Achraf Hakimi is FootballerRank’s best right-back in the world right now in 2026. His attacking movement, chance creation and recovery speed give him the strongest overall case. Pedro Porro ranks second for his creativity and major-match impact, while Jurriën Timber takes third for defensive balance.
Modern right-backs have different jobs. Some attack the touchline, while others move into midfield or protect the defensive line. We compare ten active right-backs and qualifying right wing-backs using current performance, defending, attacking contribution, consistency, availability and big-match impact.
Editorial ranking | Reviewed 2026
Key Takeaways
- Achraf Hakimi ranks as our best right-back in the world right now.
- Pedro Porro takes second after winning the 2026 World Cup with Spain and scoring twice during the tournament.
- Jurriën Timber ranks third after helping Arsenal win the Premier League with the competition’s strongest defence.
- Jules Koundé and Reece James complete our top five.
- Right wing-backs qualify when they perform substantial right-sided defensive duties.
Top 10 Best Right-Backs in the World Right Now
The strengths below are editorial assessments, not official ratings. Clubs reflect confirmed 2026 information.
| Rank | Player | Club | Country | Attacking Strength | Defensive Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Achraf Hakimi | Paris Saint-Germain | Morocco | Overlapping runs and chance creation | Recovery speed and wide coverage |
| 2 | Pedro Porro | Tottenham Hotspur | Spain | Crossing and forward passing | Tackling and tracking runners |
| 3 | Jurriën Timber | Arsenal | Netherlands | Buildup and ball carrying | Positioning and defensive duels |
| 4 | Jules Koundé | Barcelona | France | Passing combinations | One-on-one defending and interceptions |
| 5 | Reece James | Chelsea | England | Crossing and passing | Physical duels and positioning |
| 6 | Denzel Dumfries | Real Madrid | Netherlands | Back-post runs and aerial threat | Recovery runs and aerial challenges |
| 7 | Daniel Muñoz | Crystal Palace | Colombia | Penalty-area runs and pressing | Tracking and wide duels |
| 8 | Malo Gusto | Chelsea | France | Overlaps and ball carrying | Recovery pace and pressing |
| 9 | Trent Alexander-Arnold | Real Madrid | England | Long passes and crossing | Reading play and defensive coverage |
| 10 | Djed Spence | Inter Milan | England | Ball carrying and forward runs | One-on-one defending and recovery |
What Counts as a Right-Back?
A right-back protects the right side of defence, stops left wingers, tracks runners and supports attacks. Modern duties can include overlapping, crossing, moving into midfield and pressing high.
Hakimi often attacks like a winger, while Timber can move inside to support possession. Both play the same position but carry different responsibilities.
Our best full-backs in the world right now ranking compares players from both sides of defence.
Do Right Wing-Backs Qualify?
Yes. Dumfries and Muñoz qualify because their roles include substantial defensive work on the right.
Matches played mainly at left-back or in central midfield provide context but do not receive full weight in this specialist ranking. Players who mainly defend the opposite flank belong in our best left-backs in the world right now comparison.
How We Ranked the Best Current Right-Backs
We use these five criteria as an editorial guide. The weights describe their relative importance. They are not a calculated statistical model or an official player score.
| Factor | Weight | What We Assess |
|---|---|---|
| Defensive ability | 30% | Positioning, duels, tackles, interceptions and recovery |
| Attacking contribution | 25% | Assists, chances created, crossing, passing and ball progression |
| Consistency | 20% | Reliable performance and execution of the right-sided role |
| Big-match impact | 15% | Influence in major club and international matches |
| Fitness and availability | 10% | Verified appearances and ability to contribute regularly |
The completed club campaign ending in 2026 provides the main body of evidence. The Champions League and 2026 World Cup add major-match context. More recent performances support the assessment, while small samples receive less weight.
Tackle totals alone do not prove defensive quality. A player in a team with less possession may face more challenges. Assists and chances created also depend on tactics and minutes played.
We keep recorded figures separate from judgments about positioning, buildup and match influence.
1. Achraf Hakimi
Photo: Bryan Berlin / WikiPortraits, Wikimedia Commons. License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikimedia Commons
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Country: Morocco
Position: Right-Back
Achraf Hakimi is the best right-back in the world right now in our 2026 ranking. His attacking output from defence remains exceptional.
PSG successfully defended the Champions League in the club campaign ending in 2026. Hakimi finished that competition with six assists. His role explains much of his attacking output. PSG do not use him as a traditional defender who stays beside the centre-backs.
When the team has possession, Hakimi can overlap, underlap, move into midfield, attack the back post and combine with forwards. He also makes runs beyond the defence and creates chances.
That creates pressure on opponents. If the opposing defender follows Hakimi high, space can appear elsewhere. If the defender stays deeper, Hakimi can receive and attack.
His speed also allows him to recover after possession is lost. An attacking right-back who cannot recover becomes a tactical problem. Hakimi can cover large distances quickly.
He is also an important Morocco leader. His international record includes the country’s historic 2022 World Cup semi-final.
StatMuse records six assists, 22 tackles and eight interceptions across 13 appearances in the Champions League campaign ending in 2026. These are full-campaign figures, not calendar-year totals.
His assists show recorded end product. His overlapping runs and passing explain how he creates chances beyond those assists.
Why he ranks No. 1: Hakimi combines attacking movement, chance creation, recovery speed and influence in major European matches.
2. Pedro Porro
Photo: Bryan Berlin / WikiPortraits, Wikimedia Commons. License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikimedia Commons
Club: Tottenham Hotspur
Country: Spain
Position: Right-Back
Pedro Porro produced one of the strongest cases among attacking right-backs during the latest ranking review. His Tottenham campaign ending in 2026 showed impressive consistency.
Tottenham records 47 appearances in all competitions, the most in its squad during that completed campaign.
Then came the World Cup. Spain became 2026 world champions, with Porro playing a major role during the knockout rounds.
He scored against Austria and again in Spain’s semi-final victory over France. That gave him two World Cup goals from right-back.
His attacking game is built around crossing, overlapping, shooting, progressive passing, combination play and set pieces.
Porro can create without reaching the byline. He is comfortable delivering from deeper areas. That makes it difficult for opponents to predict when a cross will arrive.
His shooting gives opponents another problem. Defenders cannot simply leave him unmarked outside the penalty area.
His defensive development also matters. Earlier in his Premier League career, his attacking quality was easier to identify than his defensive reliability. He has become more balanced.
Hakimi remains first because his attacking production and influence have been sustained across a longer period. Porro provides a strong challenge through creativity and major-match contribution.
Why he ranks No. 2: Porro combines regular club involvement, creative crossing and two goals during Spain’s World Cup-winning campaign.
3. Jurriën Timber
Archive photo: Carlo Bruil Fotografie, Wikimedia Commons. Existing crop with watermark removed. License: CC BY 2.0. Wikimedia Commons
Club: Arsenal
Country: Netherlands
Position: Right-Back / Defender
Jurriën Timber provides a different right-back profile. He has the strongest case for defensive balance among our top three.
Timber began his career with significant centre-back experience. That background remains visible in his positioning and defensive decisions.
He is comfortable defending physically, protecting central areas, following attackers inside and moving into midfield. He can also receive under pressure and carry the ball forward.
Arsenal’s campaign ending in 2026 was historic. The club won the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years. Arsenal conceded only 27 league goals and kept 19 clean sheets.
His attacking contribution should not be ignored. Against Leeds, Timber produced two goals and one assist. He became only the second Arsenal defender to record at least three goal involvements in one Premier League match.
His greater value comes from balance. When Bukayo Saka stays wide, Timber can support underneath. He can move inside, stay deeper to protect a transition or defend the opposition’s strongest winger directly.
His tackling closes down wide attacks. His interceptions depend on reading passes before they reach the winger.
That mix makes him valuable even when he does not score or provide an assist.
Why he ranks No. 3: Timber offers defensive balance, press resistance and flexible buildup play in Arsenal’s title-winning team.
4. Jules Koundé
Archive photo: Dmitry Pukalik / Soccer.ru, Wikimedia Commons. License: CC BY-SA 3.0. Wikimedia Commons
Club: Barcelona
Country: France
Position: Right-Back / Centre-Back
Jules Koundé is one of the best defensive right-backs in football. He originally built his reputation as a centre-back before becoming a regular option on the right.
That background gives him useful strengths for the position. He is especially effective in one-on-one defending, recovery, interceptions and physical duels.
He can defend a high line and pass under pressure. Those qualities matter in a Barcelona team that often leaves its defenders with large spaces to cover.
His attacking responsibilities differ from Hakimi’s. Koundé’s ability to remain secure allows the attacking players ahead of him greater freedom.
His biggest strength in this ranking is defensive reliability. If we considered only one-on-one defending, he could challenge Timber for a higher position.
Koundé’s tackles and interceptions help Barcelona defend wide spaces. His passing combinations also create openings, even when another player supplies the final assist.
Why he ranks No. 4: Koundé provides strong one-on-one defending, recovery speed and positional discipline.
5. Reece James
Archive photo: Vyacheslav Evdokimov / FC Zenit, Wikimedia Commons. Existing crop. License: CC BY-SA 3.0. Wikimedia Commons
Club: Chelsea
Country: England
Position: Right-Back / Midfielder
Reece James increased his club workload in the campaign ending in 2026. Chelsea records 39 appearances, including 29 starts.
That was an improvement after several injury-disrupted seasons. James played both right-back and central midfield, but only his right-back performances receive full specialist weight here.
At his best, James remains one of the most complete players in the position.
He offers strength, crossing, passing, long-range shooting, one-on-one defending, set-piece quality and ball carrying.
Physical strength is one of his main advantages. Some attacking right-backs struggle when isolated against physical wingers. James can match them in direct duels.
His peak ability could justify a higher position. However, this ranking also considers sustained contribution and availability rather than ability alone.
James creates chances through early crosses and accurate passes into the box. His tackles and positioning protect the space behind those attacks.
Chelsea’s appearance records support his improved workload. They do not establish his present medical status.
Why he ranks No. 5: James offers complete physical and technical ability, supported by 39 appearances in the club campaign ending in 2026.
6. Denzel Dumfries
Archive photo: Werner100359, Wikimedia Commons. Existing crop. License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikimedia Commons
Club: Real Madrid
Country: Netherlands
Position: Right Wing-Back / Right-Back
Denzel Dumfries remains one of football’s most dangerous attacking right-sided defenders. His game is more direct than Trent Alexander-Arnold’s.
Dumfries attacks space through physical running, back-post runs, heading, overlapping and movement into the penalty area.
He is particularly dangerous when a cross arrives from the opposite flank. His movement can give the attacking team another target inside the box.
His club campaign ending in 2026 was interrupted by injury. That reduces his availability assessment.
He still scored important goals and remained one of Inter’s key wide players. In 2026, he moved to Real Madrid.
Inter confirmed a lengthy injury absence followed by a return to the pitch before that transfer. We consider the missed football without treating that history as evidence of a current injury.
His defensive duels and recovery runs balance a role built around attacking the box. His output must also be judged in the context of a wing-back role, which gives him more freedom to move forward.
Why he ranks No. 6: Dumfries adds direct running and penalty-area threat, although a verified injury absence reduced his recent availability.
7. Daniel Muñoz
Photo: Fotografía oficial de la Presidencia de Colombia / Ovidio González, Wikimedia Commons. Existing crop. Public Domain Mark 1.0. Wikimedia Commons
Club: Crystal Palace
Country: Colombia
Position: Right Wing-Back
Daniel Muñoz is one of the most energetic right-sided defenders in football. Crystal Palace frequently use him as a wing-back.
That role qualifies for this ranking because he performs substantial defensive work while also becoming an important attacking runner.
His strengths include stamina, pressing, recovery, aerial attacking, overlapping and aggressive defending.
Muñoz is also an important Colombia player. His ability to arrive around the penalty area gives his team an extra attacking option. He often attacks crosses like a forward.
At full fitness, his combination of defensive work and attacking energy makes him difficult to handle.
His tackles and pressing can recover possession high up the right flank. His interceptions and tracking runs support the defence, while his movement into the box creates passing options.
Palace confirmed a knee injury and recovery in 2026. That is historical context rather than a claim that he is currently unavailable.
Why he ranks No. 7: Muñoz offers stamina, pressing and attacking runs while covering the right defensive flank.
8. Malo Gusto
Photo: Timmy96, Wikimedia Commons. Released under CC0. Wikimedia Commons
Club: Chelsea
Country: France
Position: Right-Back
Malo Gusto produced one of the strongest workloads among the players in this list.
Chelsea records 49 appearances, including 38 starts, in the club campaign ending in 2026. That gave him more appearances than Reece James.
Gusto was mainly used on the right, although Chelsea also used him at left-back and in midfield.
His specialist strengths include acceleration, overlapping, crossing, recovery speed, pressing and ball carrying.
His workload and athletic profile place him among the stronger current right-backs. He can repeatedly support attacks and recover when possession changes.
Gusto creates chances through overlaps and low crosses. His recovery speed helps him make tackles after Chelsea lose possession.
Anticipation matters for his interceptions. Reading a pass early can prevent him from needing a recovery challenge.
His attacking contribution is assessed alongside the quality of his deliveries, without adding an unverified assist total.
Why he ranks No. 8: Gusto combines recovery speed and attacking support with 49 appearances in the club campaign ending in 2026.
9. Trent Alexander-Arnold
Archive photo: Kirill Venediktov / Soccer.ru, Wikimedia Commons. License: CC BY-SA 3.0. Wikimedia Commons
Club: Real Madrid
Country: England
Position: Right-Back / Midfield Hybrid
Trent Alexander-Arnold is one of the most difficult players in this Top 10 to rank. His passing ability is clear. Few defenders have possessed the same range.
The question is how that quality fits his current specialist role.
Trent can create through long diagonals, crosses, through balls, set pieces and passes from deep. He can also move into midfield to influence buildup.
Those qualities sometimes pull him away from conventional right-back responsibilities. Real Madrid signed him in 2025 as a right-back who could also operate in midfield.
Current rankings cannot be based entirely on reputation. At his best, his passing from right-back is exceptional, but overall assessment also requires defensive evidence.
Alexander-Arnold creates chances through switches of play and deliveries behind the defensive line.
We also assess his tracking, tackling and interceptions. His creative contribution does not remove the need to protect the right side when his team loses possession.
Why he ranks No. 9: Alexander-Arnold is an exceptional passer, while this ranking also weighs defending and specialist role consistency.
10. Djed Spence
Photo: YantsImages / Asatur Yesayants, Wikimedia Commons. Existing crop by EndzoneEnthusiast. License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikimedia Commons
Club: Inter Milan
Country: England
Position: Right-Back / Left-Back
Djed Spence completes our Top 10. He is naturally a right-footed right-back, although Tottenham frequently used him on the left.
His athleticism allows him to defend either side. FootballerRank counts only his meaningful right-back evidence fully in this specialist list.
His strengths include one-on-one defending, recovery speed, ball carrying, pressing and physical duels.
In 2026, Spence moved from Tottenham to Inter Milan.
His side-specific evidence is less clear than that of the players above him because of his involvement on both flanks. That is one reason he ranks tenth.
Spence’s forward carries can start attacks without producing an assist. He can move his team up the pitch and draw an opponent out of position.
Defensively, his recovery runs, tackles and interceptions help protect wide spaces. His speed is especially useful when opponents attack behind the full-back.
Why he ranks No. 10: Spence combines athletic defending and ball carrying, with his right-back contribution assessed separately from left-sided appearances.
Best Right-Backs by Playing Style
Different teams need different qualities from their right-backs. These are our leading choices for specific strengths.
| Playing Style | Our Choice | Main Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Achraf Hakimi | Attacking movement and defensive recovery |
| Best defensive balance | Jurriën Timber | Positioning and control of transitions |
| Best one-on-one defender | Jules Koundé | Wide duels and defensive discipline |
| Best crosser | Pedro Porro | Deliveries from deep and wide positions |
| Best long-range passer | Trent Alexander-Arnold | Switches and passes through defensive lines |
Other Right-Backs to Watch
Tino Livramento, Jeremie Frimpong, Vanderson and Noussair Mazraoui remain relevant alternatives.
Eligibility depends on meaningful right-sided defensive involvement. A player used mainly as a winger or on the left needs separate assessment before entering this list.
A sustained run of strong performances, a change in role or improved availability could change the order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the best right-back in the world right now?
Achraf Hakimi leads our 2026 editorial ranking for attacking movement, chance creation, recovery speed and major-match influence.
Who is the best defensive right-back?
Jurriën Timber has our strongest case for overall defensive balance. Jules Koundé is especially strong in one-on-one defending.
Who is the best attacking right-back?
Hakimi ranks first overall. Pedro Porro stands out for crossing, while Trent Alexander-Arnold offers exceptional long-range passing.
Do right wing-backs count as right-backs?
Yes, when they perform substantial defensive duties on the right. That allows Dumfries and Muñoz to qualify, while their more advanced roles are considered in comparisons.
How are the best right-backs ranked?
We assess defending, attacking contribution, consistency, big-match impact and verified availability. Statistics are compared in the context of minutes, tactics and position.
Sources and Fact-Checking
Source checks include UEFA competition results, StatMuse Champions League data, Arsenal’s official season review, Tottenham’s Porro profile and Chelsea’s appearance records.
Club information and relevant availability claims were checked against Real Madrid’s Dumfries announcement, Inter’s Spence announcement and Palace’s Muñoz interview.
Figures refer to the named competition or completed club campaign. They do not automatically represent calendar-year 2026 totals.
Exact numerical claims are included where checked sources support them. Player descriptions without figures are editorial assessments.
This is an opinion ranking. The order can change as further match evidence becomes available.
For a comparison based on complete careers, see our best right-backs of all time ranking.
Conclusion
Achraf Hakimi leads our best right-backs ranking in 2026 for his attacking movement, defensive recovery and major-match influence. Porro follows for creativity and tournament impact, while Timber provides defensive balance. Koundé, James, Dumfries, Muñoz, Gusto, Alexander-Arnold and Spence complete a specialist list that considers the role each player performs and the evidence behind his contribution.
