Summary Right-backs are just as important going forward as they are defensively in modern football. Trent Alexander-Arnold joined Real Madrid this summer and ranks as the second best right-back in the world. Crystal Palace’s Daniel Munoz and Arsenal star Jurrien Timber also feature in the top 15.
A full-back’s role has changed significantly in recent years, with managers now wanting more than just defensive stability from their right-back.
The best of the best have to be just as good going forward, building attacks and contributing to goals all while stifling wingers coming back the other way… but who is the top right-back around today?
Ranking factors
To help rank the right-backs in order, we have considered the following criteria:
Current form – how well a player has performed in the past few months Importance to their teams – how influential they are to their team’s performances Role – how unique their skillset is Reputation – what others say about them
Rank
Player
Age
Club
Nation
Achraf Hakimi
26
PSG
Morocco
Trent Alexander-Arnold
27
Real Madrid
England
Jules Kounde
26
Barcelona
France
Jurrien Timber
24
Arsenal
Netherlands
Jeremie Frimpong
24
Liverpool
Netherlands
Denzel Dumfries
29
Inter Milan
Netherlands
Pedro Porro
26
Tottenham
Spain
Dani Carvajal
33
Real Madrid
Spain
Giovanni Di Lorenzo
32
Napoli
Italy
Tino Livramento
22
Newcastle
England
Malo Gusto
22
Chelsea
France
Marcos Llorente
30
Atletico Madrid
Spain
Daniel Munoz
29
Crystal Palace
Colombia
Vanderson
24
Monaco
Brazil
Diogo Dalot
26
Man Utd
Portugal
15 Diogo Dalot Man Utd and Portugal
Named Man Utd’s Player of the Year in 2024, Diogo Dalot has impressed at Old Trafford on a personal note. The Portugal international has featured regularly under new manager Ruben Amorim, who has hailed the full-back’s pace and “qualities” at Old Trafford.
Capable of playing on either side, Dalot, who is valued at €30m by Transfermarkt, is under contract until 2028.
Nations League
2025
Liga Portugal
2018
FA Cup
2024
League Cup
2023
14 Vanderson Monaco and Brazil
Brazil have had some brilliant full-backs down the years, and it looks as if Vanderson could be the next star right-back for the Seleção.
Vanderson, who has been compared to iconic right-back Maicon, has starred for Monaco, which saw him become a top transfer target for Barcelona.
Campeao Gaucho
2021
13 Daniel Munoz Crystal Palace and Colombia
Starring under Oliver Glasner at Crystal Palace in 2025 has been Daniel Munoz, with the Colombian an ever-present in a 3-4-2-1 system at Selhurst Park.
The 29-year-old really impressed in the Premier League during the 2024/25 season, which resulted in interest from Pep Guardiola and Man City. Munoz has also chipped in with some important goals for Palace, with Glasner calling him “amazing”.
FA Cup
2025
Community Shield
2025
Belgian Cup
2021
12 Marcos Llorente Atletico Madrid and Spain
Marcos Llorente has starred for Atletico Madrid since joining from Real Madrid back in 2019 and has been used regularly as a right-back under Diego Simeone, who has called him “indispensable”.
The Spain international can play in a variety of positions all across the pitch and has been hailed as a ‘modern football machine’ due to his ‘relentless engine’. At 30 years of age, Llorente is showing no signs of slowing up.
Champions League
2018
FIFA Club World Cup
2018, 2019
La Liga
2021
UEFA Super Cup
2016
Spanish Super Cup
2017
11 Malo Gusto Chelsea and France
Malo Gusto has found his feet at Chelsea after moving to Stamford Bridge in 2023 and helped the Blues win the Club World Cup in the USA.
Under contract until 2030 with the Blues, Gusto is into double figures for Chelsea assists and has been called “fantastic” and “top” by Enzo Maresca.
10 Tino Livramento Newcastle and England
Versatile Newcastle star Tino Livramento can play as a right-back or as a left-back at St James’ Park and looks to be Kieran Trippier’s long-term replacement on the right-hand side of the back four.
The Magpies star is going from strength to strength with the Magpies since joining from Southampton and is now valued at a career-high figure by Transfermarkt.
He’s also been called “outstanding” by Newcastle legend Alan Shearer and even pocketed Mohamed Salah in the 2025 EFL Cup final.
9 Giovanni Di Lorenzo Napoli and Italy
Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo has been a consistent performer for the 2025 Serie A winners in recent seasons and will soon close in on 300 appearances for his current employers.
Also a regular for Italy, Di Lorenzo has been hailed for his composure on the ball in the final third alongside his ability to read a game, which has resulted in him being regarded as one of Serie A’s best and most dependable players.
European Championships
2021
Serie A
2023
Coppa Italia
2020
8 Dani Carvajal Real Madrid and Spain
Iconic right-back and Real Madrid legend Dani Carvajal is next on the list. The 33-year-old has made more than 400 appearances for the European giants over the past 12 years and has called himself a “total killer”.
Unfortunately, Carvajal has missed the majority of the 2024/25 season with a cruciate ligament injury, but has vowed to be in his “prime” when he returns.
European Championships
2024
Nations League
2023
Champions League
2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2024
FIFA Club World Cup
2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023
La Liga
2017, 2020, 2022, 2024
Copa del Rey
2014, 2023
UEFA Super Cup
2014, 2016, 2017, 2022, 2024
Spanish Super Cup
2017, 2019, 2021, 2023
FIFA Intercontinental Cup
2024
7 Pedro Porro Tottenham and Spain
If an attacking right-back is what you want, then Tottenham’s Pedro Porro is a standout candidate after being labelled as the “best” in the Premier League over the last 18 months.
The “titanic” Spain international is averaging an assist every five games at Spurs and a goal every 10 games, showing his attacking qualities.
Europa League
2025
Liga Portugal
2021
Taca da Liga
2021, 2022
6 Denzel Dumfries Inter Milan and Netherlands
Denzel Dumfries has been described as a “monster” of a right-back, and he has excelled at Inter Milan in an attacking wing-back role.
His “complete” performance against Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final highlighted his attacking ability by scoring twice, and it is no surprise to see him in the top 10.
Serie A
2024
Coppa Italia
2022, 2023
Italian Super Cup
2022, 2023, 2024
Eerste Divisie
2016