Ranking the Top 11 best centre-backs of 2022

These players laid the foundations for their club's success

Defenders are the building blocks of any football team as is deemed by many. The art of defending is a sheer skill in itself and we have many defenders around the world who possess some innovative ideas of defending and bring whole new dimensions to the game. From constantly making pressure on the ball, to goal clearances and much more we have witnessed some heroics throughout this season. Without further adieu, let’s have a look at the top 10 best centre halfs of 2022 who have impressed us with their stats and resounding performances:

11. Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica, Argentina)

The Argentinian defender who mentored his backline to the World Cup trophy, he is a legend of the game by now. As a defender, Nicolas Otamendi has conceded 6 goals and kept 7 clean sheets in 12 matches in the Liga NOS 2022-2023 season. That means when Otamendi is on the pitch, his team conceded a goal every 180 minutes. Moreover, he's made 2.25 tackles and 2.50 interceptions for every 90 minutes he was on the pitch. Otamendi is also racking up about 3.08 clearances at the same time. Keeping clean sheets against Mexico and Croatia in the World Cup, he made a mammoth 36 tackles out of which he successfully completed 26 out of them.

10. Gleison Bremer (Juventus, Brazil)

A brick wall. Gleison Bremer is a true Serie A defender. He can tackle, intercept, and clear the ball without any fuss. Playing at the centre of a three-person backline, the defender is responsible for negating the opposition's attack. He has played 19 matches this season and conceded only 14 times, keeping 9 clean sheets within that span. Not known for his goal scoring prowess, he has that immaculate stature which makes him one of the most defenders this season.

9. Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United, Argentina)

He is characterised as a left-footed ball-playing defender who is tough as nails and possesses a winning mentality. A key member in the Argentinian squad for Scaloni, he impressed off the bench which helped the Argentinians clinch the all important FIFA World Cup. Before his big money move to Manchester United this season, he averaged more passes per 90 minutes in Ajax colours than any other player in the Eredivisie. Lisandro Martinez has conceded 20 goals and kept 5 clean sheets in 14 matches in the Premier League 2022-2023 season. That means when Martinez is on the pitch, his team conceded a goal every 60 minutes. Moreover, he's made 1.94 tackles and 1.34 interceptions for every 90 minutes he was on the pitch.

8. Eder Militao (Real Madrid, Brazil)

Mainly a central defender, he can also play as a right back or defensive midfielder. Operating mostly as a right-back under Tite for Brazil in the World Cup, he is the heart of the defence for Real Madrid alongside Antonio Rudiger. Winning the Champions League winner’s medal back in June, he has 3 goals in his name too out of 12 games for Real Madrid since August. If you noticed, this season, his tackles have been very spot on and his timing has been perfect. Statistically speaking, the Brazilian averages 1.77 tackles a game. Apart from that, he averages 1.9 interceptions and 3 clearances a game. These statistics are very impressive and have earned him a lot of recognition in recent months.

7. Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich, France)

It would be easy to reduce Upamecano to his young age and man-mountain physique, but the 6'1" French centre-back has so much more to him than that. A key member of France in their run to the World Cup final, Upamecano has featured in 23 games this season for Bayern Munich, helping the side keep six clean sheets across all competitions so far. His pass completion percentage has consistently been above 90 throughout his Bundesliga career - and a remarkable 89 per cent when under pressure in 2022-23. He generally does get the ball too, winning 60 per cent of his challenges and making 38 interceptions over the first 15 matchdays of the 2022-23 season - both are the best returns of any player in the Bundesliga.

6. Thiago Silva (Chelsea FC, Brazil)

The 38-year-old centre-back from Chelsea seems to be ageless at this moment. Having been one of the best throughout his career, he is simply unplayable and has a gargantuan sense of game reading which makes him one of the best in the business. He has a pass successful completion rate of 90.6 for Brazil and Chelsea and has played a total of 1849 minutes in this season for both club and country. A ridiculous stat all by itself, in season 2022-2023, he has won 43 aerial duels and 27 tackles. On top of this he made a total of 15 blocks for Chelsea. Although Brazil were knocked out of the FIFA World Cup in 2022 following a heart break in tiebreaker against Croatia, his game is becoming better with each passing day.

5. Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid, Germany)

Rüdiger, given his comfort on the ball and proclivity to advance into midfield with the ball makes Madrid’s rotations seamless. Normally a centre-back, Rüdiger is a versatile defender, who is also capable of playing as a full-back on either flank. Despite having a shocking tournament for Germany in World Cup 2022, he  is a defender who has appeared in 12 matches this season in LaLiga, playing a total of 682 minutes. Antonio Rüdiger concedes an average of 0.79 goals for every 90 minutes that the player is on the pitch. Their Clean Sheets ratio is currently at 17%. That means Antonio Rüdiger has kept a Clean Sheet in 2 matches out of the 12 that the player has played in.

4. Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur, Argentina)

The most under rated defender of his generation at the moment, he has certainly proved his worth this season. World Cup winner with Argentina, he is also a regular starter for Conte in Tottenham colours. At Tottenham he has played on the right side of a centre back pair in a back four or in the right side of a 3-man defence. Cristian Romero averaged 54 passes per match with a pass completion rate of 90% in FIFA World Cup 2022. Though he is in a relatively stage in his career, he has kept 6 clean sheets in a total of 30 appearances for Tottenham Hotspur.

3. Virgil Van Dijk (Liverpool, Netherlands)

Yet another standout year for Virgil Van Dijk. The Dutch center-back won the FA Cup, Carabao Cup and featured in the UCL Final for Liverpool which they lost to Real Madrid. The Netherlands defender showcased his class in the Premier League throughout the year but it wasn’t enough. Liverpool ended the season a point behind Champions Manchester City. According to a report by the research group of CIES Football Observatory, Van Dijk has played more minutes in 2022 than any other outfield player. He stood tall, won aerial duels, timed tackles to perfection, and led from the front for the Netherlands in the FIFA World Cup 2022. In all, it was a special season for a special player.

2. Raphael Varane (Manchester United, France)

Varane is a right-footed central defender who offers a particularly versatile approach to his ability to defend. Having signed for Manchester United from Real Madrid in 2021, he has been a starter for Erik Ten Haag since. Captaining the French backline to the World Cup final in Qatar, he was not able to win the elusive trophy but he had an impressive tournament overall. Despite not having the best season at Old Trafford, Raphael Varane has conceded 5 goals and kept 4 clean sheets in 10 matches in the Premier League 2022-2023 season.

1. Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig, Croatia)

The 20-year-old defender has taken the world aback by storm. Perhaps the most important aspect of Gvardiol's game is that he is a left-footed centre-back. This provides a fantastic outlet for Leipzig as they can line up the Croatian alongside a right-footed partner, with both totally comfortable in the position they are playing. He has won 82 tackles and 16 aerial duals for Leipzig in Bundesliga this season out of 13 appearances. No wonder his prices are soaring high as he capped off a brilliant World Cup campaign with Croatia where they reached the semi finals of the World Cup only to be humbled by the winner’s Argentina. The likes of Real Madrid, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United are keen to get him onboarded and this makes him the best defender of 2022 for us.