Alphonso Davies have been thriving this season as the world’s best left-backs. But the competition for the top player in this position has been up for debate.
Soccer has evolved over the years to be more tactical. That said, Left backs play a crucial role. Essentially, they’re part of the defensive wall in every team and are somewhat involved offensively.
Simply put, a left-back player is part of the defence, playing on the left side and providing protection from wingers from the opposing team.
The best left backs in the world in 2025
20. Angeliño
Angeliño is currently in the books of Italian Serie A club AS Roma. He has been one of the key players this season.
19. Sead Kolašinac
Sead Kolašinac without a doubt is one of the most consistent players at Atalanta BC. He has played an important role since his arrival at the club.
Week in week out, he continued to deliver a solid defensive performance which makes him standout as one of the best in the Italian league.
18. João Cancelo
Little or no guaranteed place in Pep Guardiola’s team, he moved to FC Barcelona and now with Al Nassr. The Portuguese had been one of the biggest additions to the team since his arrival from Man city.
A class of brilliance, João Cancelo continues his impressive performance in the Saudi Pro League, where he is gradually creeping into the first team amid the change of guard.
Well, only time will tell regarding his future, and we can see his best from him.
17. Ben Chilwell
Ben Chilwell is arguably one of the best defenders in the Premier League who has consistently been at the top of his game. The England international has contributed significantly to the club.
However, Chelsea has endured a troubled season, and his performance has also been jittery. he has always been at his best whenever he is on the pitch. That said, Chilwell is one of the best in his position.
16. Jordi Alba
The new project under Xavi Hernandez appears to be on the right part, and possibly Joan Laporta took the suitable stand to retain Jordi Alba, who has won every trophy with the club.
Alba has been in the books of Barcelona since twenty-twelve, more than a decade, and he looks to be getting better by age.
He could be behind the club’s return as a European superpower after a sharp decline. The once-highly-rated star continued to show his usual composure and accurate passes.
15. Ferland Mendy
Is Ferland still good enough for this position? Well, a series of spells on the sidelines has quashed his chances of playing at a top level for the Los Blancos this season.
The Frenchman joined Real Madrid from Lyon in 2019 and has since established himself as the number-one player in the left back position for Los Blancos.
He is a good player known for his pace, crosses, and stamina. Especially in the biggest games, the Frenchman has stood out to be a leader in the defence.
14. Alejandro Balde
Alejandro Balde is the next player on the list. The young Spanish defender is arguably one of the best players at Barcelona.
Balde has been one of the most consistent players in the and made his 100th appearance for Barcelona.
Although his performance at times had raised concerns amongst fans, his rapid growth shows his career is the right track.
13. Theo Hernandez
AC Milan’s defensive wall in the last three seasons, Theo Hernandez, looks like he is not stopping anytime soon. The Rossoneri might say thank you to Real Madrid for allowing the Frenchman to join the club back in 2019.
One good aspect of Theo Hernandez is his ability to make goal contributions. According to statistics in the current campaign, the 25-year-old has scored three goals and provided three assists in 26 Serie A outings.
Arguably, he is one of the standout players in AC Milan this season. Especially the way he’s helped the club maintain a healthy record.
One of the highest points of his AC Milan career this season has been in the Champions League, which was crucial for Milan in the knockout stages.
12. Raphaël Guerreiro
Portuguese veteran Raphael Guerreiro is one of the most consistent players in the German Bundesliga. He is one of the best performers at Bayern Munich even as the Bavarians go toe to toe with Bayer Leverkusen for the title.
Raphael joined Bayern Munich in 2023 He is loved for his versatility, being able to play as a midfielder occasionally.
11. Javi Galán
Javi Galán has successfully seized the opportunity that was handed to him at Atletico Madrid.
This season, he has continued to play a pivotal role at the club with Diego Simeone eyeing major trophies at the end of the season. The Spaniard is an essential part of the Atletico Madrid first team.
10. Mathias Olivera
Mathias Olivera is one of the players behind the resurgent performance at Napoli. He is one of the most consistent players in the team's title charge this season.
He has continued to command a first team shirt due to his consistency and reliability in the team.
9. Konstantinos Tsimikas
Konstantinos Tsimikas is one of the players trusted by Liverpool boss Arne Slot as he continues to dominate the Premier League in his first season.
His position as a left back has been key to Liverpool's title pursuit this season. Statistics show that he is good at delivering well timed crosses and assists on some occasions.
The Liverpool man has been applauded for his support in the offensive and defensive positions.
8. Pervis Estupiñán
Pervis Estupiñán has been one of the most conservative players at Brighton over the last couple of seasons. He is a defensive minded player who has continued to be rock solid at the Premier League club.
However, he has shown to be an offensive minded player as well especially this season where he had moved forward occasionally and contributed to the attack.
7. Federico Dimarco
Federico Dimarco is arguably one of the best players at Inter Milan over the last couple of seasons.
The Italian soccer player has registered his name on the world list of best defenders year after year. Without a doubt, he is one of the key players at the club with his defensive and offensive prowess.
Most important, he is known for his defensive approach to the game and consistency.
6. Nuno Mendes
Nuno Mendes, what potential does he have? The Portuguese defender is one of the best players in the left back position for Paris Saint-Germain. The French giants were attracted by his impressive statistics at Sporting CP.
The 20-year has been part of the team since 2022. The club’s top hierarchy signed the youngster as they looked through the future.
The Parisians spent a staggering transfer fee of 40 million euros for his services. Fast forward to 2023, he is considered one of the best defenders in the French Ligue 1. Nuno Mendes makes the club defense secure for the foreseeable future.
5. Nathan Ake
It is often said the opportunity given is taken as this best describes Nathan Ake’s journey in the English Premier League. The former Chelsea star could not settle at Stamford Bridge and was made to spend time on loan.
However, a good showing at AFC Bournemouth paved the way for a move to Manchester City. Luckily, the Dutchman broke into City’s first team and gradually cemented his position as one of the most preferred options.
Ake’s primary role is as a centre-back for the Premier League, but he is often deployed as a left back, and he has been successful. This season, he has featured fifteen times in the Spanish La Liga, and in these games, his performance was exceptional
4. Andy Robertson
Liverpool might be enduring a troubled season, but Robertson has been effective for the Reds. The Scottish footballer has shown to be a reliable player in the defence.
One touch, reliable crossing, speed, and accurate passes are some of the few descriptions of the Liverpool defender, even though lately, he’s had some lapses, which are sometimes inevitable.
But that said, Robertson’s impact at Anfield cannot be ignored. He joined the Premier League giants from Hull City in 2017.
3. Joško Gvardiol
Do you remember the one-on-one with Lionel Messi at the World Cup in Qatar? Well, that was just another moment for Joško Gvardiol who is currently in books of Manchester city.
He has been a top target for teams in Europe. The Croatian left-back is regarded as the best young defender due to his excellent reputation in the Bundesliga and World Cup.
Joško Gvardiol is currently one of the best left backs in the English Premier League.
2. Alejandro Grimaldo
Bayer Leverkusen defensive stalwart Alejandro Grimaldo is one of the standout players in the Portuguese top flight.
The Spanish left-back has been a top performer at the club since he arrived from the Benfica in 2023.
He is an experienced player, especially his impressive statistics for the Eagles in the Champions League. An intriguing fact about the Spanish defender is the number of assists he could provide.
During the 2023/24 season, he scored and provided many assists in all competitions as Bayer Leverkusen won the domestic double.
1.Alphonso Davies
Checking the stats of one of my favorites LB, Alphonso Davies, focusing on passing, under assist, you get xA (expected Assist), which measures the likelihood that a pass becomes a goal assist. The types of passes captured make you wonder why anyone would be questioning.
The 8-2 defeat of Barcelona at Camp Nou would be one of the greatest moments in the career of Alphonso Davies. Signed through the DC United Development setup, the Canadian rose to become a star in European football.
Alphonso Davies is widely regarded as one of the best defenders in world football due to his creativity and exceptional pace. The 22-year-old has established a strong presence in Bayern Munich’s defense and is currently indispensable in the team.
With enormous contributions, he played a significant role as the Canadian Men’s National team qualified for the World Cup and starred for the team after previously helping the team to the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Davies can play as a left back or a full-back which was evident as he’s been deployed in an attacking role consistently, especially during national team duty