The 20 best left-backs in football history – ranked

Few positions in football have changed as much as the full-back. Once a spot where only the most limited technicians operated, nowadays, wide defenders have to be some of the most well-rounded individuals, combining defensive solidity with positional awareness and attacking flair. Here are 20 of the best ever to play at left-back.

Robertson has been instrumental in Liverpool’s recent success under Jürgen Klopp, helping them win the Champions League then Premier League in successive seasons. As Scotland’s captain, he has also played a key role in their international resurgence. Robertson has registered over 80 assists in his career, making him one of the most productive full-backs in football history. His relentless defensive work rate and pinpoint crosses make him the archetypal left-back of the modern era.

Evra was a cornerstone of Manchester United’s defence under Sir Alex Ferguson in the mid-2000s, winning five Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League. Despite a shaky start, his pace, positioning and leadership made him indispensable at Old Trafford for the best part of eight years. He earned 81 caps for France, playing in multiple major tournaments, including the Euro 2016 final. His consistency at the highest level set him apart from many of his contemporaries.

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Wilson (2r) was England’s starting left-back—and the oldest player in the XI—in their historic 1966 World Cup-winning team. A calm and composed defender, he made 63 appearances for England and was crucial to their defensive stability under Sir Alf Ramsey. He enjoyed a successful club career, too, winning the FA Cup with Everton in 1966.

Brazil’s ever-present left-back at the 1974 World Cup, Chagas was a key figure in the rise of attacking full-backs. Nicknamed 'the blond angel', Chagas took his attacking flair and technical ability to clubs across Brazil, the USA and Germany, earning praise for his dribbling and powerful long-range shots. He won domestic titles with Botafogo but, most importantly, his influence paved the way for future Brazilian left-backs like Roberto Carlos and Marcelo.

A key part of France’s golden era, Lizarazu (right) played a crucial role in their 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 triumphs. At club level, he won six Bundesliga titles and the 2001 Champions League with Bayern Munich. His tenacity, defensive intelligence and ability to contribute in attack earned him 97 caps for one of the best France teams in history.

A model of consistency, Irwin played a crucial role in Manchester United’s dominance under Sir Alex Ferguson in the 1990s, winning seven Premier League titles. He was part of the famous 1999 treble-winning team and, in addition to his defensive reliability, he also contributed heavily at the other end of the pitch, scoring 33 goals for United (per Transfermarkt), including many from free kicks and penalties. As reported in the Guardian, Ferguson regarded Irwin as, pound for pound, his greatest-ever signing.

A legendary figure at Real Madrid, Camacho (left) won nine La Liga titles and played over 400 games for the club. His ability to lead from the back made him a key player for Spain, too, earning 81 caps. He was a mainstay in Spanish football for over a decade, playing in the 1982 and 1986 FIFA World Cups, as well as Euro 1984 and 1988. His relentless work rate and tough tackling made him a nightmare for opposing wingers.

Schnellinger was a defensive rock for West Germany for over a decade, playing in four World Cups (1958, 1962, 1966 and 1970), reaching the final in 1966. Nicknamed 'Volkswagen' for his reliability and efficiency on the pitch, Schnellinger was one of the first successful German footballers abroad, winning Serie A and multiple European trophies with AC Milan.

A Boca Juniors legend, Marzolini (right) is widely regarded as Argentina’s greatest-ever left-back. He represented his nation at two World Cups (1962, 1966) and was named the best left-back of the 1966 tournament. His style of play was ahead of its time, and he racked up six league titles with Boca Juniors. English great Bobby Charlton once named him in his dream eleven, describing him in an interview with FourFourTwo magazine as a player who "wasn’t that fast, but his positioning was so good he didn’t need to be".

One of the best attacking left-backs of the modern era, Jordi Alba was instrumental in FC Barcelona’s dominance during the 2010s. His partnership with Lionel Messi produced countless goals, with Alba’s pace and pinpoint assists becoming a key feature of the team. He won six La Liga titles, one Champions League (2015) and played a crucial role in Spain’s Euro 2012 triumph, scoring in the final. His defensive contributions often went underappreciated, but his attacking influence made him one of the most feared full-backs of his generation.

A two-time World Cup winner with Brazil (1958, 1962), Nílton Santos (right) was a pioneer of the attacking full-back role, earning him a spot in the World Team of the 20th Century. Santos was also named by Pelé one of the top 125 greatest living footballers at a FIFA Awards ceremony in 2004. He spent his entire 16-year career at Botafogo, where he won multiple domestic titles.

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Marcelo played a vital role in Real Madrid’s dominance of the Champions League in the 2010s, winning five titles with the club. His longevity, creativity and attacking mindset from a defensive position redefined the modern full-back role. He registered 103 assists for Real Madrid (per Transfermarkt), an extraordinary number for a defender, making him one of the best full-backs of the 21st century.

A key player in Italy’s 1982 World Cup-winning squad, Cabrini formed one of the most formidable defensive units of all time for both club and country, alongside goalkeeper Dino Zoff and defenders Claudio Gentile and Gaetano Scirea. He played 73 times for Italy, scoring nine goals—an impressive tally for a full-back. Cabrini spent most of his club career with Juventus, winning six Serie A titles and the 1985 European Cup.

A true attacking force, Roberto Carlos became famous for his incredible long-range free kicks, including his physics-defying goal against France in 1997. He played over 500 games for Real Madrid, winning three Champions League titles and four La Liga titles while, with Brazil, he won the 2002 World Cup and two Copa América titles. His pace, powerful shot and attacking mindset made him one of the most exciting full-backs of all time.

Brehme’s crowning moment came in the 1990 World Cup final, when he scored the winning penalty for West Germany in the 85th minute against Argentina. A versatile full-back, he excelled on both flanks and was known for his precise crossing and accuracy from free-kicks and penalties, possessing a powerful shot. As well as success on the international stage, he won domestic league titles in Germany and Italy, playing for Bayern Munich and Inter Milan.

Cole was, without a doubt, the best defensive left-back of his generation, excelling at both Arsenal, where he was an integral member of the 'Invincibles' team of 2003–04, and Chelsea. Overall, he won three Premier League titles and the 2012 Champions League with the West Londoners. His defensive ability was unmatched, regularly nullifying world-class wingers, notably Cristiano Ronaldo during the fierce Manchester United-Chelsea rivalry of the early 2010s. Cole earned 107 caps for England, making him the most-capped full-back in the nation's history, according to the FA.

Krol was a vital member of the legendary Netherlands teams of the 1970s, reaching two consecutive World Cup finals (1974, 1978). He was an elegant defender, known for his tactical intelligence, versatility across the backline, an incredible range of passing with both feet and his ability to start attacking plays after winning back the ball. At club level, he won multiple Eredivisie titles and three European Cups with Ajax.

While it's normal practice these days, Breitner was a rare left-back who could seamlessly transition into midfield, making him one of the most versatile players of his time. He played a crucial role in Germany’s 1974 World Cup-winning team, scoring in the final. In fact, eight years later, he repeated that feat to become one of only five players, according to FIFA, to have scored in two different World Cup finals (1974, 1982). At club level, he won five Bundesliga titles and a European Cup with Bayern Munich.

Facchetti revolutionised the left-back role with his attacking runs and goal-scoring ability. A pillar of Helenio Herrera’s 'Grande Inter' team, he won four Serie A titles and two European Cups with Inter Milan. He also captained Italy to victory in the 1968 European Championship and led them to the 1970 World Cup final. With 75 goals in his career, he remains one of the highest-scoring defenders of all time. He also came second in the Ballon d'Or rankings in 1965.

Maldini played over 1,000 professional matches, winning five Champions League titles and seven Serie A titles with AC Milan to become widely regarded as the greatest left-back of all time. He spent his entire 25-year career at AC Milan where his defensive elegance and leadership made him one of football’s greatest icons. With 126 caps for Italy, he played in four World Cups, reaching the final in 1994. His longevity, consistency and versatility make him the gold standard for defenders.

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