5 Best FC Barcelona and Real Madrid Left Backs

In modern football, fullbacks are merely used to attack with their intimidating pace. Also, their blistering speed has a double advantage. They can attack very sharply once the opponent loses the ball and on top of that, they can get back to the defensive line on time if their team misses out the chance created to attack.

The world has some of the finest left-backs active at the moment than has been there for the longest time, including the likes of Marcus Alonso, Alex Sandro, Luke Shaw, Benjamin Mendy, etc. These players have both excellent work rates when it comes to attacking and defending. When it comes to the La Liga, however, the two top teams, Barcelona and Real Madrid have seen some of the finest stars at the back over the years.

Let's take a look at the best Left-backs Barcelona and Real Madrid had over the golden period of their club.

#5 Ronald Koeman:

The Dutch player, Ronald Koeman, was a sweeper defender in FC Barcelona. He was able to play in the central defence, as well as the left-back position in the team. He could also play in the midfield. One could name him and compare him to the previous Sergio Roberto who does the same thing but on the other flank, i.e. the right-back position. In 7 years Koeman made 195 appearances for Barcelona and scored 57 times for the team marking his name as one of the greatest defenders.

#4 Eric Abidal

FC Barcelona's current Sporting Director is a former left-back player who played for the team in his days as a player for the club. Abidal had all the skills a left back could possess, but he wasn't used much in the attack. With the French player battling cancer, his career was cut a bit short, or it is sure that he would have played a little longer and helped bring glory to his club. In his six years in Barcelona, the Frenchman didn't score any goal, but he was decisively an asset to FC Barcelona and led the team with great positivity.

#3 Jordi Alba

The 29-year old Spaniard joined the team from La Masia. The left-back joined Barcelona from Valencia after the departure of Abidal. Jordi Alba had a high speed which complimented Lionel Messi to a huge extent and has since become an indispensable asset to the club. The make for an explosive duo, and not only that, he comes back and compliments Samuel Umtiti on his side making his partnership rock solid with two of the best FC Barcelona players.

The Spanish player has managed to score six goals for FC Barcelona in his career but most importantly become the right hand to the right man, Lionel Messi in Barcelona.

#2 Marcelo

Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid - UEFA Super Cup

Real Madrid's gem and one of the most loved player is the Brazillian left-back Marcelo. This player has his eyes sight towards the goal and has excellent attacking capabilities. Perhaps the most attacking minded defender ever seen in Real Madrid, he crosses to create chances and often takes things into his own hand and shoots to score goals, creating angles and highlighting his own creativity. He has been a complete package player for Real Madrid CF and has been the part of the club since 2007. He has managed to find the net 33 times since then as his stats speak.

#1 Roberto Carlos

The greatest left back ever to play on either side is Roberto Carlos. A gem unlike any other, his freekicks were excellent. Everybody knew his Banana freekick and understood his capabilities right away.

The Brazillian joined Real Madrid in mid-1990's and served the club till 2007. During this journey, he managed to score 69 goals for Real Madrid despite being only a left back for his team. There has been no better left-back than Roberto Carlos in the past decade and neither has there been someone to match his abilities in this decade.