The position that made stars like Roberto Carlos, Marcelo, Maldini and others eternal continues to produce excellent players. To be one of the greatest left-backs of all time, as they were, you have to go beyond the basics of the role;
You have to have your heart in your boots and give your all for the team and the game. Whether defending or leading attacks, the left-back is a fundamental part of soccer.
It’s time to look back at the 15 greatest left-backs of all time!
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Meet the 15 greatest left-backs of all time
From Roberto Carlos to Eddie Hapgood, great names permeate our list! Read on to discover the greatest left-backs of all time, their titles, careers and curiosities.
- Roberto Carlos
Titles: World Cup (2002), Spanish Championship (1996, 2000, 2002, 2006), among others.
History: born in Garça, Brazil, Roberto Carlos began his career at União São João before becoming a legend at Real Madrid.
Curiosity: he was the left-back who scored the most goals in soccer history.
- Paolo Maldini
Titles: UEFA Champions League (1988, 1989, 1993, 2002, 2006), Italian Championship (1987, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1998, 2003), among others.
History: born in Milan, Italy, Maldini grew up in the club of his family’s heart and became one of the greatest defenders in history.
Curiosity: has played over 900 games for AC Milan.
- Marcelo
Titles: UEFA Champions League (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017), La Liga (2006, 2007, 2011, 2016, 2019), among others.
History: born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Marcelo was discovered by Fluminense before moving to Real Madrid.
Curiosity: is the left-back with the most assists for Real Madrid.
- Giacinto Facchetti
Titles: World Cup (1970), Italian Championship (1962, 1964, 1965, 1970), among others.
History: born in Treviglio, Italy, Facchetti spent his entire career at Internazionale, becoming a club icon.
Curiosity: he was the first full-back to score 10 goals in a single season in the Italian league.
- Nilton Santos
Titles: World Cup (1958, 1962), Carioca Championship (1948, 1957, 1961, 1962, 1967), among others.
History: born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Santos spent his entire career at Botafogo, where he became a club legend.
Curiosities: Nilton Santos pioneered the left-back position, introducing a more attacking approach to the game.
- Ashley Cole
Titles: English Championship (2001, 2003, 2009, 2014), UEFA Champions League (2011), among others.
History: born in London, England, Cole began his career at Arsenal before becoming one of the best left-backs in the world.
Curiosity: is the only player to win the FA Cup seven times.
- Júnior
Titles: World Cup (1982, 1994), Brazilian Championship (1980, 1982, 1983), among others.
History: born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Júnior spent most of his career at Flamengo, where he became an idol.
Curiosity: he is the player with the most appearances in Brazilian Championships for Flamengo.
- Paul Breitner
Titles: World Cup (1974), German Championship (1971, 1972, 1973), Spanish Championship (1974), among others.
History: born in Kolbermoor, Germany, Breitner had a glittering career that included spells at major European clubs.
Curiosity: Breitner was known for his versatility, being able to play both as a left-back and as a midfielder.
- Antonio Cabrini
Titles: World Cup (1982), Italian Championship (1974, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1985), among others.
History: born in Cremona, Italy, Cabrini spent most of his career at Juventus, where he won numerous titles.
Curiosity: he was the first full-back to score in a World Cup final.
- Ricardo Rocha
Titles: World Cup (1994), Brazilian Championship (1987, 1990), among others.
History: born in São Paulo, Brazil, Rocha had a successful career that included spells at Brazilian and European clubs.
Curiosity: he was the first full-back to score in a World Cup final for Brazil.
- Bixente Lizarazu
Titles: World Cup (1998), Bundesliga (1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2005), UEFA Champions League (2000), among others.
History: born in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France, Lizarazu enjoyed a successful career with Bayern Munich and the French national team.
Curiosity: he is the only player to win the World Cup and the UEFA Champions League in the same year (1998).
- Roberto Rosato
Titles: World Cup (1968), Italian Championship (1971, 1972, 1974), among others.
History: born in Rome, Italy, Rosato spent his entire career at Juventus, where he became a club legend.
Curiosity: he took part in three consecutive World Cup finals with the Italian national team (1970, 1974, 1978).
- Karl-Heinz Schnellinger
Titles: World Cup (1974), Italian Championship (1963, 1968), among others.
History: born on March 31, 1939 in Düren, Germany, Karl-Heinz Schnellinger began his professional career with Cologne in 1957.
Curiosity: Schnellinger is remembered for his crucial role in the 1970 World Cup final between Brazil and Italy, where he scored a crucial goal in injury time, forcing the game into extra time.
- José Antonio Camacho
Titles: La Liga (1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1985), among others.
History: born on June 8, 1955 in Cieza, Spain, he began his professional career with Real Madrid in 1973.
Curiosity: was one of the members of Spain’s famous generation that won the UEFA European Championship in 1968, although he was quite young at the time.
- Eddie Hapgood
Titles: English Championship (1930, 1932, 1933, 1934), among others.
History: born on September 24, 1908, in Bristol, England, he spent most of his career at Arsenal, where he became captain and a central figure in the legendary Arsenal team of the 1930s and 1940s.
Curiosity: after ending his career as a player, Hapgood worked as a sports journalist and writer, sharing his experiences and unique perspectives on the game.
List of the greatest left-backs of all time
- Roberto Carlos
- Paolo Maldini
- Marcelo
- Giacinto Facchetti
- Nilton Santos
- Ashley Cole
- Júnior
- Paul Breitner
- Antonio Cabrini
- Bixente Lizarazu
- Roberto Rosato
- Karl-Heinz Schnellinger
- José Antonio Camacho
- Eddie Hapgood
The greatest left-backs in World Cup history
Now that you’ve seen the greatest left-backs of all time, let’s take a look back at some of the names that have left their mark on World Cup history.
Photo: UOL/Divulgação.
- Nilton Santos
The first position in the list of the greatest left-backs of all time is Botafogo’s idol. Nilton played in 4 World Cups for our national team, winning two of them and scoring 1 goal. He was also elected to the 1958 World Cup All-Star Team.
- Paolo Maldini
The Italian, who spent his career with AC Milan, is one of the record holders for World Cup appearances with 23 games played. He played in 4 World Cups and was named in the All-Star Team for the 1990, 1994 and 2002 World Cups.
- Paul Breitner
One of the greats responsible for Germany reaching the final of the 1982 World Cup, Paul Breitner couldn’t fail to make the list of the greatest left-backs of all time. He played in two of them, making 14 appearances in total.He was named in the All-Star Team for the 1974 World Cup.
- Ruud Krol
An icon of the Oranje, as the 1974 Dutch national team was known, Ruud played in two World Cups, playing in 14 matches and scoring 1 goal. He was elected to the All-Star Team for the 1974 and 1978 World Cups.
- Roberto Carlos
The Brazilian star, considered the greatest Brazilian left-back of all time, played in three World Cups, playing 17 games and scoring one goal. Roberto was chosen for the All-Star Team at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups.
List of the greatest left-backs in World Cup history
- Nilton Santos
- Paolo Maldini
- Paul Breitner
- Ruud Krool
- Roberto Carlos
Did we miss any names? Let us know in the comments who you think are the greatest left-backs of all time! And if you enjoyed this content, take the opportunity to read it too:
- The 20 greatest right-backs of all time: a look back at the names that made history
- The 10 best Brazilian goalkeepers today: see the updated list
- Best strikers in Brazil: 15 stars who are doing well there
- Updated list: check out the best wingers in Brazil
