Summary
Dean Huijsen is set to join Real Madrid and ranks as the 14th best centre-back in the world.
Two Man City stars and both Arsenal centre-backs are both included in the top 15.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk is the best centre-back in world football.
The role of a central defender has changed over time, with those at the very top now not just world-class in the air and in a tackle, but also brilliant in possession with the ball at their feet.
The new generation of centre-backs are crucial to their team's build-up play and, in some cases, pass more than most midfielders, but who is the best in the world at the back at this moment in time?
Ranking factors
To help rank the centre-backs in order, we have considered the following criteria:
Current form - how well a player has been performing
Importance to their teams - how influential they are to their team
Role - how unique their skillset is
Reputation - what others are saying about them
Best centre-backs in the world right now: in pictures
|Top 15 centre-backs in the world|
|Rank|Player|Age|Club|Nation|
|1|Virgil van Dijk|33|Liverpool|Netherlands|
|2|Antonio Rudiger|32|Real Madrid|Germany|
|3|Gabriel Magalhaes|27|Arsenal|Brazil|
|4|Alessandro Bastoni|26|Inter Milan|Italy|
|5|William Saliba|24|Arsenal|France|
|6|Pau Cubarsi|18|Barcelona|Spain|
|7|Ibrahima Konate|25|Liverpool|France|
|8|Alessandro Buongiorno|25|Barcelona|Spain|
|9|Ruben Dias|28|Man City|Portugal|
|10|Marquinhos|31|PSG|Brazil|
|11|Josko Gvardiol|23|Man City|Croatia|
|12|Dayot Upamecano|26|Bayern Munich|France|
|13|Eder Militao|27|Real Madrid|Brazil|
|14|Dean Huijsen|20|Bournemouth|Spain|
|15|Murillo|22|Nottingham Forest|Brazil|
|---|
15 Murillo
Nottingham Forest and Brazil
Despite arriving as an unknown figure back in 2023, Murillo is now regarded as one of the top performing centre-backs in the Premier League.
Helping Nottingham Forest qualify for Europe, the “amazing talent” is now a senior Brazil international and is seen as a gamble that paid off at the City Ground, with Liverpool showing interest in bringing Murillo to Anfield.
14 Dean Huijsen
Bournemouth and Spain
One of the most in-demand defenders ahead of the 2025 summer transfer window is AFC Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen, due to his defensive qualities and exceptional ability on the ball.
Wanted all across Europe, Huijsen has starred in the Premier League after leaving Juventus and Tiago Pinto has even said he "will be the best central defender in the world in two years”, and that could be at Real Madrid.
Dean Huijsen: Major titles won
Trophy
Coppa Italia
13 Eder Militao
Real Madrid and Brazil
Dropping down the list due to serious injuries in recent years is Real Madrid’s Eder Militao. The Brazilian was dubbed the “best in the world” at the back by Carlo Ancelotti in 2023 and has won multiple honours at the Bernabeu since 2019.
At the age of 27, Militao should still have plenty of high-level years ahead of him and will be looking to return and win the Club World Cup with Madrid this summer.
Eder Militao: Major titles won
Trophy
Champions League
La Liga
Copa America
Copa del Rey
FIFA Club World Cup
UEFA Super Cup
FIFA Intercontinental Cup
Spanish Super Cup
12 Dayot Upamecano
Bayern Munich and France
Transformed into Bayern Munich’s Mr. Reliable under Vincent Kompany has been Dayot Upamecano, who has partnered Kim Min-jae at the Allianz Arena.
Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund has said in 2025 that the Frenchman “has become a leader” who “plays strongly and consistently at a high level.” At the age of 26, Upamecano appears to be entering his prime.
Dayot Upamecano: Major titles won
Trophy
Nations League
Bundesliga
Austrian Bundesliga
Austrian Cup
German Super Cup
11 Josko Gvardiol
Man City and Croatia
Ranking as the best left-back in the world in 2025, Josko Gvardiol also stars as a centre-back for Man City and Croatia.
Used as a centre-back in the Nations League for his country, Gvardiol turned out centrally under Pep Guardiola in April and May, with City winning five out of six Premier League games with the 23-year-old at the heart of the defence.
Josko Gvardiol: Major titles won
Trophy
Premier League
HNL
FIFA Club World Cup
UEFA Super Cup
DFB-Pokal
Community Shield
Croatian Cup
Croatian Super Cup
10 Marquinhos
PSG and Brazil
Paris Saint-Germain icon Marquinhos is approaching 500 appearances for the French giants and has been leading a new generation of stars at the Parc des Princes under Luis Enrique.
Now 31, Marquinhos continues to be a regular in a young PSG side and even became the first player in the club's history to start 100 matches for PSG in the Champions League.
Marquinhos: Major titles won
Trophy
Ligue 1
Copa America
Coupe de France
Coupe de la Ligue
French Super Cup
Copa Libertadores
9 Ruben Dias
Man City and Portugal
Ruben Dias is coming up to five years as a Man City player and continues to be a regular under Pep Guardiola, with Transfermarkt having the Portugal star down as the fifth most valuable centre-back.
Rated as good as Virgil van Dijk by Jamie Carragher 12 months ago, Dias’ displays have dipped slightly at the Etihad in 2024/25, however, there is no denying his quality.
Ruben Dias: Major titles won
Trophy
Champions League
Premier League
Nations League
FA Cup
League Cup
UEFA Super Cup
Community Shield
FIFA Club World Cup
Liga Portugal
Portuguese Super Cup
8 Alessandro Buongiorno
Napoli and Italy
At the top of his game with a career-high €45m Transfermarkt valuation is Napoli and Italy’s Alessandro Buongiorno.
The 25-year-old is “extraordinary in one-on-one situations” and has been key for Napoli under Antonio Conte. Should his rapid rise continue, Buongiorno could climb up this list in years to come.
7 Ibrahima Konate
Liverpool and France
A defender who arguably goes under the radar in the Premier League is Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate. Partnering Virgil van Dijk since 2022, Konate has impressed Arne Slot this season, who labelled the Frenchman as “impressive” due to his size and strength.
Van Dijk called Konate “outstanding” earlier in the 2024/25 season and even feels he can get even better on Merseyside. The pair have been key for the Reds in their Premier League triumph, and if Konate remains at Anfield, he could yet improve alongside the Dutchman.
Ibrahima Konate: Major titles won
Trophy
Premier League
FA Cup
League Cup
Community Shield
6 Pau Cubarsi
Barcelona and Spain
One of the latest La Masia graduates who has turned into a first-team star at Barcelona is Pau Cubarsi. Still just 18 years of age, Cubarsi is already valued at a whopping €70m by Transfermarkt and is a full Spain international.
Making more than 50 appearances in 2024/25, Hansi Flick has said what “Cubarsi is doing is just as crazy as Lamine Yamal”, and it looks as if he’ll go from strength to strength over the coming years.
Pau Cubarsi: Major titles won
Trophy
Copa del Rey
Spanish Super Cup
Olympic Gold Medal