The 25 best right backs in world football - ranked

Cafu and Dani Alves made right-back play trendy in back-to-back generations but despite the best efforts of the samba specialists, Jamie Carragher's words that were heard around the world almost a decade ago still largely ring true.

"If you're a full-back, you're either a failed winger or a failed centre-back," uttered the now revered Sky Sports pundit. "No one wants to grow up and be a Gary Neville."

The resilient and hard-working Neville contrasted starkly with the majestic brilliance of the aforementioned Brazilian tandem, but Carragher's premise was undoubtedly fair. Cafu and Alves distorted the idealist concept of the full-back, but it hasn't been until recently that their ideas of how the function should be performed became commonplace.

Football has never before been blessed with such an abundance of unique right-back talent and pinning down the leading 25 in the world was no easy task. Nevertheless, we've given it a good go!

Here are our top 25 right-backs in the world as part of our 2023 Welcome to World Class series.

25. Daniel Munoz

Daniel Munoz was something of an unknown quantity when he first joined Crystal Palace from Genk in 2024, but he's taken to the Premier League by storm.

Benefitting from Eagles manager Oliver Glasner's enterprising style of play, the Colombia international quickly struck up a productive partnership with Michael Olise and has consistently delivered in the final third since arriving at Selhurst Park.

24. Aaron Wan-Bissaka

Aaron Wan-Bissaka's skill in one-on-one situations can't be overlooked. Those spider-like legs help the former Crystal Palace defender claim the ball or clear danger time and time again.

He has improved during Erik ten Hag's spell at Manchester United but worries over his positional awareness and attacking contribution remain.

23. Malo Gusto

Malo Gusto isn't the only player to struggle for consistency at Chelsea but there have been a few signs to suggest he could become one of the better right-backs around Europe over the next few years.

As Reece James continues to struggle for fitness, the France international racked up plenty of appearances in 2023/24 and his useful delivery from wide areas helped him grab six assists during his first Premier League season.

22. Jules Kounde

Jules Kounde has been the victim of both Barcelona and France's issues at right-back. While primarily a central defender, the former Sevilla star has had to fill in out wide due to the absence of other options at both club and national team level.

However, Kounde has developed into a sturdy and reliable option on the right side of defence and is likely to play plenty of his future football in that position.

21. Nahuel Molina

Now the starting right-back for Atletico Madrid and Argentina, Nahuel Molina is a hard-as-nails defender with an eye for goal.

The former Boca Juniors star earned admiring glances for his breakout performances in Serie A with Udinese to earn a move to Atleti prior to his role in his country's successful 2022 World Cup campaign in Qatar.

20. Matteo Darmian

Matteo Darmian hasn't set the world ablaze since leaving Man Utd as an unwanted defender in 2019, but he's grown into a consistent performer for a quality Inter outfit.

The Italy international remains a low-key presence and isn't an assist machine at San Siro, but his defensive nous makes him a solid option for Simone Inzaghi.

19. Lutsharel Geertruida

Lutsharel Geertruida has thrived in recent seasons at Feyenoord, becoming a Netherlands international and earning plenty of plaudits for his performances.

La Liga giants Real Madrid and Barcelona have been linked with moves for Geertruida, who has some eye-catching attacking statistics in the Eredivisie.

18. Noussair Mazraoui

After being in and out of the Bayern Munich team last season, Noussair Mazraoui has become a regular recently.

The Morocco international likes to maraud forward and is comfortable both out wide and in central areas.

17. Matty Cash

Matty Cash isn't the star of Unai Emery's enterprising Aston Villa side but the Poland international helps make them one of the toughest teams in England to face.

Cash charges into tackles and isn't shy of taking some of the player alongside the ball, making him a scrappy opponent.

16. Yan Couto

One of the young stars who made his name in a breakout season at Girona, Yan Couto could become more familiar to Premier League viewers given he was on loan from Manchester City.

The young Brazilian loves to dart into the box from wide areas and was one of the leading assisters in La Liga last season.

15. Giovanni Di Lorenzo

Giovanni Di Lorenzo is one of the most underrated right-backs in the world. He has been a mainstay in the Napoli team for over three years and will go down in folklore as their Scudetto-winning captain of 2022/23.

Di Lorenzo is a regular for Italy and certainly one of the best full-backs Serie A has to offer. He's an aggressive and robust defender and performs a conservative but imperative function when Napoli have the ball.

14. Vanderson

Monaco picked Vanderson up for just €11m and are sure to make a hefty profit on the former Gremio youngster, who has plenty of quality to use in the final third.

The Brazilian likes to play high up the pitch where he can make use of his attacking prowess and could end up at one of Europe's giants in the near future.

13. Davide Calabria

Italy international Davide Calabria took his time to break through at AC Milan. His debut came all the way back in 2014/15 but he's finally the first choice right-back for the Rossoneri.

He still gets his thrills by tackling over goals and assists but manages an attacking contribution every now and then.

12. Diogo Dalot

It's taken a while for Diogo Dalot to get up and running at Old Trafford, but Erik ten Hag's arrival fast-tracked his progress during the 2022/23 season.

The Portugal international's attacking abilities have become more prominent, while he's no slouch in defence.

11. Reece James

Reece James is arguably the most complete right-back in the game.

The Chelsea defender possesses a fierce crossing delivery and his ball-striking is that of a prolific number nine. James is a powerful figure down the right and came into his own from an attacking perspective as a wing-back when he registered 14 Premier League goal contributions in 2021/22.

James can defend as stoutly as the very best in the world and the England international's attacking prowess is complemented by his aggression without the ball, physicality in duels and sound defensive fundamentals. He just has to stay fit to make the most of his potential.

10. Pedro Porro

Pedro Porro was hung out to dry in his first half-season at Tottenham, entering a rather toxic environment during Antonio Conte's final days in charge.

He was often left isolated out wide but has since shown his quality under Ange Postecoglou, strolling inside and creating some wonderful goals for Spurs.

9. Joao Cancelo

Some of the things Joao Cancelo has done with the ball at his feet defy belief. It's what makes his sharp decline so puzzling.

There's a rawness to Cancelo's game that facilitates unpredictability every time he steps onto the field. The Portugal international is far from the best defensive right-back in the world, but his work in possession is just obscene.

He became unsettled at Man City and a loan exit to Bayern didn't yield a positive outcome. It hasn't got too much better at Barcelona, either, but there's still time for Cancelo to turn it around.

8. Kieran Trippier

From Burnley to Madrid, England international Kieran Trippier has had quite the career path.

Trippier is back in the Premier League with the enriched Newcastle United and the full-back played a key role in their Champions League qualification.

The diminutive right-back is a stellar technician whose ability from dead-ball situations once catapulted an entire nation into a state of utter jubilation. Gareth Southgate has often favoured the versatile and reliable Trippier over perhaps more talented individuals for the Three Lions.

7. Dani Carvajal

A stalwart at Real Madrid for over ten years with six Champions League crowns and four Spanish titles, Dani Carvajal will end his career as one of the most decorated defenders in football history.

His importance to Los Blancos' success is up for debate, but there's a reason why the Spaniard garnered the trust of both Zinedine Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti in Madrid.

Injuries have certainly slowed Carvajal down in recent years, but he remains one of the most reliable and complete full-backs in the world.

6. Jeremie Frimpong

Jeremie Frimpong spent much of his youth in England and played with Jadon Sancho during the pair's time together in Man City's academy.

The Netherlands international was a former fan favourite at Celtic and took his good form over to Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen, where he has enjoyed the vast space the Bundesliga offers wide players.

5. Denzel Dumfries

Flying Dutchman Denzel Dumfries was the Netherlands' standout performer in a disappointing Euro 2020 campaign and had the difficult task of replacing Achraf Hakimi at Inter.

Dumfries feasted in the Eredivisie at PSV and has since risen to greater prominence following his deserved move to Milan.

While he isn't the cleanest of technicians - both defensively and offensively - Dumfries is a physical behemoth and unstoppable when on song. His numbers will continue to boom under Inzaghi.

4. Achraf Hakimi

Achraf Hakimi's union with Antonio Conte at Inter was nothing short of a match made in heaven. The Moroccan wing-back was the missing piece to the demanding Italian's jigsaw as the Nerazzurri claimed the 2020/21 Scudetto with Hakimi starring.

However, he was forced to take his exploits elsewhere as Inter endured a mini exodus ahead of the 2021/22 campaign. Paris Saint-Germain came calling and Hakimi returned to playing in a back four.

Hakimi is a ridiculous athlete who boasts track speed, while his decision-making with the final pass is improving. His attacking prowess is complemented by a sound defensive repertoire, too.

3. Ben White

Eyebrows were raised when Arsenal forked out around £50m for the services of Ben White, but the defender has more than repaid that fee through his performances at the Emirates Stadium.

Be it as a right-back or centre-back, White has always been solid, but his ability to learn and add new facets to his game make the former Brighton star one of the best right-backs around.

He's in a self-imposed England exile, but there's hope he'll return to the international scene soon enough.

2. Trent Alexander-Arnold

Trent Alexander-Arnold has utterly revolutionised the concept of the modern-day defender.

Any defensive flaws are vastly outweighed by his supreme playmaking ability. His emergence into Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool side was one of several factors in the Reds' meteoric rise under their chest-pumping German boss.

The Reds are once again looking to evolve and Alexander-Arnold has been pushed forward by Klopp in recent seasons, grabbing headlines with some sublime assists and playmaking.

1. Kyle Walker

Mauricio Pochettino played a pivotal role in Kyle Walker's development.

The England international was as raw as they got before Pochettino arrived at White Hart Lane and the stoic Argentine's guidance helped Walker evolve into one of the world's most complete right-backs. You don't survive in Pep Guardiola's meticulous system for so long if you're not one of the best players around.

Walker, whose recovery speed and technical security remain crucial to his success, has played a key role in City's reign of Premier League dominance. The England international is no longer relied upon in the final third as much and is instead tasked with shunning opposition counter-attacks and ensuring City can establish a numerical superiority in midfield when they have the ball.

He stepped in at crucial moments during City's treble-winning campaign and will firmly be regarded as one of the finest full-backs England has ever produced.

READ MORE ON THE BEST 25 PLAYERS FOR EVERY POSITION IN WORLD FOOTBALL