The best centre-backs of every era

Four eras, voted separately — a centre-back is only ever compared with the centre-backs of his own time.

1930s–60s

Billy Wright

#1 · 1119 Elo

1970s–80s

Franco Baresi

#1 · 1281 Elo

1990–2009

Alessandro Nesta

#1 · 1327 Elo

2010–now

Sergio Ramos

#1 · 1285 Elo

1930s–60s

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The best centre-backs of the 1930s–60s, ranked by community Elo
	Player	Elo	Won–lost	Duels
1	Billy WrightWolves	1119	9–1	10
2	Bobby MooreWest Ham	1086	20–12	32
3	Cesare MaldiniAC Milan	934	2–5	7
4	Hilderaldo BelliniVasco da Gama	931	4–6	10
5	José NasazziBella Vista	895	2–8	10

Show all 7

The best centre-backs of the 1930s–60s, from number 6
	Player	Elo	Won–lost	Duels
6	José SantamaríaReal Madrid	859	6–21	27
7	Domingos da GuiaFlamengo	798	8–28	36

1970s–80s

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The best centre-backs of the 1970s–80s, ranked by community Elo
	Player	Elo	Won–lost	Duels
1	Franco BaresiAC Milan	1281	25–2	27
2	Franz BeckenbauerBayern Munich	1248	29–3	32
3	Ronald KoemanBarcelona	1210	24–8	32
4	Gaetano ScireaJuventus	1139	26–14	40
5	Daniel PassarellaRiver Plate	1027	16–21	37

Show all 12

The best centre-backs of the 1970s–80s, from number 6
	Player	Elo	Won–lost	Duels
6	Oscar RuggeriBoca Juniors	1008	5–5	10
7	Alan HansenLiverpool	975	4–7	11
8	Władysław ŻmudaŚląsk Wrocław	930	3–7	10
9	Marius TrésorMarseille	886	9–20	29
10	Elías FigueroaInternacional	862	7–23	30
11	Paul McGrathAston Villa	818	0–10	10
12	Pietro VierchowodSampdoria	796	6–24	30

1990–2009

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The best centre-backs of the 1990–2009, ranked by community Elo
	Player	Elo	Won–lost	Duels
1	Alessandro NestaAC Milan	1327	32–1	33
2	John TerryChelsea	1222	31–7	38
3	Marcel DesaillyAC Milan	1214	27–8	35
4	Rio FerdinandMan United	1210	30–8	38
5	Lilian ThuramJuventus	1199	25–6	31

Show all 27

The best centre-backs of the 1990–2009, from number 6
	Player	Elo	Won–lost	Duels
6	Carles PuyolBarcelona	1159	21–7	28
7	Jaap StamMan United	1144	25–9	34
8	Fabio CannavaroJuventus	1131	21–13	34
9	Tony AdamsArsenal	1122	19–12	31
10	Sol CampbellArsenal	1091	20–12	32
11	Frank de BoerAjax	1077	16–13	29
12	Nemanja VidićMan United	1060	18–11	29
13	Fernando HierroReal Madrid	1056	19–14	33
14	Laurent BlancMarseille	1050	20–15	35
15	Ricardo CarvalhoChelsea	1019	20–15	35
16	Rafael MárquezBarcelona	999	12–13	25
17	Alessandro CostacurtaAC Milan	982	15–16	31
18	Walter SamuelInter Milan	967	11–23	34
19	Roberto AyalaValencia	947	4–9	13
20	Matthias SammerBorussia Dortmund	919	9–16	25
21	LucioInter Milan	911	13–21	34
22	Ciro FerraraJuventus	897	8–21	29
23	Marco MaterazziInter Milan	886	3–11	14
24	Sami HyypiäLiverpool	880	7–16	23
25	Jürgen KohlerBorussia Dortmund	851	8–25	33
26	AldairRoma	845	5–19	24
27	Jamie CarragherLiverpool	798	3–19	22

2010–now

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The best centre-backs of the 2010–now, ranked by community Elo
	Player	Elo	Won–lost	Duels
1	Sergio RamosReal Madrid	1285	27–4	31
2	Gerard PiquéBarcelona	1228	21–3	24
3	Virgil van DijkLiverpool	1171	21–8	29
4	Thiago SilvaPSG	1144	22–10	32
5	Vincent KompanyMan City	1143	25–10	35

Show all 40

The best centre-backs of the 2010–now, from number 6
	Player	Elo	Won–lost	Duels
6	Giorgio ChielliniJuventus	1142	19–11	30
7	PepeReal Madrid	1134	22–12	34
8	Raphaël VaraneReal Madrid	1133	25–12	37
9	Rúben DiasMan City	1126	8–0	8
10	David LuizChelsea	1100	6–0	6
11	William SalibaArsenal	1092	8–2	10
12	Stefan de VrijInter Milan	1082	7–2	9
13	Leonardo BonucciJuventus	1055	19–13	32
14	Jan VertonghenTottenham	1049	4–2	6
15	Aymeric LaporteMan City	1044	5–2	7
16	Toby AlderweireldTottenham	1038	4–2	6
17	Matthijs de LigtAjax	1034	6–4	10
18	Gabriel MagalhãesArsenal	1010	3–3	6
19	John StonesMan City	1009	3–3	6
20	MarquinhosPSG	1001	15–20	35
21	Milan ŠkriniarInter Milan	989	2–3	5
22	Kalidou KoulibalyNapoli	985	4–5	9
23	Dayot UpamecanoBayern Munich	975	3–5	8
24	José María GiménezAtlético Madrid	973	1–3	4
25	Éder MilitãoReal Madrid	972	3–5	8
26	Antonio RüdigerReal Madrid	969	3–5	8
27	Pau CubarsíBarcelona	968	2–4	6
28	Andrea BarzagliJuventus	960	2–5	7
29	Cristian RomeroTottenham	940	2–6	8
30	Alessandro BastoniInter Milan	936	3–7	10
31	Willian PachoPSG	928	3–7	10
32	Nico SchlotterbeckBorussia Dortmund	924	0–4	4
33	Samuel UmtitiBarcelona	913	1–7	8
34	Medhi BenatiaJuventus	911	1–6	7
35	Diego GodínAtlético Madrid	905	11–20	31
36	Nicolás OtamendiMan City	900	0–7	7
37	Jonathan TahBayer Leverkusen	900	0–6	6
38	Ronald AraújoBarcelona	885	0–8	8
39	Mats HummelsBorussia Dortmund	873	8–22	30
40	Jérôme BoatengBayern Munich	833	7–22	29

How is this ranked?

Every duel shows two centre-backs from the same era. Fans pick the greater one. The winner gains rating points and the loser drops them, more after an upset.

Who votes?

Anyone visiting Make Your GOAT. No account is needed, and each device is limited to 30 votes a minute.

Does it change?

Yes. The table moves with every vote. This page shows it as it stood at most an hour ago.