These are the best right-backs around – in one of the most rapidly evolving positions in football
(Image credit: Future)
Discussing the world's best right-backs was not something most would have considered doing even 15 years ago. Famously, no one “grew up wanting to be Gary Neville”.
Well, the times, they are a-changing – even since Trent Alexander-Arnold’s incredible rise from debates about whether he was a midfielder to winning Champions League titles. This is a position in which crossing machines bomb up and down the flank (see the likes of Achraf Hakimi), playmaking starlets glisten (Trent, anyone?) and intelligent defenders lock down a couple of roles at once (think Kyle Walker).
So ranking these players in some kind of order is… difficult. We’ve gone with the players with the most influence, consistency and overall quality. Argue among yourselves and tweet us @FourFourTwo as to the order and omissions…
The best right-backs in the world: 10. Denzel Dumfries
Denzel Dumfries salutes Netherlands fans after victory over Ireland in November 2023 (Image credit: Getty Images)
He has the name of a Hollywood legend and he's box office to match.
While English fans mostly know the words “Denzel Dumfries” as syllables that clog up the gossip column, Inter Milan fans have come to adore their Hakimi replacement as a bullet train down the right flank, acting as one of their primary sources of drive. The 27-year-old has matured into one of the best attacking wing-backs on Earth in recent years.
9. Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid)
Nahuel Molina of Atletico Madrid celebrates after scoring against Real Sociedad (Image credit: Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
Looking at the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Alvaro Morata, Rodrigo De Paul and Joao Felix, there's a case that Atletico Madrid had the best World Cup of any club in 2022 – it was a springboard for Nahuel Molina, too, who ended up with the trophy.
Since his move from Udinese in 2022, the right-back has been schooled in Cholo-ball, improving defensively and offering superb attacking threat. He's blossomed excellently since leaving Boca Juniors after failing to establish himself in their side.
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8. Kyle Walker (Manchester City)
Kyle Walker of Manchester City during the Premier League match against Liverpool (Image credit: Getty Images)
Still, at the age of 33, Kyle Walker is the true generalist of right-backs. He began his Manchester City career inverting into the centre of the pitch, he's become an auxiliary centre-back in buildup, while this season, he's acted more as a traditional right wing-back to push the winger inside.
He's the elder statesman of his defence, but that doesn't stop him using that electric recovery acceleration to become an old-school full-back, content with pocketing wingers. His powers are beginning to wane but Pep Guardiola's desire to keep him a little while longer last summer proves how good he still can be.
7. Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United)
Kieran Trippier of Newcastle United shoots against Chelsea (Image credit: Getty Images)
Managers’ first signings at a new club say a lot about them. Eddie Howe’s choice to bring Kieran Trippier in has been nothing short of a complete masterstroke, with the former Atletico, Tottenham and Burnley man offering something that the Toon sorely lacked in their squad.
His experience precedes him by now, while his crossing ability is among the best that England has ever produced in his position. Trippier is a menace from dead-ball situations, has the creativity to unlock defences and with a stint in La Liga, has become one of the most rounded defenders in the league, thanks to Diego Simeone’s school of deep blocks.
6. Pedro Porro (Tottenham Hotspur)
Pedro Porro in action for Tottenham (Image credit: Getty Images)
Pedro Porro looked a little lost under Antonio Conte – but then everyone did. In Ange Postecoglou's inverted full-back system, some wondered if the Spaniard would be able to adapt.
He's more than proven himself. Combining brilliantly with Dejan Kulusevski down the Tottenham right, Porro has embodied the athleticism and incision needed to succeed under Postecoglou – who knows a thing or two about full-backs, having been one himself in his playing days.
5. Benjamin White (Arsenal)
Ben White in action at the Emirates Stadium (Image credit: Getty Images)
Formerly a very solid centre-back alongside Gabriel, Ben White has confirmed that he's not bothered about being moved to right-back – and it's just as well.
The Arsenal man has been exceptional since the switch, playing multiple roles at once. He builds up as part of the first line of three, inverts when he needs to and provides lung-busting overlaps to Bukayo Saka. Mikel Arteta loves his work ethic – and shifting to right-back has allowed him to embrace the fiery, confrontational side of his game, while also showcasing his supreme talent on the ball even more.
4. Joao Cancelo (Barcelona)
Joao Cancelo of Barcelona with the ball against Athletic Bilbao (Image credit: Getty Images)
One of few players to be genuinely world-class in two different positions on a football pitch, Joao Cancelo has returned to right-back since his move to Barcelona. Kyle Walker initially pushed him out to the left at Manchester City, but the Portuguese international is back on his favoured side.
From the left of the pitch in the last couple of seasons, we've seen a version of Cancelo who drifts into Jack Grealish’s space and pings balls with the outside of his right foot if need be. From the right, we see a more simplified Cancelo: fewer trivelas, more tirelessness in bombing forward, keeping to the width of the pitch and stretching opposition before using his sublime incision. The Portuguese is devastatingly dynamic, suiting Barcelona's style of play to a tee.
3. Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen)
Jeremie Frimpong of Bayer Leverkusen looks on during the Bundesliga match against Borussia Monchengladbach (Image credit: Getty Images)
There's a reason why seemingly every side in Europe are interested in this 23-year-old, having picked up where he left off last season. Working under Xabi Alonso has certainly enabled the Dutchman to develop his attacking game even further, with his speedy dribbling committing opposition defenders time and time again: at times, he's more of a final third presence… it's par for the course with modern full-backs, right?
Defensively he's sound, too, though he doesn't have to showcase those abilities too much in Alonso's system at Bayer Leverkusen. Regardless, he's one of the most promising full-backs in the world at the moment and seems destined for a major move to one of Europe's elite clubs in the coming years.
2. Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain)
Achraf Hakimi of Paris Saint-Germain during the Champions League match against Newcastle United (Image credit: Getty Images)
Achraf Hakimi has played for Real Madrid, sparkled in the Bundesliga, won a Scudetto, starred in a Hollywood attack alongside the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi and been the superstar in the first-ever African World Cup semi-finalists' side. Incredibly, he’s still a long way from his peak years.
Instead of building around Messi or Neymar, Luis Enrique decided to ship off the ailing stars and focus PSG's attacks around Hakimi’s power and might down that righthand flank as he bombs forward to support attacks. Defensively he's faced criticism, but he’s the ultimate tool for a possession side to throw up the pitch, providing dangerous crosses and silky dribbling for talents like Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Goncalo Ramos and Randal Kolo Muani all to benefit off of.
Reminiscent of the carefree wide-men that flanked classic Brazilian sides, Hakimi feels like a throwback in a way. And that perhaps understates his tactical intelligence and technical brilliance.
1. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool celebrates after scoring against Manchester City (Image credit: Getty Images)
It's not overly ridiculous to suggest he may be the best player on Earth right now. Even less so that he's the most talented right-back the Premier League has ever witnessed.
A playmaker from full-back, Alexander-Arnold has never been one of the game’s greatest defenders – but frankly, that doesn’t matter when you consider what he is and not what he isn’t. The upside of a player with this ability is his knack for always putting the ball on a patch of the pitch better than where he received it from. Sure, he'll occasionally get caught out defensively, but his passing is now legendary and more than makes up for it.
Consider what he's done just in Jurgen Klopp's swansong season. Played right-back, played in midfield, dropped between centre-backs to dictate. Been unpressable, scored winning goals and even brought the Adidas Predator tongue back into fashion. He's something else, all right.
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Ed is a staff writer at FourFourTwo, working across the magazine and website. A German speaker, he’s been working as a football reporter in Berlin since 2015, predominantly covering the Bundesliga and Germany's national team. Favourite FFT features include an exclusive interview with Jude Bellingham following the youngster’s move to Borussia Dortmund in 2020, a history of the Berlin Derby since the fall of the Wall and a celebration of Kevin Keegan’s playing career.
