Who Are the Best Right-Backs in World Football?

The best right-backs in the world play in Europe’s ‘Big Five’ football leagues. Trent-Alexander-Arnold is the best right-back in world football. He has held the title for several years, winning every club trophy with Liverpool. Dani Carvajal, Joshua Kimmich, Jeremie Frimpong, João Cancelo are several of the best right-backs, past and present. 

However, they have played many games in multiple positions. Alexander-Arnold, Achraf Hakimi, and Kyle Walker have played most of their careers at right-back. Jules Koundé has played most of his career as a centre-half and has been playing predominantly right-back the past few seasons for Barcelona. Frimpong plays as an attacking right midfielder and right-winger for Bayer Leverkusen. 

Denzel Dumfries has played a third of his career as a right midfielder. He has 13 goals and 21 assists in that position. Dumfries, however, has 22 goals and 33 assists at right-back. Only Alexander-Arnold has more goals. Carvajal is the most successful right-back since Alves, winning 31 major honours. The Real Madrid defender is the second-best right-back in the world.

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The right-back position has changed drastically in the last decade. Before, fullbacks were defenders first, and attackers second. Even when attacking, they rarely strayed into the opposition’s 18-yard area. Most of their assists would come from corners, free kicks, and the odd cross from a counter-attack. 

There have been many sublime fullbacks during the last half-century or so, but they did not score anywhere near as many goals as the modern fullbacks. SportsBoom has researched the best right-backs in the world and put together a top 10 list, according to trophies, goals and assists. 

We did not rank the players according to their transfer fees or estimated values. Our top 10 list includes players who play mainly in the right-back position. However, several players have played multiple positions throughout their careers. Only goals and assists scored from the right-back position are counted. All trophies are included. 

Who is the Best Right-Back in World Football?

Trent Alexander-Arnold is the best right-back in world football. Alexander-Arnold has been the best player in his position for several years. He revolutionised the fullback position. Alexander-Arnold is often compared with Brazil greats Cafu and Dani Alves for his attacking and playmaking flair. 

His passing and attacking versatility saw former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp move him into a roaming central midfield position during games over the last two years. Current Liverpool head coach Arne Slot, and former England manager Garreth Southgate, both used Alexander-Arnold in the same manner. 

The Liverpool defender is the best passer and playmaker of any defender in the world. His long-range passing ability is compared to Steven Gerrard. The Liverpool legend was possibly the greatest long-range passer and crosser of the football in his era. The 26-year-old scores crucial goals and holds the all-time record for assists by a defender in English Premier League history. He is also one goal away from entering the top 10 scoring defenders list in Premier League history. 

Alexander-Arnold, like his idol Gerrard, is a dead-ball specialist. Both scored famous free-kicks. Trent, however, was involved in the most famous corner taken when his quick-thinking set up Divock Origi’s UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg, match-winning goal against Barcelona in 2019. The Redmen fought from 3-0 down in the away leg to win 4-0 to book their place in the final. The Anfield club would win their sixth Champions League title, the third-most of any European club. Alexander-Arnold has won every domestic and European trophy at Liverpool. 

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Kyle Walker is the only other current right-back in the Premier League to win every major honour. Walker is a technically better defender than Alexander-Arnold, but he is not in the same class as a goal-scorer, assist provider, crosser and passer. The Manchester City defender is not dynamic and nowhere near an attacking threat despite playing for a club that scores the most goals in Europe most seasons. 

Alexander-Arnold is the highest goal-scoring right-back in Europe. He ranks top for the number one in goals and assists in world football in his position. He is the greatest right-back in the world and the best right-back since Alves. The former Barcelona and Brazil flyer scored 38 goals, with 131 assists in his trophy-laden career. 

Trent will pass both records in the coming years, but not Alves’ trophy haul. Alves is one of the top-five most decorated footballers, and often rated as the greatest right-back of all time. He won 41 major honours. Only Lionel Messi has won more trophies than former Barcelona teammate Alves.