For years, the left back position was overlooked, often seen as a defensive afterthought rather than a key role.
But the modern game has completely flipped that script. Thanks to tactical innovators like Pep Guardiola and others, the left back role has become one of the most challenging and influential positions on the field. Today’s left backs are expected to do it all: defend with discipline, cover endless ground and contribute creatively to the attack.
This evolution has produced a new breed of left back—versatile, dynamic and often among the standout players on their teams.
Here’s Sports Illustrated’s look at the current best in the business.
25. Andy Robertson
Andy Robertson may now be past his blistering peak—the form that once had many calling him the best left back in the world—but make no mistake: he still has plenty to offer.
Sure, the explosive pace that once defined his overlapping runs may have dipped slightly, dulling some of his impact in the final third. Yet the Scotsman remains a tenacious defender—solid in every challenge, relentless in recovery and never giving an opponent a moment’s peace.
He’s also an unapologetically vocal leader. Make a mistake near him? You’ll hear about it immediately—and probably get a detailed rundown on how to fix it next time.
That, perhaps, is why Tottenham Hotspur decided to acquire him after several difficult seasons.
24. Ian Maatsen
One of many former Chelsea full backs on this list, Ian Maatsen is growing in importance for Aston Villa, particularly following Lucas Digne’s return to PSG.
An electric force going forward, Maatsen excels at progressive ball-carrying and high-tempo build-up play, giving both Villa and the Netherlands, when given the chance, plenty of energy in the final third.
He’s also more than happy to drift inside and operate as an inverted full back—or even a midfielder—to get more involved in the build-up. That versatility makes him a fascinating tactical weapon, capable of creating overloads in midfield before bursting forward into the space in front of him.
He may not be the most imposing defender on this list, but his recovery pace is fierce. Even when he gets caught high up the pitch, Maatsen has the speed to make up ground in a hurry and get himself back into the defensive picture.
23. Wesley
Originally schooled as a right back, Wesley has been increasingly deployed on his unnatural flank by Gian Piero Gasperini during Roma’s flexible evolution under the cerebral Italian.
“He’s a growing player,” Gasperini beamed last year. “Very strong.”
The tenacious and versatile Brazilian was unfortunate to miss the 2026 World Cup through injury, thus missing an opportunity to showcase his talents to an even wider audience.
But his performances for Roma, which involve him scuttling up and down the field as a flying wing back, surely won’t go under the radar for much longer.
22. Maxi Araújo
At the 2026 World Cup against Cape Verde, Maxi Araújo became the first Uruguayan player in 56 years to register both a goal and an assist in the same World Cup match. The last to achieve the feat was Juan Martín Mujica in 1970.
Araújo also found the net in Uruguay’s tournament opener against Saudi Arabia, underlining just how much of an attacking threat he can be from the left flank. Those qualities have been on full display for Sporting CP too, with the versatile full back thriving since his move from Mexico in 2024.
Explosive, direct and always looking to make something happen in the final third, Araújo has quickly established himself as one of the most exciting attacking players in his position.
It feels like only a matter of time before one of Europe’s giants comes calling.
21. Lucas Digne
There are certainly bumps to Lucas Digne’s game. The left back can make rash and costly decisions, but those odd lapses in concentration don’t overshadow the quality he provides.
Wicked deliveries into the penalty area are a staple of his game, with that excellent distribution often showcased at corners and free kicks for France and, previously, Aston Villa.
Digne’s entering the twilight of his career and continues to divide opinion somewhat, but there’s a reason he’s represented Lille, PSG, Roma, Barcelona, Everton and Villa over the years.
20. Myles Lewis-Skelly
Myles Lewis-Skelly plays—and carries himself—with the kind of swagger that some find off-putting. But like Jude Bellingham, it’s that very self-belief that allows him to perform at such a high level despite his age. Call it arrogance if you want, but when you’ve got the talent to back it up, who’s really complaining?
And Lewis-Skelly does have the talent. He’s a fierce competitor, relentless in and out of possession and refuses to let any cause die. But he’s not just grit and drive—technically, he’s elite.
He can glide past players with ease, pick out teammates with precision and break lines with his dribbling and passing. That combination of tenacity and technical brilliance is exactly why he’s been trusted in midfield roles (that arguably suit him better) despite his youth.
19. Andrea Cambiaso
Versatile wingback Andrea Cambiaso has been like a Swiss Army knife for Juventus since breaking into the first team in 2023–24, able to fill multiple roles with ease. Over the past two seasons, he’s been used not only as a traditional full back, but also in an inverted role and further forward on the wing, showing his tactical flexibility.
Cambiaso is a do-it-all performer: solid defensively, dynamic going forward and comfortable adapting to multiple positions. His versatility, combined with relentless work rate, has made him indispensable during a period of transition at the club, as Juventus have navigated squad changes and sought to redefine their identity.
He may rarely grab the headlines with flashy moments, but Cambiaso’s consistent impact on the pitch makes him one of the most valuable and reliable players in the Juventus squad.
18. Maximilian Mittelstädt
Maximilian Mittelstädt is a late bloomer in comparison to many of his positional peers, but the left back’s switch to Stuttgart in 2023 helped propel him toward his potential.
Flourishing in Sebastian Hoeneß’s high-octane, Mittelstädt has been super consistent for one of the Bundesliga’s resurgent forces, particularly catching the eye with his explosive displays in the final third.
Each campaign with VfB has yielded more goal involvements than the last, with seven followed by 11 and then, in 2025–26, an impressive 13.
Such stellar showings have earned him plenty of appearances for Germany, too.
17. Rayan Ait-Nouri
Rayan Aït-Nouri is a serious baller.
The Algerian dazzles with silky feet that could easily be mistaken for those of more attack-minded countrymen like Riyad Mahrez and Saïd Benrahma. He can turn on a dime, glide past defenders with jaw-dropping ease and make dribbling look effortless.
But Aït-Nouri isn’t simply a flashy winger trapped in a fullback’s body—he pairs that flair with the vision and creativity of a top-tier playmaker, making him a constant threat whenever he gets forward.
Defensively, there’s still room for improvement, which perhaps explains why he has struggled for minutes at Manchester City behind Nico O’Reilly, whom we’ll get to later. Still, Aït-Nouri remains a stellar player, even if his future may ultimately lie elsewhere.
16. Milos Kerkez
Milos Kerkez hasn’t quite lived up to the lofty expectations he set at Bournemouth since his 2025 move to Liverpool.
Part of that, however, can be attributed to the chaos surrounding him at Anfield. Managerial changes and an evolving squad have hardly provided the ideal environment for a young player to settle, and with plenty of time still on his side, Kerkez has every opportunity to prove the doubters wrong.
Because there’s no doubting the talent. Explosively quick, physically imposing and armed with a delivery that could make David Beckham do a double take, Kerkez has all the ingredients of a modern full back.
Now, it’s simply about finding that level consistently for the Reds.
15. Adrien Truffert
When it became apparent that Milos Kerkez’s stint at Bournemouth would be relatively short and sweet, thoughts quickly turned to who could replace the impressive Hungarian. It didn’t take long for the Cherries to settle on Rennes captain Adrien Truffert.
It didn’t take Truffert long to show exactly why he had been one of Ligue 1’s standout performers, either. The Frenchman is not only highly capable in one-vs-one situations defensively, but also a tremendous attacking threat who loves to whip the ball into the penalty area.
Throw in his dynamism and athleticism, which see him charge up and down the pitch with a seemingly never-ending battery life, and Bournemouth don’t miss Kerkez at all.
14. Alejandro Balde
It once looked like Barcelona had found the perfect heir to Jordi Alba’s throne in Alejandro Balde.
That hasn’t quite been how things have transpired so far, but the potential is still there.
Balde broke out in style during the 2022–23 season as Xavi’s side stormed to the La Liga title. The following year proved more difficult, however, with injuries and inconsistency halting his momentum and eventually forcing him to the sidelines.
Since then, though, Balde has bounced back. Fully fit and firing, he has re-established himself as one of Barça’s most important players, playing a key role in their back-to-back La Liga triumphs in 2024–25 and 2025–26. His trademark bursts down the flank, improved decision-making and ever-growing defensive maturity have made him a constant asset at both ends of the pitch.
13. David Raum
Like many modern left backs, David Raum excels with his head down, bursting toward the opposition goal. That attacking threat has made him one of Germany’s most impactful defenders over recent years.
RB Leipzig have benefitted from his fierce speed, relentless running and turbo-charged left boot. He delivered 12 goal involvements for the Bundesliga outfit in 2025–26, which was his second-best return since joining the club.
Defensively, Raum is very solid, too. The physicality which makes him deadly in the opponent’s half also helps snuff out danger and thwart a band of tricky right wingers in Germany and beyond.
12. Alvaro Carreras
Manchester United have long been desperate for a reliable left back. Yet somehow, they let one of the brightest young talents slip right through their fingers: Álvaro Carreras.
Signed by United in 2022, he was quietly sold to Benfica just a couple of years later for a bargain price after a few loan spells. Carreras quickly blossomed into one of Portugal’s hottest young prospects—and arguably its best left back—so it was perhaps no surprise when Real Madrid paid the big bucks to take him home to Spain.
Carreras has that rare blend of sharp tactical awareness, blistering pace and flair that turns defence into attack. His progressive passing and fearless runs down the flank have made him a standout performer for Los Blancos.
11. Jorrel Hato
Being named the youngest captain in Ajax’s storied history—a club that has produced icons like Johan Cruyff, Frank de Boer and Matthijs de Ligt—is no small feat. But Chelsea’s Jorrel Hato has shown time and again that he’s no ordinary talent.
Hato plays with a maturity and composure well beyond his years. A natural leader on the pitch, he’s vocal, commanding and never afraid to take responsibility when the pressure is on.
Defensively, he’s quick, physically strong and intelligent with his positioning. On the ball, he’s just as impressive, remaining composed under pressure and showing the confidence to push forward, often kickstarting attacks with surging runs before helping finish them with dangerous deliveries.
Now being deployed at left wing-back for Chelsea, Hato is only growing in importance for the Blues—and looks increasingly like a player capable of becoming a mainstay at Stamford Bridge for years to come.
10. Nathaniel Brown
Nathaniel Brown is renowned for his blistering pace, but the Germany international’s mind works even faster than his feet. He continues to underline his status as one of the most exciting two-way defenders on the continent, proving just as effective in the final third as he is committed to his defensive duties.
Versatility is another major part of Brown’s appeal. While left back is his preferred position, he is also capable of playing at left midfield, central midfield and even attacking midfield—a role he has been deployed in more frequently since his inevitable switch to Bayern Munich, who have once again snapped up one of the Bundesliga’s best young talents.
9. Theo Hernandez
Theo Hernández’s move from AC Milan to the Saudi Pro League may have raised a few eyebrows. On paper, it looks like a step away from Europe’s elite—another star choosing the paycheck over prestige.
But let’s not overlook just how influential Hernández was during his time at Milan. He wasn’t merely a star; he established himself as one of the greatest full backs in the club’s history.
Renowned for his electrifying pace, silky dribbling and lethal eye for goal, Hernández was a constant threat in the final third throughout his six seasons at San Siro. He played a pivotal role in Milan’s 2021–22 Serie A triumph, injecting energy and flair whenever he thundered forward. Defensively, he could be unpredictable at times, but his attacking brilliance more than made up for the occasional lapse.
And make no mistake: those game-changing qualities haven’t disappeared. Hernández remains a regular for France despite now turning out for Al Hilal, proving that his move to Saudi Arabia hasn’t diminished his standing at international level.
8. Lewis Hall
In Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall, Newcastle United have two of the finest young fullbacks in world football—and remarkably, both were gifted to them by Chelsea.
A willing contributor going forward, Hall is always looking to push up the flank and deliver quality crosses, at the same time as being an excellent ball-striker that poses a real threat in the final third. The boyhood Newcastle fan is a gritty customer too—no slouch defensively. He’s already locked up the likes of Bukayo Saka in one-on-one duels and continues to grow as a tenacious ball-winner.
What’s not to like?
7. Nico O’Reilly
Left back was a problem position for Manchester City throughout Pep Guardiola’s trophy-laden spell at the Etihad. Many believed that Aït-Nouri was the long-awaited solution following his acquisition from Wolves, yet a gangly midfielder from the youth team appears to have taken on that mantle.
Nico O’Reilly’s rise has been outrageous. The towering academy graduate had never made a Premier League appearance before 2025, yet he ended the year as the 2025-26 PFA Young Player of the Year and in the England team.
Boasting the physical attributes demanded of the modern fullback, O’Reilly’s tactical aptitude is perhaps his biggest strength, offering a level of understanding which few can match.
6. Alejandro Grimaldo
When Bayer Leverkusen finally ended Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga reign in 2023–24, Xabi Alonso’s wing-backs were central to that historic triumph.
While Jeremie Frimpong brought chaos and speed down the right, Alejandro Grimaldo orchestrated things with elegance and precision on the left. Diminutive in stature but massive in influence, the Spaniard glided through defenses with slick one-twos, clever rotations and a first touch that always seemed one step ahead of the opposition.
But it’s his left foot that truly sets him apart—a wand capable of producing a little bit of everything. Free kicks? Curled in with specialist precision. Crosses? Whipped in like a prime winger. Long-range strikes? Thumped with the venom of a seasoned striker.
The following two seasons may not have reached quite the same electric heights, but Grimaldo remains one of the most complete, technically gifted and dangerous left backs in world soccer. That was enough to convince Atlético Madrid to bring him to the Spanish capital in the summer of 2026.
5. Alphonso Davies
Former Bayern Munich captain Thomas Müller is as famous for his sharp wit as his soccer skills, and one of his most memorable nicknames was for teammate Alphonso Davies, whom he dubbed the Bayern “Road Runner.”
But this isn’t just a joke—Davies really is like the cartoon character come to life. At times, he’s so devilishly quick that even the cameras struggle to keep up, legs spinning like something out of an animated race. The only thing missing is the classic “meep meep” sound effect.
But Davies is far more than just a blur of pace. At Bayern, that raw speed has been refined with tactical intelligence, defensive awareness and an ability to make game-changing runs that constantly keep opponents on edge.
The only thing that has consistently managed to slow him down is his troublesome injury history.
4. Riccardo Calafiori
Riccardo Calafiori was hardly a household name heading into Euro 2024, but a string of impressive performances quickly put him on the radar of some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
For Bologna supporters, though, none of it came as much of a surprise. Transformed into a ball-playing center back by Thiago Motta, Calafiori was rock solid as Bologna secured Champions League qualification for the first time in 59 years with a top-five finish in Serie A. Along the way, he showcased impressive athleticism, tactical flexibility and a reading of the game well beyond his years.
Arsenal eventually won the race for his signature, with Mikel Arteta opting to move the Italian back to the left side at the beginning of the 2025–26 season. It’s a decision that has brought out the best in Calafiori, who is incredibly comfortable with the ball at his feet and equally effective hugging the touchline or drifting inside to invert into midfield.
That versatility has quickly made him one of the more intriguing modern full backs in Europe.
3. Federico Dimarco
Federico Dimarco’s rise at Inter is a tale of sheer defiance.
A product of the club’s own academy, he was cast aside in his early years—sold to Sion, brought back, then loaned out to Parma and Hellas Verona like a player Inter weren’t quite sure what to do with. But Dimarco didn’t fold. He thrived. And when he finally returned to Milan, it wasn’t to blend into the background—it was to take over.
His form became so commanding that Inter eventually moved on from Robin Gosens, once regarded as one of the best left backs in the world, and handed Dimarco full control of the left flank.
Since then, he has become the heartbeat of the Inter side. Tireless, fearless and blessed with a wand of a left foot, Dimarco plays with a kind of controlled chaos—tearing up the wing, whipping dangerous crosses into the box, smashing in outrageous goals and bringing an electric intensity to everything he does.
He was central to Inter’s 2023–24 and 2025–26 Serie A triumphs, completing one of the most satisfying turnarounds in soccer: from Inter discard to club icon.
2. Marc Cucurella
You have to admit, there’s something almost comical about Marc Cucurella tearing around the pitch like a man possessed, his iconic mop of curls bouncing wildly with every stride. But don’t let the cartoonish aesthetic fool you—this guy is all business.
A relentless pressing machine with a gritty tackling style, an unmistakable never-say-die attitude and a surprising knack for contributing in the final third, Cucurella is the sort of player fans love. Whether it’s been at former club Chelsea, now at Real Madrid, or with the Spanish national team, the full back has built a reputation as a player who gives absolutely everything every time he steps onto the pitch.
He played a starring role in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph and followed that up with another key contribution to their 2026 World Cup success, further cementing his status as one of the most dependable and entertaining defenders in the game.
Some call him a chaos merchant. Sure. But he’s also a game-changer.
1. Nuno Mendes
Nuno Mendes wasn’t always destined for the left-back spot—he began his career as an attacking midfielder at Sporting CP. The switch wasn’t easy at first, but watching him now, it’s clear he has mastered the role like few others.
Right now, Mendes is the best left back on the planet—period. Standing around 5’11”, he defies expectations with a low center of gravity that makes him a rock-solid presence, almost impossible to knock off the ball. His strength allows him to protect possession like a fortress, while his lightning pace turns him into a relentless engine, bombing up and down the left flank with fearless energy.
And then there’s what he brings in the final third. The PSG star is pure magic, with crosses that slice through defenses and silky dribbling that leaves opponents grasping at air. Whether he’s threading a perfect assist into the box or creating danger all by himself, Mendes has the ability to change a game in an instant.
Simply put, Mendes isn’t just a left back—he’s the blueprint for the modern position.