'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAMDAwMDAwQEBAQFBQUFBQcHBgYHBwsICQgJCAsRCwwLCwwLEQ8SDw4PEg8bFRMTFRsfGhkaHyYiIiYwLTA+PlQBAwMDAwMDBAQEBAUFBQUFBwcGBgcHCwgJCAkICxELDAsLDAsRDxIPDg8SDxsVExMVGx8aGRofJiIiJjAtMD4+VP/AABEIAAUACgMBIgACEQEDEQH/xABgAAEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABxAAAQMEAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDBAAFBjERISNBAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEBhEBAAICAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQMEAhEAISJCYf/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8AjFzx6x2vGMkeRDDk2I9aDDmLV6xkuTnGSlsjWuSfo6qfmcXCVuJUVqPKiHCASd9UpQI1lhq5Z9rCqnW/L5yjozy407OYm20G0H15/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3 Patrick Vieira
After donning the number 4 jersey in his last season at AC Milan, Patrick Vieira would make the jersey his own during a successful nine-season stint at Arsenal.
Vieira, who predominantly played as a holding midfielder at the English club, was renowned for his tackling prowess, tactical intelligence and outstanding ball-playing skills. The Frenchman's versatility also meant that he could be deployed in a bevy of midfield positions.
The French player's aerial prowess benefitted Arsenal at both ends of the pitch. Vieira also stood out for his ability to retain possession and lead the side when the going got tough.
Arsenal's long-standing manager Arsene Wenger said as much about Vieira in an interview.
“He was a fighter, he was a fantastic football player and as well, I don’t think he was the same type of captain as Tony Adams, who was a more vocal leader. He was more of a guy who through the quality of his attitude and the quality of his game, became a natural leader in the side.”
Vieira would later go on to ply his trade at Juventus and Inter Milan before returning to the Premier League with Manchester City, where he spent two seasons before announcing his retirement. Currently he manager Premier League team Crystal Palace.
#2 Sergio Ramos
Sergio Ramos is one of the finest active goal-scoring defenders in the modern game. Despite his chequered disciplinary record, the Real Madrid and Spain captain is a colossus at the back and also a threat at the other end of the pitch.
The most-capped player for Spain is also his country's most prolific active goalscorer. Ramos' tally of 23 goals for La Furia Roja, which is mighty impressive for a defender, places him eighth overall in the list of Spain's all-time goalscoring list.
The Real Madrid and Spain captain, who dons the number 4 jersey at his club, is renowned for his tackling ability, aerial prowess, eye for goals and set-piece ability. Since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, Ramos assumed penalty-taking duties for Real Madrid and has scored all of his 15 spot-kicks for the club.
Ramos notched over 100 goals for Real Madrid, in the process becoming the second-most prolific goal-scoring defender in the capital club's storied history.
Former Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti once said about Ramos:
"There are defenders with extraordinary technical ability, others have unique defensive qualities – like Cannavaro, brilliant at marking. Others like Baresi could command a back line while others influenced with strong personalities. But factoring everything together to evaluate a defender then Sergio Ramos is the most complete. He's got a bit of everything: technical ability, strength, personality and leadership."
Ramos later joined Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain to team up with Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
#1 Franz Beckenbauer
Like a few other players in this list, Franz Beckenbauer did not wear the number 4 jersey frequently during his club career. Nevertheless, no list about the finest number 4 players in the game can ever be complete without Der Kaiser.
One of only three players in history to have won the FIFA World Cup as both player and manager, Beckenbauer also had an exemplary club career, especially at Bayern Munich.
Beckenbauer is arguably one of the finest goal-scoring defenders to have graced the game. He started his career as a midfielder before making a successful transition to defense, where he redefined the role of a 'sweeper' (also called a 'libero').
The two-time Ballon d'Or winner is the first defender to have won the coveted award. Unsurprisingly, he is also regarded by many to be the greatest defender of all time.
“He could play in either position (defence or midfield). He had versatility, suppleness, read the game very well, knew how to play, and could get forward and score goals too," Portuguese legend Eusebio once said about Beckenbaeur.
