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Defenders usually hit their peak post the age of 25 but these players are all under 23 and are already world-class.
For a football team to thrive, the first thing they need to do is to sort out their defense. Defensive stability is the foundation upon which great football teams are built. As Sir Alex Ferguson remarked: 'Attack wins you games but defense wins you titles', the importance of defenders cannot be overlooked.
Look at Liverpool's Champions League and Premier League triumphs, for example. They were a good team but once Virgil Van Dijk was added to the mix, they transformed into a juggernaut. The role of defenders is also evolving and they have much more to contribute to their team.
Defenders take time to become well-rounded players but some ooze quality from a very young age. On that note, let's take a look at five of the best u-23 defenders in world football at the moment.
#5 Dayot Upamecano - RB Leipzig
A quick, strong centre-back who can nullify the threat posed by the opposition and can kickstart attacks just as well would be on the wishlist of any footballing side. Dayot Upamecano is all that and more and he is just 22-years-old.
Upamecano is tall and well-built and can shove attackers off the ball with his brute strength. But the RB Leipzig defender, who will join Bayern Munich in the summer, cannot be reduced to just that. He is an intelligent campaigner who can read the game quite well.
The 22-year-old is also an excellent passer of the ball and is adept at aerial duels as well. There's hardly anything that Upamecano can't do. He will need to improve his decision making and gain more composure too. But he has plenty of time to do all that.
#4 Trent Alexander-Arnold - Liverpool
Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has already won both the Premier League and UEFA Champions League titles. He is an attacking full-back who can whip in crosses that are David Beckhamesque and is also pretty good at set-pieces. Trent has played a huge role in Liverpool's recent successes.
From right-back, he registered 13 assists in Liverpool's Premier League winning campaign and 12 in the one before that. It goes to show how much he contributes to the side. His interplay with Mohamed Salah and ability to understand the strengths of the players around him makes him a great asset.
The Liverpool youngster has not had the best season so far and his defensive abilities have been consistently questioned. However, he has plenty of time to iron all that out of his game.
#3 Alphonso Davies - Bayern Munich
Canadian international Alphonso Davies has been an absolute revelation at Bayern Munich. He enjoyed a breakout season in 2019-20 when Bayern Munich won the continental treble.
The Bavarians have been able to shift David Alaba from left-back to centre-back mainly because Alphonso Davies proved to be exceptional in the Austrian international's original position.
He settled in quite quickly at Bayern Munich after securing a move from MLS outfit Vancouver Whitecaps and has been a regular feature ever since. An ankle injury has hampered his development a bit this season.
He is technically proficient and has incredible pace. Davies is also a tenacious individual whose work rate is always top-notch. At 20 years of age, he has his entire career ahead of him and he is certain to go from strength to strength given the platform he has already earned for himself.
#2 Achraf Hakimi - Inter Milan
It's a pity that despite proving his credentials adequately while on loan at Borussia Dortmund, Achraf Hakimi could not kick on at Real Madrid. But what he earned for himself was a move to Antonio Conte's Inter Milan, who are now favourites to win the Serie A this term.
The right-back has enjoyed a productive debut season in the Serie A. The 22-year-old is excellent with the ball at his feet. He is a neat passer and can also find his way out of tight spaces by virtue of his close control and dribbling ability.
Achraf Hakimi has scored six goals and provided five assists from right-back in the Serie A alone this term. He has shown maturity way beyond his age and could go on to become one of the best right-backs of his generation if he keeps plugging away.
#1 Matthijs De Ligt - Juventus
It's a bit hard to stomach the fact that Matthijs De Ligt is still just 21-years-old. The former Ajax captain has been one of the best defenders in the game for a few years now. De Ligt has all the makings to be a legendary centre-back.
His first few months at Juventus were a bit underwhelming but that's expected from a youngster who has made a step up to one of the biggest clubs in Europe. The Bianconeri have a proper ball playing centre-back who is already adept at pinging long passes into his attackers with precision.
Of course, he has room for improvement. His positioning can get better and he needs to do away with some of the recklessness that pervades his game intermittently. But he is already a calming presence in the Juventus backline and has plenty of time to follow through on that initial promise.
