Top 10 best centre-backs of 2024

Facing these stars is a nightmare for all forwards.

Only a handful of players have mastered the art of defending throughout football’s history. From iconic players like Franz Beckenbauer and Paolo Maldini to modern greats like Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique, football has always been blessed with elite centre-backs in every generation. The role of a defender has evolved exponentially as time has passed. From just clearing the ball on sight, they are now asked to participate heavily in the build-up play as well.

Defensive players must not only possess a strong physical presence in modern football, but they must also possess elite technical ability on the ball. They are called to move up the pitch whenever a team desperately needs a goal too. So, they are asked to contribute massively in both defence and offence. Centre-backs are becoming even more important for a football team.

An old saying, “Attack wins you games but defense wins you trophies,” has stood the test of time in football. The commanding presence of world-class defenders was a constant in all successful teams of 2024. So let’s take a look at Khel Now’s top 10 best centre-backs of 2024.

10. Gabriel Magalhães

Starting off the list is Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhães. Arsenal are one of the best teams in the world and Gabriel has played an important role in their resurgence. He was known to make rash decisions early on in his career with the gunners but the Brazilian has certainly matured under the guidance of Mikel Arteta.

He is a physical specimen that can dominate any attacker. Premier League is one of the most physically demanding leagues in the world but Gabriel stands up to the challenge every single time.

Also Read: Top 10 best right-backs of 2024

9. Marquinhos

The Brazilian enjoyed yet another successful year with Paris Saint Germain in 2024. He won Ligue 1, Coupe de France and Trophée des Champions with PSG adding three more trophies to his already stacked cabinet. Despite failing on the European stage, Marquinhos played a crucial role in Parisian’s road to the semi-finals.

He also became the player with the most appearances for PSG in 2024. On an individual level, he was brilliant for Brazil in the Copa America.

8. Joško Gvardiol

Gvardiol burst onto the scene in 2022 and was a breakout star in that year’s World Cup. His amazing rise secured him a move to the Premier League when Manchester City decided to pay 90 million euros for him. He is the definition of a ‘Modern Defender.’ He has a strong physical presence, is incredibly fast and despite his height, he seems to glide across the pitch.

Thanks for the support. We keep moving forward with full focus on Saturday! 👊🏻#mancity pic.twitter.com/FgzJ5pl9Oi

— Joško Gvardiol (@JoskoGvardiol4) October 31, 2024

Manchester City easily transition from defence to attack with his incredible passing range as well. The Croatian is very versatile in the backline as he can also play a left-back when needed. He is a regular starter for the Croatian national team and is poised to have a very successful career.

7. Alessandro Bastoni

Italy is known for producing elite defenders. Some of the best centre-backs in football history like Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Nesta, and Fabio Cannavaro have emerged from Italian soil. Alessandro Bastoni certainly holds the talent to carry their legacy forward.

He is very composed with the ball at his feet and can also retain possession in crowded areas. He played an important role in making 2024 a successful year for Inter Milan as they won both the Serie A and Supercoppa Italiana. He also played in his first major international tournament with Italy and showcased his talent to the entire world.

Also Read: Top 10 best left-backs of 2024

6. Cristian Romero

Cristian Romero has played a very important role in making Argentina a successful team in recent times. He has been quietly consistent for his national team and is finally getting the recognition he deserves. La Albiceleste only conceded a single goal throughout the 2024 Copa America and Romero was a major factor behind that.

His style of no-nonsense defending is very rare in modern football and sets him apart from his contemporaries. He did great for Tottenham Hotspur throughout the year as well and is one of the first names on the team sheet for his club.

5. Virgil van Dijk

The Dutchman has cemented himself as one of the best and most consistent centre back in the world despite Liverpool’s lack of silverware this year. Donning the captain’s armband for both his club and country, Van Dijk excels in his leadership responsibilities.

pic.twitter.com/fxXzYnNjTR

— Virgil van Dijk (@VirgilvDijk) August 4, 2022

Many elite forwards consider him as their toughest opponent and they can’t be blamed. With his enormous frame and freighting pace, he can be quite intimidating. He struggled for a bit after coming back from a lengthy injury but has returned to his brilliant best for both club and country in 2024

4. Jonathan Tah

Under the tutelage of Xabi Alonso, Jonathan Tah has become one of the best defenders in the world. He is desired by clubs like Bayern Munich and FC Barcelona which is a testament to his incredible quality. Bayer Leverkusen enjoyed a historic 2024 as they won DFB-Pokal and the Bundesliga to put an end to Bayern’s dominance.

Jonathan Tah was very important to them and played a pivotal role in Leverkusen’s success. He featured for Germany in the 2024 Euros tournament as well and displayed his calibre on the international stage.

3. William Saliba

Saliba spent his first three years with the Gunners out on loan but has now become one of the most important players in Mikel Arteta’s team. His first full season with Arsenal saw the Gunners competing with Manchester City for the Premier League title.

However, their title challenge collapsed when Saliba got injured. His rise to the top of English football came out of left field and he is currently Arsenal’s most prized possession. He brought his excellent form to the international stage during the 2024 Euros. France only conceded three goals in the entire tournament and William Saliba should be appreciated for his presence.

Also Read: Top 10 best goalkeepers of 2024

2. Ruben Dias

Even since he joined Manchester City in 2020, Ruben Dias has been a very dependable centre-back for Pep Guardiola. He was named Manchester City’s Player of the Year in his first season but has only improved with time. After completing the famous treble in the 2022-23 season, Ruben Dias was key for Manchester City again to retain their Premier League title in 2023-24.

Ruben Dias possesses all the qualities a defender needs like organization, tackling, heading, and positioning. He is also a mainstay in the heart of Portugal’s defence. He had an impressive 2024 Euros campaign with his country as he played a big hand in Portugal’s impressive defensive record in the tournament.

1. Antonio Rüdiger

Real Madrid had a defensive crisis last season as they lost Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militão, and David Alaba due to ACL injury. Despite this massive setback, Real Madrid won the LaLiga and conceded the least number of goals in the entire league. Antonio Rüdiger was a major factor behind this feat. He stepped up when Real Madrid needed him the most and stayed consistent throughout the season.

Frustrating game. But we have to get through this together – thanks a lot to all Madridistas for your support last night 🤍 #HalaMadrid #AlwaysBelieve #Hustle #alhamdulillah pic.twitter.com/XeaMVhRjTZ

— Antonio Rüdiger (@ToniRuediger) November 6, 2024

He also won his first UEFA Champions League title with Los Blancos in 2024. He got unlucky with Germany in the Euros Championship as they got knocked out controversially against Spain but he did enough with his club and country to earn the title of the best defender in 2024.

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