After we previously selected the top 10 right backs in history, it is now time for the opposite side (left). As usual, we rely on individual skills and personal numbers more than collective titles in our ranking.
10- Ashley Cole (England)
Cole won many titles with both clubs, notably the 2003/2004 Premier League with the Gunners along with three FA Cups, and after failing to win the UEFA Champions League in 2006, he returned to win the same ears after six years with the Blues, with whom he won 9 complete championships.
Nilton Santos played throughout his football career at the Brazilian club Botafogo for approximately 721 matches, and despite winning six local leagues, his real success was with the national team, as he participated in 4 World Cups, winning two of them in 1958 and 1960.
The former Brazilian star was nicknamed "The Encyclopedia" due to his extensive knowledge of sports, as it was said that he could answer any question related to football. He was one of the prominent defenders of the fifties who paved the way for the birth of this position. Many remember his goal in the 1958 World Cup final and his famous dribble against the Austrian players in the same tournament.
8- Robert Jarni (Croatia)
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| Top 10 best left-backs in the history of football |
Who is the best left-back player in football history?
What is a left-back in football?
The left-back carries on his shoulders the task of both offensive and defensive challenges at the same time, and although he is not the favorite position for followers, some players have played exceptionally there and have become stars of one of the biggest legends of the game.
Top 10 Best left-backs of all time in Soccer
This is an honorary list in which we discuss the best left-backs in history:
- Paolo Maldini (Italy).
- Roberto Carlos (Brazil).
- Joshinto Facchetti (Italy).
- Paul Bryanter (Germany).
- Ruud Krol (Netherlands)
- Andreas Brehme (Germany).
- Marcelo Vieira (Brazil).
- Robert Jarni (Croatia).
- Nilton Santos (Brazil).
- Ashley Cole (England).
Top 10 best left-backs in the history of football all-time:
10- Ashley Cole (England)
.png "Ashley Cole (England)") |
| Ashley Cole (England) |
Was Ashley Cole the best left-back in the world?
The son of London par excellence, where he defended the colors of the English capital's polar clubs Arsenal and Chelsea, and is considered a legend in both. Unlike many contemporary defenders who tend to attack and adapt to their attacking roles, Cole was distinguished on both sides.Cole won many titles with both clubs, notably the 2003/2004 Premier League with the Gunners along with three FA Cups, and after failing to win the UEFA Champions League in 2006, he returned to win the same ears after six years with the Blues, with whom he won 9 complete championships.
9- Nilton Santos (Brazil)
.png "Nilton Santos (Brazil)") |
| Nilton Santos (Brazil) |
The former Brazilian star was nicknamed "The Encyclopedia" due to his extensive knowledge of sports, as it was said that he could answer any question related to football. He was one of the prominent defenders of the fifties who paved the way for the birth of this position. Many remember his goal in the 1958 World Cup final and his famous dribble against the Austrian players in the same tournament.
8- Robert Jarni (Croatia)
.png "Robert Jarni (Croatia)") |
| Robert Jarni (Croatia) |
One of the best and fastest players in the world in the left-back position, with several distinguishing features, including that strikers cannot escape his monitoring due to his great insane speed, in addition to executing several long and powerful shots.
Robert Jarni played for many big clubs such as Juventus and Real Madrid, but his most prominent stages were with Hajduk Split and Real Betis. He is also considered an important part of the Yugoslav 1990 and Croatian 1998 national teams, achieving fourth and third places respectively in the World Cup with them.
7- Marcelo Vieira (Brazil)
Robert Jarni played for many big clubs such as Juventus and Real Madrid, but his most prominent stages were with Hajduk Split and Real Betis. He is also considered an important part of the Yugoslav 1990 and Croatian 1998 national teams, achieving fourth and third places respectively in the World Cup with them.
7- Marcelo Vieira (Brazil)
.png "Marcelo Vieira (Brazil)") |
| Marcelo Vieira (Brazil) |
A left-back Brazilian, richly endowed with skill, Marcelo's true talent lies in his striking attacking play and his mastery of Brazilian techniques, especially in dribbling and penetrating with ease.
Marcelo has stood out during his 16 years at Real Madrid, becoming one of the legends of the royal club and one of the most prominent figures who won with Los Blancos all possible titles. Many even consider him the second star in the team after the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo, with whom he formed an unbeatable left-wing partnership, especially during the era of European dominance and winning the Champions League four times in five years.
6- Andreas Brehme (Germany)
Marcelo has stood out during his 16 years at Real Madrid, becoming one of the legends of the royal club and one of the most prominent figures who won with Los Blancos all possible titles. Many even consider him the second star in the team after the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo, with whom he formed an unbeatable left-wing partnership, especially during the era of European dominance and winning the Champions League four times in five years.
6- Andreas Brehme (Germany)
.png "Andreas Brehme (Germany)") |
| Andreas Brehme (Germany) |
Andreas Brehme represents one of the icons of Serie A in the late 1980s. He began his career with the team Kaiserlautern, then moved to Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, winning many titles there. He then returned to his home team and dropped to the second division with them, insisting on staying with them despite the offers he received. Then the miracle happened, and he managed to lead them to win the German league in 1998.
Brehme excelled at playing with both legs, as he would take free kicks with his left foot and penalties with his right foot. His most notable goal came in the 1990 World Cup final when he scored the only goal of the match, leading Germany to achieve their third world title at the time.
5- Ruud Krol (Netherlands)
Brehme excelled at playing with both legs, as he would take free kicks with his left foot and penalties with his right foot. His most notable goal came in the 1990 World Cup final when he scored the only goal of the match, leading Germany to achieve their third world title at the time.
5- Ruud Krol (Netherlands)
.png "Ruud Krol (Netherlands)") |
| Ruud Krol (Netherlands) |
The most prominent Dutch full-back in history, and one of the key players of the comprehensive Dutch football philosophy, all his collective successes came with Ajax Amsterdam, including 6 league titles and 4 domestic cups, but the most important of all was the consecutive UEFA Champions League treble between 1970 and 1973.
Krol can play in any defensive position because of his great tactical understanding of the basics of the game despite his great skill as a left-back. He became the captain of the Dutch national team in the 1978 World Cup, which they lost to the Argentine national team, marking his second defeat in a World Cup final after the 1974 edition against the West German national team.
4- Paul Bryanter (Germany)
Krol can play in any defensive position because of his great tactical understanding of the basics of the game despite his great skill as a left-back. He became the captain of the Dutch national team in the 1978 World Cup, which they lost to the Argentine national team, marking his second defeat in a World Cup final after the 1974 edition against the West German national team.
4- Paul Bryanter (Germany)
.png "Paul Bryanter (Germany)") |
| Paul Bryanter (Germany) |
Paul Bryanter was a controversial player, but that does not prevent us from acknowledging him as one of the outstanding left-backs in the history of the game after a successful career with Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and West Germany, not only with his achievements but also with the 131 goals he scored in his career.
Vogts achieved all the titles that any player dreams of, including 5 Bundesliga championships and a UEFA Champions League title with Bayern, as well as two La Liga titles. At the international level, the UEFA European Championship in 1972 and the 1974 World Cup are enough to express the extent of his success.
3- Joshinto Facchetti (Italy)
Vogts achieved all the titles that any player dreams of, including 5 Bundesliga championships and a UEFA Champions League title with Bayern, as well as two La Liga titles. At the international level, the UEFA European Championship in 1972 and the 1974 World Cup are enough to express the extent of his success.
3- Joshinto Facchetti (Italy)
.png "Joshinto Facchetti (Italy)") |
| Joshinto Facchetti (Italy) |
Throughout his 18 years with the Nerazzurri, Facchetti proved himself as one of the best left-backs in the history of football. He is a true defensive rock and also contributes powerfully to the attack. The number 3 jersey is not used by Inter Milan in honor of his memory. He was the captain during the golden period of the team, winning the UEFA Champions League twice in 1964 and 1965, and the Italian League on 4 occasions, in addition to winning the Intercontinental Cup twice.
His performance with the Italian national team was equally impressive, as he won the UEFA European Championship in 1968 and reached the final of the 1970 World Cup.
2- Roberto Carlos (Brazil)
His performance with the Italian national team was equally impressive, as he won the UEFA European Championship in 1968 and reached the final of the 1970 World Cup.
2- Roberto Carlos (Brazil)
.png "Roberto Carlos (Brazil)") |
| Roberto Carlos (Brazil) |
When you mention the left-back position, Roberto Carlos immediately comes to mind, perhaps the most prominent player in history who gave this position a special flair. There is no need to enumerate the achievements he has made in his football career, whether with Real Madrid or Brazil.
Carlos's rocket launches represented a nightmare for the fastest defenders, and his rocket shots, whether from free kicks or open play, were a nightmare for the greatest goalkeepers. Who hasn't made the Brazilian star play as a forward in the PES or FIFA video games? Almost no one.
1- Paolo Maldini (Italy)
Carlos's rocket launches represented a nightmare for the fastest defenders, and his rocket shots, whether from free kicks or open play, were a nightmare for the greatest goalkeepers. Who hasn't made the Brazilian star play as a forward in the PES or FIFA video games? Almost no one.
1- Paolo Maldini (Italy)
.png "Paolo Maldini (Italy)") |
| Paolo Maldini (Italy) |
best left-back in the world What many people might not know is that Maldini played most of his football career as a left-back, and only played in the center of defense when age advanced him. He is undoubtedly one of the most prominent players in the history of football in general and a symbol loved by everyone, including his competitors.
Maldini, who spent his entire career at Milan, is considered the best left-back in history despite being right-footed. His trophy-laden cabinets are the biggest evidence of the success he achieved, and he used his intelligence to intercept attackers before engaging in any successful ball theft.
Maldini, who spent his entire career at Milan, is considered the best left-back in history despite being right-footed. His trophy-laden cabinets are the biggest evidence of the success he achieved, and he used his intelligence to intercept attackers before engaging in any successful ball theft.
