Top 12 Soccer Right-Backs [2023 Update]

Full-backs, also referred to as wing-back in modern soccer, are deployed to stop the opponent’s wingers and are often used as an extra attacking force.

Jamie Carragher once said, “Nobody grows up wanting to be a Gary Neville.” But gone are the days when the right-backs were limited to just defending.

The soccer world has seen an evolution in the play of the right-backs. They now play the role of attacking, defending, and assisting the midfielders and forwards to score goals.

Now the right-backs are one of the critical positions in soccer that contributes to the team winning. However, it is still one of the underrated positions in the sport.

Therefore, we have compiled a list of some of the top soccer right-backs. These players have redefined the position of right-backs with their skills and talents.

Before diving into the details, let us take a quick look at the table below.

Top 12 Soccer Right-Backs in the World

The list has been compiled with the help of various trusted sites like 1sports1 and FourFourTwo. 

12. Aaron Wan-Bissaka

• Age: 26 Years Old
• Height: 6′ (1.83 m)

We will start our list of top soccer right-backs with a professional player from England, Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Manchester United signed him in 2019 with an initial fee of $53 million, with another $5.9 million due in potential bonuses.

Wan-Bissaka was part of the youth system of Crystal Palace. He joined Crystal Palace playing as a winger at age 11 in 2009. Later in 2016, he made his senior debut with the club.

One of the best defensive right-backs in soccer, Wan-Bissaka also is one of the best slide tacklers. Manchester signed him for a five-year contract.

After his signing with the club, he became the sixth-most expensive defender. Similarly, he is the most expensive player who has not been capped.

Since Wan-Bissaka is of Congolese descent, he appeared for the DR Congo U-20 division in 2015. Likewise, he has represented his birth country, England, in U-20 and U-21 divisions.

Aaron was called to the senior England team in August 2019, ahead of the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifiers. However, he was forced to withdraw from the team due to a back injury.

11. Juan Cuadrado

• Age: 35 Years Old
• Height: 5’10″(1.79 m)

Juan Cuadrado is a Colombian professional player known for his direct play style and dribbling skills. He plays for Juventus and the Colombia national team.

Starting his career with Atlético Uraba youth club, Cuadrado initially played in the forward position. In 2003, he moved to the Independiente Medellín youth club.

Then he was professionally signed by Medellin in 2008 and made his senior debut. Since his senior debut, Cuadrado has been signed by Udinese, Fiorentina, and Chelsea and loaned to Lecce and Juventus.

Initially, Juventus signed him in a season-long loan deal in 2015. Then, in 2017, Juventus signed Cuadrado until 2020 for a contract worth $21 million.

He has played in various positions as an attacking midfielder, full-back or wing-back, and right-sided winger during his career. Similarly, he has also played on the international platform for the Colombian national team since 2010.

Juan was included in Colombia’s squad for the 2021 Copa America in June 2021 and made his 100th cap for the national team on July 7, 2021.

10. Reece James

• Age: 24 Years Old
• Height: 5’10” (1.79 m)

The next right-back on our top soccer right-backs list is an English player Reece James who plays for Chelsea and England’s national team. Reece is one of the rising right-backs in the soccer world.

James began training in the Chelsea youth system at 6, coming from a family of soccer players. He was part of the Fulham youth club and made his senior debut in 2018 with Chelsea.

From 2018 to 2019, he was loaned to Wigan Athletic. He has also been part of the national team from the U-18 to U-21 division.

James made his senior debut for England’s national team in 2020. After being included on the senior national team, he earned his first cap in October 2020.

Since his return to Chelsea in 2019, James has become a regular fixture in the right-back position. Reece is well-known for his strength, crossing technique, and finishing ability.

On September 5, 2022, Reece signed a new 6-year/$93 million contract with Chelsea keeping him with the club until June 2028.

9. Benjamin Pavard

• Age: 27 Years Old
• Height: 6’1″ (1.86 m)

Benjamin Pavard is a French professional right-back who first grabbed the world’s attention during the FIFA World Cup 2018. His performance at the World Cup also helped him make a breakthrough in the soccer world.

Starting his playing career in 2002 with the US Jeumont youth club, Pavard made his senior debut in 2014 with Lille in Ligue 1. Similarly, he made his national team debut in the U-19 division the following year.

Pavard had a slow start in his career. In 2016, he was transferred to VfB Stuttgart, where he won two Bundesliga. He also debuted in U-21 and later in the senior national team.

His performance in the FIFA World Cup 2018 helped him move to Bayern Munich. Bayern signed him on a 5-year contract in 2019.

In 2020, Pavard completed a historic sextuple after winning Bundesliga, Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, DFB-Pokal, and DFL-Supercup.

Benjamin was included in the 26-man squad for the 2022 World Cup. However, he only featured in only 1 out of 7 games played by the French national team.

8. Sergiño Dest

• Age: 23 Years Old
• Height: 5’8″ (1.73 m)

The soccer right-back to make it number 8 on our list is Sergiño Dest, born as Sergiño Gianni Dest. He is an American professional player who signed with Barcelona on October 1, 2020, and plays for the USA national team.

Dest was born in the Netherlands to a Dutch mother and a Surinamese-American father. He started his soccer career in 2009 with the youth club Almere City. Then in 2012, he moved to the Ajax youth academy.

In 2018, Dest made his senior debut with Jong Ajax. He was able to make an impression and made 18 appearances in the Dutch Eerste Divisie.

Then in 2019, he made his debut for the Ajax first team. Later Dest was transferred to Barcelona in 2020 for an initial fee of $22 million with a further $5.2 million in add-ons.

Sergiño also made his debut for the United States U-17 in 2016, U-20 in 2018, and senior in 2019. Dest has established himself as a strong attacking player with solid defense.

He was loaned to AC Milan by Barcelona on September 1, 2022, and the loan period will end on June 30, 2023.

Dest was included in the 26-man squad of the USA national team for the 2022 World Cup. The USA played 4 games in the Qatar world cup, and Dest appeared in all four of them.

7. Leo Dubois

• Age: 29 Years Old
• Height: 5’10” (1.78 m)

Another rising star in the soccer world is Leo Dubois. He is number 7 on our list of the top soccer right-backs. Dubois is a French player playing for Galatasaray in the Super Lig.

Born in Lebanon, Dubois was adopted by a French family when he was 13 months old. He started his soccer career in 2000 when he joined the SC Saint-Gemmes d’Andigne youth academy.

Similarly, he was also part of Ent. S. Segre and Nantes youth academy. In 2012, Dubois made his senior debut with Nantes. Likewise, he made his debut for the France U-21 division in 2016 and his senior national team debut in 2019.

Dubois was signed by Olympique Lyonnais in 2018. The club signed him on a four-year contract.

His most recent appearance for the French national team was in the World Cup qualification on November 16, 2021.

He has established himself as a power right-back player. Moreover, Dubois has proved to be an attacking threat to the rival team. Therefore, more power play is expected from this French right-back.

6. Daniel Carvajal

• Age: 31 Years Old
• Height: 5’8″ (1.73 m)

Daniel Carvajal is widely regarded as one of the best right-backs of his generation. He is a professional Spanish soccer player playing for Real Madrid and the Spanish national team.

In 1999, Carvajal joined ADCR Leman’s youth system. Then at 10, he joined Real Madrid Juvenil. He climbed through the ranks until he made his senior debut in 2010 with Real Madrid Castilla.

Soon after making his debut, Carvajal was cast in the reserve team and named the team captain. Similarly, he made his debut for the Spain national U-19 team.

Then in 2012, he signed with Bayern Leverkusen after failing to make an appearance for Madrid’s first team. Carvajal signed a five-year contract for a transfer fee of $5.26 million.

Madrid exercised its buy-back option to bring him back to the team in 2013 for an estimated fee of $6.84 million. Carvajal made his debut on August 13, 2013. Since then, he has won 20 major trophies with the club.

Aside from playing in the U-19 division, he also played in the U-21 division. Likewise, he made his debut in the senior national team in 2014 and appeared in the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup.

5. Kieran Trippier

• Age: 33 Years Old
• Height: 5’8″ (1.73 m)

Kieran Trippier is one of the soccer right-backs with great crossing and pinpointing ability. He plays for the Newcastle United and England national team.

At 9, Trippier joined Manchester City’s youth academy. He climbed through the academy’s ranks and signed his first professional contract in 2007. In 2009, the soccer player made his senior debut with the City.

Trippier was loaned to Barnsley and then to Burnley. For two straight seasons in 2012-13 and 2013-14, he was named in the PFA Team of the Year.

Since then, he has been signed by Tottenham Hotspur, Atletico Madrid, and Newcastle United. He was part of Atletico Madrid which won the 2020-21 La Liga title.

Similarly, he has also represented England’s national team from U-18 to U-21. In 2017, Trippier made his senior national team debut and was included in the squad for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup.

4. Kyle Walker

• Age: 33 Years Old
• Height: 5’10” (1.78 m)

Kyle Walker from Manchester City is number 4 on our list of top soccer right-backs. Considered one of the most consistent right-backs, this English player is also part of England’s national team.

Beginning his soccer journey with Sheffield United in 1999, Walker made his debut for the club on January 13, 2009. Tottenham Hotspur signed him in July of the same year, but he was loaned back to United.

He was also loaned the Queens Park Ranger and Aston Villa. Besides, he has played in the U-19, U-21, and senior national teams.

In 2017, Walker signed a five-year contract with Hotspur’s Premier League rival Manchester City. He signed the contract for an initial $53.6 million transfer fee, rising to $60 million with add-ons.

It was one of the most expensive soccer transfers during that time. Since Walker’s transfer to City, he has won 4 Premier League titles, four EFL Cups, 2 FA Community Shields, and one FA Cup.

3. Achraf Hakimi

• Age: 25 years old
• Height: 5’11” (1.81 m)

We have reached our list’s top three soccer right-backs. Our number 3 is a professional player for Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco national team, Achraf Hakimi.

Hakimi is considered one of the best players in his position. Aside from playing as a right-back, he also plays as a right midfielder. He broke into the soccer world through Real Madrid’s youth club.

After climbing through the ranks, Hakimi made his senior debut in 2016 with Real Madrid Castilla. In 2017, he was promoted to the first team and was later loaned to Borussia Dortmund.

Similarly, he has also been part of the Morocco U-17, U-20, U-23, and senior national teams. Hakim was part of the Morocco national team for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup.

In 2020, Inter Milan signed him for a reported fee of $45 million and won the Serie A title with the club.

With his impressive performance, Hakimi was signed by Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 on a five-year contract with a signing fee of $71.5 million.

Achraf had a brilliant performance at the Qatar World Cup. However, his team finished fourth in the tournament; they defeated many strong teams, including Portugal, in the quarterfinals. 

2. Joao Cancelo

• Age: 29 Years Old
• Height: 6′ (1.82 m)

The player in second place among our top soccer right-backs is Joao Cancelo. The media has regarded the Portuguese player as one of the promising players because of the multi-skills he possesses.

Cancelo was part of the youth club of Barreirense and Benfica. In 2012, he debuted with Benfica’s first team Benfica B.

Afterward, he played with Valencia, Inter Milan, and Juventus. Then in 2019, Manchester City signed him on a six-year contract worth $68 million. This contract made him one of the most expensive right-backs. 

Likewise, Cancelo has played for the Portugal national team from U-16 to U-21. He made his senior debut for the national team in 2016 and was included in the 2018 and 2022 World Cup squads.

Under the wings of Pep Guardiola, Cancelo has become a full-fledged hybrid player. His techniques, dribbling, and crossing ability set him apart.

After being part of Manchester City, Cancelo has helped the club win 2 Premier Leagues, 2 EFL Cups, and a FA Community Shield. Furthermore, he significantly led the club to its first UEFA Champions League final in 2021.

1. Trent Alexander-Arnold

• Age: 25 Years Old
• Height: 5’9″ (1.75 m)

The number one player on our list of top soccer right-backs is the English player Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Starting his career in the Liverpool academy, he was signed professionally by the club in 2016. Since then, Trent has been part of the club.

Similarly, he has represented the national team from U-16 to U-21, making his senior debut in 2018. He was included in the national team for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup.

Alexander-Arnold had emerged as one of the Premier League’s most creative players.

He became the youngest player to start in consecutive finals after playing in the back-to-back UEFA Champions League finals in 2018 and 2019.

The same year Alexander-Arnold won the UEFA Super Cup, Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, and FA Community Shield.

He was named the PFA Young Player of the Year in 2019-20, Premier League Young Player of the Season, and PFA Team of the Year three times. 

Alexander-Arnold is considered the best right-backs because of his sheer range of passing and the assists he can provide during the game.

Conclusion

Versatile in their role, often the right-back position is underrated. However, the right-back players on the list are the game’s top dogs.

Their performance has grabbed the attention of fans and clubs. Do you agree with our list? Let us know!

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