LaLiga right-backs – Who are the best RBs in Spain?

The arrival of Trent Alexander-Arnold is one of the transfer stories of the summer in Spain, with the England international set to add a new dimension to Real Madrid’s play on the right flank. Here’s a look at the competition he will face in terms of the other LaLiga right-backs, with the ex-Liverpool man keen to establish himself as the world’s best in the role.

Below, we’ve ranked the best LaLiga right-backs according to their L15 (last 15 match average) score according to Sorare’s advanced scoring matrix. This takes into account dozens of factors, with players given scores out of 100 based on metrics such as clearances, interceptions and progressive passes, as well as more basic decisive actions such as goals and assists.

To feature, players must have appeared in at least eight of their last 15 eligible fixtures. That includes LaLiga games, and in some cases international and European games. They must also have predominantly featured as a right-back or right-wing-back last season for their clubs. Players who will depart LaLiga this summer, such as Betis’ Youssouf Sabaly are also excluded.

LaLiga right-backs – Top 5 ranked by their Sorare scores

5. Andoni Gorosabel, Athletic Club – 49

Athletic Club have been well blessed in the right-back position in recent years with Oscar De Marcos performing to a consistently high level across a 16-year stay at the Basque club before his retirement last month. The main beneficiary of De Marcos’ retirement looks set to be Andoni Gorosabel who is expected to be Ernesto Valverde’s first-choice right-back next season.

Gorosabel is already posting some solid numbers and he made 23 starts in all competitions for Athletic last season, with Valverde rotating between him and De Marcos. At 28, he’s by no means an emerging young talent, but he’s an experienced campaigner in the Spanish top flight now having also featured in it for Real Sociedad and Alaves. It’s true that he lacks the attacking dynamism of De Marcos though, with only two league assists in the last three seasons.

4. Dimitri Foulquier, Valencia – 51

With Thierry Correia missing most of the campaign due to an ACL injury, Dimitri Foulquier faced little competition for the right-back role at Mestalla last term. The Frenchman did a good job as Los Che recovered to a 12th-place finish in the second half of the campaign under Carlos Corberan.

He showed more composure on the ball than in other years with his passing accuracy rising to 81.5% compared to less than 75% in each of his previous seven seasons in LaLiga which also includes spells at Getafe and Granada. The 32-year-old looks in a good place to be the starting right-back for his current club again when the 2025/26 season starts.

3. Jules Kounde, Barcelona – 53

Barcelona right-back Jules Kounde was the standout player in the position at the top end of LaLiga 2024/25, with the possible exception of Marcos Llorente (L15: 59) who is treated as a midfielder on Sorare and therefore not factored into this rundown of the best right-backs in LaLiga.

Kounde himself does not have a long history playing in the role given Barca signed him as a central defender, the position he had excelled in for Sevilla alongside Diego Carlos between 2019 and 2022. While Kounde had previously voiced his frustration at being used as a full-back by Barca, the Frenchman now looks to have accepted the situation and he clocked up more than 4000 minutes of football in the role across the 2024/25 season.

Only missing one of Barca’s 14 Champions League games, which was the second-leg semi-final defeat to Inter, it’s clear that Hansi Flick sees him as an integral player who he is very reluctant to rest.

2. Ivan Balliu, Rayo Vallecano – 53

The 2024/25 season was largely a frustrating one for Ivan Balliu. After three seasons as Rayo Vallecano’s first-choice right-back, the Albanian surprisingly found himself on the bench and playing second fiddle to Andrei Ratiu, one of the most notable shifts that Iñigo Perez has made since taking charge of the Madrid club in 2024.

However, towards the end of the season, the young Rayo boss found a way to fit both men into the side. With Ratiu frequently deployed as a winger, Balliu returned to the starting XI on a more regular basis, making five starts in May as Rayo clinched European qualification for only the second time. With Conference League football to look forward to, it should be easier for Perez to rotate Ratiu and Balliu next term.

1. Nahuel Tenaglia, Alaves – 59

While he does not rank as one of the very best players in LaLiga, Nahuel Tenaglia does have a genuine claim when it comes to being a candidate for the best RB in LaLiga during the 2024/25 season. Playing in a struggling Alaves side, he was a very dependable player for Chacho Coudet as the Basque side ultimately pulled clear of trouble.

Man-of-the-match displays from Tenaglia in key 1-0 home victories over Real Sociedad and Valencia during the run-in highlighted just how important the Argentine has become for his side. While he made the move to Europe relatively late, the 29-year-old now looks to be really entering his prime as a footballer and Alaves fans will be hoping he remains in Vitoria until at least the end of his contract which runs until 2027.

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Top 10 best LaLiga right-backs right now according to Sorare

Just missing out on the top five, Espanyol’s Omar El Hilali is seen as one of the biggest full-back prospects in LaLiga. The 21-year-old started all but two of his team’s league fixtures during the 2024/25 season and he may well be the subject of summer interest from other clubs.

The same could have been said of Girona’s Arnau Martinez at one point, although his progress has stagnated slightly over the past couple of years.

One of the best Spanish right-backs right now is Oscar Mingueza who had an excellent season for Celta Vigo, operating as either a full-back or a wing-back, which earned him international recognition.

The aforementioned Ratiu and Osasuna’s Jesus Areso also rank in the top 10 for the best LaLiga right-backs right now. However, that picture would change slightly were Llorente to be treated as a defender rather than a midfielder, while new Real Madrid right-back Alexander-Arnold will clearly be hoping to gatecrash this list in the 2025/26 season.

Compare these players with the best left-backs in the Spanish top flight for a broader overview of the league’s top-performing full-backs.