Victor Osimhen has become one of the most sought-after strikers in European football, making Nigeria and Africa proud. It is no longer news when he scores, as that is becoming an assured reality with every passing weekend in the Italian Serie A.
Any time Napoli plays, punters troop to top bookmaker sites like betking nigeria to stake on Osimhen scoring. But Osimhen is not the only footballer of color performing wonders in Europe, this article discusses three black fullbacks who are in hot form in Europe right now.
Born in France, the Senegalese descent, Ferland Mendy started his youth career in Ecquevilly EFC in 2002. During his youth career, he had an accident and was relegated to a wheelchair. At that point, Ferland Mendy was told he wouldn’t be able to play football again. Fortunately, no doctor could stop his determination and passion for football; not even a broken limb could.
It took Ferland Mendy 17 years to make it to Real Madrid after transferring from Lyon; the time was worth it as Ferland Mendy had already brushed up himself into a strong, skilled player. We can see him charging against his opponent like a bulldog while displaying mastery in dribbling, tackling, and passes.
From 2019 – 2022, Ferland Mendy made 87 appearances and scored 4 goals. According to footballdatabase.eu, Ferland Mendy ranks number 23 in Fullback’s Position World Ranking. And in the La Liga Santander league ranking, he ranks 4th.
While playing for Real Madrid, Ferland Mendy has garnered honors alongside team members as he collectively won the 2019-20 La Liga, 2019-20 Supercopa de España, 2021-22 UEFA Champions League, and the 2022 UEFA Super Cup.
Reece James is another outstanding right-back of color who is never shy to put on a good show on the pitch. His football intelligence sees him regularly anticipating the opponent’s wingers ahead and tackling them successfully.
Aside from his defensive prowess, he is a master of forward runs, regularly darting across the right wing to put in delicious crosses.
Though born in Redbridge, England – Reece yet again has Jamaican roots.
Reece James sometimes operates in the right-center back, but he usually comes alive when he takes on the stage in the right wing-back. The 23yrs old footballer is creative and “dangerously” talented… if that’s ever a correct expression.
The current EPL stats for Reece James shows that he has made 9 appearances, scored one goal, won 6 games, and lost only one. His record also shows 1 clean sheet, 8 goals conceded, and 18 tackles executed with a 56% success rate.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is one of the most talented right-backs of color currently playing in the English premier league.
While he represents England at the national level, rumors have swirled that he has Zimbabwean ancestry.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, fondly called Trent AA, is one of the top premier league right-backs who consistently delivers high-IQ passes and beautiful crosses.
His overall skill set makes him irreplaceable in the starting XI for Liverpool FC. He has been at the heart of the high-intensity play Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool plays, expertly delivering crosses and switching play at an accuracy we can only dream of.
That said, Trent AA is notorious for switching off in critical defence situations. This has seen him repeatedly targeted by opponents hoping to break into Liverpool’s defence from his wing.
In the current EPL season, Trent AA stats show that he has made 20 appearances, scored one goal, won 8 games, and recorded 7 losses.
The 24yrs old right-back has also recorded 23 tackles with a 74% success rate in the current EPL season.
There you have it, the best five right-backs of color currently playing in the English premier league.
Remember that the above list mainly focused on EPL right-backs of color and not a deeper comparison of all the defenders in the league. So, let’s not argue on this one.
In football, there are tons of players from an African heritage scattered abroad in European football clubs. These players of color also show great mastery in their positions and are also dedicated to working their way up to the top of the ranking ladder.
