In this article, we are listing the top 20 great football defenders in the world. When we talk about the game of football, the best defenders always take maximum eye balls during the game.
The football game is crazy, fun, and very manly. When we talk about defenders, we are focusing on both center-backs and full-backs.
All time best defenders in football have one greatest strength of consistency.
20 Best Defenders of All Time
1. Paolo Maldini: Best Football Defender

Paolo Maldini was born on June 26, 1968, in Milan, Italy. He is an Italian former professional footballer. He played as a left back and center back for AC Milan. He is the greatest defender of all time. He was also the caption for Milan and Captain for many years and nicknamed “l Capitano”. He also won Best Defender trophy at the UEFA Club Football Awards. Serie A Defender of the Year Award in 2004, as per his Wikipedia page.
2. Sergio Ramos: Best Football Defender in the World

Sergio Ramos comes second in the list when talking about all time best defenders in football. He born on 30 March 1986 at Camas, Seville, Spain. He is the Spanish professional footballer who play as a defender for La Liga club Sevilla. He also played for Real Madrid for long 16 years. He also won UEFA Champions League titles. He also won UEFA European Championships and the 2010 FIFA World Cup. All the aspirants around the world loved his defending skills for his timing and game timings.
3. Roberto Carlos: Best Football Defender

Roberto Carlos comes next in the list as one of the all time best defenders in football. He born on10 April 1973 at Garça, São Paulo, Brazil. He was also famous as Club Defender of the Year and included in the UEFA Team of the Year in 2002 and 2003 as per his wikipedia page.
4. Franco Baresi: Best Football Defender

Franco Baresi is counted among one of the most cherished best defenders all time. He born in 8 May 1960 at Travagliato, Italy. He is curretny a Italian football youth team coach. He played as sweeper or as a central defender for 20 years with Serie A club AC Milan.
5. Franz Beckenbauer: Best Football Defender of All time

Franz Beckenbauer born in 11 September 1945 at Munich, Germany. He was also counted as one of the best defenders ever in the world.
Also Read: Football Leagues In The World All Time
6. Fabio Cannavaro: Best Football Defender of All Time

Fabio Cannavaro counted as one of the best defenders ever in the world. He born in 13 September 1973 at Naples, Italy. He played maximum games in Italy as center back. He won Silver Ball, for tournament’s second-best player. In the year 2006, He also won FIFA World Player of the Year. He was the only defender who won award in history to have won the award.
7. Alessandro Nesta: Best Football Defender of All Time

Alessandro Nesta is counted as best defender in football history. He born in 19 March 1976 at Rome, Italy. He usually played as centre-back. He was the four-time Serie A Defender of the Year and a four-time member of the annual UEFA Team of the Year.
8. Philipp Lahm: Best Football Defender of All Time

Next in the list, Philipp Lahn is counted as the best defender in football history. As per his wikipedia page, he born on 11 November 1983 at Munich, West Germany. He is mainly remembered as full-backs. He also won 2013 UEFA Champions League as part of the Treble. He also won the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
9. Carles Puyol: Best Football Defender of All Time

Carles Puyol comes next on the list as one of the greatest defenders of all time. As per his Wikipedia page, he was born on April 13, 1978, in La Pobla de Segur, Spain. He played his entire career for Barcelona as a as a centre-back. He was highly appreciated for his defensive qualities.
10. Bobby Moore: Best Football Defender in the World

Bobby Moore was born on November 1, 1983, in Munich, West Germany. He is the most cherished full-back of all time. He is the longtime captain of Bayern Munich. He also won 2013 UEFA Champions League. He was also former captain of his national team, which he led to winning the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
11. Cafu: Greatest Football Defender of All Time

Cafe comes next in our list for ‘all time best defenders in football’. He born in 7 June 1970 at Itaquaquecetuba, São Paulo, Brazil. He played mostly as right-back. He played 4 FIFA World Cups between 1994 and 2006, and most appreciated for his defended skills.
12. Dani Alves: Best Football Defender

Dani Alves born on 6 May 1983 (age 40) at Juazeiro, Bahia, Brazil according to his wikipedia page. He is among the most appreciated best defenders all time. He was the right-back for Liga MX club UNAM and the Brazil national team. He was a part of €32.5 million club and also earned of becoming the third-most expensive defender of all-time at the time.
13. Ronald Koeman: All Time Best Football Defender

Ronald Koeman is the most cherished best defenders ever of all the times. He born on 21 March 1963 (age 60) at Zaandam, Netherlands. Being a defender mainly, he scored over 250 goals in his entire career. However, he was appreciated as both as a defender and as a midfielder.
14. Gaetano Scirea: All Time Best Defender in Football

Gaetano Scirea is regarded as one of the most cherished best defender in football history. He born on 25 May 1953 at Cernusco sul Naviglio, Lombardy, Italy. In most of the career span, he was a part of Juventus F.C.
15. Alessandro Costacurta: All Time Best Defender in Football

Alessandro Costacurta was a greatest defenders of all time. He born on 24 April 1966 at Jerago con Orago, Italy. He usually played as centre back. He played maximum with AC Milan between 1986 and 2007. For more accurate information, wikipedia page can be referred.
16. Marcel Desailly: All Time Best Defender in Football

Marcel Desailly is the considered as great football defenders of all the time. He born on 7 September 1968 (age 55) at Accra, Ghana. He mainly played as centre-backs and defensive midfielders. He was a part of UEFA Champions League, and also played for Nantes and Chelsea, among other teams.
17. Giuseppe Bergomi: All Time Best Defender in Football

Giuseppe Bergomi is the most appreciated and loved best defenders all time. He born on 22 December 1963 (age 59) at Milan, Italy. As per his wikipedia page, he spend entire career at Inter Milan. He was alsoelected by Pelé to be part of the FIFA 100 in 2004
18. Matthias Sammer: All Time Best Defender in the World

Matthias Sammer was the best defenders ever of all the times. He born on 5 September 1967 (age 56) at Dresden, East Germany. He begin his career as defensive midfielder and also played as a sweeper. In his career span, he won 74 total caps, 23 for East Germany and 51 for the unified side.
19. Mauro Tassotti: All Time Best Defender in the World

Next in the list for best defender in football history, we have Mauro Tassotti. He born on 19 January 1960 (age 63) at Rome, Italy. He played mainly as right-back. He won many awards and 17 titles with Milan, including five Serie A championships and three UEFA Champions League tournaments, etc.
20. Giorgio Chiellini: All Time Best Defender in the World

Giorgio Chiellini is included as the greatest defenders of all time. He born on 14 August 1984 (age 39) at Pisa, Italy. In his entire career play, he played as centre-back for Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC.He also won has been awarded three times as the Serie A Defender of the Year in 2008, 2009 and 2010