Items20The creator’s order
  1. 1Roberto CarlosRoberto CarlosBorn 10 Apr 1973Roberto Carlos gave Real Madrid a route forward that began deep on the left and could finish with a cross, combination or shot. His explanation of crossing emphasises supplying the striker, not simply hitting the ball hard. The attacking reputation also hides deliberate defensive learning: he…0i
  2. 2CafuCafuBorn 7 Jun 1970Cafu's repeated runs made width a dependable attacking resource. At Roma, his role developed from Zdeněk Zeman's adventurous full-back into the right-sided player in Fabio Capello's 3-4-1-2 title-winning system. The extra centre-back changed the cover behind him, but did not remove his…0i
  3. 3Dani AlvesDani AlvesBorn 6 May 1983Alves's partnership with Lionel Messi made Barcelona's right side a place to construct attacks, not just deliver crosses. He combined near the touchline, moved beyond defenders and used space opened by the team's concentration of players in midfield. After a 2013 win at Granada, he explained that…0i
  4. 4Marcelo (footballer, born 1988)Marcelo (footballer, born 1988)Born 12 May 1988Marcelo could create like a midfielder while starting at left-back for Real Madrid. Dribbling and close combinations let him move inside as well as around the outside, giving opponents more to solve than a runner down the line. That freedom helped make Madrid's left side unusually inventive. It…0i
  5. 5Trent Alexander-ArnoldTrent Alexander-ArnoldBorn 7 Oct 1998Alexander-Arnold made right-back a major source of Liverpool's chances under Jürgen Klopp. His range of delivery could reach attackers before a defence settled, while his quick corner against Barcelona in 2019 showed the value of noticing an opportunity early. He has explicitly credited midfield…0i
  6. 6Andy RobertsonAndy RobertsonBorn 11 Mar 1994Robertson supplied Liverpool with aggressive width on the opposite side to Alexander-Arnold. His forward runs and crosses let the attackers move into more central scoring positions, with the 2019 delivery for Roberto Firmino against Tottenham a particularly clear example. The contribution depended…0i
  7. 7Philipp LahmPhilipp LahmBorn 11 Nov 1983Lahm's understanding with Arjen Robben gave Bayern a useful choice on the right: Robben could move inside while Lahm advanced outside him. The full-back's intelligence lay in recognising which movement the attack needed, rather than always making the same run. His later midfield work under…0i
  8. 8Joshua KimmichJoshua KimmichBorn 8 Feb 1995Kimmich's cross for Kingsley Coman in the 2020 Champions League final is a precise example of a full-back supplying the decisive creative action. He had moved from midfield to right-back after Benjamin Pavard's injury, with Thiago and Leon Goretzka occupying the centre. That reshuffle preserved…0i
  9. 9João CanceloJoão CanceloBorn 27 May 1994Cancelo's Manchester City role showed that a creative full-back need not stay near the touchline. Moving into midfield gave City another player between opponents, while he could still deliver from wider positions, as for Erling Haaland against Dortmund in 2022. Opponents had to decide who followed…0i
  10. 10Kieran TrippierKieran TrippierBorn 19 Sept 1990Trippier became a principal supplier of Newcastle's chances, through both open-play deliveries and set pieces. The Premier League's analysis of their 2022/23 attack identified how heavily they relied on him, which explains his importance more clearly than a single free kick. It also identifies a…0i