The season has got off to a thunderous start across Europe and a position surprisingly on the tongues of many is left back. The many top sides around the world have been hounding for a top quality left-sided fullback to bolster their defense and with the transfer window now closed, we can review the best 10 in this position. This article will be reviewing the ten best left backs as of September 2026.
10. Nico O’Reilly
Nico O’Reilly wasn’t always a left back but he has excelled there since Pep Guardiola found a slot for him. A breakout star last season, the young Englishman helped Manchester City to two cup wins and a valiant effort in the league, scoring multiple goals against the champions Arsenal. He may not be the best in brute force but he loves to invert, run down the wing and play balls across the pitch from the left defensive side. The 21 year old is one of many promising players in this position for England and he may yet find his best football elsewhere on the pitch, but for the time being he is a top 10 standout at left back in 2026.
9. Lewis Hall
Premier League viewers were likely appalled when Lewis Hall didn’t make it into the 2026 England World Cup squad after a brilliant season with Newcastle, but he has so much time to prove his worth yet. The 21 year old is quickly becoming the most sought-after left back option in the league, with names like Manchester United, Manchester City and others hounding for his signature. He may not be a hulk of a man, but his passing attributes, relative pace and 1-on-1 abilities make him a great defender for the Magpies.
8. Marc Cucurella
Spain’s star left back who’s just been snatched up by Real Madrid, Cucurella is even better than he lets on. Despite a very disappointing few seasons with Chelsea, helping them qualify to Champions League football only once in four years, he shone with Spain at the World Cup as a key force in defense and showed quality during his time at Brighton. The fluffy-haired fullback joins a defensively weak Real Madrid team with an element of leadership and experience and could prove to be helpful in a season where time is running out for Madrid to get back to winning ways.
7. Alejandro Grimaldo
A silently smart signing by Atletico de Madrid, Alejandro Grimaldo has already won the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal unbeaten. One of the best set piece takers still in the world with an impressive passing range to boot, Grimaldo has a unique profile that fits a back 3 like a glove. He’s able to protect the left-sided centerback with defensive quality that he’s shown throughout the years at Benfica, Leverkusen and now in LaLiga with Atletico Madrid. He might not be the paciest, flashiest left back on Earth, but he’s a great leader and proven winner that many teams would love to have in their eleven.
6. Alphonso Davies
Perhaps the best Canadian in history, quick and lethal Alphonso Davies has been a pillar at Bayern Munich for years now. He may be injury prone but when he is fit, he is one of the most important players for Bayern Munich and best left backs on the planet. His pace is renowned but his eye for goal, incisive passing and surprising physicality support the left winger consistently. With all of the new names it’s easy to forget about the North American who silently delivers, but he is certainly still in the conversation for best left backs in football currently.
5. Josko Gvardiol
Josko Gvardiol’s most popular moment may be an embarrassment by the greatest of all time, Lionel Messi, but since his arrival to Manchester City he has matured into one of the most solid fullbacks in the Premier League. He has often shifted centrally to accommodate players due to his physicality and discipline which makes him versatile enough to play center back proficiently as he often did earlier in his career. Under Maresca’s system he’s featured in all Premier League games at left back contributing defensively and going forward with his league goal in their opener. Fortunately enough for Manchester City, at 24, he has likely at least a decade of top quality to provide.
4. Ricardo Calafiori
A breakout star in the 23/24 season for Bologna, Ricardo Calafiori shone in a dim Italy team at the 2024 Euros. Arsenal decided to take the chance on him and he has been incredible since (when playing). Despite fitness issues, he has few flaws to his game. It would be hard to nail down a poor performance for Calafiori in an Arsenal kit. He has all the attributes required to play in Mikel Arteta’s system, such as a history of playing centerback and the physicality that comes with that, alongside incredible pace plus the ability to contribute in offense. If he can remain fit for an extended period of time, it would be hard not to put him even higher on this list.
3. Federico DiMarco
The Italian starting left back has had some shaky performances in recent history, especially in the biggest games, but his consistency for Inter Milan in the league cannot go unnoticed. It shouldn’t be a key factor to mention goals and assists for a fullback, but it is truly re-Marco-ble what he achieved last season, getting 8 goals and record-breaking 17 assists in the league. The ultimate test of a fullback is defensively and unfortunately despite incredible success domestically, in the Champions League he has a bad record against top teams, losing to Arsenal, getting demolished in the 2025 Champions League final 5-0 making multiple big mistakes and failing to get Italy to the World Cup after multiple attempts.
2. Piero Hincapie
The key in defense in Arsenal’s title-winning season, Piero Hincapie became an immediate hit in the squad, slotting into the side when Ricardo Calafiori could not maintain fitness and didn’t look back. Hincapie understands how to win titles, hailing from the unbeaten Leverkusen squad where he was a monolith in defense. Like many of Arteta’s options in defense at Arsenal, he can play multiple positions, mainly left back and center back. He is quick, physical, defensively aware and can link up play from the left with ease. Part of Ecuador’s reliability in defense comes from his resoluteness in defense, starting ahead of great players like Pervis Estupinan who have to move out of position to accommodate him. At the young age of 24, the Ecuadorian titan likely has around a decade left of top quality football.
1. Nuno Mendes
You don’t win back to back champions league with a forgettable squad player at left back. The Sporting CP academy product has become one of the most important players in the historic PSG squad, contributing heavily not only in defense, but in attack. His quick pace and tidy sharp passing allows him to interchange fluidly with the attacking forces of the UCL champions. Despite a lot of chopping and changing of the midfield, attack and even sometimes defense at the French champions, Nuno Mendes is often invaluable in key games, with him almost always starting in the biggest of faceoffs. Even for his nation he’s scored in crucial moments such as the Nations League final to guide them to an international trophy. He is almost unrivaled as the best left back in the world.
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