Defenders are the backbone of any successful football team, and La Liga 2024/25 was no exception. Week in, week out, some of the league’s most consistent performers operated from the back breaking down opposition attacks, leading transitions, and showing that defending is more than just tackling.
To compile this ranking, we considered a mix of key metrics: minutes played, defensive stats like tackles and recoveries, overall consistency, team impact, and even creative contribution when relevant. While numbers helped guide the list, influence on the pitch and team outcomes were equally weighed.
Of course, any ranking of this kind leaves out deserving names. Football is full of variables injuries, tactical shifts, and moments of brilliance and while every effort was made to include the best, no list is perfect. Still, these ten defenders stood tall throughout the campaign and earned their place.
10. Marcos Alonso – Celta Vigo
Matches Played: 30
Goals: 3
Minutes: 2565
Tackles per Game: 1.1
At 34, Alonso has found a new lease of life at Celta Vigo. The former Barcelona full-back became a dependable presence on the left, scoring 3 times and maintaining composure in a rebuilding team. While not the quickest, his experience helped stabilize the back line.
9. Sergio Gómez – Real Sociedad
Matches Played: 36
Goals: 2
Assists: 5
Minutes: 2672
Big Chances Created: 15
Tackles per Game: 1.8
Ball Recoveries per Game: 3.9
Sergio Gómez was a complete package for Real Sociedad this season. With 15 big chances created and an average of nearly four ball recoveries per match, his blend of creativity and defensive contribution was unmatched. His consistent delivery and tireless work rate made him one of the most valuable full-backs in La Liga.
8. Sergi Cardona – Villarreal
Matches Played: 35
Goals:1
Assists: 7
Minutes: 2955
Big Chances Created: 10
Tackles per Game: 2.0
At just 25, Sergi Cardona had a breakout campaign for Villarreal. His 7 assists and 10 big chances created highlight his attacking threat from the back. With Villarreal conceding 49 goals and still qualifying for the Champions League, Cardona’s defensive contribution and consistent minutes were crucial to the club’s resurgence.
7. Marcos Llorente – Atletico Madrid
Matches Played: 32
Goals: 2
Assists: 4
Minutes: 2423
Big Chances Created: 8
Tackles per Game: 2.1
Deployed in multiple roles, Llorente’s versatility again stood out. While naturally a midfielder, his performances in defensive roles helped Atlético Madrid finish top four and secure Champions League qualification. His attacking stats and 2.1 tackles per game show just how well-rounded his game has become.
6. Pau Cubarsi – Barcelona
Matches Played: 34
Assists: 3
Minutes: 2530
Big Chances Created: 3
Tackles per Game: 1.0
The 17-year-old Cubarsí saw his form fluctuate but still contributed significantly to Barcelona’s title win. With maturity beyond his years, he often stepped up in big matches. While not as defensively solid as in previous runs, he remains one of La Liga’s most promising young defenders.
5. Óscar Mingueza – Celta Vigo
Matches Played: 33
Goals: 4
Assists: 6
Minutes: 2657
Big Chances Created: 12
Tackles per Game: 1.1
Mingueza was one of La Liga’s most improved players this season. Transitioning from a utility defender to a reliable playmaker, his 10 goal contributions and 12 big chances created show his attacking involvement. His performance was key to Celta Vigo’s survival and competitiveness throughout the campaign.
4. Jules Kounde – Fc Barcelona
Matches Played: 32
Goals: 2
Assists: 3
Minutes: 2606
Big Chances Created: 6
Tackles per Game: 2.0
Clean Sheets: 8
Koundé shouldered the full responsibility at right-back for Barcelona and delivered a solid campaign. His defensive reliability and timely forward surges kept Barcelona’s system balanced. Despite defensive struggles at times, his 8 clean sheets and strong tackling stats show his consistent influence.
3. Antonio Rudiger – Real Madrid
Antonio Rüdiger has featured in 29 La Liga matches during the 2024/2025 season, during which he has helped Real Madrid concede just 23 goals and keep 11 clean sheets. On average, that means his team lets in a goal roughly every 100 minutes when he’s on the pitch a solid defensive record. Statistically, Rüdiger contributes 0.71 tackles and 0.31 interceptions per 90 minutes, showcasing his intelligent positioning and timing. Additionally, he averages 3.62 clearances per game, underlining his crucial role in maintaining defensive stability at the back for Real Madrid. His consistency and presence continue to be a key asset in Madrid’s backline.
2. Daniel Vivian – Athletic Bilbao
One of the most promising Spanish centre-backs in recent years, it feels as though Dani Vivian has really stepped up a gear during the 2024/25 campaign. As part of an Athletic defence that has only conceded 26 goals in 37 games in LaLiga, Vivian now has to be regarded as one of the division’s elite central defenders.
The 25-year-old is coming into his prime and has clocked up 2585 minutes for the club already this season. He’s put himself into a strong position to be one of the starting centre-backs for Spain at the 2026 World Cup.
Bilbao are looking good to finish in the top four which would also see Vivian play in the Champions League for the first time next season.
1. Inigo Martinez – FC Barcelona
Best defender in LaLiga this season according to average Sofascore ratings.
Martinez only made 13 league starts last season under Xavi, but Hansi Flick’s arrival, and injuries for the likes of Andreas Christensen and Ronald Araujo have pushed the 34-year-old into a much more prominent role.
Martinez played 28 league games registered four(4) assists having seven(7) clean sheet and zero(0) error leading to goal
As the curtain falls on another gripping La Liga season, defenders continue to prove their worth beyond the stats sheet. From unsung heroes to game-changing full-backs, the players highlighted here showed resilience, intelligence, and the kind of discipline that championship teams are built on.
Whether your favorite made the list or not, one thing is clear: the standard of defending in La Liga remains world-class. With young talents rising and experienced names still dominating, next season promises even fiercer competition. For now, these are the ten who led from the back with strength, style, and substance.
