To describe someone as one of the best left-backs in the world used to be damning them with faint praise. Left-back used to be where you'd stick the worst player on the team. No left foot? No problem; left-back was the spot for anyone who didn't have a specific job.
Boy, have things changed. Left-backs these days are multifunctional footballers capable of providing stability and creativity.
They're just as valuable a member of anyone else and these days, some of the best footballers on Earth are tasked with holding down the position.
How our experts decided the best left-backs in the world
The entire FourFourTwo team had some input on this one, voting for their favourite left-backs based on their current form, technical ability and their legacy as a player over the last couple of years – just three months on from our last update. We wanted to produce a list that was not just reflective of the current state of the role but who's ruled the roost at left-back over the last two or three seasons.
Our experts submitted their own lists with scores, providing a shortlist of 15 players for consideration. From that, we cut the bottom seven out of the equation to provide you with a top 10.
We did the same across the board, analysing the other defensive positions in football. We've got the best goalkeepers on Earth for you, while just ahead, we've ranked the best centre-backs in the world, the best right-backs in the world and the best centre-backs in the world.
We've also listed the best defensive midfielders in the world, while these are the best central midfielders in the world and these are the best attacking midfielders in the world. We also have lists of forwards, including the best right-wingers in the world, the best left-wingers in the world and the best strikers in the world – and here's our list for the best players in the world in any position.
10. Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal)
Perhaps Riccardo Calafiori was the smooth operator that Sade prophesied. The Azzurri star has taken to Arsenal like an Italian to a hipster London coffee shop, slotting into Mikel Arteta's thinking in no time at all, embracing the positionally fluid set-up and giving the Gunners a new edge in attack.
‘Richy’ can improve in judging distances off the ball but other than that, he's been a revelation at left-back, inverting, drifting and showing superb ability on the ball. Most of all though, it's the mentality that impresses, after bouncing back from a potentially career-ending ACL injury and showing excellent maturity: you'd never know he's younger than Bukayo Saka, would you?
9. Lucas Hernandez (Paris Saint-Germain)
It’s hard not to feel sorry for the Paris Saint-Germain defender after he missed out on Euro 2024 thanks to a torn ACL that he suffered in the Champions League semi-final defeat to Borussia Dortmund. That came after he ruptured a ligament in France’s World Cup 2022 opener and robbed him of the chance to play alongside brother Theo for Les Bleus this summer.
This latest injury came at the end of a solid first season, though, at PSG following his €40 million move from Bayern Munich in 2023. On his day, he’s still an excellent option at left-back and centre-back.
8. Andrew Robertson (Liverpool)
A reliable presence on the left-hand side of the Liverpool defence for the past decade, Robertson’s indefatigable runs into the opponent’s half have been key to the Reds winning a slew of domestic and European honours in recent years. As well as this relentless energy and ability to get the ball into the box, Robertson’s defensive acumen is up there with the best players in his position.
Is he ever going to slow down? There’s no sign of it. Liverpool haven’t been linked with too many replacements for him over the years and even through subtle system tweaks, Robbo remains. He’s one of the league’s greatest-ever defenders.
7. Alejandro Balde (Barcelona)
A member of that new generation of Barcelona youth products who they hope can put them firmly back on the top of the Spanish pile, Balde sadly missed the second half the La Liga season and the Euros with a hamstring tendon injury he suffered in January.
The left-back completed his return over the summer and has gone straight back into the Barcelona starting line-up, however, with his capable passing and brilliant running setting him up to be a potential long-term solution for years to come. There’s still work to be done on his final product – his 2023/24 was far less productive than his six-assist breakthrough season the year before – but at 20 years old, there’s still time for that to come.
6. Federico Dimarco (Inter Milan)
Serie A defenders likely wake up in a cold sweat thinking about the prospect of an incoming Federio Dimarco cross. The Inter Milan left-back whips the ball into the box with the kind of pace and accuracy that strikers dream of.
Now an established Italy international and a key player for Inter, Dimarco has been at the top of his game for several years. What he lacks in pace he more than makes up for with his technical quality and tactical intelligence.
5. Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid)
Ferland Mendy is not one of Real Madrid’s big-name players but he has quietly become one of the most effective left-backs in Europe since joining the club from Lyon in 2019. With three La Liga titles and two Champions League to his name, the Frenchman is clearly doing something right.
While not one of the best attacking full-backs, Mendy is a solid defender and reliable in possession, the ideal man to have behind dynamic attackers like Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior.
4. Alex Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen)
Alex Grimaldo was unfortunate not to feature more for Spain at Euro 2024 after a superb season with Bayer Leverkusen. The left-back played a big part in his side’s Bundesliga success, netting 10 goals and 15 assists in 33 league appearances.
An excellent set-piece taker with the technique of a high-quality attacking midfielder, Grimaldo’s creativity is invaluable for Xabi Alonso’s team. Like many of his counterparts, the Spaniard is a full-back with more attacking intentions, with his defensive responsibilities a secondary concern.
3. Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich)
It is easy to summarise Alphonso Davies as a speed merchant, a player whose remarkable speed gives him an advantage against his comparatively sluggish opponents. And there is no question that the left-back’s explosiveness is his most eye-catching attribute.
But Davies is more than just a runner. He is a superb dribbler, an adept defender and has real vision. His pace, though, is what gives him that extra edge required to both burst past defenders and keep up with attackers.
2. Theo Hernandez (Milan)
Having been cast aside by Real Madrid, Theo Hernandez quickly found a home at Milan, where he is now in his sixth season. The France left-back has been remarkably consistent with the Rossoneri, rarely bettered by his opposing winger and often chipping in with goals and assists at the other end.
While perhaps not the most dynamic full-back in the world, there are few more well-rounded players than Hernandez. He has arguably the perfect set of attributes for a modern left-back.
1. Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City)
Josko Gvardiol is one of many players to have been transformed by Pep Guardiola, who signed the Croatian as a dominant centre-back and turned him into a powerful, goal-scoring left-back.
The 22-year-old took a bit of time to adapt to the Premier League following his move to Manchester City from RB Leipzig in 2023, but he is now comfortable in his role and a big asset for Guardiola’s team. Still a strong defender, Gvardiol has added positional intelligence and an attacking edge to his game.
