best center backs of all time

Center back is one of the most important positions on the soccer pitch. Players in this role offer solidity and protection, and will often be relied upon for their leadership skills and talismanic qualities, as well as significant in-possession contributions. As a result, there have been a large number of hugely influential professional players to have made a name for themselves in this position over the years.

In this article, we'll be taking you through some of the very best, compiling a list of stars from across the world who can make a serious claim to be amongst the best center backs ever. We'll also flesh out the key responsibilities, duties, and skills of a typical soccer center-back to help provide context to this star-studded list. But let's start with the basics — what is a center back in soccer?