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#7 Sergio Ramos
Sergio Ramos is arguably the greatest centre-back of the 21st century. The Spanish international has had an illustrious career and is the most decorated defender in the history of the game.
In addition to being an absolute colossus at the back, Ramos contributes plentifully on the opposite side of the pitch as well. He is a very accurate header of the ball and is excellent at aerial duels. Ramos has scored 105 goals in 721 club appearances in his career and those numbers are outstanding for a centre-back.
Ramos was part of the extremely dominant Spanish side that won back-to-back European Championships in 2008 and 2010. He was also an important member of the 2010 FIFA World Cup winning side as well.
Ramos has won five La Liga titles, four Champions League titles, four FIFA Club World Cups, two Copa del Reys and three UEFA Super Cups in his club career.
#6 Giacinto Facchetti
Giacinto Facchetti is one of the greatest goalscoring defenders of all time. Facchetti was part of the 'Grande Inter' side that dominated the Italian top-flight in the 1960s. He is considered to be one of the greatest attacking full-backs of all time.
Having started out as an attacker, Facchetti used all of his early learnings to become a menacing presence on the flanks. His pace, intelligence, movement, physicality and stamina enabled him to shine for both club and country.
Facchetti captained Italy to success at the 1968 European Championship. He was also part of the Italian side that finished as runner-up in the 1970 FIFA World Cup.
In his club career, Facchetti won four Serie A titles, two European Cups, two Intercontinental Cups and one Coppa Italia. He also finished as the runner-up in the 1965 Ballon d'Or race.
#5 Daniel Passarella
Like Facchetti and Ramos, Daniel Passarella too was a defender who had an eye for goal. In 556 appearances, Passarella scored 182 goals and was the highest scoring defender until a certain Ronald Koeman came around.
The Argentinian was a leader of men. He won the Argentinian Premier League four times. But the centre-back's greatest achievement was captaining La Albiceleste to a World Cup triumph in 1978.
The Times ranked him at 36 in a list of the hardest footballers of all time. He had a public falling out with Diego Maradona and coach Carlos Bilardo and accused them of sidelining him at the 1986 World Cup. But Passarella holds the distinction of being the only player to feature for Argentina in both their World Cup triumphs.
#4 Bobby Moore
Bobby Moore is an English hero. He was the captain of the England team that won the FIFA World Cup in 1966. Moore is widely regarded as the greatest West Ham United player of all time. The legendary Pele once said that Moore is the greatest defender that he has come up against.
Moore is such an iconic figure in English football that they erected a bronze statue of him outside Wembley. He was an incredibly talented centre-back who possessed incredible game intelligence and a great reading of the game.
Moore's game was mostly about cutting passing lanes and making interceptions. At the time, it was quite a departure from the tough-tackling and belligerent nature usually associated with defending. Moore finished as the runner-up in the race for the 1970 Ballon d'Or.
