Who's The Best Centre Back In The World?

Messi or Ronaldo? Robben or Ribery? Xavi or Iniesta? Once the pundits have decided, they'll recycle those questions all over again.

The Ballon d'or. A 'forward' thinking award?

So often debate revolves around the best attacking players in the world. They get the majority of the limelight, whilst defenders are somewhat ignored. There's a red herring occasionally, an acknowledgement of just how important the beginning of the spine really is (take Fabio Cannavaro in 2006, awarded the coveted Ballon d'or).

But on the whole awards go to those who score goals. Trophies go to teams with solid foundations that start at the back. To be considered a world class centre back you really have to earn it. The scathing criticism one receives, after a poor showing, knocks their reputation more so then a forward who goes missing all game.

Contenders need to be consistent, blessed with a football brain, have an element of pace necessary in today's game and show that on ability alone, they can cope against the very best attacking players around. Liverpool and to a degree Arsenal, wonder why they can't compete at the top anymore. The answer is simple, go and buy a world class centre back. Tottenham have potentially found the next one in Vertonghen.

Here are four of the best.

Vincent Kompany- If you want to talk bargains, Kompany is up there. I can't think of a defender who, for what is believed to be around £6 million, has given value for money and so much more. A team like Madrid would have to cough up £35 million plus for his services now. Take Kompany out of that City defence and what are you left with. A decent back four. Ask a City fan how confident they are about going into a Champions League tie with Lescott and Kolo Toure though and the answer would be not very. Kompany is a rock who matches Vidic in every aspect. Vidic benefits from playing alongside composed players like Ferdinand. Kompany has made Lescott look far more talented then he is.

Kompany scores vital goals, he sticks his head where others wont and from what I have seen in interviews he is very grounded. A perfect quality of a captain off the field. Respective towards opponents and a skipper others can go to in confidence. Belgium will qualify for a long overdue World Cup this time around and Kompany's captaincy will go someway to achieving this.

Gerard Pique- Pique is still developing as a player and part of his game need addressing. People may wonder why Pique and not Puyol has been included. But in time, Pique will be a better player then Puyol. In part because he has played the willing apprentice to such a commanding figure so well. He has the flair and confidence Puyol has never had at his feet and the discipline that abandons Sergio Ramos too frequently. Chelsea went on to score twice in the semi final against Barcelona after Pique went off injured at the Nou Camp. Without Pique's intelligent sweeping Puyol's lack of pace can be exposed. For now they need each other, but given a few years Pique will be the model centre back, with he and Javi Martinez the most gifted centre back pairing the world has seen. He scores some sublime goals and will venture up field, even playing as a target man, when Barcelona need a plan b.

Spain conceded one goal the whole of Euro 2012 without Puyol. Pique is part of the reason why. He is ideal man marking material. He can cope with a speedy striker or a big centre forward. When Puyol retires the armband at Barcelona, this man has got to be a favourite to make it his.

Mats Hummels- Bayern Munich must regret letting this man slip from under their fingers. A product of Bayern's academy, he was allowed to join Dortmund for just £4 million. Cue Dortmund storming to the top of the Bundesliga and winning the title for the last two years. Hummels has fitted in with ease at a national level also. There's not a lot missing from Hummels's game. Composed, strong, full of German efficiency and confident roaming forward to join attacks. Qualities similar to a certain German great. And Hummels has been labelled as a potential modern day Beckenbauer.

It's no wonder Man United have been sniffing around. His statistics are impressive. He collected just one yellow card last year in the Bundesliga and already this season  has an 84.6% pass completion rate (against Portugal, at Euro 2012, he had the highest of any player). Both excellent and encouraging statistics for a centre back. He will get the headed goal here and there and rarely switches off throughout the 90 minutes. Germany benefited from his presence at Euro 2012 and he has the ability to be amongst the German greats.

Thiago Silva- Never underestimate the value of a centre back. PSG certainly didn't, splashing out £42 million for Silva's services. AC Milan however, did. They're now suffering without a world class centre back, as are Inter without Lucio. Silva reads the game in a similar vein to Terry, enabling him to make the right decision, rather then rectify a mistake with a last ditch tackle. Last season only six times did a player in possession get by Silva. His interception levels are excellent. Add this to the fact no one could boast a better pass completion last term in Italy and you can see why PSG wanted him so badly for their assault on Europe.

He is the hybrid of all things desired in a centre back. He's no nonsense, displaying these qualities as AC Milan captain. Meanwhile he's calm and composed on the ball and, as with any Brazilian defender, technically gifted, accompanied with a goal threat. At the age of 28 he is coming into his prime and the timing is perfect for Brazil, with the World Cup two years off. Many may have not seen Silva in action but expect him to be a star in 2014. Like Pique he's had the advantage of learning under Nesta's stewardship at AC Milan. Silva is progressing yearly into an all rounded centre back, who knows how to keep a clean sheet (AC Milan had 33 clean sheets in their last two seasons). In their eight league games this season they have one.

Please add your thoughts and any possible players you feel justify inclusion.