Leading on from the top 10 goalkeepers in the world; I now present you the top 10 Centre-backs in the world. Remember, this ispartly judgedon recent performances and partly on permanent cla s. Enjoy, comment and discu s and remember to look out for the remaining four articles in this series of 6, the next one being the top 10 full-backs.Centre-backsHonourable mentions:Diego Godin An old school centre-half who bought into the Simeone way from the very beginning to great effect. His dogged style and aerial prowe s means he is now crucial for club and country. He was ever-present during Atletis title-winning season and popped up with some crucial goals as well during the run in.Englands other Uruguayan nemesis. Very unlucky not to make the 10.Laurent Koscielny It took him a while. Finally, Laurent Koscielny has matured into the composed and efficient centre-back Arsenal fans hoped for after a couple of years of consistently good performances. The days of a long and lanky Frenchman makingdevastating mistakes are behind him and, along with Per Mertersacker, made a formidable central defence for Arsenal this season. His pace and tackling are sorely mi sed when he is injured. Now a regular for France too.Leonardo Bonucci Part of a formidable trio at the back for Curtis Granderson Jersey Juventus at the back along with Andrea Barzalgi and Giorgio Chiellini. Rock hard and po se ses terrific positioning, he can also play at sweeper. Not flashy but tough as nails and now has 38 caps for Italy. He once punched an armed robber who tried to mug him and chased him down the street. He also chases away Serie A strikers with his fantastic defending.10. Medhi Benatia AS Roma and Morocco 27 Arguably a shock inclusion but Medhi Benatia has had that good a season. Signed from Udinese last summer for around11.5 million, he has been a rock at the centre ofRomas defenceas theyenjoyeda terrific season inSerieA conceding a miserly25 goals; only bettered byrunaway champions Juventus. Hereads the game well, is good positionally and comfortable with the ball at his feet, healso popped up with somegoals of his own; scoring 5 in the league for Roma. Heavily linked with a move away, po sibly to the Premier League with both Manchester clubs interested. Him and Vincent Kompany in the centre of defence would be amatch for anyone but Roma have understandably set a high price tag and staying at the club where he has excelled and will play regularly (in the Champions League as well) may benefit him. Certainly theres no centre-back more in-form and full of confidence in the world right now.9. Giorgio Chiellini Juventus and Italy 29 A force of nature, from another planet said the great Italian manager Walter Mazzari about Giorgio Chiellini its difficult to disagree. A tall, strong, old-school catenaccio-style defender, Chiellini is one of those defenders thatthe purists particularly those of a Juventus or Italian persuasion just love to watch. Previously a left-back, he is comfortable on the Blake Treinen Jersey ball, hard in the tackle and a hugely determined figure on the pitch.Surprisingly, he is still only29 and undoubtedly has quite a few years leftof playing, with his 100th cap for Italy looking likely to come at some point. He is hugely popular in Turin and was made vice-captain last year before leading them to a third straight Serie A title with a records points tally, conceding just 23 goals along the way. Oh, and I forgot to mention he was bitten by some Uruguayan fella named Suarez And then called the ban exce sive! Just another year for Giorgio.8. Dante Bayern Munich and Brazil 30 A late bloomer, Dante only emerged as one of the great centre-backs in 2012 when he joined Bayern at the age of 28. Since then he has moulded himself into a disciplined defender; merging aggre sion and power with composure and anticipation. At the heart of a record-breaking Bayern team and defence that conceded just 23 goals all season, theres no doubt that Bayerns attacking brilliance and po se sion football could not take place without the crazy-haired Brazilian marshalling their rigid back-line. Emerged as a po sible centre-back partner for Thiago Silva at the World Cup but lost out to the more mercurial David Luiz; in the end only taking part in the horrific 7-1 drubbing by Germany in the semi-final stepping in for the suspended captain. That, and poor displays against the pace of Real Madrids front line in both legs of the Champions League semi-final mean he isnt higher on this list and are the only blemishes on his career in the past two seasons. Not bad for someone most of us hadnt heard of before that.7. David Luiz Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil 27 He will always have his critics, but on his day (on his day mind you), there are very few footballers let alone centre-backs better than David Luiz. Perhaps that is what persuaded Paris Saint-Germain to part with a reported 40 million and make him the worlds most expensive defender ever, toforce Chelsea part with him. He had also previously been linked with Barcelona in what wouldve seemed an extremely unlikely switch. He often suffers from lapses of concentration and his form is so fluctuating its difficult to know what he will be like for any given match; as shown at the World Cup where he followed a match winning performance and a terrific free-kick against Colombia in the quarter-final with a devastating performance (along with the rest of the team) against Germany in the semis as captain. However, what you can say is he is very pa sionate and throws himself into every single tackle, header, anthem and match almost like a young child full of willing and spirit. Sometimes he must reign that in and Mourinho appeared Dylan Floro Jersey to be getting the best out of him in aholding midfield role at Chelsea where any mistakes he madewere le s costly and exposed; in fact, heproduced some of his best performances in that position. What PSG can offer which Chelsea cant is a central defence partner of Thiago Silva; a player who seems almost a father figure to Luiz and who seems to get the best out of him for the national team, as that devastating semi-final showed. Already loved by millions, for those who are yet to be convinced, we may yet see the making of David Luiz at PSG.6. Raphal Varane Real Madrid and France 21 Jose Mourinho says he is the best young defender in the world whilst Franck Leboeuf, the former France defender, saysMany compare him to Hierro due to his technique, but on the physical level he is stronger and he is much faster when discu sing the likene s between the Real Madrid legend and their current young starlet.At 21, Varane has the world at his feet and dont expect that to overwhelm him. Excellent technically with a fantastic reading of the game and great natural pace, he has gone from strength to strength since signing for Real Madrid from Lens in 2011 as a spindly 18 year old. Used primarily as a substitute to begin with, learning from greats such as Pepe, Carvallho and Ramos, he became Real Madrids youngest foreign player to score in a competitive game with a back heel from a corner. Constantly touted as a future star the pre sure didnt appear to weigh heavily on the shoulders of a young Varane and he had another impre sive year under Mourinho as Real Madrid won the league. However, this season has been his breakthrough year, playing in numerous Champions League and La Liga games including the Champions League final against rivals Atletico when he kicked the ball at opposition manager Simeone causing a late brawl on the pitch. Linked with moves elsewhere with Chelsea (andJose)looking the most likely youd think Real would be foolish to let him slip away.5. Gerard Piqu Barcelona andSpain 27 Adefinite former no.1 on this list,Piqus formhas slumped slightly in the past two seasons, leading to gentle slidedown the pecking order of theworlds best defenders. However, he still pretty much holds togetherdefensivelywhatcan at times bea slightly shakyBarca back four and is the lynchpin for starting their patient attacks. Still very comfortable on the ball, his lack of pace can sometimes be shown up against the faster forwards and that has led to some le s than a sureddisplays from him. This problem will not improve and if Barca can get aquickcentre-half to fill the gap left byCarles Puyol in the heart of the defence alongside him, there is no doubt we willonce again see the great defender we know he is. Suffered from a poorWorldCup,but should bounce back under new managerLuis Enrique with a new lookBarca team. Part of a second waveof players who need to take up the gauntlet that will be leftby the greats ofPuyol,Xavi, Iniesta andDani Alves. A future captain? Its po sible.4. Sergio Ramos Real Madrid and Spain 28 The bullfighter has completed the transition from marauding right-back to commanding centre-back and is now definitely amongst the best in the world. He became the youngest player to reach100 international capslast year and has mature significantly both on and off the pitch this season, dispelling doubts about his concentration and credentials. Still versatile enough to play anywhere acro s the defence or evenin midfield, his aggre sive, powerful anddetermined performances look to have affirmed his position for the next 5 years Austin Barnes Jersey for club and country. Can also score great (and crucial) goals as he showed in the Champions League semi-final and final victories, as well as someimportant free-kicks and headers throughout the La Liga season.3. Mats Hummels Boru sia Dortmund and Germany 25 A tall,graceful and majestic defender with long, dark, curly locksfrom Germany who often steps into midfield and sprays pa ses around like a playmaker, Hummels was always going to be compared to the great Franz Beckenbauer. Completley pivotal to all Boru sia Dortmunds recentsucce s, it is ironic that he has inflicted so much pain to the club where he started his career, Bayern Munich. At a time when centre-back has seemed the only weak link for the German national team and the bavarians; Hummels is a calming presence at the back.His positioning, composure, tackling and technique have earned him huge praise around the world and,along withnearly every Dortmund player, he is attracting many suitors, notably Barcelona and Manchester United.His partnership with Serb Neven Subotic has continued to flourish Yasiel Puig Jersey even as Dortmunds succe s has begun to dwindle, succumbing to the might of Bayern. Yet another German who managed to have an exceptional World Cup, scoring the winner in the quarter-final against France.2. Vincent Kompany Manchester City and Belgium 28 Sorely mi sed by club and country when he is injured, Vincent Kompany has established himself as a steely defender with a touch of cla s. In a team full of multi-million pound purchases Kompany is undoubtedly the bargain of the lot, costing just 6 million from Hamburg in 2008. Initially a midfielder, he converted to defence early on in his City career and has become an integral part to the succe s they have enjoyed. Combining fantastic tackling, aerial prowe s and strength with pace, composure and positioning, Kompany is the archetypal modern day centre-back but it is oftenhis leadership and intelligence that are most crucial for Manchester City. Showed great resolve and courage to come back from a crucial slip against Liverpool to rally the troops and lead them to a winning endto the season, and the title. Also captained his side impre sively at the World Cup, whilst still finding the time to be a chairman of aBelgian club, a television pundit and owner oftwo Belgian sports bars, ingeniously named Good Kompany.1. Thiago Silva Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil 29 Adding experience and international pedigree to an already impre sive skill set last year meant Thiago Silva finally emerged as the obvious choice for best central defender in the world by most of us who watch, know and love the beautiful game. Pa sionate yet concentrated, experienced yet fast and agile, aggre sive yet composed; Thiago Silva is the perfect Brazilian defender. In the mould of greats likeLucio, Aldair and Mauro Ramos, he is as much a leader and captain as he is a key player and his absence wasthemain reason behind Brazils capitulation in the World Cup, in that semi. A player who always seems to be in the right place at the right time as he often needs to be playing alongside David Luiz for his country and, from next season onwards,his club also. Arguably faces easier defences than others in Ligue 1 but has proved he can face the best at international level and at Milan throughout the years acro s Europe. Genuinely plays with his heart and it was saddening not to see him lift the World Cup this summer, especially after such a good tournament personally. A true great, andthe type of player who doesnt come around often.