Achraf Hakimi is widely recognised as the best right back in the world, as the Moroccan international has continued to deliver for both club and country.
Right-backs are some of the most important defensive players due to their versatility and because they ensure support defensively or offensively. That said, they are known for their enormous contributions to their team’s success.
Interesting Football brings you the best right backs in the world in 2023.
20. Joao Cancelo (Al Nassr, Portugal)
João Cancelo’s defensive skills make him stand out as one of the best defenders in the world. The Portuguese footballer who has been a key player is currently in the books of the Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr.
Cancelo moved to Man City from Primeira Liga giants SL Benfica in 2019 and helped the Citizens to two Premier League titles. He also played a significant role as the club reached its first-ever Champions League final in the 2020–21 campaign.
He has been a standout player since 2019. At Bayern Munich, he successfully found his footing before departing the club for Al Nassr.
19. Konrad Laimer (Bayern Munich, Austria)
The Bayern Munich star has been an impressive box-to-box midfielder applauded for his energy and physicality. He has been shown to be one of the engine rooms in the team. The Austrian is a versatile footballer, allowing for his deployment at right back.
The Austrian star was one of the key players for Bayern during the 2024–25 season as they went on to lift the Bundesliga title.
17. Malo Gusto (Chelsea FC, France)
Malo Gusto is gradually getting to his best at Chelsea. The Frenchman moved to Stamford Bridge in 2023 and played a key role as the club won the Club World Cup.
16. Vanderson (AS Monaco, Brazil)
Vanderson is one of the brilliant players in the French league. He was tipped to make the Brazilian team for the World Cup in 2026. The right back has been a key player for AS Monaco this season.
15. Marcos Llorente (Atlético Madrid, Spain)
Marcos Llorente is one of the long-standing players in Atletico Madrid. He joined the club from Real Madrid back in 2019 and has been a regular in the first team.
His position in the team often makes him one of the “indispensable” players. The Spanish star has been deployed across different positions.
15. Matheus Nunes (Manchester City, Portugal)
Matheus Nunes had a slow start to life at Manchester City. However, he switched right back during the 2024–25 season and gradually found his way into the first team.
The Portuguese had now managed to maintain his position with his ability to understand the game, especially with his impressive positioning. He is also a good ball distributor as well as making timely interceptions.
14. Diogo Dalot (Manchester United, Portugal)
Diogo Dalot is one of the considerations planned at Manchester United. He is very good with both feet and can start in left or right back for Man United.
Dalot has maintained a very high rating since the start of the season.
13. Tino Livramento (Newcastle United, England)
Tino Livramento is one of the fastest rising right-backs. He had a good season during the 2024/25 campaign. The young English star has the advantage due to his speed and energy.
Tino Livramento could be one of the long-term solutions for the Newcastle United defence.
12. Jeremie Frimpong (Liverpool FC, Netherlands)
The next name on the list is Jeremie Frimpong, whose playing style continues to attract the attention of big clubs in Europe.
Jeremie Frimpong played a key role at Bayer Leverkusen during the club's dominance of German football in 2023/24, winning the Bundesliga and the German Cup. He is currently in the books of Liverpool FC.
Jeremie Frimpong is a versatile player who has shown to be a reliable option in different areas of the right position at Bayer Leverkusen. His consistency sets him apart from other players in his position and aided his move to Liverpool FC.
11. Pedro Porro (Tottenham Hotspur, Spain)
Pedro Porro is another name that cannot be ignored when it comes to ranking the best right backs in the world.
The Spaniard has been applauded for his consistency in Tottenham Hotspur's first team, especially during the 2023/24 season, where he managed an impressive rating throughout the season.
He is known for his ability to open up spaces and create goalscoring opportunities for the forward line.
10. Ben White (Arsenal FC, England)
Arsenal’s title charge may not be the same without the brilliance of Ben White. The right-back, who can also play as a centre-back, has been involved in almost every Premier League game for the Gunners.
He joined the Gunners from Brighton and Hove Albion in 2021 after an impressive performance with the Seagulls.
This season, he has been part of Mikel Arteta’s project at Arsenal and has been mainly employed at right back, where he is now one of the shining lights in the team.
Apart from his role at right back, he has also shown to be effective in the offensive position with his overlapping and underlapping runs, which have proven successful in opening up spaces for the wingers.
9. Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli, Italy)
When it comes to Napoli's recent success, Giovanni Di Lorenzo has played a significant part in it. The Italian star and captain of the team has been a consistent performer.
Di Lorenzo has been applauded for his style of play and his ability in the final third, which ranks him as one of Serie A’s best players currently.
8. Daniel Munoz (Crystal Palace, Colombia)
Daniel Munoz has emerged as one of the brightest defenders in the English Premier League, playing for Crystal Palace. The Eagles have been successful domestically with significant contributions from the Colombian.
Daniel Munoz began his football career in Colombia and was part of Rionegro Aguilas before switching to Atletico Nacional and later making the big move to Belgian side Genk.
He has become an impact at Crystal Palace since his arrival in January 2024.
7. Reece James (Chelsea FC, England)
Reece James is one of the few recent Chelsea academy graduates at their peak. The Englishman has continued to command his position in the first team despite injury setbacks.
The captain could only manage a few games in the last few seasons due to injuries. He is known for his unique skill which sets him apart from opposing forwards contributing offensively.
6. Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid CF, Spain)
"In important games he never fails. In the high pressure that we wanted to do, much of the merit is his; he pushed up a lot. In these types of matches he always makes the grade." - Carlo Ancelotti on Dani Carvajal.
For more than ten years, Dani Carvajal has been at the service of Real Madrid. The Spanish footballer has also been a key player for the Los Blancos throughout the seasons he has spent at the club.
Carvajal is one of the few players in Europe who have won the UEFA Champions League titles five times and is on course to increase the tally in the current campaign.
What seems to be working for the Spaniard is his ability to bring stability to Real Madrid’s defence, which has seen him work under different managers, including Zinedine Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti.
This season, Dani Carvajal is one of the team’s mainstays and has been involved in pursuing the La Liga title. In Europe, he has been rock solid for Real Madrid as they are on course for another title.
5. Jurrien Timber (Arsenal FC, Netherlands)
Jurrien Timber surely deserves to be on the list with his top form at Arsenal. The Dutchman has adapted to the system in England. So far, he's brought stability to the defence while adding flexibility to his game.
The right back has been applauded for his solidity and consistency in the team despite some injury setbacks.
4. Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan, Netherlands)
Denzel Dumfries has been described as a complete player in the defensive position. A right-back who has also excelled in an attacking wing-back role. Throughout his career in Italy, he has won multiple trophies, including the Serie A, Coppa Italia and Super Cup.
3. Jules Kounde (FC Barcelona, France)
Jules Koundé is one of the most exciting right-backs in the world. The Frenchman was key to Sevilla's 2019–20 UEFA Europa League triumph. His performance caught the eye of top teams, and he eventually moved to Barcelona.
The Frenchman was on the train to the World Cup, where he played three matches, including an appearance in the final as Les Bleus finished runners-up.
Koundé debuted for Barcelona in the Joan Gamper Trophy before helping the team lift the Supercopa de España. He has been exceptional in the defence.
2. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Real Madrid CF)
Despite the ups and downs, Alexander-Arnold remains a top-level player. He became a world-class defender during his time at Liverpool, helping the club lift the Champions League in 2018–19 and subsequently the Premier League in 2019–20.
This season, he had struggled with form consistency in the Real Madrid shirt but maintained his position in the team.
1. Achraf Hakimi (PSG, Morocco)
Achraf Hakimi is on a different level when delivering on his defence duties. The Moroccan was one of the key players during the last World Cup with the Moroccan Men’s National Team.
Hakimi was in the books of Real Madrid before switching to Borussia Dortmund, where he rose to fame. The right-back was not shy as he commanded a starting shirt in the Yellow Wall.
Moving to PSG in 2021, he has established himself as one of the best-performing defenders in the world in the books of the Parisians.