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Having a pair of good centre-backs is a foundation of every successful team, yet their contribution on the football field often go unnoticed. A centre-back is a player who protects his team's goal and prevents the opposition attackers from scoring.
Lothar Matthaeus, Paolo Maldini, Franz Beckenbauer, Daniel Passarella, Fabio Cannavaro, Carlos Puyol, and Gaetano Scirea are some of the greatest centre-backs of all time.
There are a number of good centre-backs in the current era as well and right on this note, here's the list of the top 10 best centre-backs in the world this season. They have performed well to help their side clinch titles and trophies this year.
Honourable Mentions: Sergio Ramos, Victor Lindelöf, Raphael Varane, Matthijs de Ligt, and Jan Vertonghen.
#10 Giorgio Chiellini
Giorgio Chiellini has been a part of the Juventus backline for 14 years now and he is still a key player at the Allianz Stadium.
The 34-year-old Italian played 23 league games for the Turin-based club this season and helped his team maintain the best defensive record in the Italian top division. He won 22 of his 25 attempted tackles in the Serie A, along with blocking 13 shots and making 82 clearances.
His defensive contribution this season has helped his side win their eighth Serie A title.
#9 Willi Orban
RB Leipzeg boasts the best defensive record in the Bundesliga this season and their captain Orban has played a huge part in that.
The 26-year-old made 23 appreances in the domestic league this season and he averages 2.1 tackles, 5.7 clearances and won 4.9 aerial duals per game in the Bundesliga. He also impressed with his performances in the opposite side of the pitch and scored four goals in the Bundesliga thus far.
His displays for the club caught the attention of the Hungary national team manager, Marco Rossi and he was selected to respresent his country for the first time during the UEFA Nations League game against Greece in October 2018. He has played four games for Hungary since then, scoring one goal.
#8 Willy Boly
Wolverhampton Wanderers settled well into the Premier League following their promotion from the Championship last season and they are currently seventh in the EPL standings.
Their defence played a huge part in the sucess and they conceded just 44 goals in 36 league games thus far, which is the joint fifth best defensive record in the Premier League this campaign.
Willy Boly in particular impressed with his performances and the former French youth international averages 2.4 successful tackles, 2.1 interceptions and 4.7 clearances per game in the English top division this campaign.
#7 Diego Godín
Defence has always been the strength of Atletico Madrid under Diego Simeone and Godin has been at the heart of that backline defence for the last nine seasons.
The 33-year-old is a brilliant reader of the game, who always takes a safety-first approach while defending. He is also a great leader and orchestrates the Colchoneros' backline superbly.
This season, Godin has appreared in 27 games for the Madrid-based club and has helped his team keep numerous clean sheets. He won 1.8 tackles per game this campaign, along with making 40 interceptions and completing 116 clearances in all LaLiga games.
The former Villarreal man is also a threat in the opposition box and has contributed three goals and one assist in the league thus far this campaign.
The Uruguayan international will be out of contract with the Spanish club at the end of the current season and a number of big clubs are already being linked with securing his services.
#6 Ibrahima Konaté
RB Leipzeg's Ibrahima Konate has already established himself among the best centre-backs in the Bundesliga despite being only a 19-year-old.
The young Frenchman is a star player in the Saxony-based team, who conceded the least number of goals in the German top division. He averages 1.6 tackles, 3.6 aerial duals, 2.1 interceptions, 4.2 clearances per game this season, which are good stats for such a young defender.
The French young international has been linked with a number of big clubs in the recent months and we might see him on a move during the summer transfer window.
#5 Marquinhos
The 24-year-old Brazilian has created a formidable defensive partnership alongside his fellow courtryman, Thiago Silva in the heart of PSG's defence and the duo helped the club win their Ligue 1 title this campaign.
Marquinhos is a versatile player who is capable of playing in a number of positions. He is blessed with a great pace and is also a good reader of the game. This season, he averages 2.1 tackles, 1.5 interceptions and 2.8 clearances per game in the Ligue 1.
The Brazillian is also exceptional with the ball under his feet and he completed 1873 passes with a superb accuracy rate of 92.1 percent.
#4 Kalidou Koulibaly
Arguably the best defender in the Serie A at the moment, Kalidou Koulibaly has played a key role in Napoli's success in the recent years.
The 27-year-old is a strong defender, who posseses great strength and speed. He also likes to play from the back and has completed 2046 passes with a passing accuracy of 88.6 percent this season.
The Senegalese international was included in the Serie A Team of the Season in the last three seasons and he is likely to become the part of it this campaign as well.
#3 Aymeric Laporte
Manchester City's defensive unit has stepped up to the occasion in the last few months and the Cityzens conceded just two goals in the last 12 league games. The French international, Ayermic Laporte is the key man in Pep Gaurdiola's backline and he has been awarded with the inclusion in the PFA Team of the Year for his exploits this season.
The 24-year-old won 40 tackles in the English top division this campaign, along with making completing 90 clearances and making 37 interceptions in EPL. Besides his brillance at the back, Laporte also contributed two goals and two assists.
#2 Gerard Pique
Gerard Pique has been enjoying one of his best seasons in the Barcelona shirt and could possibly guide the Blaugrana to a treble this campaign.
Known for his ball-playing abilities, Pique has completed 2044 passes this season, with an impressive passing accuracy rate of 91.6 percent. He won 39 tackles and made 34 interceptions in the LaLiga thus far this camapign, helping the Bluagrana keep 15 clean-sheets in 33 games that he started in.
#1 Virgil van Dijk
The Dutch international is in a magnificant form for the Reds this season and has become the first defender to win the PFA Player of the Year accolade since John Terry did in 2005.
The 27-year-old has been a biggest pillar of the Merseysiders' impenetrable defence this campaign, which conceded just 20 goals in 36 league games. The former Southampton man won 72% of his tackles this season, along with making 40 interceptions and completing 193 clearances.
If Liverpool go on to lift the EPL trophy this season, Jurgen Klopp would have to thank van Dijk who has been at the heart of the defence.
Stats: WhoScored
