Top 11 best centre-backs of 2023: Ranked

Published at :December 20, 2023 at 6:13 PM

Modified at :December 27, 2023 at 5:50 PM

These defenders have been brilliant in the last football calendar year

In the ever-evolving world of soccer, the role of a centre-back remains vital. These defenders are the bedrock of any team’s defensive structure, combining strength, intelligence, and precision. A top central defender is like gold dust in the modern footballing climate.

It’s a role that not only requires exceptional mental and physical attributes, but the ability to lead and organise a defensive line. In the heart of every successful team, the centre-back stands tall. These guardians of the backline possess the unique ability to read the game, intercept attacks, and halt the opposition’s advances.

The centre-back position is one of the most difficult to evaluate in football because much of what makes the best centre-backs so effective is what they do off the ball. Gone are the days when an out-and-out defender was considered the top dog. Nowadays, there is such a strong desire to play out from the back that passing ability. Composure under pressure is also a key requirement for defenders but, remember, no team has ever lost a match when keeping a clean sheet and defenders should always defend first and foremost.

Here we look at Khel Now‘s picks for top 11 best centre-backs of 2023:

11. Eder Militão – Real Madrid & Brazil

Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane’s exits from Real Madrid meant somebody had big boots to fill in the Spaniard’s exit. Militão became the first signing of Zinedine Zidane’s second spell at the Bernabéu, but it was after the Frenchman’s departure in May 2021 that Militão’s status and importance at the club grew most. Carlo Ancelotti came in as manager, and it was time for Militão to step up as a first-choice pick at the heart of the Real back line. In keeping with the rest of his career, Militão quickly became one of the first names on Ancelotti’s teamsheet.

Militão is at his best and most comfortable when playing in central defence, but he is versatile and can also play at right-back. He is adept at proactively attacking the ball himself but is comfortable playing the role of the centre-back who sweeps up and often benefits from playing alongside a central defensive partner who is more dominant than him in the air.

Militão is very agile and is relatively quick, though, so he can make quick recovery runs when he is on the wrong side of the ball, and he is rarely exposed by fast, mobile attackers. A proactive defender who possesses an excellent recovery pace, expect Militao to improve even further at the Bernabeu.

10. Josko Gvardiol – RB Leipzig/ Manchester City & Croatia

Josko Gvardiol has been described as a modern-day centre-back who can perform all the necessary defensive tasks of a traditional defender while also providing his team with serious ball progression when in possession. His ability to progress the ball, range of passing, excellent carrying and dribbling skills, no-nonsense tenaciousness, and fantastic active and 1v1 defending, among other traits, make Joško one of the best young centre-backs in the world, and one of the best defenders in the Premier Leauge.

Gvardiol can break the opponent’s lines and is a good dribbler under pressure. He can carry the ball forward when space presents itself and slide a smooth pass to a teammate farther up the field. He is a strong runner, capable of surging forward with the ball at his feet to break lines of pressure. He can muscle past defenders and create space for himself and his teammates. He is also known to be able to link up with attackers higher up in the field to create and finish chances.

9. William Saliba – Arsenal & France

William Saliba France Arsenal — **Saliba is elite at all aspects of a centre-back’s job and he’s only 22**

William Saliba has been a truly transformative figure in Arsenal’s defence since returning from a few loans over in Ligue 1. The Frenchman can match any Premier League attacker for pace and has already established a formidable partnership at the back with Gabriel.

The Frenchman is elite at all aspects of a centre-back’s job and he’s only 22. He’s excellent positionally and phenomenally quick. Saliba is good on the ball, able to cover plenty of ground and there’s a strong case that he’s been the single most important player to Mikel Arteta developing Arsenal into what they are today. He’s only going to improve, too.

8. Kim Min-Jae – Bayern Munich/ Napoli & South Korea

Fans around Europe took notice of the indomitable Kim Min-jae as the South Korean led Napoli’s defence in their 2022-23 Scudetto triumph. At 27 years old, Kim has quickly become a solid presence at the heart of Bayern’s defence. As a central defender, Kim has excellent physical attributes, notably his strength, speed, and flexibility. Imposing and composed in equal part, the South Korean is reliable on the ball and a quiet leader out of possession.

7. Matteo Darmian – Inter Milan & Italy

Matteo Darmian was one the best players from the Inter Milan team of last season which reached the final of the Champions League last time. He is a versatile player who can also play as a full-back. An intelligent, dynamic, hard-working, and versatile player, he is known for his good quality of offensive and defensive play, as well as his tactical awareness, pace, and stamina, attributes which allow him to cover the wing effectively and provide width to his team when attacking.

6. David Alaba – Real Madrid & Austria

The Austrian broke through at Bayern Munich as a teenager and played much of his football at left-back due to the Bundesliga side’s beefy options in central defence. Although initially recognized as an exceptional left-back, Alaba has seamlessly transitioned to a central defensive role for Real Madrid. Featuring his remarkable technical abilities, composed ball handling, and an astute understanding of the game, Alaba excels in intercepting plays and reading his opponents’ moves.

Not only does he possess a wide passing range, but he also exhibits strong tackling prowess while maintaining discipline on the field. Throughout his career, Alaba has amassed numerous honours, including ten consecutive Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich.

5. Virgil van Dijk – Liverpool & Netherland

Since he arrived at Liverpool in January 2017, van Dijk has consistently demonstrated why he is considered one of the best in the world. With a gigantic frame and pace to match, the Netherlands international was a leading figure in a Liverpool side that became European and domestic champions in 2019 and 2020.

With intelligence, composure, and exceptional passing skills, van Dijk exudes class in every aspect of his game. His imposing presence, aerial prowess, and leadership qualities make him a force to be reckoned with. Liverpool still rely on the Dutchman’s presence in some of the biggest games in world football.

4. Antonio Rudiger – Real Madrid & Germany

Having earned a move to Real Madrid thanks to his stunning performances for Chelsea, Rudiger has developed into a truly world-class centre-back under Carlo Ancelotti. A lightning quick stopper, who reads the game sublimely and carries the ball forward with relentless intent, Rudiger has also proved his versatility occasionally, filling in at full-back to see games out.

The beauty of Rudiger is that he does both sides of the game so well. He is comfortable on the ball and drags the rest of the team up the pitch, possesses a wicked shot, rarely gets beat in one-on-one situations and has enough pace to catch runners in behind.

3. John Stones – Manchester City & England

Pep Guardiola John Stones — **Stones was a key part of Man City’s treble winning side of 2022-23 season**

John Stones emerged as one of the key planks of Manchester City’s treble-winning team in 2022-2023. There was a time when John Stones looked firmly out of the picture at Manchester City, with the likes of Aymeric Laporte, Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake and even Eric Garcia all ahead in the pecking order.

Once seen as too featherweight to truly battle off the ball, this is a defender who has become a leader, a monster out of possession, yet has never lost the grace and elegance of his game. Stones isn’t just a great centre-back, he’s an exquisite footballer.

2. Ronald Araujo – Barcelona & Uruguay

There was an aura around Ronald Araujo as soon as he landed at Barcelona. He was barely out of his teens yet looked fully formed physically and prepared to lock European strikers up in the Barça backline. During some pretty dark economic and playing days for Barcelona, the emergence of Ronald Araujo was one of their few bright moments.

When his team is attacking he commits to his defensive duties and remains aware of the opposition’s potential during transitions by tightly marking an opposing striker. He is also very good at man-marking because he is good in the air and adept at getting around opponents attempting to block him off. Last season he was one of the reasons for Barcelona’s strong defence.

1. Ruben Dias – Manchester City & Portugal

Bursting onto the scene in 2020, Dias made an instant impact upon joining Manchester City from Benfica. He swiftly established himself as a defensive phenomenon, amassing an impressive array of accolades. In his debut campaign, he was named FWA Footballer of the Year, Manchester City Player of the Year, Premier League Player of the Season and the UEFA Champions League Defender of the Season.

Dias is everything that his manager stereotypically loves in a centre-back he’s cultured, cool in possession and able to break lines at will yet he offers the kind of leadership and tenacity that go hand-in-hand with serial success. The Portugal defender was a mainstay during the 2022-23 run-in as City completed a famous treble. There are no better centre-backs around right now.

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