Top 10 Best Right Backs in the World 2026 (Ranked)

There was a time when football revolved around the supremacy of the elite forwards. No one would think to discuss the best right backs in the world, as the full-back position was not something that attracted spectators' attention. Though with time, the definition of football has changed a lot, and with that, the process of playing the game has evolved around every position.

The role of the right backs has transformed rapidly, reflecting growing expectations in the attacking department while keeping their normal responsibility in defence. And Names like Gary Neville, Dani Alves, and Lahm, to the modern-day sensations: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Achraf Hakimi and Denzil Dumfries have gained substantial popularity playing as right backs.

As the 2025-26 football season has reached its midway, a question is surfacing: Who is the best RB in the world? To answer the question, we tried to list down top 10 best right-back in the world, based on several ranking factors such as goals, assists, and overall output. Let’s see who is the best RB in football?

List of Best Right Backs in the World

After carefully analysing many right-backs around the world, we finally created a list of the best right backs in the world. This list is unlike any other ranking list, which is based on popularity. To give a more accurate list of the top 10 best right-back in the world. We have given weights to these factors.

How We Ranked the Best RB in Football?

In this segment, we have explained our ranking factors for listing down the 10 best right backs in the world. To give more relevance to our list, we gave each factor a dedicated weight so it remains clear which factor we have to focus on. Let’s check out how our ranking factors helped us out in ranking the best right backs in football.

• Goals: Goal scoring has become a key trait for right backs; it reflects the attacking contribution of modern right backs in supporting forwards.
• Assists: Assists measure playmaking ability, crucial for right backs, aiding goal-scoring chances with their crossing and passing traits.
• Defensive Metrics: At last, we have the core responsibility of restricting opponents, essential for the best right backs in the world.

Note: Data for the above-mentioned ranking factors are taken from reputable football analysis sites like Fbref, Transfermarkt and Sportsdunia.

Who is the Best Right Back in the World 2026?

After reviewing our rankings of best right backs in football, some readers might question certain rankings. This section is dedicated to passionate fans like you. We have aimed to highlight each player’s season performance to justify their rankings on our list of the best RB in football.

10. Tino Livramento (Age: 23 | Newcastle United)

Incredibly talented young English full-back Tino Livramento is one of the newest discoveries in the English Premier League. He is gradually showing his claws with each passing day. Coming from the youth academy of Chelsea, the 23-year-old right back earned praise when Tino was at Southampton, resulting in a million-dollar move to EFL Cup winners Newcastle United in 2024. The first few months with the Black and Whites showed the possibility of Livramento becoming one of the best right backs in the world.

Despite knee injury woes, the English defender has been a trusted figure in Eddie Howe’s setup in the 2025-26 campaign. He played the full 90 minutes in the final of the EFL Carabao Cup, as Magpies lifted their first major title. What sets Livramento apart from other talented right backs is his adaptability in every possible situation in a game. His aggression in attacking, sprinting power, and player marking strength have made him a great asset for the Magpies.

9. Jeremie Frimpong (Age: 25 |Liverpool)

The Liverpool right back Jeremie Frimpong is what a right back in modern-day football must be. Excellent at carrying the ball forward down the wing, and can also sit back to defend. And this is what the managers want from their full-backs nowadays. Under the stewardship of Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen, Frimpong rose from the most woeful phase to become one of the best right backs in the world, who operates as an extra man in the attack.

On the ball, it becomes very difficult for his opponents to catch up due to his burst of pace and quick passing. Leverkusen's fluid football has given him the licence to venture unchallenged without the worries of defending, which has made him more ferocious on the pitch. It's been a challenging season for the Dutchman in the Premier League, where Jeremie's endurance, skill and IQ have been tested. He is doing commandebale job with English champions Liverpool, the full back stands as one of the best right back in the world 2026.

8. Malo Gusto (Age: 22 | Chelsea)

In 2023, French international Malo Gusto arrived at Stamford Bridge from Olympique Lyonnais with enormous potential as a promising full-back. Chelsea's 22-year-old made a name for himself, replacing an injury-prone England star Reece James and later earning a regular spot in the playing XI. Alongside Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer, he is probably the best signing Chelsea has made in recent years, given the English club’s poor track record in the transfer market.

In England, Gusto has proven himself on every occasion he has been thrown into by the Blues’ manager, especially in Chelsea’s dominant run in the 2025 Club World Cup. Speed and agility have always been two traits that have pushed the Frecnhmen to the forefront of success in recent years at Chelsea, resulting in him being on the list of the best right backs right now in the world. If he continues to stay in this shape, then he must be in the fray of the best for years to come.

7. Marcos Llorente (Age: 30 | Atlético Madrid)

The Real Madrid product Marcos Llorente has gradually reached his career high after joining Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid. He began as a central midfielder, the Spaniard now operates as a full-time full-back in the Spanish capital for Los Colchoneros due to versatility, workrate and attacking defence awareness. Llorente has always been an important figure for the La Liga outfit Atletico Madrid for the last six seasons, guarding their left flank with experience and energy.

He is now shifted to the right side of the defence permanently. His all-around ability helps him win over the fast-paced forwards like Raphinha, Vinicius Junior, and Kylian Mbappe week in and week out in the Spanish top flight. The Spaniard is a gritty and hard-working player who always delivers an impactful performance in our list of best RB in the world. People talk about the defensive strength of Atletico Madrid in Europe, and one of their key components, Marcos Llorente, is one of the best right back right now.

6. Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Age: 32 | Napoli)

The Italian full-back Giovanni Di Lorenzo is the epitome of the perfect mixture of attacking and defending mentality, as his performances demonstrate across all competitions in recent few seasons. However, it has not been a fairytale journey for the Italian right back as his career saw a straight downfall between 2019 and 2020. He had one of the worst times in the 2024 UEFA Euro Championship as Italy crashed out of the tournament. Now captaining Napoli to the 2024-25 Scudetto triumph.

But before that, Di Lorenzo showed great intent as the captain of Italian champions SSC Napoli and led the Italian club to their dream Scudetto in the 2022-23 season, matching Diego Maradona’s record. Under Antonio Conte’s coaching, the 32-year-old full-back has not only managed to claim a legendary status in the Serie A outfit but also has been established as one of the best RB in the world, demonstrating leadership, attacking, and defensive prowess on the turf. While also making key goal contributions.

5. Denzel Dumfries (Age: 29 | Inter Milan)

Coming from the rich defensive unit of Serie A, the Dutch full-back Denzel Dumfries, who could not find his rhythm until he took a bold decision to move to PSV Eindhoven in 2018, and his career has taken a positive U-turn ever since. He found his groove when he arrived at San Siro and swiftly established himself in Nerazzurri's defensive set-up, providing attacking force and defensive ability. He has been a monumental figure in Serie A giants Inter Milan recent domestic success and European exploits.

He gradually been on the right track to become one of the best right backs in modern-day football with the help of his attacking tenacity and stamina. His powerful performance against FC Barcelona in the Semi-Final of the UEFA Champions League was enough to show the world the potential he holds in him as RB. Sadly, a serious ankle injury has kept Dumfries out of action in the 2025-26 season, the Dutchman is on a path of recovery after a successful surgery.

4. Pedro Porro (Age: 26 | Tottenham Hotspur)

The former Sporting CP full-back Pedro Porro is one of the most attacking right-backs in the world, given his skills with the ball and goal-scoring ability. Aided by a wide array of passing, link-up plays, attacking prowess, and a keen eye to find teammates with crosses and overlapping runs. The Spaniard has been a star under Thomas Frank's management of Tottenham Hotspur in the 2025-26 campaign, as a guaranteed starter at the right back position.

Thomas Frank and the Spurs club have high expectations of the Spanish international, having been regarded as the club's key figure. The 26-year-old full-back first arrived at North London club Tottenham on a brief six-month loan spell from Sporting CP. Porro was previously criticised for his lack of consistency, but has turned the tables recently, showing consistency. He played an important part in Spurs' UEFA Europa League triumph, hence cementing himself best right back in the world 2026.

3. Jules Kounde (Age: 26 | FC Barcelona)

Another French star defender who is featured on the list of the best right backs in the world currently is the Barcelona full-back Jules Kounde. He was primarily a centre-back, began his career in the middle of the backline before going through a transition to become a right back for a perfect for the Catalan giants Barcelona. Kounde is known for attacking nature, and defensive discipline has become a key man for the France national team, in the recent years.

The French international offers a platform for his teammates to go with the ball higher up on the pitch, positioning himself in an area that connects the defence with the attack subtly. The ex-Sevilla man Kounde is a perfect right back who can live up to the expectations of a modern-day manager: running with pace to win the ball in defensive areas and setting the forwards out in the open with through balls. Jules has vital cog in Barcelona's recent success.

2. Jurrien Timber (Age: 24 | Arsenal)

One of the best right backs in the world, Jurrien Timber, is another young machine who has been in the form of his life recently for the North London giants Arsenal. Mikel Arteta has been relying on him for the right back responsibilities. The Dutchman is producing perfect crosses, winning important duels on the flanks and creating chances. His main forte is his quick feet, which have made it difficult for opponents to beat him during attacks. He is a perfect player to implement Arteta’s counter-attacking tactics.

The former Ajax full-back Timber, is a complete package as a defender; he can operate on the left if necessary and play as a central defender. Not only that, Timber's most important trait lies in his aggressive excellence and adaptability, along with his strong mentality to win the ball by tracking back has made him one of the best right backs currently. Additionally, the start of the new 2025-26 season saw the player contribute more offensively, scoring goals and providing assists.

1. Achraf Hakimi (Age: 27 | PSG)

The 2024-25 season quintuple winner Achraf Hakimi has been a bona fide figure in the full-back position for quite a few years now, and he is the best right back in the world currently. After lengthy spells with some of the best clubs across Europe, such as Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, and Inter Milan, the Moroccan superstar has found his footing in the Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain. In the last few years, PSG’s right line has been securely operated by Hakimi, who has been rock solid in both defence and attack.

He uses his amazing speed and deadly passes to turn defence into attack in seconds, and just signed a new contract with PSG that keeps him in Ligue 1 until 2029. The best right back in the world, Hakimi, won five trophies with PSG in the 2024-25 season and now also earned the prestigious CAF African Player of the Year award. The full back was on the verge of lifting the 2025 AFCON, but unfortunately suffered a heartbreak against Al Nassr star Sadio Mane captained Senegal in the final.