Gone are the days when left-backs are not considered important players in a team. Nowadays for a team to maintain balance in possession, defense, and attack a good left-back is required.
They do not work only to stop the opponents from the left but should be able to feed strikers with crosses, build possession from the back and fall back to defend when needed.
Many top teams in the world have very good left-backs, but who is the best amongst them? Well, keep reading to find out.
1. Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich – €70M)
In a year, the Canadian has gone from a promising winger to a world-class fullback, and he’s still getting better. To call it a meteoric rise would be an understatement, and to be honest, Davies would probably outrun the asteroid as well. Davies rose to prominence as a result of his blistering pace, with Thomas Muller calling him “the FC Bayern Road Runner.”
2. Andrew Robertson (Liverpool – €65M)
Robertson joined Jurgen Klopp’s squad in 2017 from Hull City and has helped to keep the team at a top form. The Scottish is very good at running down the left flank and making accurate crosses. He knows how to push the attack forward and still returns to make crunching tackles. Robertson already has a Champions League medal with Liverpool.
3. Theo Hernández (AC Milan – €55M)
The 24-year-old France international is not only a good left-back but also a great dribbler who knows how to bang in goals. Hernández moved to AC Milan from Real Madrid and has helped to maintain balance on the left side. He was one of the most important players who pushed AC Milan into the Champions League spot in 2021.
4. Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain – €40M)
Mendes has shown that age is just a number in football. The 19-year-old Portuguese is the youngest on the list but one of the most promising left-backs. He is currently on loan from Sporting CP to Paris Saint-Germain. Mendes’s qualities have kept him in the PSG first team and has recorded a total of 12 appearances for Portugal’s team.
5. Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid – €40M)
Mendy is not only one of the best left-backs in the world, but also one of the most accurate passers in Europe. The Senegalese player moved from Olympique Lyonnais to Real Madrid in a $53M deal. He played an important role in helping Real Madrid to win the last Champions League.
6. José Gayà (Valencia – €40M)
Spain’s Jose Gayà joined the Valencia senior team in 2012 and has played a total of 273 games for the team, scoring 8 goals and assisting 33 times. Gayà’s qualities earned him the team’s captain armband at the age of 26. He also played an integral role during the 2018/19 season as the club won the Spanish Cup.
7. Ben Chilwell (Chelsea – €38M)
Chilwell is a product of the Leicester City academy before he joined the senior team. The Englishman’s stamina, composure, awareness, and pace established him as one of the best left-backs in the Premier League. He later moved to Chelsea in 2020 and has won the UEFA Champions League with the Blues.
8. Luke Shaw (Manchester United – €38M)
Although the Manchester United team has not performed well in recent seasons, Luke Shaw is one player who has kept his qualities. The English left-back is still considered one of the best left-backs in the Premier League. He also helped the Three Lions squad at the Euro 2020 competition. The 26-year-old finished last season with 2 goals and 9 assists.
9. Kieran Tierney ( Arsenal – €32M)
Tierney moved to Arsenal from Celtic after a total of $30M was paid. The 25-year-old left-back is very good defensively and has a 90% tackle accuracy last season. He finished the 2021/22 season with 3 goals and 10 assists.
10. Renan Lodi (Atletico Madrid – €30M)
The Brazilian left-back made a switch from Atlético-PR to Atletico Madrid in 2019 and has been an important player for the Spanish giants. Lodi is very good at pushing the attacks forward which makes him fit into the left midfield position. He made a total of 29 appearances for ATM last season, scoring and assisting twice. Lodi is currently linked with a move to Newcastle United.
