The third in a series of six articles looking at the best 60 players in the world at the moment, we are now onto full-back having done golkeepers and centre-backs. Please enjoy, comment, discu s and read the next article; the top 10 central midfielders.Full-backsHonourable mentions:Fabio Coentrao A frustrating year for the 26 year old former Benfica man, playing second fiddle to Marcelo for club and having a disappointing World Cup for country. However, heis still an intelligent player, who is technically skilful and tactically versatile. Young enough to still improve and bounce back. Forms a wicked partnership with Ronaldo down the left for club and country when they play together.Ashley Cole Still a first cla s full back, Coles fall from grace was dramatic and sudden. At the start of last season he waswidely considered the best left-back in the world, at the star of next seasonhe will be playing in Serie A for Roma on roughly a third of the pay and having retired from international football having not made Englands World Cup squad. The move may reignite the career of one of very few English players who were consistently world-cla s for nearly a decade.Patrice Evra Another premier league stalwart who looks set to leavefor Serie Athis summer, Evra has developed into a real leader at Old Trafford in the last couple of years. His experience is also crucial in a youthful defence for France and heplayed in four of Frances five games at the World Cup. Athletic, industrious and determined, he would have been in the top 5 even three years Trey Hendrickson Jersey ago.10. Filipe Luis AtleticoMadridand Brazil 28 Another previously average La Liga player whose performances have shot up during Diego Simeones title-winning season with Atletico Madrid. Lookscertain to join Chelsea, the team Atleti knocked out of last seasons ChampionsLeague in the semis,after desperately pushing the 20 million move through, resulting in him being frozen out at the Spanish champions during pre season. The move is even more surprising as Filipe had been one of the players that had appeared to epitomise Diego Simeones pa sion and work ethic last season, consistently providing tirele s runs down the left-hand side and defending resolutely against opposition attacks. His form was so great last season that it had some pushing for him to start for Brazil at their own World Cup ahead of star left-back Marcelo, something we didnt see happen, arguably (due to Brazils worrying defending at times) to his benefit. If the it is to happen, Filipe should be confident enough to fill the considerable boots of Ashley Cole at Stamford Bridge.9.ukas Piszczek Boru sia Dortmund and Poland 29 One of three Poles to have achieved succe s at the Boru sia Dortmund, Piszcek is crucial in a tidy back four that includes Mats Hummels and Neven Subotic. Signed on a free transfer from Hertha BSC in 2010, he has been crucial for Jurgen Klopps team in midfield, on the wing but mainly as a buccaneering right-back where he combines great defence with marauding forward runs down the right for the former Champions League finalists. Injury kept him out of the first half of the season and Dortmund looked a much improved side upon his return. He is an unsung hero for them and is one of a very few squad members that havent been linked with moves away. Most Dortmund fans will be very happy if it stays that way.8. Bacary Sagna Manchester City and France 31 After 7 fantastic years at Arsenal, Sagna has finally left for the Premier League champions at the age of 31, a move he has earned and deserves. In a time of a constantly changing defensive line year on year, Sagna had been ever-present and constantly reliable for Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, where he mixed defensive discipline with attacking guile. He had become a fan favourite at Arsenal and fans Mike Thomas Jersey will be disappointed to see him leave, especially on a free transfer and to Manchester City, again. It will be interesting to see how Manuel Pellegrini incorporates both Zabaleta and Sagna into one team, if he does so at all. For sure, he is one of the most consistent players on this list and Arsenal are going to mi s him dearly.7. Leighton Baines Everton and England 29 After years of excellence finally turned into world cla s performances, Leighton Baines finally ousted Ashley Cole as Englands number 1 left back. After mi sing out on a 30 million move to Manchester United last summer, Baines set-pieces, cro ses and consistent performances helped Everton finish2places abovethem, in 5th. He also earned himself a place as Englands left-back but, despite looking good in qualifying, failed to impre s in Brazil and was at fault for the crucial goal against Italy. Enjoying life under Roberto Martinez, expect more of the same next season for Baines and Everton in their strive to join Europes elite and Baines will bepivotal if they are to achieve that goal.6. Pablo Zabaleta Manchester City and Argentina 29 Into his 6th year at the English champions, Pablo Zabaleta is now a mainstay in the team and vice-captain to Vincent Kompany. He took a while to adapt to the English game and had to fight off competition from Micah Richards for a place in the starting XI but along with fellow Argentines Martin Demichellis and Sergio Aguero, he is now a fully-fledged member of the squad and one of the best in his position in the league. His tenacious and determined playing style has endeared him to the City crowd and he is now one of their most reliable and consistent performers following another great season. Played every game as Argentina came within7 minutes of becoming world champions and his pa sion, bravery and tackling were paramount to their succe s. Faces yet another stiff challenge to see off the competition of new arrival Bacary Sagna but knowing Zabaleta, as we feel we all do, it is one he will rise to and utterly relish.5. Jordi Alba Barcelona and Spain 25 The emerging star from Spains victorious Euro 2012 campaign, Jordi Alba looked destined for staredom playing for the best international and club sides in the world. Unfortunately for him, the next two years didnt quite live up to the hype. He joined Barca almost Jessie Bates III Jersey at what felt like the end of an era, with greats ageing, the style becoming predictable and beatable and perhaps most crucially without their fantastic coach, Pep Guardiola. Spain too,had begun to lacktheir previous zeal and invincibility, with their disastrous World Cup the culmination of that. To top things off, Alba himself struggled with injuries and found himself moving from the fringes of the team to the medical room intermittently. However, having said all that, he is still young and is still an absolutely superb left-back when fit; po se sing pace, determination and a terrific work-ethic. In a time when tiki-taka is said to be dead, Alba and players like him may just be seen as the way forward, into a new realm of un-po se sion obse sed football. At 25, we certainly havent seen the last of Jordi Alba.4. David Alaba Bayern Munich and Austria 22 Formerly a graceful and efficient young playmaker, Alaba has converted intoa steely and paceyleft-backat Bayern, due to the multitude of options they have available in the central midfield area. His unselfish and consistent performances have made him one Germaine Pratt Jersey of the first names on Pep Guardiolas team sheet and, at 22, helooks set only to improve and make that spot his own. He plays in midfield for Austria and is part of everything good they create in what is currently a fairly limited squad;top-scoring in their unsucce sful World Cup qualifying campaign. As a player he has everything and is fiendishlyenergetic and intelligent, making him difficult to mark. He has pace, guile, nerve, expansive pa sing, an eye for a cro s and an explosive shot, all of which combine to give the most promising full-back in world football and definitely up there withthe most complete on this list. Playing for the worlds best team every week at just 22, Alaba looks destined to be one of the greatest in his position for at least a decade.3. Marcelo Real Madrid and Brazil 26 Fully established for both club and country now, he has finally become heir to the Roberto Carlos crown. In fact, after years of uncertainty and inconsistency, Marcelo has gradually become one of Madrids most reliable players, leading the great man himself to label him the best in his position and to say Marcelo has a better technical ability than me. Always trusted to give his all and play with pa sionaswell as usethat technical ability Carlos speaks of, Marcelo has finally addedtactical discipline to his game and shrugged off the challenge with Fabio Coentrao for the left-back spot at the Bernabeu. His new-found consistency was crucial as Real Madrid won the Champions League, with Marcelo himself scoring the pick of the bunch in the 4-1 final win. Po sibly the most likely future no.1 on this listdue to the improvements he is showing and his relatively young age.2. Dani Alves Barcelona and Brazil 31 Arguably the best attacking right-back since Cafu, Dani Alves has matured well as a player and now selects his tirele sly energetic bursting runs from defence moreefficiently and effectively. He may have lost a touch of pace and acceleration but he still makes fantastic supporting runs, cro ses supremely and can shoot welltoo, all thisis added to the fact thathe is still an excellent defender.Whilelast season wasnt a stellar one for Barca or Alves himself, he showed a level of consistent performance we havecome to expect from him. The fact that Barca have yet to look to replace him speaks volumes for how much they love theBrazillian and rate his longevity. He also creates the most opportunities for Lionel Me siout of everyone else in the team and provides him with the mosta sists, a useful statwhen talking about arguably the greatest player in the world. Forthe Seleo,he is still their undoubted first choiceright-back and Brazils faltering performances at the World Cup coincided with Scolaris decision to drop Alves. Should he continue internationally, expect his experience and winning mentality to be a key part of the rebuilding proce s.1. Phillip Lahm -Bayern Munich and Germany 30 Despite Lahms recent impre sive performances as a midfield anchor, I think there are few that would disagree that his best position is still full-back. Arguably he is the best left and right-back in the world right now as well as being one of the best midfielders but it would seem unfair to have him dominate all these lists.Lahmseems to have everything needed in a modern full-back Jordan Evans Jersey ; technically excellent, quick, perfect cro sing, fantastic pa sing, dogged tacklingand one of the best football brains in the world, Lahm almost seems to have been built by a computer programmed to produce the perfect full-back. Having won pretty much everything there is to win with Bayern as Captain, he then led Germany to the 2014 World Cup before bowing out on and excellent international career which included 113 caps 20 of which came acro s 3 World Cups. He is also uber consistent and leads by example on the pitch whilst never being too flashy and always putting the team before himself. When you think of the great full-backs of our generation the only players who really get close to Lahm are Maldini, Carlos and Cafu. A true great and who knows we may yet see another career move for him with Pep Guardiola saying if he were to play Lahm up front hed be the best striker in Europe. and who are we to argue?