90min

2022 World Cup defender power rankings: Matchday 2

By Finley Crebolder

Al-Tambakti was more than a match for Messi and co
Al-Tambakti was more than a match for Messi and co / James Williamson - AMA/GettyImages
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Plenty of clean sheets have been kept thus far in Qatar, and some top individual performances have played a big part in that.

Here are 90min's picks for the best defenders two matches in.

10. Harry Maguire (England, new entry)

Harry Maguire
Proving the doubters wrong / Visionhaus/GettyImages

Once again, Maguire is proving to be twice the player for his country than he is for his club. He was everywhere at the back for England against USA.

9. Lisandro Martinez (Argentina, new entry)

Lisandro Martínez
Martinez has steadied the ship / Simon M Bruty/GettyImages

When Martinez has been on the pitch - for half an hour against Saudi Arabia and from the start against Mexico - Argentina haven't conceded a goal, which isn't a coincidence.

8. Pervis Estupinan (Ecuador, new entry)

Pervis Estupinan, Marten De Roon
Estupinan is enjoying himself / Etsuo Hara/GettyImages

Playing as a wing-back, Estupinan gave the Netherlands a torrid time, being the biggest attacking threat on the pitch.

7. Nayef Aguerd (Morocco, new entry)

Nayef Aguerd
Aguerd hasn't put a foot wrong / James Williamson - AMA/GettyImages

West Ham have barely played Aguerd this season but that may change after the World Cup given how good he's been in his first two matches, helping his team keep clean sheets.

6. Dayot Upamecano (France, new entry)

Dayot Upamecano
France's rock at the back / Marvin Ibo Guengoer - GES Sportfoto/GettyImages

Upamecano has been rock solid at the back for France, dominating his aerial battles and doing well on the ball.

5. Thiago Silva (Brazil, up 5)

Thiago Silva
Silva hasn't had any troubles / Jean Catuffe/GettyImages

Despite facing two decent sides in Serbia and Switzerland, Brazil have never really looked like conceding a goal, thanks in large part to Thiago Silva who has led his defence excellently.

4. Romain Saiss (Morocco, new entry)

Romain Saïss
Morocco's main man so far / Simon M Bruty/GettyImages

Morocco have scored two goals and have Saiss to thank for one of them, and haven't conceded any which is also largely down to their captain, who has been flawless.

3. Josko Gvardiol (Croatia, up 3)

Josko Gvardiol
The man behind the mask isn't half bad / Laurence Griffiths/GettyImages

Gvardiol is widely considered to be one of the best young centre-backs around and he's showing why, impressing in each of the first two matches.

2. Jordi Alba (Spain, up 2)

Jordi Alba
Who said he was past it? / Richard Sellers/GettyImages

Alba is proving he's not over the hill yet, setting up a goal in both of Spain's first two matches and being one of their best players.

1. Theo Hernandez (France, up 2)

Theo Hernández
Hernandez sparked France into life / Lionel Hahn/GettyImages

Since replacing his brother early on in France's first match, Hernandez has been a revelation, getting two assists and being one of his nation's biggest threats.

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