The 10 Best Right-Backs in the World – 2026 Rank

This article was fully updated in October 2026, taking into account the results of the 2025/26 season, the 2026 World Cup, summer transfers and the players’ current form.

Who is the best right-back in the world in 2026? Our pick is Achraf Hakimi. The PSG and Morocco captain won the Champions League and Ligue 1, was named CAF African Player of the Year for 2025, captained Morocco to the World Cup quarter-finals and is on the 2026 Ballon d’Or shortlist. Morocco were also declared AFCON 2025 champions after CAF awarded them the final on appeal. In our ranking of the best right-backs in the world right now, we look at the players who combine defensive reliability with real attacking output – from classic overlapping full-backs to inverted defenders and right wing-backs.

Top 5 right-backs in the world right now:

1. Achraf Hakimi (PSG, Morocco) – Champions League and Ligue 1 winner, Ballon d’Or nominee
2. Pedro Porro (Tottenham, Spain) – World Cup winner, scored in the semi-final
3. Jules Koundé (Barcelona, France) – La Liga champion, World Cup semi-finalist
4. Reece James (Chelsea, England) – Chelsea captain, World Cup bronze medallist
5. Julian Ryerson (Borussia Dortmund, Norway) – 15 Bundesliga assists

Other rankings by tips.gg:

• The 10 Best Left-Backs in the World – 2026 Rank
• Top 10 Best Full-Backs in the World 2026
• The Best Midfielders in the World 2026 – Top 10 Rank

How We Ranked the Best Right-Backs in the World

Modern right-backs must excel in a wide range of attributes. The days of being just reliable defenders are over: today’s full-backs build play, create overloads in midfield, provide width in attack and still have to stop the best wingers in the world. That is why our ranking of the best RB in the world does not rely on a single number.

Criteria	Description
Current Form	Performances in the 2025/26 season and the start of 2026/27
Defensive Quality	Tackles, interceptions, duels won, 1v1 defending and recovery pace
Attacking Output	Goals, assists, chances created and crossing
Big Game Impact	Performances in the Champions League, the 2026 World Cup and key fixtures
Availability	Minutes played and how injuries affected the season
Team Success	Contribution to club and national team trophies

Form and availability weighed heavily. A brilliant right-back who spent half the season injured cannot rank above one who delivered week after week – which is why several big names from our previous ranking have dropped. Big-game impact was the tiebreaker at the top: Hakimi missed spells through injury, but nobody in the position did more when it mattered most.

Top 10 Right-Backs in the World 2026

These are the best right-backs in the world right now:

1. Achraf Hakimi — PSG (Morocco) ⬅ Holds 1st place
2. Pedro Porro — Tottenham Hotspur (Spain) ↑ Up 6 positions
3. Jules Koundé — Barcelona (France) ⬅ Holds 3rd place
4. Reece James — Chelsea (England) ↑ New entry
5. Julian Ryerson — Borussia Dortmund (Norway) ↑ New entry
6. Jurriën Timber — Arsenal (Netherlands) ⬅ Holds 6th place
7. Michael Kayode — Brentford (Italy) ↑ New entry
8. Denzel Dumfries — Real Madrid (Netherlands) ↓ Down 3 positions
9. Trent Alexander-Arnold — Real Madrid (England) ↓ Down 7 positions
10. Tino Livramento — Newcastle United (England) ⬅ Holds 10th place

1. Achraf Hakimi — PSG (Morocco)

⬅ Holds 1st place · Attacking full-back

Achraf Hakimi remains the best right-back in the world. In 2025/26 he helped PSG win the Champions League for the second year in a row – providing six assists in the competition – and lifted Ligue 1 again. Injuries limited his league minutes (an ankle sprain in November and a thigh problem picked up in the semi-final against Bayern Munich), but he recovered in time to play all 120 minutes of the final in Budapest, where PSG beat Arsenal on penalties.

Internationally, it was an eventful year. Morocco lost the AFCON final on home soil 1-0 to Senegal after extra time, but in March CAF’s Appeal Board ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match after their players walked off in protest, and recorded the final as a 3-0 win for Morocco. Senegal have challenged that decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which heard the case on 8 October; a ruling is still pending at the time of writing. Hakimi was also named CAF African Player of the Year for 2025.

At the World Cup, Hakimi captained Morocco to the quarter-finals. They knocked out the Netherlands on penalties and beat co-hosts Canada 3-0 – with Hakimi setting up the opening goal from a free-kick – before losing 2-0 to France in the quarter-final.

Key achievements:

• Champions League and Ligue 1 winner 2025/26
• Six Champions League assists in 2025/26
• CAF African Player of the Year 2025 and 2026 Ballon d’Or nominee

2. Pedro Porro — Tottenham Hotspur (Spain)

↑ Up 6 positions · Attacking full-back

No right-back had a bigger 2026 than Pedro Porro, who had the summer of his life. He became a world champion with Spain and scored one of the most important goals of his career in the semi-final against France, finishing a one-two with Dani Olmo in the 58th minute to seal a 2-0 win at Dallas Stadium in Arlington. Spain then beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final.

His club season was far tougher. Tottenham only avoided relegation on the final stretch, finishing 17th, but Porro was their most-used player with 47 appearances in all competitions, 34 of them in the Premier League. He also led the squad in chances created and interceptions, and his crossing, set-piece delivery and willingness to shoot from distance make him a constant threat down the right.

Key achievements:

• 2026 World Cup winner with Spain
• Scored in the World Cup semi-final against France
• 47 appearances for Tottenham in 2025/26 – more than any teammate

3. Jules Koundé — Barcelona (France)

⬅ Holds 3rd place · Defensive full-back

Jules Koundé was once again Barcelona’s reliable presence on the right. He made 47 appearances in all competitions, scoring 3 goals and providing 4 assists, as Barça won La Liga for the second year in a row and lifted the Spanish Super Cup under Hansi Flick.

Koundé is also France’s first-choice right-back, and Les Bleus reached the World Cup semi-finals before finishing fourth. A natural centre-back who has made the right flank his own, he is one of the best one-on-one defenders in the position.

Key achievements:

• La Liga champion and Spanish Super Cup winner 2025/26
• France’s first-choice right-back, World Cup semi-finalist
• 47 appearances, 3 goals and 4 assists in 2025/26

4. Reece James — Chelsea (England)

↑ New entry · Right-back / midfielder

After years of injury problems, Reece James finally had the season his talent deserved. The Chelsea captain made 39 appearances in all competitions, excelling both at right-back and in midfield, and contributed 2 goals and 4 assists in the Premier League – even though Chelsea endured a difficult campaign and finished tenth. In March he signed a new contract that runs until 2032.

At the World Cup, a hamstring injury picked up against Ghana cost him three games, but he returned off the bench in the quarter-final against Norway, starting in central midfield before moving to right-back as England came from behind to win 2-1 after extra time. England went on to finish third, beating France 6-4 in the play-off. When fit, his power, crossing and range of passing make him one of the most complete right-backs in the world.

Key achievements:

• Chelsea captain, 39 appearances in 2025/26
• Third place with England at the 2026 World Cup
• Can play right-back, right wing-back or central midfield

5. Julian Ryerson — Borussia Dortmund (Norway)

↑ New entry · Attacking full-back

Few right-backs in Europe created as much – or were as reliably available – as Julian Ryerson. The Norwegian provided 15 Bundesliga assists in 31 games in 2025/26 – second in the league behind only Michael Olise (21) and the most by a Dortmund player since Jadon Sancho’s 16 in 2019/20.

His best afternoon came against Mainz in February, when he set up all four goals in a 4-0 win. That made him only the fourth player since detailed Bundesliga data collection began in 2004/05 to record four assists in a single match. Once seen as a squad player, Ryerson has become one of the most productive right-backs in the world, and he was part of Norway’s squad at the World Cup.

Key achievements:

• 15 Bundesliga assists in 2025/26 – second in the league
• Most assists by a Dortmund player since Jadon Sancho
• Four assists in a single Bundesliga match against Mainz

6. Jurriën Timber — Arsenal (Netherlands)

⬅ Holds 6th place · Inverted full-back

On form alone, Jurriën Timber would be in our top three – he was arguably the best right-back in the Premier League when fit. He was a mainstay of Arsenal’s title-winning defence for most of 2025/26, starting 28 of his 30 league games and posting 3 goals, 5 assists, 66 tackles and 24 interceptions – a rare combination of defensive volume and attacking output.

His season ended in frustration, though. A groin injury kept him out from mid-March until the Champions League final, where he came off the bench as Arsenal lost to PSG on penalties. The problem then flared up again, and he was ruled out of the World Cup just days before the tournament began. When fit, he is comfortable stepping into midfield or defending one-on-one – the complete modern right-back – but missing the title run-in and the World Cup keeps him at sixth.

Key achievements:

• Premier League champion 2025/26
• Champions League finalist 2025/26
• 3 goals and 5 assists in the Premier League

7. Michael Kayode — Brentford (Italy)

↑ New entry · Defensive full-back

Michael Kayode was one of the breakout defenders of the Premier League season. After making his move from Fiorentina permanent, he started all 37 of his league games for Brentford, missing just one match all season, and was shortlisted for the Premier League Young Player of the Season award. His long throws also became a genuine weapon, leading to five Brentford goals.

His defensive numbers stand out: 67 tackles, 38 interceptions, 99 clearances and 15 blocks. On 28 September 2026 he made his senior debut for Italy, scoring one goal and setting up another in a 4-1 Nations League win away to Turkey.

Key achievements:

• Started all 37 of his Premier League games in 2025/26
• Premier League Young Player of the Season nominee
• Scored on his Italy debut in September 2026

8. Denzel Dumfries — Real Madrid (Netherlands)

↓ Down 3 positions · Right wing-back

Denzel Dumfries ended his five years at Inter in the best possible way, winning Serie A and the Coppa Italia in 2025/26 as one of the most powerful right wing-backs in Europe. His aerial strength and relentless runs into the box remain his trademarks.

After representing the Netherlands at the World Cup, he joined Real Madrid in July 2026 for a reported €20 million – the value of his release clause – signing until 2030. Under José Mourinho, he now competes with Trent Alexander-Arnold for the right-back spot at the Bernabéu.

Key achievements:

• Serie A and Coppa Italia winner with Inter 2025/26
• Reported €20 million move to Real Madrid, contract until 2030
• Netherlands international

9. Trent Alexander-Arnold — Real Madrid (England)

↓ Down 7 positions · Playmaking full-back

Trent Alexander-Arnold remains one of the most gifted passers ever to play at right-back, but his first season at Real Madrid did not go to plan. Hamstring and thigh injuries limited him to 30 appearances in all competitions (22 starts), with no goals and four assists, Madrid finished the season without a major trophy, and Thomas Tuchel left him out of England’s World Cup squad – even after Tino Livramento withdrew injured.

Real Madrid have since signed Denzel Dumfries, so Trent faces a fight for his place under José Mourinho. If he stays fit, his vision and set-piece delivery could still put him back near the top of this list.

Key achievements:

• Premier League and Champions League winner with Liverpool
• Most assists by a defender in Premier League history
• 30 appearances for Real Madrid in an injury-hit 2025/26

10. Tino Livramento — Newcastle United (England)

⬅ Holds 10th place · Attacking full-back

Tino Livramento’s pace and composure on the ball make him one of the most promising right-backs in England, but 2025/26 was a frustrating year. A thigh injury ruled him out of Newcastle’s final five Premier League games, and after recovering in time to be named in England’s World Cup squad, he had to withdraw with a calf injury picked up in training on the eve of the tournament.

Still only 23, Livramento has all the tools to climb this ranking once he gets a run of fitness.

Key achievements:

• Named in England’s 2026 World Cup squad
• Newcastle United’s first-choice right-back when fit
• England international

Honourable Mentions

A few right-backs came very close to making our top 10. Some lost out on minutes, others on consistency – but all of them are worth watching in 2026/27.

Jeremie Frimpong drops out of the top 10 after a debut season at Liverpool ruined by four separate injuries. He missed around 20 matches and was left out of the Netherlands’ World Cup squad, but his pace and goal threat remain elite when fit.

Giovanni Di Lorenzo remains Napoli’s captain and Italy’s Mr. Reliable. A two-time Serie A champion (2022/23 and 2024/25), he balances attack and defence with rare consistency.

Rico Lewis signed a new five-year contract with Manchester City in 2025, keeping him at the club until 2030. Equally comfortable at right-back and in midfield, he is one of the most tactically intelligent young full-backs in England.

Malo Gusto is Chelsea’s dynamic right-back and France’s main alternative to Jules Koundé on the right side of defence.

Diogo Dalot can play on both flanks and remains part of a Manchester United side that finished third in the Premier League in 2025/26.

Trends and Future of the Right-Back Position

The right-back position continues to evolve faster than almost any other. Ryerson’s 15 Bundesliga assists show how much creativity now comes from the flank, while Timber and Koundé prove that a right-back can also be an elite one-on-one defender who steps into midfield in possession. Players like Reece James and Rico Lewis blur the line between full-back and central midfielder even further, and Kayode’s long throws are a reminder that set pieces from the flank still decide games.

The next generation is already pushing for the top: Rico Lewis is 21, Michael Kayode 22 and Tino Livramento 23. With their mix of pace, technique and tactical intelligence, the best right-backs in the world in the coming years will be expected to defend like centre-backs, create like playmakers and arrive in the box like wingers.