Top 10 best left-backs of 2023: Ranked

Published at :December 19, 2023 at 1:31 PM

Modified at :January 14, 2024 at 12:26 AM

These players have been brilliant in the last football calendar year

Full-backs are no longer considered unsung heroes on the football field. Indeed, several of the players on this list are critical to their club’s and country’s success, these are the best left-backs in the world. They are not only defenders but also indispensable forwards, creators, scorers, set-piece takers, and all-rounders.

However, the rapid evolution of the sport in the 21st century has morphed the left-back position into a desirable one. It’s an incredibly demanding function with modern-day tactical obsessives trying their utmost to complicate the role as much as they can.

Football has evolved over the years to be more tactical. That said, Left left-backs play a crucial role. Essentially, they’re part of the defensive wall in every team and are somewhat involved offensively. Here we look at Khel Now‘s top 10 best left-backs of 2023:

10. Pervis Estupinan (Brighton & Ecuador)

Pervis Estupinan’s career has advanced on a markedly upward trajectory since his move from Villarreal to Brighton in the summer of 2022. The Ecuador international needed no time to adjust to the rigours of the Premier League, making his mark as one of the competition’s standout performers of the 2022/23 campaign.

The Ecuadorian is an incredibly energetic full-back who excels in all phases of play. He’s an excellent dribbler and proved while playing in the Champions League with Villarreal that he can perform to a borderline elite level in high-pressure moments. He’s been electric under Roberto De Zerbi at Brighton and has all the makings of an exceptional left-back.

9. Nuno Mendes (PSG & Portugal)

Young Nuno Mendes endured a pretty turbulent debut campaign in Paris, often deployed in a flat back four by Mauricio Pochettino. The Portugal international had excelled as a wingback at Sporting CP and started the 2022-23 campaign brilliantly with Christophe Galtier switching to a back three.

Despite his youth, Mendes is a league champion in two different countries and has all the makings of a superstar. He is as explosive as they come and his pinpoint crossing ability means his output should increase soon. Mendes creates plenty of chances for PSG’s plethora of attacking talent, with his intense bursts of speed down the wing providing plenty of chances for the likes of countryman Goncalo Ramos and Kylian Mbappe. Nuno Mendes won the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year for the 2022-23 season

8. Luke Shaw (Manchester United & England)

Luke Shaw’s performances have drastically improved since the arrival of Erik ten Hag at Manchester United, with the England international becoming one of the team’s most important players as he propels the team forward on the left flank. He’s become an excellent ball carrier, constantly pushing United up the pitch with powerful, driving runs from deep performing the modern role of a left full-back.

7. Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich & Canada)

When Bayern Munich was crowned European champions in 2020, Alphonso Davies was on top of the world with many regarding the likeable Canadian as the best left-back on the planet. Davies’ rise was brought to a halt when he was diagnosed with myocarditis following complications with COVID-19. He’s back now, though, and looking to reclaim his status as the world’s premier left-back.

Nicknamed Roadrunner by his teammates, Davies still plays in a more attacking role for his country, he’s a serious threat going forward, and his movement and dribbling are world-class, meaning defenders often find themselves overwhelmed. But Davies is a perfectly solid defender, with One-on-ones rarely resulting in his opponent coming out on top and, on the rare occasion he is beaten, he has the pace to recover ground and win the ball back.

6. Nathan Ake (Manchester City & Netherland)

When it comes to business on the pitch, Dutch left-back Nathan Ake gets it done. A wise defender especially one-on-one, Ake played an integral role in City’s treble-winning road last season. He made the most touches and pass attempts in City’s one-nil Champions League victory over Inter Milan in June.

Aké is a strong and physical defender who is comfortable in one-on-one situations and is adept at making tackles and interceptions. He is also strong in the air and is capable of winning aerial duels in both boxes. Ake’s reading of the game is another key part of his style of play, and he is often in the right position to make crucial blocks and clearances.

5. Oleksandr Zinchenko (Arsenal & Ukraine)

The Ukrainian deserves to take this position because of the enormous work he has put into the Arsenal project. The 27-year-old defender joined the Gunners from Manchester City and wasted no time before breaking into the first team. His arrival at Arsenal thrust Zinchenko more into the limelight and his impact in north London has been immediate. He’s a leader on the field and many regard him as one of the finest technicians in the sport.

4. Andrew Robertson (Liverpool & Scotland)

Signed from Hull for a modest fee in 2017, Robertson has gone on to establish himself as one of the protagonists in a side that has won both the Premier League and Champions League in the past few years. Andrew Robertson has proved to be an astute pick-up for Liverpool. He is a fantastic two-way player, who is as good at delivering a pin-point final ball to the prolific front three as he is at defending one-on-one situations. His well-rounded ability has led to him becoming a mainstay in this team and a piece that is vital to the well-oiled machine that is Klopp’s Liverpool.

Rarely caught out, Robertson handles tricky wingers as easily as he handles pacey wingers or inverted ones. His concentration levels are impressive and his defensive skillset is as complete as his offensive one. All in all, Andy Robertson will go down as a Premier League great and a Liverpool icon.

3. Federico Dimarco (Inter Milan & Italy)

The Italian can be described as a modern-day attacking full-back who likes to run up and down the field all game. The ability to cover the ground at both ends of the pitch for defensive and offensive actions alike is one of the main features of Dimarco’s game. He has an incredible striking ability that puts him in a position to score some incredible goals.

Tactical intelligence and understanding of the game are essential for any full-back, but this is especially true when we talk about wing-backs who have to cover an enormous amount of turf. Dimarco belongs to the group of full-backs who are intelligent in assessing their attacking options, whether it is distributing the ball or waiting to receive a pass in the zone. The Italian combines his physical attributes with tactical knowledge very well, as he has great awareness and knows when and where to run to put himself in the best possible position for a cross or a shot.

2. Alejandro Balde (Barcelona & Spain)

One of the most prodigious talents in Spain’s current young crop, Alejandro Balde had made the Barcelona left-back position his own while he was still only 20 taking over from club legend Jordi Alba. Even though he has lost his starting place in the lineup after the arrival of Joao Cancelo, still he is one of the best in this position in the whole world.

Balde, like Alba, is renowned for his technical ability and is an instant threat in the final world. He notched seven assists in his first season with the Catalan giants. One of Xavi’s marquee players, the teenager, recently extended his Barcelona contract until 2028 with a release clause of €1 billion. Already a regular for the Spanish national team, Balde played an integral part in Barca’s 2022/23 La Liga triumph.

1. Theo Hernandez (AC Milan & France)

6’0 tall and built like a brick, Theo Hernandez has blossomed into a borderline superstar at AC Milan. AC Milan’s defensive wall in the last three seasons, Theo Hernandez, looks like he is not stopping anytime soon. The Rossoneri might say thank you to Real Madrid for allowing the Frenchman to join the club back in 2019. Arguably, he has been one of the standout players in AC Milan for a few seasons. Especially the way he’s helped the club maintain a healthy record.

Arguably the best dribbler on this list, the France international is a true joy to watch when in possession, taking on players and helping to overload opposition defences. Theo can attack on the inside and outside, with the sheer power he possesses often enough to overwhelm opponents.

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