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Right-back - Philipp Lahm
Philipp Lahm is hailed as one of the greatest right-backs of his generation and quite rightly so, as the reliable German exhibited staggering consistency levels for club and country in his glittering career.
Primarily a right-back, Lahm slotted in as a left-back and also as a defensive midfielder when needed due to his intelligence and versatility. The former Germany captain spent the entirety of his senior career at Bayern Munich and spearheaded the Bavarian giants to the UEFA Champions League title in 2013, while he also won the FIFA World Cup as Germany's captain a year later.
Lahm was named in the UEFA Team of the Year five times and excelled in several roles, as he retired in 2014 as one of the most decorated footballers of his generation.
Centre-back - Sergio Ramos
Real Madrid's captain fantastic Sergio Ramos is one of the most enigmatic players of the modern era and continues to be a key player for Los Blancos to date. The Spanish international's defensive excellence, coupled with his ability to score crucial goals for his side, has made him a serial matchwinner, while he is also the captain for club and country.
Ramos has been slated for accumulating too many yellow cards and momentary lapses of concentration throughout his career. However, the fact remains that he is arguably the greatest defender of his generation and his trophy haul is proof of what he represents to his team.
The veteran defender has won the UEFA Champions League a staggering four times in his career and has been named in the competition's Team of the Tournament eight times — a stat that underlines the impact he has had in the modern era.
Centre-back - Carles Puyol
One of the most prominent one-club men in football history, Carles Puyol's Barcelona career went down as an unwavering success after a relatively slow start. The Spaniard did not win a trophy till he was 27 years old but finished his career with a stunning tally of 17 major titles, as he carved out a name for himself into Barcelona history.
A tough-tackling defender with a warrior-like attitude, Puyol was commanding in the air despite his stature and was a typical no-nonsense defender. The former Barcelona captain won the Champions League three times in his career and was a cornerstone of Pep Guardiola's all-conquering side — a team that is widely regarded as the greatest in the modern era.
Puyol was also named in the UEFA Champions League Team of the Tournament six times, as he retired in 2014 after winning every trophy for club and country.
Left-back - Paolo Maldini
Speaking of one-club men, football fans should look no further than Italian icon Paolo Maldini. The defender spent the entirety of his playing career with AC Milan and featured in 25 seasons for the Rossoneri, as he retired in 2009 as one of the greatest players in the history of the game.
Predominantly a central defender, Maldini's tactical awareness, coupled with his experience and versatility, meant he slotted in as a left-back when needed. The Italian spent the latter part of his career in that position and made it his own, while he also serves as captain for club and country.
With 174 appearances in the UEFA club competitions, Maldini's record of most appearances was beaten by Iker Casillas in 2017. In his decorated playing career, the Italian won the Champions League five times with the same club and won multiple personal accolades for club and country.
Maldini currently serves as AC Milan's technical director, having retired from club football in 2009 at the age of 41.
Also Read: Top 10 Juventus players of all time
