Top 10 Full Backs

jonjoward1998
May 22, 2025
6 min read

The role of a full back has changed a lot in recent years as they're now being asked to contribute more going forward and occasionally move into midfield.

Just like for goalkeepers and centre backs, Pep Guardiola has been the manager who has encouraged this change and it started when he was at Bayern Munich where he got Philipp Lahm to move into midfield.

Since then pretty much every team in Europe now have their full backs pushing up and moving into midfield and especially since Pep has been in England.

We've always seen full backs who have been good going forward, but since Pep has been in England we've seen more full backs do more going forward.

When I look back at the list, I can't believe that I left off one of the greatest in Paolo Maldini and the reason for this is because I thought he was a centre back. He did play in that position on a number of occasions throughout his career, but his main and best position was at full back as I found out after doing these lists.

Now here is the list:

Dani Alves

Philipp Lahm

Marcelo

Dani Carvajal

Roberto Carlos

Cafu

Ashley Cole

Jordi Alba

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Kyle Walker

Jordi Alba

Alba in his prime was a full back who was quick, could get balls into the box and provide a lot of assists for his teammates.

He first emerged during the 2012 Euros with Spain where his performances at left back played a key role in them going all the way at that tournament.

He got his move to Barcelona from Valencia off the back of that tournament and he went on to play a major role in the success he achieved there.

He won 6 La Liga titles during his time there alongside the Champions League in 2015.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Alexander-Arnold has been the player who has changed the role of a full back more recently by being able to create and move into midfield.

We've never seen a player like him and I don't think we ever will because there aren't many full backs who are as creative as him.

He's been Liverpool's chief creator over the last few seasons because of his vision to pick out any kind of pass, and ability to get crosses into the box from both open play and set pieces.

His creativity has played an integral role in Liverpool's success over the last few seasons and he's going to be one big loss for them when he makes his rumoured move to Real Madrid.

Kyle Walker

Walker has been one of the top full backs in Europe over the last few years mainly because of his pace which is his main asset.

His pace has been a huge part of his game at both ends of the pitch in getting back to help his team out defensively, and pushing up to assist his team going forward.

He did have his flaws defensively earlier in hi career, but that side of his game has improved immensely in recent years and especially when he was at Man City.

He's also good in the air and his aerial ability is why he's at times been used on the right side of a back three and especially for England.

Dani Carvajal

Carvajal has been one of the best right backs in Europe in recent seasons and beyond, but he hasn't always got the credit he's deserved.

He's won the lot at Real Madrid including 6 Champions League's and 4 La Liga titles and he played a key role in pretty much every success he was part of.

He was one of Spain's most important and standout players at the Euros last summer where his all round displays played a major role in them going all the way.

He's been a good all round full back throughout his career by being solid defensively in being well positioned and making key interventions at the right time, and offering a threat going forward with his overlapping runs and ability to get crosses into the box.

Ashley Cole

By far the greatest left back and maybe full back that England have ever produced.

Cole was right up there among the best full backs in Europe on his day because of how good he was defensively.

He was great going forward as well as he loved to get up the pitch at every opportunity but defensively, very few players could beat him in a one on one. Not even the great Cristiano Ronaldo.

He was the best left back in the Premier League for many years and one of the most decorated as he won 3 Premier League titles and 7 FA Cup's for both Arsenal and Chelsea.

Marcelo

Marcelo was the best left back in the world for many years and easily the best of his generation as he would run up and down the touchline all game long.

He was a full back who loved to get forward as he was quick, energetic, could get crosses into the box and even cut inside to have shots at goal.

He won everything on offer at Real Madrid including 5 Champions League's and 6 La Liga titles and he played a major role in pretty much all of them.

Cafu

Cafu was an all round world class right back and arguably the finest of his generation.

He was a brilliant reader of the game defensively as he could snuff out danger and time his challenges to perfection.

Offensively he was a brilliant crosser of the ball, dynamic, quick, and someone who could take players on and beat them due to his pace and silky skills.

He was the captain of the Brazil side that won the World Cup in 2002 where he played an integral role in their success at that tournament. He was also an important part of the AC Milan side that won the Champions League in 2007.

Roberto Carlos

Carlos has to be the greatest left back of all-time and it's no surprise that he's the highest ranked left back on this list.

He ran up and down the touchline many times throughout his career and was a full back who was both brilliant going forward and defensively.

He will be best remembered for his abilities going forward as he was a full back who was quick, dynamic, and a brilliant crosser of the ball from both open play and set pieces.

Very few defences could keep his crosses out because of how good his deliveries were and the same could he said about his direct free kicks, which were struck with so much power that the keeper would struggle to keep them out.

He won the Champions League 3 times with Real Madrid and was an integral part of the Brazil side that won the World Cup in 2002.

Philipp Lahm

Lahm was the first player to change the role of a full back by moving into midfield and even playing there in a hybrid role.

He played that role a number a number of times towards the end of his career as he kept appearing in the centre of the pitch.

He was arguably the best right back in the world on his day because of his positioning, reading of the game and ability to time his tackles well defensively, and his ability to get crosses into the box and pick out passes offensively.

He was also a great leader and his leadership and playing abilities played a key role in the success he achieved at Bayern Munich, and in Germany's World Cup winning campaign in 2014.

Dani Alves

Alves had to be my no.1 not just because of how good a full back he was, but because of what he won.

He's probably the most decorated full back in the game as he won everything multiple times at Barcelona including 6 La Liga titles and 3 Champions League's before going on to win titles at Juventus and PSG.

He was a full back who ran up and down the touchline all game in his prime because of his pace and energy, and he was also a good crosser of the ball and someone who liked to take shot at goal from any distance.

He was the best right back in the world right throughout his career and even as he entered the latter stages of his career.

MY TOP 10: