LaLiga defenders – Who are the best centre-backs in Spain?

With legendary centre-backs such as Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique having retired or left Spain in recent years, there is a debate to be had as to who the best LaLiga defenders of this generation are.

Below, we’ve ranked the best LaLiga centre-backs according to their L15 (Last 15 match average) score on Sorare’s scoring matrix. This is an advanced scoring system which takes into account a wide range of actions, with points gained for successful contributions such as blocks, tackles and clearances, but deducted for mistakes such as misplaced passes or errors leading to goals. Sign up to Sorare to start playing their global fantasy football game.

To feature in the rankings below, defenders must have appeared in at least eight of their last 15 eligible fixtures. That includes LaLiga games, and where relevant international and European club fixtures. Domestic cup matches are not scored.

Players must have started the majority of their matches as a centre-back to feature. We have separate posts looking at the best LaLiga right-backs and the best LaLiga left-backs.

LaLiga defenders 2024/25 – Top 5 centre-backs ranked by their Sorare scores

5. Ladislav Krejci, Girona – 56.5

Eric Garcia and Daley Blind formed a strong central defensive partnership for Girona last season, but following a busy summer at Montilivi, a number of new players arrived. Their standout defensive addition in a much more challenging campaign has been Ladislav Krejci.

The Czech centre-back has solid defensive numbers, while he boasts a pass completion rate of 90.8% across his 16 appearances in LaLiga. He also started seven of his team’s eight Champions League fixtures, although two own goals in that competition may have soured slightly an otherwise impressive debut season in Spain.

4. Carl Starfelt, Celta Vigo – 58.1

While it has also been a mixed season for Celta Vigo, with a big difference between their home and away results, Carl Starfelt has established himself as one of the most competent ball-playing central defenders in LaLiga.

While it’d be a stretch to call him one of the very best LaLiga centre backs in terms of his all-round game just yet, Starfelt has completed 93.3% of his passes. That’s the third most of any player in the division to have featured in more than half of their team’s games, behind only Dani Ceballos and Frenkie de Jong.

The Swedish international joined Celta from Celtic for €5m in August 2023, and at 29, he should have several more years left operating at the highest level.

3. Loic Bade, Sevilla – 58.2

Loic Bade has been one of the best defenders in LaLiga over the past couple of years, certainly amongst the players not operating at the very top end of the division. During a tough period for Sevilla, he has been a key part of their back-line under several different coaches.

Already a Europa League winner and Olympics silver-medalist with France, Bade has been strongly linked with a move away. Given Sevilla’s tendency to cash in on their star assets, this could well be his final year at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan.

Bade is averaging 1.9 tackles and 4.2 clearances per game in the Spanish top flight this season and would be sorely missed were he to depart in the summer.

2. Dani Vivian, Athletic Club – 59.3

One of the most promising Spanish centre-backs in recent years, it feels as though Dani Vivian has really stepped up a gear during the 2024/25 campaign. As part of an Athletic defence that has only conceded 21 goals in 24 games in LaLiga, Vivian now has to be regarded as one of the division’s elite central defenders.

The 25-year-old is coming into his prime and has clocked up nearly 3000 minutes for club and country already this season. He’s put himself into a strong position to be one of the starting centre-backs for La Roja at the 2026 World Cup, and the Vitoria-born defender is now one of the most important players for an Athletic side that is impressing under Ernesto Valverde.

The Basque giants are looking good to finish in the top four which would also see Vivian play in the Champions League for the first time next season.

1. Iñigo Martinez, Barcelona – 61.0

The best defender in LaLiga right now is Iñigo Martinez, at least according to Sorare’s scoring matrix.

The experienced centre-back was not really expected to be anything more than a fringe player when he joined Barcelona on a free transfer from Athletic Club in the summer of 2023. Martinez only made 13 league starts last season under Xavi, but Hansi Flick’s arrival, and injuries for the likes of Andreas Christensen and Ronald Araujo have pushed the 33-year-old into a much more prominent role.

Forming a strong partnership alongside youngster Pau Cubarsi, Martinez has been reliable in possession, but his aerial prowess has also been significant in a team not blessed with much height.

Top 10 best LaLiga defenders (centre-backs) right now according to Sorare

There are a number of other LaLiga central defenders who are enjoying strong seasons. Jose Maria Gimenez has enjoyed an improved campaign for an Atletico Madrid side that boasts the best defensive record in the division.

Yeray Alvarez, Vivian’s most regular partner for Athletic, has also done well, while Diego Llorente’s numbers for Real Betis are also quite impressive.

As for the most impressive young centre-backs in LaLiga, 21-year-old Javi Rodriguez and 18-year-old Cubarsi stand out, with the duo forging their way into the Celta Vigo and Barcelona starting lineups respectively, on a regular basis this season. Cubarsi has also already broken into the Spanish national team set-up.