With legendary centre-backs reminiscent of Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique having retired or left Spain in recent times, there’s a debate available as to who the very best LaLiga defenders of this technology are.
Beneath, we’ve ranked the very best LaLiga centre-backs in line with their L15 (Final 15 match common) rating on Sorare’s scoring matrix. That is a complicated scoring system which takes under consideration a variety of actions, with factors gained for profitable contributions reminiscent of blocks, tackles and clearances, however deducted for errors reminiscent of misplaced passes or errors resulting in objectives. Signal as much as Sorare to start out enjoying their world fantasy soccer recreation.
To characteristic within the rankings under, defenders should have appeared in at the very least eight of their final 15 eligible fixtures. That features LaLiga video games, and the place related worldwide and European membership fixtures. Home cup matches are usually not scored.
Gamers should have began nearly all of their matches as a centre-back to characteristic. We now have separate posts trying on the finest LaLiga right-backs and the finest LaLiga left-backs.
LaLiga defenders 2024/25 – High 5 centre-backs ranked by their Sorare scores
5. Ladislav Krejci, Girona – 56.5
Eric Garcia and Daley Blind shaped a robust central defensive partnership for Girona final season, however following a busy summer season at Montilivi, plenty of new gamers arrived. Their standout defensive addition in a way more difficult marketing campaign has been Ladislav Krejci.
The Czech centre-back has stable defensive numbers, whereas he boasts a go completion price of 90.8% throughout his 16 appearances in LaLiga. He additionally began seven of his group’s eight Champions League fixtures, though two personal objectives in that competitors might have soured barely an in any other case spectacular debut season in Spain.
4. Carl Starfelt, Celta Vigo – 58.1
Whereas it has additionally been a combined season for Celta Vigo, with a giant distinction between their dwelling and away outcomes, Carl Starfelt has established himself as probably the most competent ball-playing central defenders in LaLiga.
Whereas it’d be a stretch to name him one of many highest LaLiga centre backs when it comes to his all-round recreation simply but, Starfelt has accomplished 93.3% of his passes. That’s the third most of any participant within the division to have featured in additional than half of their group’s video games, behind solely Dani Ceballos and Frenkie de Jong.
The Swedish worldwide joined Celta from Celtic for €5m in August 2023, and at 29, he ought to have a number of extra years left working on the highest degree.
3. Loic Bade, Sevilla – 58.2
Loic Bade has been among the best defenders in LaLiga over the previous couple of years, actually amongst the gamers not working on the very prime finish of the division. Throughout a tricky interval for Sevilla, he has been a key a part of their back-line beneath a number of completely different coaches.
Already a Europa League winner and Olympics silver-medalist with France, Bade has been strongly linked with a transfer away. Given Sevilla’s tendency to money in on their star belongings, this might properly be his ultimate 12 months on the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan.
Bade is averaging 1.9 tackles and 4.2 clearances per recreation within the Spanish prime flight this season and can be sorely missed have been he to depart in the summertime.
2. Dani Vivian, Athletic Membership – 59.3
One of the promising Spanish centre-backs in recent times, it feels as if Dani Vivian has actually stepped up a gear in the course of the 2024/25 marketing campaign. As a part of an Athletic defence that has solely conceded 21 objectives in 24 video games in LaLiga, Vivian now needs to be thought to be one of many division’s elite central defenders.
The 25-year-old is coming into his prime and has clocked up almost 3000 minutes for membership and nation already this season. He’s put himself into a robust place to be one of many beginning centre-backs for La Roja on the 2026 World Cup, and the Vitoria-born defender is now probably the most vital gamers for an Athletic aspect that’s impressing beneath Ernesto Valverde.
The Basque giants are trying good to complete within the prime 4 which might additionally see Vivian play within the Champions League for the primary time subsequent season.
1. Iñigo Martinez, Barcelona – 61.0
The most effective defender in LaLiga proper now could be Iñigo Martinez, at the very least in line with Sorare’s scoring matrix.
The skilled centre-back was probably not anticipated to be something greater than a fringe participant when he joined Barcelona on a free switch from Athletic Membership in the summertime of 2023. Martinez solely made 13 league begins final season beneath Xavi, however Hansi Flick’s arrival, and accidents for the likes of Andreas Christensen and Ronald Araujo have pushed the 33-year-old into a way more distinguished position.
Forming a robust partnership alongside teenager Pau Cubarsi, Martinez has been dependable in possession, however his aerial prowess has additionally been vital in a group not blessed with a lot peak.
High 10 finest LaLiga defenders (centre-backs) proper now in line with Sorare
| Rating | Participant | Membership | L15 rating |
| 1 | Iñigo Martinez | Barcelona | 61.0 |
| 2 | Dani Vivian | Athletic Membership | 59.3 |
| 3 | Loic Bade | Sevilla | 58.2 |
| 4 | Carl Starfelt | Celta Vigo | 58.1 |
| 5 | Ladislav Krejci | Girona | 56.5 |
| 6 | Jose Maria Gimenez | Atletico Madrid | 56.1 |
| 7 | Yeray Alvarez | Athletic Membership | 55.9 |
| 8 | Diego Llorente | Actual Betis | 55.8 |
| 9 | Javi Rodriguez | Celta Vigo | 55.5 |
| 10 | Pau Cubarsi | Barcelona | 55.4 |
There are a selection of different LaLiga central defenders who’re having fun with sturdy seasons. Jose Maria Gimenez has loved an improved marketing campaign for an Atletico Madrid aspect that boasts the very best defensive document within the division.
Yeray Alvarez, Vivian’s most common companion for Athletic, has additionally performed properly, whereas Diego Llorente’s numbers for Actual Betis are additionally fairly spectacular.
As for essentially the most spectacular younger centre-backs in LaLiga, 21-year-old Javi Rodriguez and 18-year-old Cubarsi stand out, with the duo forging their manner into the Celta Vigo and Barcelona beginning lineups respectively, frequently this season. Cubarsi has additionally already damaged into the Spanish nationwide group set-up.
#Liga #defenders #centrebacks #Spain