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An expansive style of play is the go-to routine for many clubs right now and the effectiveness of a possession-based game is being explored on a large scale once again. As such, there has arisen a need to find players with good technical ability to build teams around.
One of the most important parts of such teams are ball playing centre-backs. In order to keep a hold of the ball, teams start building right from the back and a central defender who can keep it away from the pressing attackers and distribute it wisely and get the team going is of utmost importance.
On that note, let's take a look at the 5 best ball-playing centre-backs in the game right now.
#5 Sergio Ramos
The Real Madrid captain is often lauded for his physicality than his other attributes. Sergio Ramos is definitely someone you don't want to be up against in a 50-50 situation but that doesn't take anything away from his technical ability on the ball.
Ramos is an excellent passer of the ball. In the La Liga this term, he averaged 62 passes per match and registered a pass completion rate of 91%. Sergio Ramos plays a lot of forward passes and makes sure Real Madrid progress the ball through the lines instead of getting static at the back.
Ramos is perhaps the best attacking-defender in the world right now, if we could use such a term. Sergio Ramos was also Real Madrid's second top scorer this season, scoring a whopping 11 goals.
#4 Gerard Pique
Gerard Pique has had an illustrious career and he continues to be Barcelona's go-to man at the back even at the age of 33. Pique has been able to play with some of the best defenders and midfielders the world has ever seen and that has clearly rubbed off on him.
Pique is excellent at passing the ball out from the back and getting Barcelona shift into attack. He is not one to panic on the ball and distributes it with aplomb. Pique averages 78 passes per game and he completes 92% of his attempted passes.
Pique has been Barcelona's main man at the back ever since Carle Puyol called it a day and the Cules are going to have a tough time trying to find a replacement for the Spaniard. Pique has been a complete defender and such players are difficult to come by.
#3 Dayot Upamecano
Dayot Upamecano is easily one of the best young centre-backs in the world. Beyond his obvious physicality, the man is is excellent with the ball at his feet. Upamecano's defensive attributes are solid. He has pace, incredible strength, belligerent tackling and great aerial ability.
To complement all that, he is often as good as elite midfielders when he has the ball at his feet. He can depart on marauding runs and wriggle out of tight spaces with the ball and can also pick out a pass. Simply put, at 21-years-old, Upamecano has in plenty the ability to become one of the modern day greats.
Upamecano completes 71 passes per game on average and has a pass success rate of 89%. The Frenchman makes it to the podium because of how often he wins the ball back himself and then puts his team on the front foot with his excellent distribution.
Upamecano is definitely one for the future and he is certain to go from strength to strength over the next seasons.
#2 Aymeric Laporte
Left-footed centre-backs are a rarity and a left-footed centre-back with the ball playing abilities of the Manchester City man is even more so. Laporte helps Manchester City switch flanks with ease. He is one of the most level-headed defenders in Europe and hardly ever does anything reckless on the pitch.
Laporte was bought by Pep for £57 million particularly because of his ball-playing skills. The Frenchman is crucial to Manchester City playing out from the back and completes 84 passes per game and has a pass completion rate of 92%.
Laporte is excellent at playing the ball through the lines and with City's defenders holding a high line, he is often tasked with slipping the ball through the gaps in the opposition midfield and finding one of City's attacking midfielders who will pop up in pockets in the final third. The 26-year-old is going to lead City's line for years to come.
#1 Virgil Van Dijk
It was Virgil Van Dijk's entry that sorted the Liverpool team out and transformed them from an impressive attacking unit to an inspiring footballing unit. Van Dijk not only improved the defensive side of Liverpool's game immediately but he also gave Liverpool much more control over the proceedings owing to his ability with the ball at his feet.
Van Dijk is constantly looking for forward passes to make and Liverpool have hardly had any trouble playing out from the back thanks to the calmness and precision that the Dutchman showcases week in and week out.
The 29-year-old is arguably the best defender in the world and that's not just because he is a great tackler or good at blocking shots, it's because his all round game is on a level that is seldom matched.
Van Dijk completes as many as 89 passes per match on average and completes 89% of his attempted passes. Those numbers are a testament to how crucial he is to Liverpool's attacking game.
