-
A lot is asked of right-backs in modern football as both defenders and attacking outlets
-
Looking at the best right-backs in the world, many combine technical skill with supreme athleticism
-
Read below for our 10 top right-backs in world football ahead of the 2021/22 season
The best right-backs in the world are some of the most exciting players to watch. No longer settling alongside their centre-backs, they can alter Premier League odds with their proactive play and defence-splitting passes.
Just as betting on football has changed in the 21st century, so has the role of the right-back.
Attack is now at least as important as defence. Energy and pace are increasingly relevant given than even in a back four, they often have to operate like a wing-back.
We’ve covered the best Premier League midfielders of all-time. It’s the turn of the right-backs, and the best on the planet ahead of the 2021/22 season. There’s a distinct Premier League and English feel to this list…
Nordi Mukiele
Leipzig’s system doesn’t enable Nordi Mukiele to put up the same offensive numbers as some other wing-backs. He has still shown himself as an accomplished attacking player, and continues to go from strength to strength with the Bundesliga club.
It took some time to settle in after his move from Montpellier, but Mukiele covers an extraordinary amount of ground.
Appearing in midfield and covering the entirety of the right flank, the French full-back is on his way to becoming one of the best at the position.
Spurs fans got a taste of what he can do going forward, too. The 23-year-old was unstoppable down the right as Leipzig flattened the north London club in the Champions League a couple of years ago.
Joshua Kimmich
It’s a bit sneaky putting Joshua Kimmich in here, as he’s predominantly a central midfielder at club level these days.
Kimmich slotted in at right wing-back for Germany at the Euros, though, and he would still be among the best at the position if required to play there throughout a Bundesliga campaign.
There are few footballers as complete as Joshua Kimmich. He can do whatever his manager asks of him. With such versatility can come an unsettling amount of change, but Kimmich has always taken that in his stride.
Being able to play multiple positions isn’t special, but being able to play them at the level Kimmich does really is.
Juan Cuadrado
Juan Cuadrado didn’t hang around long enough to feature much in Premier League predictions. Wildly disappointing at Chelsea, the Colombian returned to Serie A and established himself among the best right-backs in the world.
With 10 assists in Serie A last term, Cuadrado also completed two key passes, 1.4 tackles and 1.4 interceptions. He’s still willing to take people on, too.
Player development is so often about finding the right role and the right team. Cuadrado has done just that with Juventus.
Ricardo Pereira
Just another one in a long line of brilliant Leicester signings, Ricardo Pereira sometimes gets overlooked amid the cluster of exceptional right-backs in the Premier League.
Rock solid at the back and capable of picking a pass in the final third, Pereira has quickly become a crucial player for the Foxes. His injury in 2020/21 was a real blow to Brendan Rodgers’ side.
Limited Champions League appearances shouldn’t work against Pereira. He’s deserving of a place in the top 10.
Thomas Meunier
Now in the black and yellow of Dortmund, Thomas Meunier broke onto the big time relatively late. He was well into his twenties when he landed the big move to PSG, but Meunier has crafted a great career.
With over 50 caps for Belgium, he’s played as an attack-first right-back and often been utilised as a wing-back.
While not the flashiest going forward, Meunier’s size, mobility and delivery from wide positions has made him an ideal complementary piece alongside some premier attacking talents.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
The ascent of Trent Alexander-Arnold coincided with a period of dominance for Liverpool, and it’s no fluke.
Alexander-Arnold is the primary creator in this Liverpool team, slicing defences open from anywhere on the field and producing reliable inch-perfect crosses from dead-ball situations.
Fair questions remain about Alexander-Arnold as a defender. There should be improvement at that end over the coming years.
Even if he remains subpar defensively, the attacking impact is enough to put him in the top five right-backs in world football.
Reece James
Reece James is set to be Chelsea’s right-back for the next decade-plus. James is comfortable in a back three or a back five, and can even slot into midfield or central defence when required.
His sheer size and athleticism is impossible to ignore, but James is also an exceptional tackler with nimble footwork to steal the ball from opponents or to dribble past them.
The sky really is the limit for the 21-year-old, who is already a Champions League winner and an established England international.
Kyle Walker
Winning the duel of England right backs at Euro 2020, Kyle Walker made his way into the Team of the Tournament. Walker was a marauding full-back with defensive issues early in his time at Spurs, but his game has evolved.
The Manchester City man is even used at centre-back occasionally now, and his recovery pace frequently bailed England out in the Euros.
Although not quite as influential going forward as he used to be, Walker remains a consistent performer at the highest level.
Achraf Hakimi
From Real Madrid to Dortmund, Inter and now PSG, Achraf Hakimi is yet another right-back who started out further up the pitch. He provides elite play in the final third as a result, and he’s among the quickest players in world football.
Hakimi was one of the best names on this list. The electric pace catches the eye, but he’s more than a sprinter at right-back.
With an eye for a pass and the close control the burn past opponents, the Morocco international is destined for years at the top.
Joao Cancelo
Used on both sides of the pitch by Manchester City, Joao Cancelo took to the Premier League smoothly.
He really has everything required in a Pep Guardiola full-back. There’s the composure in possession. There’s pace to challenge in behind and make hefty recovery runs. He’s a good crosser, but he offers much more than that in the final third.
*Credit for the main photo belongs to Francois Mori / AP Photo*
FIRST PUBLISHED: 9th August 2021
