Best Defensive players by Season Rating in Ligue 1

The best defensive players in Ligue 1, ranked on Field Insider.

Best defensive goalkeepers in Ligue 1 Best defensive defenders in Ligue 1 Best defensive midfielders in Ligue 1 Best defensive attackers in Ligue 1 Best players in Ligue 1 Most in-form players in Ligue 1

At a glance

W. Zaïre-Emery of Paris Saint Germain is the standout for raw talent across players in Ligue 1, with a Field Insider Rating of 93, and E. Lepaul has been the form player this season, grading 83.6.

The numbers a scout watches are the year-on-year jumps: M. Sangaré has improved his Season rating most, up +50.4 on last season, while S. Ebonog's scouting Rating has risen fastest, +34.9 over the same span. Those are the players whose trajectory is bending upward fastest.

By our market-value index, E. Lepaul of Rennes is the most valuable name in this group at 77.8.

Le Havre · 24/25→25/26

50 players · ranked by best defendersCustomise →

	Player	Team
1	M. Sarr Centre-back	Lens	27	67.6	68125.3%	702.6%
2	M. Niakhaté Full-back	Lyon	30	65.4	6551.7%	5017.7%
3	Clinton Mata Centre-back	Lyon	33	65.3	6544.5%	3519.5%
4	W. Zaïre-Emery Full-back	Paris Saint Germain	20	64	6484.4%	9310.7%
5	I. Zabarnyi Centre-back	Paris Saint Germain	23	64	6461.2%	8311%
6	W. Pacho Centre-back	Paris Saint Germain	24	55.7	5642.8%	784.1%
7	M. Udol Full-back	Lens	30	54.8	556.8%	551.3%
8	A. Mandi Centre-back	Lille	34	50.4	5075.6%	2812.1%
9	N. Ngoy Full-back	Lille	23	48	4892.8%	8155.9%
10	R. Perraud Full-back	Lille	28	47.1	47147.9%	6310.1%
11	O. Camara Centre-back	Angers	23	46.7	471067.5%	7823.7%
12	J. Lefort Centre-back	Angers	32	46.6	4724.9%	4018.9%
13	L. Hernández Full-back	Paris Saint Germain	30	46.5	47281.1%	466.9%
14	Abner Full-back	Lyon	26	46.4	46144.2%	735.2%
15	Beraldo Centre-back	Paris Saint Germain	22	45.4	4578%	802.4%
16	Q. Merlin Full-back	Rennes	24	43.8	4471.1%	839.4%
17	M. Mbow Centre-back	Paris FC	26	43.2	4331.1%	715.2%
18	I. Ganiou Centre-back	Lens	21	42	4245.8%	8436.6%
19	R. Nicolaisen Centre-back	Toulouse	29	41.2	41320.4%	530.9%
20	J. Ekomié Full-back	Angers	22	41.1	41248.3%	7713.7%
21	B. Chardonnet Full-back	Stade Brestois 29	31	41	417.4%	4120.8%
22	C. Cresswell Full-back	Toulouse	23	40	400.5%	792.7%
23	S. Baidoo Centre-back	Lens	22	39	39	79
24	L. Brassier Centre-back	Rennes	26	38.3	3897.4%	704%
25	M. Senaya Centre-back	Auxerre	25	37.7	38396.1%	686.4%
26	T. Kehrer Centre-back	Monaco	29	37.5	3815.2%	5223.2%
27	G. Lloris Centre-back	Le Havre	31	36.9	3711.5%	3924.4%
28	K. Kouao Full-back	Metz	28	36.8	3716.2%	5410.2%
29	M. McKenzie Full-back	Toulouse	27	35.9	3612.7%	6414.4%
30	K. Lala Full-back	Stade Brestois 29	34	35.9	3622.3%	2923.5%
31	G. Mensah Full-back	Auxerre	28	35.7	3623.9%	5518.7%
32	J. Teze Full-back	Monaco	26	35.3	35218%	714.4%
33	A. Hakimi Full-back	Paris Saint Germain	27	35	3521.5%	6422.2%
34	Emerson Full-back	Marseille	32	34.8	3537.5%	3729.9%
35	L. Balerdi Centre-back	Marseille	27	34.8	3512.3%	6218.7%
36	A. Seko Centre-back	Le Havre	26	34.8	3525.2%	6928.8%
37	T. Meunier Full-back	Lille	34	34.6	3517%	2527.5%
38	D. Sidibé Full-back	Toulouse	34	34.6	359.9%	2821.8%
39	A. Sangante Centre-back	Le Havre	24	34.6	35140.3%	743.4%
40	C. Arcus Full-back	Angers	30	34.4	3417%	4417.4%
41	L. Négo Centre-back	Le Havre	35	34.2	3450%	2612.3%
42	G. Doué Full-back	Strasbourg	23	34.1	3457.3%	808.5%
43	Otávio Centre-back	Paris FC	24	34	3417.7%	7212.3%
44	Nuno Mendes Full-back	Paris Saint Germain	24	33.8	3463.3%	793%
45	Sadibou Sané Centre-back	Metz	22	33.7	3414.7%	717.4%
46	J. Gbamin Centre-back	Metz	30	32.9	332641.7%	448.9%
47	Y. Zouaoui Full-back	Le Havre	28	32.6	33359.2%	564.6%
48	S. Diomandé Full-back	Auxerre	25	31.5	3250.6%	7011.2%
49	N. Tagliafico Full-back	Lyon	33	31.2	3120.4%	2537.2%
50	A. Rouault Centre-back	Rennes	25	30.5	3193%	711.3%