Baresi gives his picks for the world's best defenders

The former San Siro icon says stars from clubs including Real Madrid and Liverpool are a cut above the rest

Italian legend Franco Baresi earmarked Sergio Ramos and Virgil van Dijk as the game's top two defenders, pointing to the Real Madrid star's trophy cabinet and the Liverpool centre-back's ability to make team-mates better as what defines them as top players.

Baresi is widely seen as one of the best defenders in football history, having spent the entirety of his 20-year career with Milan.

When asked who he saw as the best defender in the world today, Baresi admitted that it was difficult to select just one player before settling on Ramos and Van Dijk as his top two centre-backs.

“Thinking about the defenders it is not easy to choose one." Baresi told Goal . "I believe that, over the last few years, Sergio Ramos is one of the top players for his trophy cabinet and for his extraordinary career. he is still so important for Real Madrid even if he is no longer young.

"Then Van Dijk, who, for Liverpool, is a very important figure for his ability, for his personality, for what he managed to convey to the team and to give confidence by winning after so many years."