The left-back role has evolved at a frightening pace. Modern full-backs aren’t just defenders anymore — they are playmakers, tempo-setters, press-resisters, and auxiliary wingers rolled into one.
The ten names below represent the peak of that evolution. Each brings a distinct interpretation of the position, and together they define what the role looks like in 2026.
10. Lewis Hall – Newcastle United
Lewis Hall’s development has been a slow burn, but the payoff finally arrived last season. After an uneven start at Newcastle, the young Englishman grew into one of Eddie Howe’s most dependable performers, combining clean defensive work with the kind of aggressive ball-carrying that opens up attacks from deep.
Newcastle’s rise back toward the Premier League’s top tier coincided with Hall’s emergence — a testament to how influential he has become on the left flank. An early-season injury has slightly halted his momentum this term, but the quality is undeniable. When fully fit, Hall is one of the most dynamic young full-backs around.
9. Álvaro Carreras – Real Madrid
After years of uncertainty at left-back, Real Madrid finally found stability in Álvaro Carreras. His return to the club — following a €50 million move from Benfica — instantly reshaped Xabi Alonso’s defensive structure.
Carreras brings balance, calm progression, and clever positional movement. He has already delivered crucial contributions in Madrid’s push across competitions, scoring once and assisting another in his first 19 appearances.
For a club that demands excellence on the biggest stage, Carreras has handled the spotlight with impressive maturity.
8. Myles Lewis-Skelly – Arsenal
Few teenagers adapt to top-level football as quickly as Myles Lewis-Skelly. Originally groomed as a midfielder, the 19-year-old has taken to the left-back role with an elegance that belies his age.
Thomas Tuchel trusted him with England minutes at full-back; Mikel Arteta built attacking sequences around his fearlessness and drive. Jamie Carragher’s comparisons to Jude Bellingham and Wayne Rooney may sound bold, but the “football arrogance” he plays with — that unshakeable confidence — makes them feel strangely fitting.
Lewis-Skelly is already special. His ceiling feels even higher.
7. Nico O’Reilly – Manchester City
Nico O’Reilly has quietly become one of Pep Guardiola’s indispensable pieces. City thrive on full-backs who dominate multiple phases of play, and O’Reilly fits that blueprint perfectly.
His involvement in attacking sequences is constant, his touches in the box reflect his advanced positioning, and his defensive numbers show a player who doesn’t neglect the basics.
Under Guardiola, versatility is currency — and O’Reilly spends it well. He’s now one of the first names on the team sheet.
6. Alejandro Balde – Barcelona
When Alejandro Balde is fully fit, Barcelona look like a different team. His recovery from the hamstring injury that cruelly robbed him of Euro 2024 has restored the explosive form he showcased in 2022/23.
Hansi Flick has handed him the responsibility of driving Barcelona’s entire left side. His acceleration, tight-space dribbling and improving defensive instincts make him indispensable.
Still only in his early 20s, Balde remains one of the most naturally gifted full-backs in the world.
5. Riccardo Calafiori – Arsenal
Riccardo Calafiori has embraced the hybrid role of the modern full-back better than almost anyone. Arsenal use him as a defender, a ball-carrier, a progressor, and even an auxiliary midfielder in certain phases.
His defensive clarity stands out — losing just 0.42 challenges per 90 is an elite mark — but he pairs that with real attacking presence, regularly popping up in the oppositions’ box and clearing danger at the other end.
Calafiori is the kind of player top teams build systems around, not simply fill positions with.
4. Federico Dimarco – Inter Milan
Dimarco’s rise is a story of persistence rewarded. After years of loans and competition, he earned Inter’s trust and has since become one of their most defining players.
His left foot is a weapon: venomous crosses, clever cut-backs, and thunderous strikes from range are all part of his repertoire.
What truly elevates him, though, is his mentality — relentless running, leadership on the pitch, and an energy that lifts those around him. At Inter, he is no longer just a full-back; he is a pillar of the team’s identity.
3. Marc Cucurella – Chelsea
Marc Cucurella’s resurgence under Enzo Maresca has been one of the most striking individual turnarounds in the Premier League.
Now a fixture in Chelsea’s starting XI, he has flourished as a tucked-in, high-tempo left-back who contributes heavily in both boxes. His advanced touches, crisp final-third passing, and strong defensive numbers highlight how complete his game has become.
When a manager says he wants “seven players like him,” it’s not empty praise. Cucurella has created a real gap between himself and most Premier League left-backs.
2. Alejandro Grimaldo – Bayer Leverkusen
Grimaldo was central to Leverkusen’s historic title run, orchestrating the left flank with elegance and total assurance.
His one-touch play, intelligent drifting inside, and precise passing patterns give his teams control every time he steps on the pitch. And then there is the left foot — a magnet for goals, assists, and set-piece magic.
His 2023/24 season was explosive; the following year steadier but equally polished. The level has never dropped. Grimaldo remains one of the cleanest technicians in world football.
1. Nuno Mendes – Paris Saint-Germain
At the top of the list stands Nuno Mendes — the prototype for the future of the position.
Power, pace, technique, intelligence… Mendes blends every modern requirement with rare fluidity. His low centre of gravity helps him glide past opponents and stay compact in duels, while his bursts down the flank destabilise entire defensive structures.
His crossing is purposeful, his defending sharp, and his influence impossible to ignore. PSG rely on him in every phase of play. Mendes doesn’t just fit the modern full-back mould — he shapes it.
Right now, no left-back in world football offers a more complete package.
