Find Best Left Backs in the World? These 5 Names You Must Know!

One day, I was watching a soccer game and saw a left back rush from the backfield to the frontfield and assist in a goal. I suddenly thought: Who is the strongest left back right now? It sounded like a simple question, but the more I looked into it, the more complicated it became. I only wanted to spend an hour figuring it out, but I ended up spending a whole week and almost messed up my work.

I opened several soccer websites to find a “ranking of the best left-backs.” But every website listed different names. Some said this person was the best, while others said that person was better. It made my head spin.

I then looked up the data: number of tackles, pass completion rate, and number of assists.These numbers looked professional, but did they really tell me anything? For example, a player with a lot of passes might just be passing the ball back and forth in the backfield without advancing forward at all.

I realized that I couldn’t just look at the numbers in the table. To see who the really good players are, you have to watch what they do on the field. So I started looking for videos of these players’ games.

First, I watched highlights, then I started watching entire games. I watched the Premier League, La Liga, the Bundesliga, and the Champions League. Every night after work, I sat in front of my computer and watched for two or three hours.

The first player I watched was a left back known for his defense. He was physically strong, good at tackling, and rarely got beaten by opponents. But when it came to offense, there was a problem.

He hardly ever ran forward, and even when he had the ball, he only dared to pass sideways or back. Once, when the team was about to counterattack, he was still walking slowly at the back. This type of player is suitable for teams with strong defense, but modern football requires fullbacks to participate in attacks, and he was far from that.

The second player is the complete opposite. He is extremely fast and often rushes forward to cross the ball, resulting in a high number of assists. But when it comes to defense, I frown.

As soon as he moves forward, the left side is left open. Opponents have broken through behind him several times, and it was only thanks to his teammates covering for him that the team didn’t concede a goal. This style of play is too risky. If he faces a fast winger, he will easily be beaten.

I also watched a very young left-back. He has good technical skills, can dribble, and is willing to pass the ball. He had a few standout performances, playing like a star.

However, there were also games where he was completely invisible. He made many passing errors and failed to mark his opponents. Young players are like that—their form is inconsistent. It’s too early to call him the “best” yet.

Later, I saw a player who caught my eye. He was solid in defense, had good positional awareness, and rarely lost his mark. When attacking, he could make timely runs forward and deliver high-quality crosses. He could also retreat defensively and didn’t rely on teammates to cover for him.

I thought to myself: This is the ideal left-back! But when I checked, he had spent half the season injured. No matter how good he looked in the games he didn’t play, it didn’t matter. Football is about who can perform consistently on the field.

After watching so many games, I finally listed the five left-backs who I think are performing the best right now. But I also know that this list is subject to change at any time.

This is because players’ form can change, injuries can affect their performance, and coaches’ tactics vary. Some players perform well in a three-center-back system but may not adapt well to a four-back system.

I’ve found that a player’s strength has a lot to do with the formation he plays in. For example, some teams play a 3-5-2, where the left-back has to act as a wing-back and cover a lot of ground. Other teams play a 4-4-2, where the left-back is more defensive.

So you can’t just look at a player’s individual ability, you also have to look at what position he plays and how the team uses him. No player is unbeatable in every system.

My criteria for selecting players are:

1. They must be solid in defense and not get passed easily.
2. They must be able to participate in offense and not just stay in the back.
3. They must be physically fit and able to run throughout the game.
4. They must have had stable playing time in the last few months.
5. They must not rely on set pieces to get assists.

Based on these criteria, I selected five players from dozens of candidates.

To be honest, I was too invested. Some days, I watched game videos at work and took notes on my laptop. My boss walked by several times and saw me watching soccer, and his expression grew increasingly unpleasant.

Finally, he called me in for a talk and said that my project was behind schedule. I realized that I had spent too much time on this.Although I like soccer, I can’t neglect my work.

Looking back now, this “list of five” is more like my own opinion, not a standard answer. Everyone likes different players. Some people like strong attackers, while others like solid defenders.

Moreover, soccer is a team sport, and even the best left back needs the cooperation of his teammates. You can’t win a game with just one person.

If you also want to know who the best left-back is, don’t just look at the rankings. Find a few games to watch for yourself.

Focus on:

Is his positioning good when defending?
Can he get forward in time when attacking?
How fast is he back on defense after losing the ball?
Does he cooperate well with the midfielders and wingers?

After watching a few games, you will have your own opinion.

This study has given me a deeper understanding of soccer. Left backs aren’t as flashy as forwards, but they play a crucial role. A good left back can stabilize the entire left flank.

Although I spent a lot of time on this and it affected my work, at least watching games is more enjoyable now. Knowing what each position does makes the matches more exciting to watch.