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The modern game of football has embraced Cruyff’s concept of Total Football like never before. Strikers don’t just score, they create goals and they defend when required. Similarly defenders don’t just defend now a days, they initiate attacks and are also expected to contribute in front of the goal.
Football right now is a tremendously free flowing phenomenon, and as such every one in the team is expected to chip in with the goals that win the game. This has led to the concept of the attacking full backs and also the goal scoring defenders.
Defenders are no longer clumsy players who are just expected to tackle and stop the ball from reaching the back of the goal. The modern day defenders are fantastic ball players themselves, who nurture a desire to score goals. As such, they are regular threats from set pieces, they are expected and trained to score from such situations.
When a team wins a free kick in front of the box, it is no longer the duty of just the creative players, some modern day defenders are fabulous free kick takers themselves. Dribbles, one touches passes, step overs, defenders now-a-days have equipped themselves like never before and goal scoring has become an essential part of their skills now.
The world of football at present is bless with some astonishing goal scoring defenders and today, we take a look at 7 of the best goal scoring defenders right now.
Honorary mentions – Leighton Baines, Gonzalo Rodriguez, Branislav Ivanovic, Loic Perrin, Oscar de Marcos, Seamus Coleman
#7 Chris Smalling (England , Manchester United)
#Career Goals – 19
It is hard to believe that after all the defensive revamp at Manchester United, Chris Smalling still is very much in Mourinho’s plans. The English defender joined Manchester United from Fulham and has since scored in every season but 2012/13. He scored 4 in the 2014/15 season, which has been his best return.
The following two seasons, he scored 2 goals each. Last season saw another 4 goal haul, all of which were in the Premier League. But it is also the timing of his goals that are important. Last season, he scored crucial away goals at Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and that special finish at Manchester City to complete the comeback.
Even though he is clumsy in defense and still looks like he has a mistake in him, Smalling comes alive during set pieces. It is not just that he is good with his headers, he also has exceptional intuitions of a poacher. His first touch and control in the opposition half is also quite good, which means he also scores with his feet, not just his head.
Smalling already has 1 goal from 3 games this season, scoring the winning goal at Watford, where he showed some fine chest control and finished with a first time volley that would make most strikers proud. No wonder the young man Sir Alex bought 8 years ago is still going strong at United.
#6 Marcelo (Brazil, Real Madrid)
#Career Goals – 45
The heir to Roberto Carlos at both club and country level, Marcelo is always ready to attack, ready to bomb down the left flank and has a good goal scoring record for a defender. He scored 4 goals in the 2014/15 season, 2 goals in the 2015/16 season and 3 goals in the 2016/17 season.
Last season, he had 5 goals to his name. Add to that the fact that he regularly registers double figured assists for the reason and you arrive at one of the finest left backs around.
He has a fabulous left foot and like most Brazilians, is blessed with ball skills. Marcelo often uses his clever feet in the box to lose his man and make space for a shot. Most of the goals he scores are through his left foot, unleashing ferocious volleys as well as nifty chips.
However, his right foot also comes in handy and he has scored some scorchers from both feet. His speed and ball skills are very effective during counter attacks and he also likes to make late runs to receive the cut backs in the penalty box.
The Brazilian is yet to score this season, but with his record and abilities, he might get on the score sheet soon.
#5 Thomas Meunier (Belgium, PSG)
#Career Goals – 47
Thomas Meunier had a fantastic 2018 FIFA World Cup. He was a very important part of the Belgium team and it was perhaps his absence in the semi final against France that hurt Belgium the most.
He had 6 attempts in the tournament, 3 of which were on target and scored 1 goal. He is a modern day Right back who mixes his defensive qualities with attacking instincts.
The Belgian full back has found the back of the net in every season since 2009/10. In the 2014/15 season, he struck 2 times, where as in the 2015/16 season, he scored 5 goals. He moved to PSG ahead of the 2016/17 season and finished his debut year at the Ligue 1 with 2 goals. Last season, he hit 5 again. Meunier’s assist tally is also quite good over the years.
Meunier generally scores with late runs to the penalty area, where his right foot is precise and effective. He loves running down the right flank and is always an option during the attack at the edge of the area.
This season, Meunier has 1 assist to his name so far, but is yet to find the back of the net. However, the Belgian can be trusted to keep his record intact by the end of the season.
#4 Marcos Alonso (Spain, Chelsea)
#Career Goals – 28
The Spanish left back has found his goal scoring form since joining Chelsea from Fiorentina ahead of the 2016/17 season. He scored 6 goals in his debut year and then followed it up last season with 8 goals in all competitions. He might have defensive flaws, but Alonso certainly is a threat growing forward.
The left back has a fantastic left foot, however, he has scored with his left foot, right foot and with headers for Chelsea. He is a free kick specialist, with his left footers almost always finding the top corners.
In fact, his left foot is so good that he has often scored from impossible angles at Chelsea. He is an important part of Chelsea’s tactics, and under Conte, has been especially good as a wingback.
This season, since Sarri took over, Alonso has been shifted to a left back position and there were initial apprehensions regarding his effectiveness in a back 4. However, the Spaniard has squashed all doubts and has adapted himself to Sarri’s system very well. He has already scored 1 goal this season and has also registered 4 assists.
#3 Gerard Pique (Spain, Barcelona)
#Career Goals – 50
The stylish Spanish Center back is also a regular goal scorer for Barcelona. He scored 7 goals in the 2014/15 season, his best return for a season and then followed it up next season with 5 goals. In the 2016/17 season, he struck 3 times and last season, he scored 4 more.
Pique has the record of scoring every season for Barcelona since his return from Manchester United at the start of the 2008/09 season. It is a record he has continued this season as well, already finding the back of the net once in 5 games. It is what makes him one of the best center backs of the modern game.
Pique is very good with his feet, has a great first touch and is also a fine finisher in front of goal. He is composed, calm and very alert in the penalty box, which makes him a threat during set pieces as well as counter attacks.
He likes to take risks and also is quite inventive when it comes to his attempts. Most often, Pique runs away from his marker and ends up receiving the ball in his chest and finishing in style. He is also a great header of the ball.
Even though he is a center back, Pique loves to venture forward whenever possible and is integral to the Barcelona style of playing. And he is one of the best goal scoring defenders right now.
#2 Naldo (Brazil, Schalke 04)
#Career Goals – 70
The Brazilian has scored for every club he played at, over the length of his career, however, he could not find the net in the 4 games he played for Brazil. The highest Naldo has hit was 13 goals for Werder Bremen in the 2009/10 season.
He scored 7 times for VfL Wolfsburg in the 2014/15 season and then hit 2 goals next season. He transferred to FC Schalke 04 in the 2016/17 season and scored 2 goals. Last season, Naldo found the back of the net 8 times.
Naldo is a fantastic striker of the ball and his free kicks, hit in similar technique to the legendary Roberto Carlos, is quite famous in the game. He has superb ball skills and a ferocious right foot to match.
The Brazilian is quite dangerous from set pieces as well – if its near the penalty area, you can expect a Naldo blaster, while during corners and other set pieces, his height comes in handy as he is a powerful header of the ball.
But not all of his goals are from set pieces, in fact, one can be forgiven for mistaking him for a striker, such is his abilities in front of goal – he even has a hattrick to his name. But he is a free kick specialist, reaching double figures in direct free kick goals scored in his career.
As the Brazilian reaches the twilight of his career, he will be forever remembered for his goals, especially the bullet he scored for Wolfsburg against Frankfurt, in the 2013/14 season, from over 30 yards out. He is, without doubt, one of the finest goal scoring defenders in the world right now.
#1 Sergio Ramos (Spain, Real Madrid)
#Career Goals – 93
Not many people have scored 93 career goals in their lifetime and when a defender reaches these figures, you know he is special. This is what makes Sergio Ramos the best goal scoring defender right now. Ramos has scored in every season since joining Real Madrid from Seville in the 2005/06 season and has been consistent in his goal scoring form.
He scored 7 goals in the 2014/15 season, however, his form dipped next season, when he found the net only 3 times. The 2016/17 season was his finest as he struck 10 times, the first time he hit double figures in a season in his career. Last season, Ramos registered 5 goals.
His goal scoring is a boon for both club and country and while his discipline and off the ball antics on the field have regularly been questioned, Ramos certainly knows his way to the goal. He has a bullet header in him and connects to the ball during set pieces very well.
Like most center backs, Ramos is a threat from set pieces, but what sets him apart is his desire to connect to the ball. He is very adventurous and regularly joins his team while going forward and has even scored from regular play. The Spaniard has also scored from direct free kicks, using his power to curl the ball into the top corner.
Ramos has already scored 3 times this season for Real Madrid and looks set to have another stellar goal scoring season. He is currently the best goal scoring defender in the world of football.
