The craziest thing about Maldini is that his career stretches across 3 decades, debuting as a Right Back, playing the majority of his career at CB and then parlaying it into playing Left Beck and being one of the best ever at all 3 positions. The most complete defender of all time.

Me as a Liverpool fan: "I wonder if Robertson will have a shout here" - Number 7 is literally Jordi Alba "Ah rip I guess we're settling for honourable mentions lmao"

I was waiting for Philip Lahm to be on the list only to realize at the end that he played as a RB.

If ever I was going to get a nomination, this was it. Can't believe I didn't make the cut after all my efforts for the Launceston City seniors.

As a Madrid fan , it was a blessing to have Marcelo at LB. Him and Ronaldo made one of the best partnerships of all time. We miss you Marcelo 🥺🧡

You overlooked one Alfie: Maxwell. Standout player for all teams he played for. Won 2 league titles with Ajax, the 3 with Inter, 2 more with Barça then 4 with PSG. He's also the one player to play the most amount of games alongside Ibrahimovic, playing with him at 4 different clubs. Very reliable, great technique, great going forward and defending. Great positional sense as well.

for me, Maldini still the best left-back I ever seen playing.

greatest footballer ever from every country in Africa

Alfie please make this into a series where you make a XI at the end, like you did with the all time XI a few years ago

I'm Brazilian and a Fluminense fan. And having Marcelo back at my club was something out off my dreams. Now, we are at the semifinals of the Copa Libertadores and I Hope que can win it for the first time. Marcelo's skill is completely apart from almost everyone else in the world and I guess he could've already transitioned to midfield kkkkkk Nevertheless, I just want to let europeans who might not get to see much southamerican football know that he's still quite amazing, only setback being he's more injury prone right know due to aging 😅

Ashley Cole number 1 i definitely don't agree with that

Jordi Alba seriously underrated

Ashley Cole was a seriously good footballer. Consistant, strong, good in attack and defence, came when full backs were beginning to play as wingers, and outplayed CR7 for many games when he was in the EPL.

Maldini is what happens when you grab Alaba and crank him up to an eleven, if Messi is considered as the greatest player in Football's history on the offensive side, then Maldini could be considered as the greatest player in Football's history on the defensive side.

Maldini also recognized Ronaldo and Maradona as the most difficult opponent he ever face

To be included in this top seven, it appears the most critical criteria to be met, is to have been photographed with Thomas Muller

When this started i said Ashley Cole would be #1. And lo and behold. Not a fan of his off-field shanigans to put it mildly but he was a great footballer. I vividly recall an England v Portugal match where he never gave Ronaldo a kick he dominated him so well.

Maldini could have played anywhere he even ventured up to the frontline on occasion classic old school Italian footballer

Roberto Carlos was one of the best ever to ever do it.

Best German players in the premier league of all time. (Day 553) I will not give up until the video is made or Alfie himself tells me to stop. Everyone else telling me that will be ignored. If you don't believe my number, just go back to the previous videos. I'm at the bottom most of the time, but I'm there.

Great stuff as usual. Best footy channel on YT.

Hi, Alfie. I hope you’re doing well. It’s always a good day when I see a new video posted. I have a video idea which I think could be interesting: which position on the pitch produces the best players-turned-managers? I’d presume that CM’s have the most success as managers, given that I feel like they are good at understanding both the defensive side and attacking side of the game. Keep up the good work as always, brother!

Ashley Cole when Maldini, Roberto Carlos and Lizarazu had most of their career before 2000: Is the top position for me?

Cristiano described Ashley Cole as the toughest defender he ever faced in an interview. As for Maldini, he could've topped all the 3 list(RB, CB, LB) had it not been for the numerous criterias. Maldini is one of those few players I wished I could've seen play.

Patrice Evra 2 spots over Alba?! Bro WHAT?! 😂

Very nice video again. Would also really like to see a 'What on earth is going on at Ajax' video if possible

Good one. Can you make a video of players who became good after switching positions. For example like Joelington who moved from Striker to a midfielder 🙏🏾

Jordi Alba is clear of Ashley Cole in every stat you can think about

Completely agree with your number 1 choice, Ashley Cole massively overlooked and underrated on these lists usually, but the most solid reliable consistent left back ever. Speed skill and brains, perfect full back. Ultimately defending was his priority.

Ashley Cole.... Seriously 😂

Okay, i know ashley cole is the most balance between attack and defense defender in this list but marcelo made it to the fifpro XI more than any left back should made him the number1 in this list

+ Who are the best 7 holding midfielders, 2000's on? - Alfie: Sergio Busquets x4, his left leg, his right leg, his head

Ashley Cole was completely outstanding and deserves more respect as a footballer. I never saw him have a bad game. The most complete modern full back I can remember, just ahead of Lahm imo. Consistently the England team's best player for around a decade. Never got the adulation the likes of Terry and Ferdinand got, but was more consistent and I'd argue almost always better than either in terms of performance. I'd only rate Maldini higher in terms of left backs I've seen in my lifetime, although it's hard to put anyone ahead of Roberto Carlos if you're purely talking about peak performance and skill. Cole was just such a complete player though, and absolutely did not lack skill or flair when he needed it. World class for most of his career, genuinely a rare thing to say about any player.

So happy to see David alaba make this list. Bayern legend ❤️❤️

In my head cristiano ronaldo didn't become a left winger to score more goals, but just to avoid Ashley Cole

Cole over marcelo is INSANE

About 8 years ago someone told me that Ashley Cole was the best left back of all time. I didn't believe it then and I don't now.

Your beef with further adue is always great for me 😂

David Alaba, what a player

Alaba and Kroos were my role models as a kid.

Maldini, Evra, Alaba, Ashley Cole, Roberto Carlos, Jordi Alba and Marcelo were the ones I had in mind before watching. Pretty spot on, this vid.

Cole before Marcelo and Maldini is absurd

I think Davies deserved a mention either among the honorable mentions or at the beginning of the video

The Aly Cissokho disrespect! Feel the Flava 💀💀💀

Will you be doing a best utility players, you know, maybe not the best in a specific position but contributed to the overall success of their club through versatility and flexibility? Mainly I think it's the only chance Milner has of appearing on one of these lists. I'd also dock Evra at least one place for eating a chicken weird.

I find it a bit strange that Roberto Carlos is not that high on the list because he played the majority of his games in the 90s, yet Maldini is at 3 even though the same argument should count for him. I would also argue that someone who is Austrian and who is playing in Germany instead of for Real/Barca or in the Premier League gets a lot less recognition than they deserve - namely Alaba, of course. I don't think he is any worse than Marcelo and I also don't think that Marcelo was always the best LB within a 5-year span, he just gets all the recognition because he plays for Real. Speaking about Real, when Alaba joined he made everyone instantly forget that he replaced the probably best CB in this century with Sergio Ramos and they instantly won the CL with Alaba as the new #4. So I can see that because of his versatility and switching positions from LB to CB he cannot feature at the very top, but that doesn't make him any worse - on the contrary, actually. And yeah, you already analyzed it yourself, Cole is only in 1st spot because he is English or rather played in the Premier League :D. That being said, still hoping for that Austrian Wunderteam video 😇✌.

Alfie I started watching football in 2002, mostly italian football. And I clearly remember Maldini playing mostly as a centre back, not left back.

I saw Ashley Cole play on the banks of the Deleware under the Commodore Barry Bridge.

Love the list. Have maldini as the best defender ever but his versatility at the back to play multiple positions makes me hesitant to put him above cole!

i got bored the other day and decided to do a list similar to this where i did a top 10 for every position since 2000. my list for left back based on the same criteria as this was: 1. Cole 2. Marcelo 3. Carlos 4. Maldini 5. Alba 6. Robertson 7. Evra 8. Abidal 9. Alaba 10. Alex Sandro

Cole actually made his debut in the League Cup in November 1999, so technically his entire career doesn't fall within the timeframe criteria of this video... But close enough!

As much as I dislike his on field character and as indifferent as I am about Cole's off field issues, I'd personally put Marcelo ahead of Cole based on your criteria. Cole indeed had it all and was very consistent, but I never felt like he caused as much a headache to his opponents as Marcelo did on the pitch. Every time he received the ball during the 2010s, I felt like he was going to cause trouble to his opponents, more so than any other Left-Back I've watched who's played during my lifetime (I'm 27, just like you are). On the defensive side, while he was somewhat allergic to defending, he always seemed to possess that stereotypical Latin American style of defending where he was constantly flirting with playing dirty (and it often felt like he did), so he wasn't wholly ineffective until the 2020s. Other than that, the list makes sense based on the criteria you set, neither of my current favourites at left-back, Robertson and Théo Hernandez, would be able to feature indeed.

If the list is about the greatest, you can't put Cole in top 1, probably not even in the top 5. All his achievements were on a league that was only 2nd or 3rd best in the world and he didnt achieve anything with his national team. When we talk about the greatest left backs post 2000 it's impossible to not have Roberto Carlos as the clear winner, with maldini and marcelo sharing the 2 spots behind. If we are talking about the best left backs though, than you can have whoever you want wherever you want, though I think even then it is really hard to justify cole over marcelo simply based on how much crazier Marcelo's offensive traits were than anyone else before or since

I think Baines has a shout for that number 7 spot. He was magnificent for some pretty average Everton sides. Legit one of the best fullbacks in England over an 18 year career. Not his fault Everton sucked relative to the teams players on this list played for. He had the most assists by a defender in the English top flight until Robertson broke that record.

Watched the whole video waiting for Cole’s name. Pleasantly surprised by the ranking!

Lahm would also deserve an honourable mention, as played the first half of his career as LB before becoming one of the best RB

Yes lists are back

Hulk-like thighs... Were you talking about Bruce Banner, or Hulk the striker? :D Anyway Roberto Carlos is one of my favorite players of all time. Keep it up, great content, I can't stop binding

So few world class forwards and defenders these days compared to the 2000s and early 2010s

Video idea: Alfie's 7 best association football games of all time.

Amedeo Carboni deserves an honourable mention. Yes, he was 35 in 2000, but he played some of his best football for Valencia between 2000 and 2006. Yes, he was 41 when he retired.

Alfie is my 🐐

The video would have been better if the parameters were stricter. Only players who debuted for the first team in the year 2000 or later.

chop chop alfie its been 10 hours, bring out the dm version

First view. . .Andy Robertson better be here Godamnit!! My LFC bias aside, this is a great list. Marcelo should have been first in my list but ooh well. Cole was a better defender overall.

Carlos left foot could be a sledge hammer or a wand. That was spot on. Great list I don't disagree whatsoever, kidding of course.

Bro Marcelo is better than Ashley Cole. Trust me

Carlos and Maldini should be above Cole

Theo Hernandez is honestly the most over rated left back I’ve ever seen. Yet to see him have a good game, constantly on the floor too

I'd like to see a video about What's it all about, Alfie?

If that list is remade in a decade it will feature Fonzi Davies.

I beg you guys. Let's keep watching, cos I use Alfie's rankings for arguments. Let's keep watching so he keeps making these videos.

Ashley Cole in front of Marcelo is the worst football opinion I've ever seen in my life.

I agree, AC was probably the only member of England's golden generation to consistently perform for England at that billing.

Personally : 1. A. Cole 2. P. Maldini 3. D. Alaba 4. Marcelo 5. P. Evra 6. J. Alba 7. R. Carlos

Think we need a ‘What on earth is going on at Sheffield Wednesday’ video

Hey hitc7 can you make a video about why morocco failed to host bidding process for the world cup over the last 35 years

Cole should never even be above Maldini

4:34 Was Carlos hiding a beachball in his shorts?!

Ain't noway cole over a world cup champion English bias 😂

You missed out the Human Pencil that is Adam Drury.

Yes he’s there because he’s English. Marcelo should be number one

B4 watching i did: 1. Cole 2. Marcelo 3. Maldini 4. Evra 5. Roberto Carlos 6. Alba 7. Alaba

Crazy Marcelo only has 56 caps. You’d think he’d have Atleast 90-100

Where’s David Murphy?!?!

Ashley Cole was the best defensive LB of all time imo... wingers couldnt beat him, he shut down his flank. One of the best 1v1 defenders ever. On top of that he was incredibly skilled technically. So he also offered plenty in attack. I'm a chelsea fan but I don't think I'm too biased here. I watched countless games and he just didn't mess up defensively. It was so rare.

John arne riise my fave lb ever

Ashley Cole Was World Class 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Statistically, Leighton Baines is a better left back than Ashley Cole. Obviously Cole is very decorated, but as unpopular as this opinion will be, Baines was just as good as good as Cole. Even better in some statistical areas. We could argue, or you could look up the opta on the two players.

You've put Cole there because you don't want to get shot or have a cigarette put out in your eye.

Agree entirely with this list but one thing I will point out, the fifpro world 11 is an absolute joke.

Leighton Baines

Ashley Cole wax the best LB I have seen. And that is as a Liverpool fan.

Ppl don’t know how good Ashley cole was. Personally my top 3 left backs. The only person better than him on this list is maldini. Marcelo in top 3 but his defensive ability just not on par with cole

Certainly in terms of a dead ball specialists you really couldn't have got better than Roberto Carlos

please do greatest players to have suffered relegation. you can also do greatest players to suffer multiple relegations

Ashley Cole My dad said in his early days could have played Left Wing. Sven Goran Erikson instead played him LB and Leighton Baines LW it should have been the other way round

Ashley Cole is just at 1 the to bait people into commenting. Everybody can have a bad day but when i remember Ashley Cole it's the 0:5 45min against Bayern in 2014.😅

A. Cole is the Man ❤

dude you put roberto where? please