Central defenders: Van Dijk, Rudiger, more

If you're going to person a large team, you request a large center back; two, if you're truly lucky. The champion successful the crippled are formidable and assertive but are besides blessed with the grace to clip tackles and expect a striker's movements successful bid to triumph backmost possession.

Elegance connected the shot and disconnected it is essential, whether they're playing a weighted walk upfield oregon feinting their mode past opponents to easiness the pressure.

All stats provided by ESPN Research; each ages and teams close arsenic of June 1.

The 2024-25 FC 100, presumption by position

Go to: Goalkeeper | Fullbacks | Center backs | Defensive/central midfielders | Attacking midfielders | Wingers |Center forwards

10. Dean HUIJSEN, Bournemouth/Real Madrid/Spain, 20 years old

Huijsen confirmed a determination to Real Madrid connected May 17, 2025

What makes him special: Dutch-born, Spanish-bred, Italian-buttered and Bournemouth-seasoned, he's connected his mode to Real Madrid.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all defenders): Unranked.

One cardinal stat: Scored 2 game-winning goals successful the Premier League this season, tied for 2nd astir among defenders.

Why he's connected the list: Huijsen was calved successful Amsterdam, but his parents moved to Málaga, Spain, erstwhile helium was 5 and helium had to determine which state to correspond (he opted for Spain). He is highly comfy connected the ball, peculiarly successful airy of his lanky, oversized frame, and that's astir apt wherefore helium was coveted by fractional a twelve apical clubs arsenic a youngster successful Málaga's academy, with Juventus yet nabbing him erstwhile helium turned 16.

In 1 of the astir boneheaded moves successful caller history, Juve failed to afloat admit his talents (they gave him lone 13 minutes of Serie A football) and aft a indebtedness spell to Roma, they transferred him to Bournemouth for a bargain-basement interest of astir $16 million. Just 1 twelvemonth later, aft a stellar Premier League campaign, helium joined Real Madrid for astir $60 cardinal -- and it would apt person been much if not for him insisting connected a merchandise clause. At 20, he's the hottest young cardinal defender around.

What helium says: "I deliberation I inactive person a batch of the Málaga thoroughfare footballer successful maine for the mode I determination the ball, adjacent arsenic a cardinal defender."

What they say: "I deliberation we each cognize who Huijsen is, adjacent astatine 18 years of age. He's 1 of the biggest prospects around. He volition beryllium a large footballer successful the future." -- Fenerbahçe manager José Mourinho

What's next: Real Madrid triggered his merchandise clause, and helium officially joined them June 1, successful clip for the FIFA Club World Cup. He's acceptable to vie for a starting occupation astatine the Bernabéu adjacent play and could go a fixture for the adjacent decade. -- Gab Marcotti

9. MURILLO, Nottingham Forest/Brazil, 22

What makes him special: A portion of a halfway backmost with the near ft of a Brazilian No. 10, giving him a uncommon illustration for his position.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all defenders): Unranked.

One cardinal stat: Led the Premier League with 242 clearances.

Why he's connected the list: Players ever accidental that the hardest play is the play aft a apical campaign, due to the fact that producing astatine the aforesaid level oregon amended for a 2nd twelvemonth is precise difficult. Murillo met that situation easily. The 2023-24 play was the archetypal clip helium played extracurricular of Brazil, astatine property 21, and helium did precise good for Forest successful a conflict to enactment up successful the Premier League. He has been adjacent amended successful 2024-25 -- mode amended -- adjacent proving himself to beryllium 1 of the champion halfway backs successful the English apical flight. He is large connected the shot with a prime near foot, precise beardown physically, and possesses decent gait for his size and a large knowing of the game. There are not galore similar him successful Europe, particularly astatine 22 years old. There are inactive occasional mistakes, mostly owed to his inexperience, but his concern with Nikola Milenkovic astatine the bosom of the Forest defence is 1 of the main reasons the squad has done truthful good this season. The antiaircraft tactics of his broadside assistance him, but helium tin play higher up connected the transportation and volition support learning successful years to come, particularly erstwhile helium starts playing European competitions and present arsenic a Brazilian planetary aft making his debut for his state earlier this year.

What helium says: "I effort to permission my people wherever I go, truthful radical tin say: 'Murillo was a large player. He has played here.' I effort to permission this legacy. I'm trying my champion to get the squad into the Champions League, to execute good successful the Premier League, and to scope the level I cognize I'm susceptible of."

What they say: "If you watched him successful ­training, you'd deliberation he's a No. 10. You'd go: 'No mode is helium a halfway back!' He's a large lad, but he's not the tallest, and he's conscionable truthful silky with his feet. He's conscionable a really, truly bully shot subordinate -- left-footed, which evidently helps him a batch due to the fact that it's easier connected the oculus and there's little of them." -- Former Nottingham Forest teammate Joe Worrall

What's next: Forest qualifying for Europe adjacent play is large for the club, but it is besides precise important successful presumption of keeping Murillo astatine the City Ground adjacent season. The erstwhile Corinthians defender is nether declaration until June 2029 aft extending his woody successful January, though apical clubs successful England and successful Europe are monitoring his progress. Any funny nine tin expect to walk a batch much successful fees than Forest, which signed him for £11 cardinal 2 years ago. -- Julien Laurens

8. Ibrahima KONATÉ, Liverpool/France, 26

What makes him special: A warrior connected the pitch, Konaté's assurance with oregon without the shot is cleanable for the Reds' front-foot defending.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all defenders): 23

One cardinal stat: Had the third-highest on-field extremity quality successful the Premier League among cardinal defenders (plus-31).

Why he's connected the list: Konaté has had galore awesome moments successful a Liverpool shirt, but this has arguably been his champion play astatine the nine since helium joined from RB Leipzig successful summertime 2021. The defender has managed to enactment acceptable for the bulk of 2024-25 and has established himself arsenic a cardinal subordinate of Arne Slot's first-choice backmost line. His skills arsenic a person person nary uncertainty benefited from playing alongside Virgil van Dijk, and the France planetary was afforded the grant of captaining his nationalist squad for the archetypal clip backmost successful November.

What helium says: "To beryllium connected the pitch, you person the pressure, you person immoderate stress, but for a shot subordinate I deliberation this feeling is unbelievable."

What they say: "Defensively, helium is of the highest standard. He's fast, he's strong, helium wins duels. He tin screen for his teammates arsenic good if needed. Defensively, determination is not a batch helium tin improve." -- Slot

What's next: After a palmy season, Konaté present has a determination to marque implicit his future. The defender is retired of declaration adjacent summer, and portion Liverpool are keen to support him, they volition beryllium wary of losing different subordinate (after Trent Alexander-Arnold's exit this summer) connected a escaped transfer. Konaté has admirers astatine some Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, truthful determination volition beryllium plentifulness for him to consider. -- Beth Lindop

7. MARQUINHOS, Paris Saint-Germain/Brazil, 31

What makes him special: A person with the acquisition of an aged omniscient man, bearing the scars of the past and the bosom of a lion.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all defenders): 5

One cardinal stat: Had 95% walk occurrence successful Ligue 1, starring PSG players who appeared successful astatine slightest 10 games.

Why he's connected the list: Marquinhos is simply a regular -- un habitué, arsenic the French would accidental -- successful the FC 100 due to the fact that helium has been truthful accordant implicit the past decade, and it's nary astonishment to spot him present again this season.

For his 12th run successful Paris, 1 successful which PSG yet won the UEFA Champions League, helium has been a cardinal constituent of this young and energetic team. He is not young (31) oregon precise energetic anymore, but helium compensates with his intelligence, experience, composure and method quality (he loves a bully shot implicit the top). There is astir apt a feeling that his vocation successful the French superior could person been adjacent amended due to the fact that of his immense potential, but immoderate defeats for PSG and Brazil person wounded him and his assurance on the way. Nevertheless, helium is simply a precise reliable skipper for the Parisians, a person whom everyone follows. He's respected and loved, trusted and listened to.

Would helium beryllium a starter astatine different apical European clubs specified arsenic Liverpool, Arsenal, Inter Milan and Barcelona? Maybe not, but helium is decidedly a subordinate whom managers emotion to person successful their squads.

What helium says: "I deliberation my consciousness of anticipation that comes with experience, my vision, and I deliberation it's 1 of my strengths. Because I'm not the biggest oregon astir carnal defender, I person to expect the absorption attacks with my positioning. I person to beryllium successful the close spot astatine the close time."

What they say: "I couldn't hold to play with him. It's a puerility dream, and I've been watching him play successful the Champions League for a agelong time. I'm learning a batch from him. He's a precise experienced subordinate and a bully person. I request to travel his example." -- PSG teammate Willian Pacho

What's next: The information that PSG are looking to enlistee a right-sided halfway backmost this summer, with Konaté, Joel Ordoñez and Illia Zabarnyi connected their shortlist, shows that the nine is preparing for the post-Marquinhos era. His declaration expires successful June 2028, though his relation connected the transportation mightiness diminish. No substance however overmuch helium plays, he'll proceed to beryllium a dressing country person and nine captain. -- Julien Laurens

6. Pau CUBARSÍ, Barcelona/Spain, 18

What makes him special: A youngster playing with panache and powerfulness beyond his years, bossing strikers similar Carles Puyol and playing retired from the backmost similar Gerard Piqué.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all defenders): Unranked.

One cardinal stat: Led Barcelona with 63 aerial duels won successful LaLiga.

Why he's connected the list: Cubarsí made his Barça debut arsenic a 16-year-old successful 2024 and rapidly established himself arsenic 1 of Barça's first-choice cardinal defenders, seeing disconnected contention from experienced teammates Ronald Araújo and Andreas Christensen. Given his youth-team teammate Lamine Yamal's bonzer feats successful attack, the interaction Cubarsí is having connected Barça's defence is overlooked, adjacent though it's uncommon for a teen to beryllium playing truthful regularly successful his presumption astatine the highest of European soccer. His passing from the back, often betwixt the lines, is simply a immense plus to Hansi Flick's side, but helium tin besides support erstwhile helium has to. Club signifier has earned him respective Spain caps, and the anticipation astatine Barça is that helium volition get amended arsenic helium grows older.

What helium says: "Everything's happening truthful fast. I person changed a batch physically, but determination are ever things to amended technically. I inactive person a batch to learn."

What they say: "He's specified a implicit subordinate who's truthful composed bringing the shot retired and astute defensively. In that sense, he's much similar Piqué than me. It's brainsick however competitory and accordant helium already is due to the fact that it's not casual astatine each astatine his age." -- Former Barça defender Puyol

What's next: Given each Cubarsí has accomplished, there's nary crushed helium should not beryllium aiming to 1 time beryllium the champion halfway backmost successful the world. There is inactive country for carnal development, and a fewer mistakes person crept into his crippled astatine the backmost extremity of a agelong campaign, but helium has each the tools to spell to the precise top. He'll payment from a unchangeable situation astatine Barça, wherever helium precocious signed a caller declaration until 2029. -- Sam Marsden

5. Alessandro BASTONI, Inter Milan/Italy, 26

What makes him special: A calm and cultured halfway backmost whose composure has been indispensable to Inter's Champions League tally and continued Serie A success.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all defenders): 11

One cardinal stat: His 252 antiaircraft interventions were the 2nd astir among Inter Milan players successful Serie A this play (Nicolo Barella, 254).

Why he's connected the list: A captious portion of the Inter squad that won Serie A titles successful 2021 and 2024 and reached the Champions League last successful 2023 and 2025, Bastoni is seemingly underrated by virtuousness of playing successful Italy. Strong and imposing, bully connected the shot and successful the air, the 26-year-old is astir the embodiment of the modern cardinal defender. Thriving successful manager Simone Inzaghi's backmost three, helium tin clip tackles and transportation the shot into midfield, portion his overlapping runs from halfway backmost person led to a fig of awesome assists.

What helium says: "I was down 2 ineffable cows successful Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini for a while, moving with them successful training. I effort to walk connected the acquisition they gave to maine to the younger players."

What they say: "Bastoni puts himself to enactment for the team. We are talking astir a world-class defender who understands the needs of the team, and that is what we coaches privation to see." -- Inzaghi

What's next: Bastoni has been chased by Manchester City successful the past, but helium looks astatine location astatine Inter, wherever he's nether declaration until 2028. For Italy, he'll beryllium hoping to enactment the disappointment of Euro 2024 down him astatine the 2026 World Cup. -- Rob Dawson

4. GABRIEL, Arsenal/Brazil, 27

What makes him special: A person astatine the backmost and a lethal beingness connected acceptable pieces.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all defenders): Unranked.

One cardinal stat: Despite missing a ample portion of the 2024-25 campaign, helium scored 3 Premier League goals for a 3rd consecutive season, thing nary different defender has done successful that span.

Why he's connected the list: Gabriel has emerged arsenic 1 of the astir reliable and commanding halfway backs successful the Premier League since signing for Arsenal from Lille for £27 cardinal successful September 2020. The 27-year-old relishes the carnal aspects of the crippled -- embracing the duel with Manchester City striker Erling Haaland whenever they play -- portion besides adding a potent extremity menace successful much caller times. Gunners set-piece manager Nicolas Jover is wide credited with the team's prowess, but Gabriel makes it enactment much than immoderate different subordinate done his almighty aerial ability.

Tall but beardown and quick, Gabriel has formed an innate knowing with center-back spouse William Saliba. If they support it up, the brace volition participate Premier League folklore alongside the antiaircraft greats. Gabriel's season-ending hamstring wounded successful April made Arsenal undeniably weaker astatine some ends of the pitch.

What helium says: "Since I arrived, I've learned a batch and grown a batch successful presumption of professionalism and successful my idiosyncratic beingness arsenic well. [Mikel] Arteta is simply a manager who wants america to beryllium learning and improving each day. In the 3 years that I've been present astatine Arsenal, I larn from him each day."

What they say: "Saliba is the amended player, but Gabriel is the amended leader, and Saliba needs to bring that to his crippled if helium wants to get to the levels we speech astir with Virgil van Dijk. Saliba needs Gabriel. Since Gabriel has travel retired of the team, that's not the aforesaid Saliba I'm watching." -- erstwhile Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher

What's next: Most immediately, Gabriel is successful a contention to beryllium acceptable for the commencement of adjacent play aft undergoing surgery. Beyond that, helium volition purpose to resume his concern with Saliba arsenic the bedrock of Arsenal's propulsion for silverware. Gabriel's declaration expires successful 2027, and the nine mightiness question an extension. -- James Olley

3. Antonio RÜDIGER, Real Madrid/Germany, 32

What makes him special: Singlehandedly held Real Madrid's defence unneurotic this season, and is simply a constant, assertive unit connected some sides of the ball.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all defenders): 1

Key stats: His 94 clearances successful LaLiga this play led each Real Madrid players, and his 14 shots blocked successful LaLiga was 2nd to lone Aurélien Tchouaméni (25) for Madrid.

Why he's connected the list: Rüdiger's "El Loco" estimation tin unreality the information that he's besides a supremely talented defender, and with Éder Militão retired for the agelong term, he's by acold Madrid's astir reliable antiaircraft option. His play ended successful ignominy, with a six-game prohibition for losing his chill astatine the extremity of the Copa del Rey last -- helium had to beryllium restrained by teammates from confronting the referee -- but that shouldn't fell what a dependable beingness helium has been for astir of the campaign, guiding an inexperienced spouse successful Raúl Asencio done a challenging debut season. Rüdiger is simply a cult leader for Real Madrid fans now, and that's for his prime arsenic a defender arsenic overmuch arsenic his out-there antics.

What helium says: "Where I travel from, unit is not astir football. Pressure is not knowing what you volition devour tomorrow."

What they say: "Toni is simply a classy player, but arsenic a subordinate for the German nationalist squad helium besides needs to show people successful his behaviour ... He rightly demands respect for himself [and] helium needs to amusement this aforesaid respect to others." -- Former German player, manager and existent German nationalist squad sporting manager Rudi Völler

What's next: Madrid are rebuilding their defense, with Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold already signed and Álvaro Carreras acceptable to get this summer. Rüdiger needs to amusement that helium should beryllium the antheral to implicit the quartet nether caller manager Xabi Alonso. -- Alex Kirkland

2. William SALIBA, Arsenal/France, 24

What makes him special: He's the implicit modern defender -- smooth, stylish and quick.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all defenders): 2

Key stats: Appeared successful 30 shutouts successful the past 2 Premier League seasons, astir of immoderate Premier League subordinate successful that span, and acceptable Premier League vocation highs successful tackles (62), clearances (118) and aerial duels won percent (62%) this past season.

Why he's connected the list: Saliba was bordering connected being a laughingstock aft joining Arsenal successful 2019 from Saint-Etienne. He was signed during Unai Emery's tenure, and the archetypal presumption wrong the Gunners enactment was that Saliba appeared good abbreviated of the requisite level. The nine sent him retired connected indebtedness to toughen up, and aft winning Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year astatine Marseille successful 2021-22, Saliba was a subordinate transformed. Alongside Gabriel Magalhães astatine Arsenal, helium rapidly formed a robust center-back pairing that is among the precise champion successful Europe.

Strong and accelerated crossed the ground, Saliba reads the crippled superbly, and his quality with the shot astatine his feet makes him the template defender for the modern day.

What helium says: "I similar being [described as] a colossus. I privation to beryllium 1 time the champion defender successful the world. I cognize I person to enactment a batch to triumph trophies arsenic well. But yeah, it's my dream."

What they say: "Everyone knew he's a apical player. He is simply a bully guy, and arsenic a footballer, helium is truthful calm, a batch of prime and arsenic everyone says, for me, helium is complete!" -- Arsenal teammate Gabriel Magalhães

What's next: Real Madrid are lurking with intent to marque an offer. Saliba has 2 years remaining connected his Arsenal contract, and efforts are underway to unafraid the 24-year-old connected a semipermanent deal. Saliba has said helium is blessed astatine the club, but Madrid could look to trial that stance successful the coming transportation windows. -- James Olley

1. Virgil VAN DIJK, Liverpool/Netherlands, 33

What makes him special: He is the epitome of a "Rolls-Royce" defender, making his teams amended and making it look casual astatine the aforesaid time.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100 (all defenders): 3

Key stats: Won 72.1% of his aerial duels, the 3rd astir of immoderate defender with 15-plus games played successful the Premier League this season. He besides finished 4th successful Premier League and Champions League play this play with 549 antiaircraft interventions.

Why he's connected the list: There's ne'er going to beryllium a unanimous statement connected the champion halfway backmost successful Premier League history, but Van Dijk decidedly deserves to beryllium successful that conversation. Much similar his goalkeeper Alisson, the defender has a knack for making the hard things look simple. He is exceptional connected the ball, beardown successful the aerial and precise successful the tackle and, alongside Mohamed Salah, has been the standout performer successful Liverpool's title-winning season. The 33-year-old has not fto speculation implicit his aboriginal distract him and, having committed to different 2 seasons astatine Anfield, determination is simply a beardown accidental helium could further heighten his bequest arsenic an all-time great.

What helium says: "It was ever successful my head, it was ever the program and it was ever Liverpool. There wasn't immoderate uncertainty successful my caput that this is the spot to beryllium for maine and my family. I'm 1 of Liverpool." -- Van Dijk, aft signing a declaration hold successful April 2025 to stay astatine the club

What they say: "He gives a batch of assurance for the squad and the players. When you person Virgil van Dijk -- the elephantine -- connected the pitch, possibly it scares the opposition. For me, helium is special. ... Virgil has thing special, helium is the large man." -- Alisson

What's next: The Liverpool skipper penned a caller two-year woody successful April and, having guided the Reds to a 20th league rubric this term, helium volition beryllium keen to assistance much silverware earlier his Anfield vocation is through. Though helium turns 34 this summer, Van Dijk's powers amusement nary motion of waning. -- Beth Lindop

The 2024-25 FC 100, presumption by position

Go to: Goalkeeper | Fullbacks | Center backs | Defensive/central midfielders | Attacking midfielders | Wingers |Center forwards