3. Fabio Cannavaro. 385 points
Fabio Cannavaro is one of the very few defenders that won Ballon d'Or. What makes it even more special, he is the only stopper ever to win one — while Beckenbauer and Sammer got a lot of credit for their playmaking and participation in the attacking phase of the game, Cannavaro got it for one thing. Defending.
His performances in the 2006 World Cup were really second to none. He played like a man possessed, making countless clearances, tackles and interceptions as if he knew what was going to happen 2 minutes before it actually happened. Italy was hit by multiple issues — first, there was the infamous Calciopoli, then their best defender, Alessandro Nesta, got injured in the group stage... well, Cannavaro, or Il Muro di Berlino" ("The Berlin Wall"), as he would be known after 2006, didn't care about that.
As a defender, Cannavaro was known in particular for his concentration, anticipation, awareness and positional sense. Despite his relatively small stature for a defender, he was highly regarded for his aerial ability, courtesy of his elevation, physical strength, athleticism, timing and heading accuracy, which enabled him to outjump larger players, and made him particularly adept at defending crosses, or at scoring with his head from set-pieces. Throughout his career, he made a name for himself as a dynamic, consistent, tenacious and complete defender, known for his acceleration, speed, reactions, and agility, as well as his tackling ability, and in particular, his precise sliding challenges. Due to his wide range of skills, he excelled in a zonal marking system, but was also an excellent man-marker.
“Cannavaro has been the most accomplished defender at this World Cup (in 2006). He has been the only permanent member of Italy's ever-changing back line. He has been imperious. Rigorous. Absolutely in charge. Standing tall at 5ft 9in, he is dwarfed by just about every other centre-half in Germany, yet he has risen serenely above them all, seemingly without a bead of swe
