complete modern full-back. Right now, there is no one more reliable, more explosive, or more decisive in his position. Achraf Hakimi comfortably tops the list of the best right-backs in the world.
- 1x Champions League Winner
- 1x Serie A Winner
- 4x Ligue 1 Winner
- 1x Coupe De France Winner
- 1x UEFA Super Cup Winner
- 1x Serie A Team of the Year
- 1x Bundesliga Team of the Year
