2) Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid)
Like successor, like predecessor. Diego Simeone has been lauded as a mastermind tactician who has revolutionised Atletico Madrid, but the man who has stood up for him the most and made it possible was Diego Godin.
Like wine, the Uruguayan is getting better with age as he has graced us with yet another season of artful defending.
The term artful might not go down well with some enthusiasts because of the rough approach used by him during defending--something that has always come under scrutiny. However, when one gazes through the veneer of the brutality, what they will only find is passion and the will to do anything to guard the goal.
He might be older than Gimenez, but his stats show how experience is more important for defenders than anything else. With 2.7 tackles and 3.4 interceptions every game, combined with 6.5 clearances, he shows what an important player he is to the team and its aspirations.
