The task of a defender in modern football goes far beyond just stopping opposition attackers.

The days of the no-nonsense, brutes that would look straight for Row Z are long gone and their successors are also asked to dictate play, launch attacks, create overloads in midfield, and pile further forward – both in open play and at set pieces.

As modern managers search for an advantage wherever they can find it, we've seen the rise of ball-playing central defenders and inverted full-backs, while with a shift toward more direct tactics at the top level, those at the back are still required to be physical phenoms that remain defensively diligent.

The sheer variety of defenders that grace the modern game makes building a list of the world's best a tricky puzzle to piece together. However, the number of trophies a player has lifted, their current form and key long-term stats help inform our top 10.

RadioTimes.com brings you our definitive list of the 10 best defenders in the world in 2025.

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10. Alessandro Bastoni (Inter)

We start with perhaps the most underrated defender in world football, Alessandro Bastoni.

A centre-back that oozes class, both in his calm yet assertive defensive style and confidence in possession, the Italian is a key factor in Inter's Serie A triumphs and Champions League final appearances in recent years.

9. Jules Kounde (Barcelona)

A manager's dream, Jules Kounde has developed into one of Europe's most reliable defenders – whether that's at centre-back or full-back.

The Frenchman reads the game brilliantly, has the physicality to match up with a striker and pace to keep a winger quiet, and is hugely influential in the slick passing system Hansi Flick has implemented at Barcelona.

8. Marquinhos (PSG)

Marquinhos was never the highest-profile name at PSG, but he has been a leader at the back for the star-studded French side for a number of years.

A reliable figure is all a manager can ask for from his commanding centre-backs. The Brazilian has won more than 20 major trophies for club and country.

5.Gabriel (Arsenal)

Often overlooked at the expense of his flashy partner in crime, William Saliba, Gabriel is an imperious defender who loves a physical duel with the best of them.

Gabriel boasts plenty of aerial dominance too, at the back and going forward, as he reaps plenty of goals from Arsenal's revered set-piece routines.

4. Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid)

Antonio Rudiger is a perfect blend of the old and the new. He's a physical brute with the ability to slam strikers into submission, as well as delicately dance out of the defence with the ball at his feet.

The Germany international has been brilliant since making the move to the Bernabeu – helping to deliver the double in 2023/24 and then proving a bright spot as the team struggled last term – and will surely be central under Xabi Alonso.

3. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

If there's one defender in world football you'd have picked for your money-no-object team over the last 10 years or so, Virgil Van Dijk is your man.

The towering Liverpool centre-back was one of the trailblazers of modern defending as the world realised big men at the back didn't necessarily have to be technically limited players.

2. Achraf Hakimi (PSG)

Achraf Hakimi is the gold standard among full-backs. An attacking asset and diligent defender, the Moroccan has established himself as a leader and key player in the PSG team that were crowned champions of Europe last season.

Pace, industry, technical quality, and heart, Hakimi has it all in spades and is, quite simply, the complete package.

1. William Saliba (Arsenal)

A Rolls-Royce of a defender, Arsenal star William Saliba has everything you'd look for in a modern centre-back – pace, power, intelligence, ability on the ball and aerial prowess.

The Frenchman is the key cog in the defence that Mikel Arteta has built in North London and looks set to play a key role at World Cup 2026 with France.

Who is the best defender in the world?

William Saliba has usurped Premier League rival Virgil van Dijk, whose shown some shaky signs recently, at the top of our rankings.

The only thing he is missing now are trophies – something he'll hope to put right over the next year with Arsenal and France.

The scary thing is that at just 24, Saliba's best may well be yet to come.

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