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The left-back position is perhaps the least glamorous in football. Not only does the player have to bomb up and down the wing tirelessly, but they also need to have a strong left foot.
In recent years, though, many players have shunned this notion by excelling at the position.
The 2010s saw a host of left-backs making headlines
In the 2010s, Marcelo, Jordi Alba and David Alaba were inarguably the three best left-backs in world football. The trio performed consistently and were key in their teams' fruitful campaigns.
Several young left-backs have created a buzz for themselves in the last few years. From Alphonso Davies to Theo Hernandez, there is no scarcity of quality left-backs across Europe at the moment.
Andrew Robertson raised the bar high when he produced an enormous number of assists in Liverpool's Premier League and Champions League-winning campaigns. Since then, the Scotsman's status as the best left-back in the world has been under threat.
On that note, here are the top five left-backs in the game this year"
#5 Luke Shaw
Luke Shaw revived his career during the 2020-21 season. The Manchester United left-back was nothing short of brilliant as he defended and attacked with equal guile. Shaw's displays for England at Euro 2020 earned him immense plaudits too.
The 26-year-old has been underwhelming this season. After performing consistently during the first half of the year, the former Southampton man has flattered to deceive in 2021-22. For that reason, Shaw might be a surprise inclusion on this list.
Shaw has scored once and assisted seven times for Manchester United this year. He was particularly remarkable for England, though.
He made more appearances for the Three Lions this year than he had previously managed in his seven-year international career. He also opened the scoring for England in their penalty-shootout defeat to Italy in the Euro 2020 final.
#4 Theo Hernandez
Theo Hernandez is a pacey and robust left-back who plies his trade for AC Milan in Serie A. Along with Franck Kessie and the now-departed Gianluigi Donnarumma, Hernandez was a vital cog last season as Milan returned to the UEFA Champions League.
Hernandez is known for his attacking output. He has scored six goals and recorded nine assists for the seven-time Champions League winners in the calendar year. The Frenchman may not have the most shrewd defensive awareness, but his strength and speed make up for that.
Unlike his brother Lucas, Theo Hernandez is primarily a left-back. Unfortunately, Theo barely gets a chance to don Les Bleus' jersey due to France's defensive approach. The former Real Madrid man has made the second-highest goal contribution for a left-back in 2021.
#3 Alphonso Davies
Canadian left-back Alphonso Davis had another brilliant year with Bayern Munich. Still only 21, Davies won the 2020-21 Bundesliga title with the Bavarian giants, and is well on course for another one in five months.
“Phonsie” recorded eight assists for Bayern this year, and also got himself on the scoresheet once. His contributions for Canada have been more than noteworthy, though.
The North American nation jumped 32 places, and were the most improved side in international football. Thanks to Davies' exploits, they are on the cusp of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in over three decades.
Although Davies has to be more of a team player for Bayern Munich, he has more freedom while playing for Canada. He is deployed in a more advanced role, which leads to him providing goals and assists for fun. He has scored five times in just 13 games for Canada this year.
#2 Ferland Mendy
Marcelo’s exploits at Real Madrid makes him seem irreplaceable, but Ferland Mendy has usurped the Brazilian this year. Mendy is nowhere near as good as Marcelo while moving forward, but he is far more capable than the Brazilian defensively.
The Frenchman has three goals and one assist this year. However, his work off the ball earns him a high place on this list. Mendy is one of the key architects of Real Madrid’s La Liga title charge.
The former Lyon man was good last season too. With the addition of David Alaba, coupled with Eder Militao’s form this season, Real Madrid have a strong defence to fall upon. Mendy’s two-footedness, stamina and work rate make him an immense option to have at left-back.
#1 Andrew Robertson
Andrew Robertson went about his business in usual fashion in 2021. The Liverpool left-back’s creative output may have dried up in comparison to Trent Alexander-Arnold. However, he still performed more consistently than any left-back in the world this year.
The Scotland captain registered eight assists this year. Liverpool went trophyless last season, and only managed to scamper their way to the Champions League spots. Robertson was one of the few players who made that possible.
Robertson’s attacking ability for Liverpool over the years has been well-documented. Although his defending is also good, it's seldom talked about. Brilliant at doing anything to help his team win, Robertson is the best left-back of 2021.
