The 25 best left-backs in world football - ranked

The full-back revolution hasn't merely been restricted to the right side of the pitch, even if that is where many of the tagged revolutionaries strut their stuff.

Being deployed at left-back was once an insult; it's where the worst player on the team attempted to impress down on the local playing fields on a Sunday morning. It was a position nobody wanted to play.

However, the rapid evolution of the sport in the 21st century has morphed the left-back position into a desirable one. It's an incredibly demanding function with modern-day tactical obsessives trying their utmost to complicate the role as much as they can. Thanks, Pep.

But their work has brought about a new breed of left-back and we're now blessed with a myriad of stars in that position.

Ranking the top 25 left-backs in the world is no easy task, but here's our attempt at doing exactly that.

25. Wendell

Wendell was a late bloomer on the international scene, only making his Brazil debut in 2024. It did, however, come just in time to play as his country's first-choice left-back at that year's Copa America.

He has garnered attention for his role in Porto's silverware spurt in Portugal and could add plenty more to his trophy cabinet during the twilight of his career.

24. Ian Maatsen

Ian Maatsen was one of a number of Chelsea players to struggle to break into the starting XI, being given few opportunities by former boss Mauricio Pochettino before he was sent out on loan.

However, the Dutchman showed his quality during a loan spell with Borussia Dortmund which was enough to earn the attack-minded left-back a promising move to Champions League outfit Aston Villa for 2024/25.

23. Bradley Locko

Bradley Locko was signed by Brest from Reims for an absolute snip in the current market, making the journey across Ligue 1 after a €500,000 deal was agreed. Given they then qualified for the Champions League for the first time ever in 2023/24, his price tag is now exponentially higher.

The youngster enjoyed his first season as a true regular at left-back and showed his defensive acumen with some bludgeoning tackles and energetic blocks. He is set to go from strength to strength in the coming years.

22. Maximilian Mittelstadt

Maximilian Mittelstadt's role in helping Stuttgart qualify for the Champions League was a big factor in his inclusion in Germany's squad for Euro 2024.

The former Hertha Berlin star possesses great dribbling ability which he showcased during 2023/24, helping him pick up two goals and four assists in 31 Bundesliga appearances.

He showed loyalty to Stuttgart over the summer and has stuck around as the German side look to go from strength to strength.

21. Ferdi Kadioglu

Brighton know what they're doing in the transfer market, and Kadioglu is bound to be a hit on the South Coast.

This is a player that can pretty much play anywhere. Adept with both feet and comfortable operating at an array of angles, Kadioglu has starred in more advanced and central positions before his move to Brighton.

At left-back, the Turkish international loves to fly forward, and his understanding of optimal space occupation means he's an excellent combiner and able to attack on both the overlap and underlap. He's brilliant in possession, but he's not the finished product defensively.

20. Antonee Robinson

Antonee Robinson has long been regarded as a left-back with bags of talent and there's no doubt the USMNT international went up a gear in 2023/24.

He can frustrate in the final third given the positions he gets himself in, while his penchant for an own goal is odd, but Robinson has nonetheless evolved into a stellar two-way full-back.

He's streaky but capable of locking down the Premier League's best in a one-on-one duel.

19. David Raum

David Raum is a relentless supplier of goals. Following a superb campaign with Greuther Furth in the German second tier, Raum would enjoy an assist-laden season with Hoffenheim before again moving to RB Leipzig.

Raum is a versatile defender who can function in a variety of systems, but he's undoubtedly at his most effective when he's given the freedom to advance into the final third.

He's one of the best attacking left-backs in the world, but he does have a couple of defensive drawbacks, including his ability in one-v-one situations.

18. Pervis Estupinan

Pervis Estupinan made a name for himself while out on loan at Osasuna in La Liga during the COVID-hit 2019/20 campaign. Estupinan assisted five times in the league that season as his precise delivery and proactive defensive style became revered in Spain.

The Ecuadorian is an incredibly energetic full-back who excels in all phases of play. He's an excellent dribbler and proved while playing in the Champions League with Villarreal he can perform to a borderline elite level in high-pressure moments.

He was electric under former Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi and has the ability to rediscover his impressive form under Fabian Hurzeler.

17. Marc Cucurella

Chelsea spent a lot of money on Marc Cucurella and the Spaniard was a bit of a liability for quite a while. However, the floppy-haired left-back has shown signs of maturity as a defender over the past 18 months and worked his way back into the Spain set-up.

There are technical flaws but Cucurella is an intense and energetic full-back who can be hard to play against. His stock rose considerably amid an impressive Euro 2024 campaign, and he has the ability to kick on under Enzo Maresca.

16. Miguel Gutierrez

Former Real Madrid defender Miguel Gutierrez could find himself back in the Spanish capital soon having excelled with surprise package Girona.

Michel's ever-interchanging outfit took La Liga by storm in 2023/24, with the manager's ideals meaning Gutierrez plays the complete opposite of a conventional left-back role.

The Spaniard boasts an impressive physical profile and is comfortable operating in a variety of zones. He was arguably La Liga's standout left-back last term.

15. Samuel Lino

Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid have evolved into a very watchable outfit, with the Argentine drifting away from the dark arts in favour of a more progressive style - well, kinda.

Flying wing-back Samuel Lino has been key to their evolution, with the Brazilian almost operating as an auxiliary winger. The two-footed Lino attacks space in behind opposing defences superbly and is a frequent contributor in the final third as a result.

14. Destiny Udogie

Italian flier Destiny Udogie was the talk of the Premier League at the start of the 2023/24 season, causing havoc with his bursts into the final third and quality on the ball.

Udogie was an instant hit in north London, but the form he displayed during Spurs' majestic beginning to the Ange Postecoglou era hasn't been replicated since. The Italian has produced standout performances, but consistency and lapses in concentration have been issues.

13. Raphael Guerreiro

There aren't many full-backs as dynamic as Raphael Guerreiro. The diminutive Portugal international is so fun to watch.

Guerreiro stands out with his efficient work in the final third but he's also an exceptional ball-carrier. He's the epitome of a modern-day full-back.

While there are physical shortcomings, Guerreiro boasts the defensive nous to ensure such drawbacks are minimised. Thomas Tuchel utilised the Portuguese star in midfield, while Vincent Kompany has trusted Guerreiro at right-back.

12. Alejandro Balde

It initially appeared as if Barcelona had stumbled upon the heir to Jordi Alba's throne in Catalonia.

Young Alejandro Balde was excellent in 2022/23 as Xavi's side lifted the La Liga title, but he was dragged back to earth with an inconsistent 2023/24 campaign which ended prematurely as a result of a hamstring injury.

Hansi Flick can take the Spaniard to new heights in 2024/25 and beyond.

11. Andrea Cambiaso

Versatile wing-back Andrea Cambiaso functioned as a Swiss army knife for Massimiliano Allegri during his debut season at Juventus, with the former head coach even utilising Cambiaso in an inverted role at the start of 2023/24, such is his unique profile.

Cambiaso will be a part of Juve's long-term future and certainly has the capacity to shoot up this list. Thiago Motta adores the Italian, with Cambiaso emerging as a protagonist at the start of the new manager's reign. He's a do-it-all performer.

10. Riccardo Calafiori

Riccardo Calafiori's future lies at left-back, and we're bound to see the Italian maraud down the Emirates touchline for years to come.

Thiago Motta proved crucial in Calafiori's development at Bologna, and Mikel Arteta is set to benefit from the fruits of Motta's labour. Calafiori is such a fun performer, with his comfort in a myriad of zones aiding Arsenal's fluidity in the build-up phase.

He's aggressive - often too aggressive - without the ball and a keen tackler, so Arteta has some work to do in ensuring Calafiori doesn't evolve into a liability.

9. Nuno Mendes

Young Nuno Mendes endured a pretty turbulent debut campaign in Paris, often deployed in a flat back four by Mauricio Pochettino.

The Portugal international had excelled as a wing-back at Sporting CP and started the 2022/23 campaign brilliantly with Christophe Galtier switching to a back three. He's kicked on since then under Luis Enrique.

Despite his youth, Mendes is a league champion in two different countries and has all the makings of a superstar. He is as explosive as they come and his pinpoint crossing ability means his output should improve soon.

8. Luke Shaw

When Luke Shaw latched onto Kieran Trippier's teasing delivery to open the scoring in the Euro 2020 final, it was the culmination of the left-back's impressive resurgence having previously been written off.

Shaw's majestic Euros had come off the back of a brilliant season - arguably his best - at Manchester United and he is now regarded as one of the world's best left-backs.

Injuries have taken their toll, but Shaw, when fit, remains a standout performer.

7. Andy Robertson

While his stellar contemporaries have often peaked and dropped in recent years, Liverpool's Andy Robertson has been as consistent as they come.

Signed from Hull for a modest fee in 2017, Robertson has gone on to establish himself as one of the protagonists in a side that has won both the Premier League and Champions League in the past five years.

Robertson plays a crucial role in ensuring the Reds are able to suffocate and dominate opponents, but he's not the force he once was down Liverpool's left.

6. Ferland Mendy

After starring in Ligue 1 with Lyon, Ferland Mendy departed for Real Madrid in 2019 and made an immediate impact. With stalwart Marcelo on the decline, the Frenchman was signed as the Brazilian's long-term successor at the Bernabeu.

He has certainly shown he's capable of performing at the very highest level and has had a hand in three La Liga title wins as well as Los Blancos' most recent Champions League triumph.

Mendy has almost gone under the radar for Madrid in the past couple of years with his domestic minutes limited by injuries. But he's stepped up when it has mattered most and his well-rounded skill set means he's one of the most complete left-backs in the world.

5. Alphonso Davies

When Bayern Munich were crowned European champions in 2020, Alphonso Davies was on top of the world with many regarding the likeable Canadian as the best left-back on the planet.

He stands out in almost every statistical category. He relentlessly contributes in the final third, aids Bayern's ability to progress the ball down the left and can dominate defensively.

Davies is physically imposing and one of the quickest players in world football. His recovery running is something to behold.

After starting 2023/24 superbly, his form has tailed off in the new year and it remains to be seen where his future lies beyond Bavaria.

4. Federico Dimarco

Federico Dimarco's breakout performances at left-back for Inter saw the Italian giants quickly ditch previous signing Robin Gosens.

His nifty pace has become crucial for Simone Inzaghi and his sweet left foot is a proven threat in the attacking third. There are few better in Serie A than the Italy international, who played a key role in Inter's run to the Champions League final in 2023 and subsequent Scudetto triumph in 2023/24.

3. Alejandro Grimaldo

Bayer Leverkusen finally dethroned Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga and Xabi Alonso's wing-backs were key to their success.

While Jeremie Frimpong marauds down one flank, Alejandro Grimaldo masterfully conducts his orchestra down the left. Diminutive in frame, the Spaniard is a slippery operator when he bursts down the touchline and excels when tasked with combining and rotating with those in close proximity.

He enjoyed an individual campaign for the ages out of nowhere in 2023/24, ranking among Leverkusen's leading final-third contributors. Suddenly, Grimaldo has to be regarded among the very best in the world in his position.

2. Josko Gvardiol

Gvardiol was one of Europe's most regarded centre-back prospects when Manchester City paid a premium to prise him away from RB Leipzig, and Pep Guardiola has since evolved the young Croatian into a do-it-all left-back.

Bruising defenders should not be able to do what Gvardiol can with the ball at his feet. He's a ballerina in tight spaces and seemingly a master of shooting from distance. The Croat's goals down the stretch last season were crucial in another City Premier League triumph.

1. Theo Hernandez

6'0 tall and built like a brick you-know-what, Theo Hernandez has blossomed into a borderline superstar at AC Milan.

Hernandez loves to break forward from defence and is without question the most proficient ball-carrier among players in his position in world football.

The left-back has forged a deadly dynamic with Rafael Leao down the Rossoneri's left and the pair were pivotal to their title success in 2021/22. Theo can attack on the inside and outside, with the sheer power he possesses often enough to overwhelm opponents.

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