In a recent fan survey, AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini has been voted the greatest defender in football history.
Maldini spent nearly 25 years with the Serie A giants, winning everything there is to win at club level, including seven Serie A crowns and five Champions Leagues.
Throughout three decades, the sweeper was capable of playing both left-back and central defense.
After the 2002 World Cup, he retired from international service, and if he had stayed another four years, he would have added a World Cup winner's medal to his trophy cabinet as well.
Sports is the source of this image.
Maldini's supporters believe he is deserving of the top spot, but he faced stiff competition.
After being a key part of Manchester United's success in the mid-2000s, Nemanja Vidic is ranked second, while Barcelona legend Carles Puyol is comparable to Maldini in that he is a one-club man.
The top five is completed by John Terry and Franz Beckenbauer, who are joined by Sergio Ramos.
The Paris Saint-Germain superstar spent 16 years with Real Madrid, earning 22 major titles during his time with Los Blancos.
Since relocating to France this summer, he hasn't quite reached those heights, but he is still the highest-ranked active player on the list.
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Take a look at the top 25 below:
Lilian Thurman (#25)
Ashley Cole (age 24)
Djalma Santos, 23.
Denis Irwin (number 22)
Dani Alves is number twenty-one.
Cafu is number 20.
Gary Neville (photo credit)
Vincent Kompany, age 18
Jaap Stam is seventeen years old.
Rafael Marquez (nineteen)
Fabio Cannavaro is a 15-year-old Italian footballer.
14. Alessandro Nesta (photo credit)
Thiago Silva (#13)
Franco Baresi (nineteen)
Rio Ferdinand (No. 11)
Gerard Pique is number ten.
Sports is the source of this image. Philipp Lahm is a German footballer.
Roberto Carlos (nine)
Bobby Moore is number seven.
Sergio Ramos, No. 6
Franz Beckenbauer, No. 5
4. John Terry Image Credit:
Carles Puyol is number three on the list.
Nemanja Vidic is number two on the list.
Paolo Maldini, No. 1
To say the least, there are a few odd calls in here.
Gary Neville is unquestionably a legend, yet he's managed to surpass Dani Alves.
With 46 senior trophies across four divisions and the Brazil national team, the Barcelona full-back is the most decorated footballer in history.
Franco Baresi also fails to crack the top ten, which is a travesty of the sport. Image
Baresi played for AC Milan for 20 years and helped Italy win the World Cup in 1984.
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