Nikola Karabatić

Centre back and left back, France. Karabatić won three Olympic golds, the last in 2024, plus several world and European titles, and was IHF World Player of the Year three times. He could shoot, pass and defend in the middle of the block, and his decisions in the final minutes of tight matches, when to attack the gap and when to release the ball, are a model for any back-court player.