The 25 best right backs in world football - ranked

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."

While Neville was a darn fine right-back, it's true that he and many of his positional peers lacked the glamour associated with elite-level football. However, the modern era has embraced a new wave of transformative right-backs.

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

25. 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 difficult opponent for even the most hardened left wingers in the land.

24. 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 had been linked with moves for Geertruida, but the versatile defender chose to make the journey to RB Leipzig instead in 2024.

Like many who grace the Red Bull Arena in Germany, he's only likely to improve in the next few years.

23. 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, teaming up with Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund for 2024/25.

Another impressive campaign away from the Etihad could help him earn a starting spot in Manchester in the near future.

22. 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 a regular 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. An old-school right-back with a crunching lunge in his locker, he embodies the hard-hitting Italian defender.

21. Noussair Mazraoui

After being in and out of the Bayern Munich team over recent seasons, Noussair Mazraoui decided to make a permanent exit over the summer, joining Manchester United for just under £13m.

The Morocco international likes to maraud forward and is comfortable both out wide and in central areas, while he has shown his ability to play at left-back, too.

He's a reliable option in the full-back department, even if he lacks a little va-va-voom.

20. 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.

While yet to win any honours with Atleti, he recently added a third major international trophy to his cabinet after triumphing at the 2024 Copa America.

19. 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.

Operating as a right-back or as part of a central defensive trio, Darmian won his second Serie A title last season.

18. 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.

Monaco's presence in the 2024/25 Champions League is likely to attract new suitors.

17. Malo Gusto

Malo Gusto isn't the only player to struggle for consistency at Chelsea in recent years but the young defender has finally hit his stride at Stamford Bridge.

As Reece James continues to struggle with fitness issues, 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.

A tenacious defender with an eye for a pass, Gusto will continue to thrive at right-back or left-back.

16. 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 in 2022/23.

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. Trippier's international retirement should allow him to prolong his successful club career.

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. 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. Playing as either a right-back or left-back, he provides tenacity and determination down the flanks for the Red Devils.

If he can add a little more consistency to his game, he could climb this list in the years to come.

13. Jurrien Timber

Having missed his debut season with Arsenal after tearing his ACL on the opening day of the campaign, Jurrien Timber is up and running for the 2024/25 season.

The versatile Dutchman can play anywhere across the backline but is best-suited to a full-back role, something that is already abundantly clear to Gooners across the world.

12. 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.

11. 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 Manchester City and a loan exit to Bayern Munich didn't yield a positive outcome. A spell with Barcelona was hit-and-miss and the experienced defender is now plying his trade in the Saudi Pro League.

10. 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.

9. 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.

Defensively sound and capable of popping up with the odd goal contribution, Kounde has progressed nicely.

8. 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.

There are few full-backs who boast a better delivery than the exciting Spaniard, even if he still has work to do on improving the defensive aspect of his game.

7. 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 in the future.

6. 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.

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.

5. 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.

Capable of playing anywhere down the right-hand side, Frimpong managed a combined 18 goals and assists as Leverkusen won the Bundesliga title in 2023/24.

4. Joshua Kimmich

Regardless of Joshua Kimmich's preference for playing in defensive midfield, there are plenty of arguments to suggest that he's most impactful as a right-back for Bayern Munich.

The German technician has often dazzled in defence and featured regularly there during the 2023/24 season under Thomas Tuchel. There are shades of Philipp Lahm about his game.

Despite speculation over his long-term Bayern future, he remains integral to their set-up.

3. 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.

2. 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 has been debated, but there's a reason why the Spaniard garnered the trust of both Zinedine Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti in Madrid.

Carvajal enjoyed his most productive season in 2023/24, winning La Liga and scoring in the Champions League final as Madrid claimed a 15th crown. He was also instrumental as Spain won Euro 2024 over the summer.

1. 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 already proved important under Klopp's successor Arne Slot. He continues to be one of the Premier League's greatest technicians and attacking threats.

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