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With how rapidly the game of football is changing, fullbacks have taken on an increasingly important role in recent years. Especially at top clubs, they now have a huge role to play both offensively and defensively.
A strong fullback needs to first and foremost be strong defensively and able to contain tricky opposing wingers. The shift has come more on the offensive side, where fullbacks are required to provide width, energy, and pinpoint crosses.
Top sides need a player that can hold his own in both of these areas and they can definitely be tough to come by. Here is a list of the top 5 left backs in world football at the moment, based on both their offensive and defensive abilities. Without further ado, let’s get into it.
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#5. Andy Robertson
After signing from Hull City for a relatively short fee in 2017, Robertson has quietly become the Premier League’s best Left Back. He has been a consistent presence down the left for Liverpool since his arrival and helped form one of the league’s most formidable defenses.
Robertson really came into his own towards the end of last season, playing a key role in Liverpool’s Champions League run. He has built on that with some stellar performances this season, having already made 29 league appearances.
Renowned for his excellent tenacity and work rate, Robertson has also had a successful international career to date with Scotland. He already has 28 appearances for his country and definitely has the makings of a future international captain. At just 25 years of age, expect at least another half-decade of elite play from Robertson for both Liverpool and Scotland.
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#4. Alex Sandro
Whilst he has seemingly regressed somewhat of late, Alex Sandro is still one of the premier left backs in world football. After 3 excellent seasons as a starter in Porto, he has now made the Juventus left back position his own for 4 straight seasons.
He has been a key contributor for many Scudetto winning sides as well as the Champions League runner-up in 2017. Unfortunately for Sandro, the presence of Marcelo has meant that his international opportunities have been limited, with just 14 caps for Brazil.
Renowned for his strong pace and energy, Sandro has been part of an incredibly strong Juventus defense in recent seasons. More than that, he is also a very strong offensive threat going forward.
His elite ability to get down the flank and deliver pinpoint crosses has also made him effective as a wing-back. He has recently been linked with a move away from Juve, which would be a huge blow for the Italian champs.
#3. Jordi Alba
One of the most consistent players on this list, Jordi Alba has made the Barcelona left back position his own since 2012. He has almost 300 appearances at the Camp Nou and has enjoyed unprecedented success with this excellent Barca squad.
Alba has also done it at the highest level on the international stage, registering 67 caps for Spain and 5 for Catalonia. Whilst he doesn’t have elite size for the position, his incredible speed and athleticism give him an advantage over most opponents.
His pace allows him to succeed both offensively and defensively. He is especially effective on the overlap and regularly delivers excellent crosses to the likes of Suarez and Messi.
In defense, he has more than enough recovery pace to catch tricky wingers and bail his teammates out of trouble. Whilst his athleticism may be declining at age 30, he is still an excellent option down the left right now.
#2. Marcelo
Probably the most impressive left back in world football over the last decade, Marcelo is very deserving of being on this list. Having arrived at the Bernabeu in 2006, he has made almost 400 appearances for one of the world’s most successful sides.
His consistency and durability have been incredible throughout his Madrid tenure, registering at least 30 appearances in 10 seasons. Similarly, he has also been a fixture in the Brazil national side, making 58 appearances since 2006. This is especially impressive given the competition he has in the form of Alex Sandro.
Whilst he is a solid defender, Marcelo is probably most renowned for his elite offensive ability from the fullback slot. He is fantastic with the ball at his feet and has great athletic ability.
His elite versatility has also allowed him to succeed both in midfield and as a winger. With Zidane back in charge at the Bernabeu, expect a few more solid seasons in white from Marcelo.
#1. David Alaba
There just isn’t a better left back in world football right now than Bayern Munich and Austria ace David Alaba. Having joined Bayern in 2009, he has been the main man on the left for the past 8 seasons.
At just 26 years of age, he already has 335 appearances for the German giants and appears part of their core going forward. He has also been a stalwart for the Austrian national side, already registering 67 appearances and banging in 13 goals.
Having primarily played at left back, Alaba is one of the most versatile players in world football. His pace and athleticism are second to none, whilst his elite technical ability also allows him to comfortably slot into midfield. Given how incredibly impressive his career has been so far, I expect Alaba to remain atop this list for the next few seasons at least.
Note: This piece is opinion-based
