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During a surreal year ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic, many teams in Europe's top five leagues have displayed admirable defensive resilience despite a belated end to the previous season and a very short turnaround before the start of the current campaign.
Real Madrid put on an uncharacteristic defensive masterclass to win their first La Liga title in three years; Inter Milan conceded the fewest goals in the 2019-20 Serie A to finish only a point adrift of champions Juventus; Atletico Madrid have been frugal in the defensive third all year; the top four teams in the curtailed Ligue 1 season all conceded less than a goal per game.
This season, the likes of PSG, Rennes, Leipzig and Atletico Madrid have been stingy at the back, thanks to the impressive performances of their defenders. On that note, let us have a look at the ten best defenders this year.
Ten best defenders in 2020
Apart from the quartet mentioned above, many other teams in the continent's top-five leagues have featured mean defences featuring a mix of experienced campaigners and promising greenhorns.
So, without further ado, let us have a look at the ten most impressive defenders in 2020.
#10 Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid)
Daniel Carvajal has been a key player for Real Madrid for the most part of the last decade. The 28-year-old has flourished under several managers at the Spanish club, winning 16 trophies which includes two La Liga titles and four Champions League titles.
Renowned for his pace, work-rate and ability to conjure key passes, Carvajal has scored six goals and produced 48 assists in almost 300 games in all competitions for Real Madrid.
Carvajal has been omnipresent for the La Liga giants at the right-back position. Despite injuries limiting him to only four appearances this season, Carvajal has already produced two assists after playing a stellar role in Real Madrid's title run in the second half of last season.
The Spain defender continues to be the first-choice right-back for embattled Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane, who has been under the spotlight for his side's indifferent 2020-21 La Liga campaign.
#9 Thiago Silva (Paris Saint Germain/Chelsea)
Thiago Silva may not have played much this year, as the 2019-20 Ligue 1 season was curtailed owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, the veteran Brazilian played his role in the centre of defence, helping PSG to a successful title defence and taking his side to a maiden Champions League final.
After moving to Chelsea in the summer, the 36-year-old has belied his years to provide the Blues their new-found defensive resilience. Silva has had two assists for his new club in the Premier League this season.
The Brazilian defender has already become a key man in Frank Lampard's team who have emerged as one of the most exciting teams in the Premier League this season despite faltering in their last few games in the competition.
#8 Dayot Upamecano (RB Leipzig)
Dayot Upamecano is arguably one of the best young defenders in the game at the moment.
The 22-year-old Frenchman has a great physical presence in the box and can close down the most formidable of attackers. He has been a standout performer for RB Leipzig since his arrival at the club in 2017, especially this year in various competitions.
With his impressive performances at the heart of the RB Leipzig defence this campaign, Upamecano has attracted the attention of a bevy of top European clubs, one of them being Manchester United.
#7 Presnel Kimpembe (Paris Saint Germain)
Presnel Kimpembe has been described as the future of the French national team and is already a regular for his club side Paris Saint Germain (PSG).
After breaking through to the serial league winners' first team last season, the 22-year-old centre-back has already racked up over 50 appearances for PSG in various competitions.
One of the key players for both PSG and France, Kimpembe has had a stellar year. He helped his club to a successful title defence and a run to the Champions League final last season while this season, the French defender has simply continued from where he left off last campaign.
#6 David Alaba (Bayern Munich)
David Alaba has been a key player for Bayern Munich for well over a decade and is undoubtedly one of the finest defenders in the game.
The Austria international, who has won two continental trebles and eight consecutive Bundesliga titles among a plethora of domestic and continental honours, has not let rumours of his impending Bayern Munich exit affect his on-field performances.
Alaba, originally a left-back who seamlessly transitioned to centre-back, has played a key role either side of the COVID-19 enforced break to power Bayern Munich to a continental treble.
Even this season, Alaba has continued to keep off-field distractions at bay, recently becoming the quickest player to rack up 200 Bundesliga wins.
#5 Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
One half of arguably the game's most lethal full-back partnerships, Trent Alexander-Arnold was one of the key players in Liverpool's surge to their first Premier League title either side of the COVID-19-enforced suspension.
The 22-year-old right-back may have been slow off the blocks this season - producing only two assists in the league - but Alexander-Arnold ended last campaign with the most assists by a defender in Premier League history.
#4 Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich)
Alphonso Davies has been a revelation since breaking into the Bayern Munich first team last season.
The 20-year-old Canadian, who managed to seamlessly replace David Alaba at left-back, has had a fabulous year. Davies' scorching runs down the flanks and his physicality have been a menace for teams in the Bundesliga and Europe as Bayern Munich won the continental treble.
He may only have made six league appearances this season because of an injury, but his exploits this year have already earned him a place in the FIFPro World XI.
#3 Andrew Robertson (Liverpool)
Andrew Robertson is the other half of Liverpool's formidable full-back partnership who powered the English club to their first league title in three decades this summer.
Arguably one of the best left-backs in the game at the moment, the 26-year-old's tireless runs down the flanks and inch-perfect crosses for colleagues up front have made him an integral part of Jurgen Klopp's English champions.
After producing 12 assists last season, the most in the Premier League by a defender after Trent Alexander-Arnold, Robertson has been one of the star performers in an otherwise inconsistent title defence by the Anfield club.
#2 Virgil Van Dijk (Liverpool)
Virgil Van Dijk is widely regarded as one of the best centre-backs in the game at the moment.
The Dutchman didn't miss a league game for Liverpool in the last two seasons, such is his importance to his club team. Unsuprisingly, Van Dijk's exploits in the heart of the Liverpool defence and his calm and assured presence at both ends of the pitch have played a key role in the club's recent successes.
Despite suffering a long-term injury this campaign that effectively rules him out for the rest of the season, Van Dijk remains a key player for club and country and is one of the shining jewels in Jurgen Klopp's star-studded outfit.
#1 Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)
Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos is one of the finest goal-scoring defenders in the world at the moment. Despite approaching his 35th birthday, Ramos has been a standout performer for the reigning La Liga champions at both ends of the pitch.
After helping Real Madrid to the title last season, the veteran defender scored his 100th goal in all competitions for the club, becoming only the second defender in Real Madrid's history to do so.
Ramos' chequered disciplinary record seems to be a thing of the past, as the Real Madrid centre-back has been a defensive bulwark for his side in recent times. In his absence, the reigning La Liga winners appear uncharacteristically sloppy at the back, which goes on to prove Ramos' importance in Zinedine Zidane's setup.
