Player ProfilesGreatest Defenders #20: Virgil van Dijk
Virgil van Dijk led Liverpool to the Champions League and Premier League and was 2019 Ballon d'Or runner-up. He is number 20.
11 Sept 2026, 08:00·2 min read·by ChampionSport Editorial Team
PLAYER PROFILES NEWS
94 articles in Player Profiles
Player Profiles
Player ProfilesGreatest Defenders #21: Nemanja Vidić
Nemanja Vidić was twice named Premier League Player of the Season as a centre-back, and the Serbian lands at number 21.
10 Sept 2026, 08:00·2 min read·by ChampionSport Editorial Team
Player ProfilesGreatest Defenders #22: Rio Ferdinand
Rio Ferdinand won 6 Premier League titles and the Champions League with Manchester United, and the stylish centre-back is number 22.
9 Sept 2026, 08:00·2 min read·by ChampionSport Editorial Team
Player ProfilesGreatest Defenders #23: John Terry
John Terry made over 700 appearances for Chelsea and won 5 Premier League titles as captain, and he comes in at number 23.
8 Sept 2026, 08:00·2 min read·by ChampionSport Editorial Team
Player ProfilesGreatest Defenders #24: Roberto Carlos
Roberto Carlos bent that free kick against France in 1997 and won 3 Champions League titles with Real Madrid. He is number 24.
7 Sept 2026, 08:00·2 min read·by ChampionSport Editorial Team
Player ProfilesGreatest Defenders #25: Dani Alves
Dani Alves won over 40 trophies, more than any other professional footballer, and the Brazilian right-back takes number 25.
6 Sept 2026, 08:00·2 min read·by ChampionSport Editorial Team
Player ProfilesGreatest Defenders #26: Philipp Lahm
Pep Guardiola called Philipp Lahm the most intelligent player he ever trained, and Germany's 2014 World Cup captain is number 26.
5 Sept 2026, 08:00·2 min read·by ChampionSport Editorial Team
Player ProfilesGreatest Defenders #27: Javier Zanetti
Javier Zanetti made over 850 appearances for Inter Milan across 19 years and captained the 2009-10 treble side. He is number 27.
4 Sept 2026, 08:00·2 min read·by ChampionSport Editorial Team
Player ProfilesGreatest Defenders #28: Ashley Cole
Ashley Cole won 3 Premier League titles and 7 FA Cups, and Cristiano Ronaldo called him his toughest opponent. He is number 28.
3 Sept 2026, 08:00·2 min read·by ChampionSport Editorial Team
Player ProfilesGreatest Defenders #29: Lilian Thuram
Lilian Thuram won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 and earned 142 caps for France, and he takes number 29.
2 Sept 2026, 08:00·2 min read·by ChampionSport Editorial Team
Player ProfilesGreatest Defenders #30: Gary Neville
Gary Neville spent his whole career at Manchester United and won 8 Premier League titles, and he opens our defenders list at number 30.
1 Sept 2026, 08:00·2 min read·by ChampionSport Editorial Team
Player ProfilesGreatest Penalty Takers #2: Ronaldo vs Messi
Ronaldo has scored more penalties, Messi scored two in the 2022 World Cup Final. We share number 2 between them.
29 Aug 2026, 08:00·2 min read·by ChampionSport Editorial Team
Showing 12 of 94 articles (Page 3 of 8)
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