'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAFAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAX/2gAIAQEAAAAAjj//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAE/9oACAECEAAAAAf/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD/9oACAEDEAAAAF//xAAeEAABBAIDAQAAAAAAAAAAAAACAQMEBgAFESEiQf/aAAgBAQABPwDX16KdspmpnqUkSjG7McQiBZnMkW0Q/XwSyxUfUR7Bs2WI4ttNynQAAJzgUQ16T3n/xAAaEQACAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgADEkGx/9oACAECAQE/ALLXTIKdnpn/xAAWEQADAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQP/2gAIAQMBAT8Amz//2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#3 Matthijs de Ligt (Juventus)
The Dutch centre-back joined Ajax from a very young age. In his early days, he was considered too slow and out of shape for a footballer, but Matthijs De Ligt fought his way and proved himself.
Graduating from the Ajax academy, the Dutch centre-back did not take up much time in getting his first senior team appearance. When De Ligt played for Ajax in the 2017 UEFA Europa League final, he became the youngest player ever to play in a major European final. He was only 17 years and 285 days old back then.
De Ligt became the club's youngest captain in 2018 and the same year he went on to win the Golden Boy award. His winning goal against Juventus in the quarter-finals helped Ajax qualify for the semi-finals of the 2019-20 season. In the process, he became the youngest Dutch player to score in the knockout stages.
His performances attracted a lot of interest from all around Europe and it was about time that De Ligt played elsewhere. He eventually ended up at Juventus in 2019 when he was signed for a fee of €75 million.
The former Ajax centre-back is a very good reader of the game. He likes to be in close contact with his opponents and mark them tightly. His aerial abilities are commendable and if he can make his passing a little more effective than what it is now, he becomes the complete package. De Ligt is destined to become one of the best centre-backs in the world with his talent and strong will to succeed.
#2 Jules Kounde (Sevilla)
The French centre-back graduated from the Bordeaux academy. He made his senior debut for the club in January 2018. Since then, Kounde scarcely missed any matches for the French club.
In the summer of 2019, Sevilla was able to sign him for a fee of around €25 million. Kounde has been very impressive since signing for the La Liga club. His ability to play as a right-back has also come in handy.
Kounde is not that tall a centre-back but is very quick and strong. The Frenchman has very good pace and makes up a lot of ground using huge strides. He is known to play a high line as he trusts his pace to cover up in catching the nearest opposition player.
The centre-back is quite impressive with his passing range. Kounde would rarely hesitate to make an adventurous pass and succeed more often than not. His pace and passing abilities help him to be very effective as a right-back too.
Kounde was strongly linked with a move to European Champions Chelsea this summer. It was reported that personal terms were agreed between the Frenchman and the London club. But Sevilla raised their selling price on deadline day, making the move very difficult for Chelsea.
The 22-year old centre-back would have made quite the signing but sooner or later he is bound to join a top European club and grow tremendously.
#1 Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
Coming through Benfica's youth academy, Ruben Dias burst onto the scene during the 2017-18 season. He ended the season winning the Primeria Liga Best Young Player of the Year.
The following year, Dias was instrumental in helping Benfica win the Primeria Liga. The Portuguese centre-back had three amazing seasons with the Eagles before joining Manchester City in the summer of 2020. Dias was signed for a transfer fee around €68 million and with Nicolas Otamendi going the other way.
The Portuguese defender started the season very strongly with the Sky Blues and was named the club's Player of the Month in November 2020. Over time, his strong performances at the back proved vital in helping Manchester City win the title in his very first season.
Dias likes to lunge into tackles, keep strong tabs on opposition attackers, muscling them out and playing some productive passes from the back. The City centre-back brings a lot of composure and stability to the defense.
He's tactful with his approach and makes the best use of his strengths. With a team like Manchester City, a leader like Dias is only meant to achieve more. He is arguably one of the best centre-backs in the world right now.
