Top 10 goal-scoring defenders in the 21st century

Bhargav
Roberto Carlos is one of the finest goal-scoring defenders in the game
Roberto Carlos is one of the finest goal-scoring defenders in the game

#6 Chris Janssens - 58 goals

Chris Janssens (Pic courtesy Getty Images)
Chris Janssens (Pic courtesy Getty Images)

Chris Jannsens is one of the most prolific goal-scoring defenders in Belgian history.

The centre-back scored an impressive tally of 58 goals this century after commencing his professional career at KSC Lokeren in the Belgian League. Jannsens netted almost half of these goals - 26 - during a productive stint at KVC Westerlo.

In the 2000-01 season, Jannsens scored an impressive 12 goals for KSC Lokeren after netting 12 for the club the season before.


#5 William Janssen - 59 goals

William Janssen
William Janssen

William Janssen has scored an impressive tally of 59 goals since making his professional debut with VVV Venlo in the Dutch Eredivisie in 2006-07.

The 34-year-old centre-back has scored 24 goals for his present club Utrecht, whom he joined in 2013. Jannsen has also netted 20 goals for Roda and 13 goals with Twente, with whom he won the Dutch Super Cup in 2012.

Last season, Janssen became the first player to score in 13 consecutive Eredivisie seasons this century.


#4 Roberto Carlos - 65 goals

Roberto Carlos
Roberto Carlos

Arguably one of the finest goal-scoring defenders of all time, Roberto Carlos shone for a bevy of clubs during a glittering two-decade professional career, most notably with Internazionale and Real Madrid.

Carlos, renowned for his impressive goal-scoring ability, scored several blistering long-rangers during his career and was also adept at set-pieces.

The Brazilian scored a La Liga goal in each of his 11 seasons at Real Madrid and produced an assist in all but two seasons. At the peak of his powers in the early 2000s, the left-back scored five goals and provided assists galore in Real Madrid's victorious La Liga campaigns in 2000 and 2002.

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