In this article, we present to you our picks of the 10 best male centre-backs of 2024 that shone while plying their trade in Europe.
A centre-back plays a critical role in a team’s defence. They are the backbone at the back, tasked with stopping opposition attacks, organising the defensive shape, and playing a crucial role in both defensive and offensive transitions. Whether through aerial dominance, strong tackles, or intelligent positioning, a successful centre-back ensures their team remain defensively solid while contributing to overall team success.
The saying “offence wins games, defence wins trophies” highlights the importance of a strong defence in achieving long-term success. A great defensive setup can be the key factor in transforming challengers into champions.
The rankings here are based on following criteria:
- Performances, potential and consistency
- Importance and relevance to their team
- Success or trophies won
The stats mentioned below have been accumulated from Transfermarkt and Fbref.
10. Marquinhos | Brazil | Paris Saint-Germain FC
Marquinhos has been the rock at the back for PSG for years now. He is also a regular starter for the Brazil national team.
Marquinhos is an intelligent and dynamic player who normally plays at centre-back, though he has also been deployed at right-back and as a defensive midfielder. He has contributed to PSG conceding the least goals in the Ligue 1 so far this season.
Known for his intelligence, awareness, and positioning, Marquinhos also possesses great technical skills, composure, and passing ability that enable him to break opposition attacks and play passes to start offensive moves. The PSG captain is a great leader at the back and rallies his troops. He holds the key if the Parisians are to continue dominating domestically and challenge in Europe.
9. Nico Schlotterbeck | Germany | Borussia Dortmund
Nico Schlotterbeck was absolutely sensational for Borussia Dortmund and enabled his side reach the Champions League final in the 2023/24 season. He almost won the German Bundesliga title in his first season as well (2022/23), losing marginally on goal difference.
Schlotterbeck is known for his aerial ability, strength, pace, and aggressive tackling. In 2023/24, he had the highest tacking rate in the Bundesliga at 71%. He is performing at top levels in the 2024/25 season as well, with a 94% tackle rate, and his interceptions and blocks are also at a higher level. His passing has also been exceptional.
His consistent performances for Dortmund also led to Schlotterbeck being selected for the Germany squad for Euros last year, where he made two appearances.
Schlotterbeck is an important member of the Dortmund squad and provides a solid physical cover at the back for a very aggressive side. He’s someone BVB would like to hold onto for a long time.
8. Ronald Araújo | Uruguay | FC Barcelona
Ronald Araújo has been Barcelona’s prime defender for a few seasons now. He has been a rock at the back for the Blaugrana as well as the Uruguay national team. He played a key role in Barça winning LaLiga in 2022/23 and was consistent at the back in the past season too.
Primarily a right-footed centre-back, Araújo can also play as a right-back, a role in which he has been deployed occasionally to counter particularly tricky wingers. Known for his defensive solidity, Araújo excels in one-on-one duels and has the ability to time his challenges effectively. His pace and athleticism allow him to recover quickly and cover large spaces, making him an invaluable asset in high defensive lines. He is also brilliant in aerial duels both defensively and offensively, often contributing with crucial goals for both club and country.
Recent reports have been suggesting that Araújo wants a move away from Barcelona, with Juventus showing interest. Considering his importance to this Barça backline, letting go of their versatile defender might not be such a great move for Barcelona.
7. Rúben Dias | Portugal | Manchester City FC
The Portuguese centre-back Rúben Dias arrived in England in the summer of 2020 and provided some much-needed defensive solidity to the Cityzens backline. He was crucial to City achieving a four-peat of PL titles in the 2023/24 season.
Having won the big trophies with City in the previous three seasons, Dias has established himself as a critical member of this City team. Alongside his teammates, he was responsible for conceding the second-fewest goals in the Premier League last season. Since he hasn’t been available a lot in 2024/25 due to injury issues, City have missed his formidable presence at the back and have been leaking in goals.
Dias is a strong defender with a massive presence and great tackling skills. Even though he is right-footed, he is good with his left foot, calm and composed on the ball, and possesses a great passing range. In addition, he is an aerial threat on set-pieces and also while defending against the opposition players.
Dias is absolutely crucial to Pep Guardiola’s success, not only for his exceptional abilities as a player but also for his leadership qualities that elevate the entire team. At just 27 years old, he stands as one of the best centre-backs in Europe, with his potential and career still on an impressive upward trajectory.
6. Gabriel Magalhães | Brazil | Arsenal FC
Despite playing alongside the more popular William Saliba in the Arsenal backline, Gabriel Magalhães has managed to create his own identity and importance in the Gunners side under Mikel Arteta.
The Gabriel-Saliba duo has been the best centre-back pairing in the Premier League for the past two seasons, enabling Arsenal to challenge for the PL title in 2022/23 and 2023/24. Being supreme in the air, Gabriel has also contributed with massive goals from set-pieces. He has five goals and an assist from 27 appearances, which is a great contribution from a defender, apart from six clean sheets and least goals conceded in the league.
Gabriel is tall, but surprisingly quick. He possesses great strength, tackling, and passing ability. He is also known for his distribution ability and generally looks to play the ball forward.
The Brazil international is widely regarded as one of the best defenders in the world today, and his formidable partnership with Saliba at the heart of Arsenal’s defence has been a key factor in the club’s rise to prominence. Together, they have transformed Arsenal into one of the most solid defensive sides in Europe, providing the foundation for the team to consistently challenge for titles both in the Premier League and the Champions League.
Also read Top 10 goalkeepers in Europe in 2024
5. John Stones | England | Manchester City FC
John Stones has been a reliable and influential defensive presence for both Manchester City and England for many years. Since joining from Everton in 2016, the star defender has played a crucial role in Pep Guardiola’s success in England, helping the club secure numerous major honours. Additionally, Stones has been pivotal in England’s journey to consecutive European Championship finals, cementing his place as one of his country’s key defenders.
Stones is a versatile operator that has even played as a midfielder under Pep Guardiola at City. He is a ball playing centre-back who has great technical ability, composure and performs exceptionally under pressure. He is strong aerially, difficult to get past and contributes with crucial goals. He hasn’t played many games in the 2024/25 season with only 12 games due to injury but remains a very important part of this Manchester City backline.
The 30-year-old English defender still has a lot to give and remains one of the best defenders in Europe. He will be very crucial to Manchester City getting their season back on track this year, provided he can maintain his fitness levels.
4. Alessandro Bastoni | Italy | FC Internazionale Milano
Alessandro Bastoni is widely regarded as one of the most promising defensive talents in Italy, and his impressive performances have caught the attention of big clubs across Europe.
A key figure at Inter Milan, Bastoni has played a crucial role in helping the team remain dominant in the Serie A. Furthermore, Bastoni’s talent was recognised on the international stage when he played a vital role in Italy winning the Euros in 2021, further cementing his status as one of Italy’s brightest defensive prospects.
Consistent performances from the versatile Italian centre-back have made him an integral part of this excellent Inter side, for whom he has played at left-back as well. He was the Serie A Defender of the Year as well as in the league’s Team of the Season in 2023/24. So far in 2024/25, he has been at his excellent best, with Inter doing well in both the Serie A and the Champions League.
Bastoni is a ball-playing centre-back with great passing ability and ball control. His height and ability to exploit spaces allow him to be effective in the air, making him a goal threat from set-pieces. He usually plays in a three-man back line at Inter, on the left-hand side, making overlapping runs forward with wingback Federico Dimarco and contributing with a fair few assists.
The 25-year-old is attracting interest from several top European clubs and has the potential to elevate any team he joins. However, securing the services of Inter’s prized defender may prove challenging for any suitor, as it would likely take a significant effort pry him away in the coming seasons.
3. William Saliba | France | Arsenal FC
At only 23 years of age, William Saliba is already being compared to the top defenders in the world and has already proved his class and ability to deliver for both club and country in the past few seasons.
The tall Frenchman, alongside centre-back partner Gabriel, has enabled Arsenal remain one of the best defensive sides in Europe. The Gunners conceded the least number of goals in the PL in the 2023/24 season and are boasting the best defence in the league yet again. Even though he hasn’t had a very solid season so far, Saliba remains a solid presence at the back.
Saliba is a complete defender—excellent on both ground and aerially, possessing great pace, strength, composure, and positional awareness. He is also exceptional at tackling and is one of the most difficult defenders to get past for opposition forwards. He is an aerial threat in the opposition box as well.
Saliba is still young and will definitely improve with more experience, and given the reported interest from elite European sides like Real Madrid, Mikel Arteta would certainly prefer to hold onto his superstar defender if Arsenal are to turn from challengers to winners.
2. Virgil van Dijk | Netherlands | Liverpool FC
Virgil van Dijk has firmly established himself as one of the standout defenders not only in the Premier League but also as one of the best of his generation. As the captain of both the Netherlands national team and Liverpool, Van Dijk has played a pivotal role in securing major club-level honours for Liverpool, including the Premier League, the Champions League, and other prestigious trophies, cementing his legacy as one of the top defenders in world football.
Now aged 33, the Dutch colossus is not showing any signs of weakening. Individually, he had a superb season for Liverpool in 2023/24, even though the Reds struggled at the back and conceded many goals. He has gotten better again in 2024/25, though, and has led Liverpool to the top of the Premier League and Champions League tables, with the Reds looking very solid at the back.
At 6 feet 4 inches, Van Dijk is a massive presence at the back for both club and country. Though he lost a bit of pace after his ACL injury in 2020, he makes up for it with his game intelligence and positional awareness. Supreme aerially, he is currently better than most of his peers and ranks in the 86th percentile for aerial duels. In addition, he has brilliant ball-playing abilities and can launch long-range cross-field passes with terrific accuracy.
Currently in the final year of his Liverpool contract, if Van Dijk leaves, the team will not only lose one of the best centre-backs and a world-class defender but also a strong leader who inspires others by leading by example, organising defences, and scoring crucial goals.
1. Antonio Rüdiger | Germany | Real Madrid CF
Antonio Rüdiger had a stellar year for club Real Madrid in the 2023/24 season, contributing with consistent stellar performances for Los Blancos as they won LaLiga and the Champions League. Also a regular part of the Germany national team, the 31-year-old defender is an experienced and a strong presence at the back.
Even though Real Madrid have various superstar players in their forward ranks, Rüdiger has still managed to hold his own and become a very crucial player in the Real Madrid back line. He is known for his pace, strength, tackling, and aerial threat. He is a versatile defender who can also play as a fullback if needed. In addition to his aggressive playing style, he is also known for his leadership qualities and passing. All this allows him to excel both in man-to-man situations and zonal-marking setups.
Having secured numerous major trophies with Los Blancos since his move from Chelsea, the German defender has continued to make significant contributions in attack, scoring crucial goals. Undoubtedly the best defender on form throughout 2024, he rightfully claims the top spot on our list.
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