Arsenal’s talented centre-back, William Saliba, has humbly acknowledged the defender he believes surpasses him in skill and performance. In his view, Manchester City’s Ruben Dias has ascended to the pinnacle of defensive excellence, even surpassing Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk.
During an interview with the Sky Sports YouTube Channel, Saliba was asked to rank the world’s best defenders, and he shared his perspective: “Right now, honestly, it’s Ruben Dias. Normally for me it is Van Dijk; he is the best. Over the last four years, he was the best in the world, but for me, last season it was Ruben Dias, Van Dijk second, and then Thiago Silva third.”
Saliba demonstrated humility by recognizing the current superiority of these defenders over himself, stating, “I hope maybe I will be top three next season, but I think maybe they are better than me right now. It’s not good to say they are better, but they are right now better than me, but I hope one day I will be better than everyone here.”
Saliba’s acknowledgment of Ruben Dias as the best defender in the world and his aspirations to elevate his own game reflect the competitive spirit and determination that drive athletes to continually improve and reach new heights in their careers.