By Rune Gjerulff@runegjerulff

Best Bundesliga full-backs of 2023 so far

Here are the best Bundesliga full-backs of 2023 so far, according to German football magazine Kicker.
Every six months, Kicker publishes a ranking of the best players in the Bundesliga, as well as the best German players abroad, divided into a number of categories.



Today, the German football magazine has released the first part of their summer rankings based on the performances in the second half of the 2022/23 season. Below, you'll find the full-back rankings.

World Class:
None.

International Class:
1. Raphael Guerreiro, Borussia Dortmund
2. Jeremie Frimpong, Bayer Leverkusen

National Class:
3. Benjamin Henrichs, RB Leipzig
4. Jonas Hector, FC Köln
5. Mohamad Simakan, RB Leipzig

Bundesliga news

Post-match reaction FC BayernKane speaks on injury after limping off against Leverkusen
Post-match reaction SC FreiburgSchuster reacts to Freiburg's shock loss to St. Pauli
Post-match reaction FC BayernVincent Kompany: "It's a shame we didn't win"
Post-match reaction Bayer LeverkusenXabi Alonso "happy" to take one point from Bayern clash
Post-match reaction Bayer LeverkusenXhaka praises Leverkusen's defensive solidity after draw with Bayern
Post-match reaction FC BayernBayern bosses give injury update on Kane
Post-match reaction FC BAyernManuel Neuer: "We deserved more and were clearly the better team"
Post-match reaction Union BerlinSvensson laments length of injury time after late loss to Gladbach
Post-match reaction MainzHenriksen slams referee after Mainz defeat against Heidenheim
Match report Bayern & LeverkusenDominant Bayern held to a draw by Leverkusen
Post-match reaction VfB StuttgartReferee admits sending off Karazor was a mistake
Preview Bundesliga Matchday 5Hoffenheim vs. Werder Bremen preview: Hosts desperate to end winless run
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 515:30 Kickoffs: Wolfsburg-Stuttgart ends in controversial draw, four teams earn clean sheet wins

Table

Match days

Post-match reaction FC BayernKane speaks on injury after limping off against Leverkusen
Post-match reaction SC FreiburgSchuster reacts to Freiburg's shock loss to St. Pauli
Post-match reaction FC BayernVincent Kompany: "It's a shame we didn't win"
Post-match reaction Bayer LeverkusenXabi Alonso "happy" to take one point from Bayern clash
Post-match reaction Bayer LeverkusenXhaka praises Leverkusen's defensive solidity after draw with Bayern
Post-match reaction FC BayernBayern bosses give injury update on Kane
Post-match reaction FC BAyernManuel Neuer: "We deserved more and were clearly the better team"
Post-match reaction Union BerlinSvensson laments length of injury time after late loss to Gladbach
Post-match reaction MainzHenriksen slams referee after Mainz defeat against Heidenheim
Match report Bayern & LeverkusenDominant Bayern held to a draw by Leverkusen
Post-match reaction VfB StuttgartReferee admits sending off Karazor was a mistake
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 515:30 Kickoffs: Wolfsburg-Stuttgart ends in controversial draw, four teams earn clean sheet wins
Bayern & LeverkusenConfirmed lineups: Bayern Munich vs. Bayer Leverkusen
Preview Holstein Kiel, Eintracht FrankfurtHolstein Kiel vs Eintracht Frankfurt preview: Visitors in strong form
Post-match reaction Borussia DortmundCan, Kobel, and Sahin after comeback win: "We showed character."
Preview Borussia Mönchengladbach, Union BerlinBorussia Mönchengladbach vs Union Berlin preview: Hosts in need of a win
Preview Mainz, HeidenheimMainz vs Heidenheim preview: Die Nullfünfer to get form rolling
Bayer 04 LeverkusenXhaka wants Leverkusen to step up their game against Bayern: "We concede too many goals"
TSG HoffenheimKramaric expected to miss out against Werder
Preview RB Leipzig, AugsburgRB Leipzig vs. Augsburg preview: Hosts looking to kickstart form
Bayer 04 LeverkusenAlonso provides personnel update and explains Wirtz's great form
FC BayernKompany gives update on squad – including Neuer – ahead of Leverkusen clash
Other Bundesliga Matchday 5Schuster on coming duel between Eggestein brothers: "Both reserved lots of tickets!"
Other RB Leipzig Rose speaks on RB offensive woes and Xavi Simons' form dip
Other Borussia MönchengladbachSeoane confirms muscle fiber tear for Honorat

German Teams in Europe

Eintracht FrankfurtToppmöller backs Kaua Santos to "show a good reaction" after poor showing against Plzen
Match report Europa LeagueEintracht collapse late, drop points in Europa League opener
Post-match reaction Hoffenheim & DFBBaumann comments on ter Stegen injury and ongoing disputes with TSG fans
Match report HoffenheimStunning Moerstedt goal rescues European point for Hoffenheim
Eintracht FrankfurtToppmöller gives update on Götze and Koch ahead of Plzen match
TSG HoffenheimKramaric and Stach join Hoffenheim's long list of absentees for Midtjylland trip
Post-match reaction RB LeipzigRose wants Leipzig to "draw energy" from painful Atletico defeat
Post-match reaction Bayer 04 LeverkusenWirtz reflects on "successful" Champions League debut
Match report UEFA Champions LeagueLeipzig fall to defeat in Madrid as Giménez grabs glory for Atlético
Match report Champions LeagueWirtz records brace in first Champions League match as Leverkusen defeat Feyenoord
Preview UEFA Champions LeagueConfirmed lineups: Atlético Madrid vs. RB Leipzig
Other Champions LeagueConfirmed lineups: Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs. Feyenoord
Bayer 04 LeverkusenFrimpong on facing Feyenoord: "We're not the favorites"
Post-match reaction Borussia DortmundSabitzer irritated with his role against Club Brugge: "Not my ideal position"
Borussia DortmundGittens pushes for starting role after brace
Match report Borussia DortmundDortmund bailed out by Gittens brilliance in Brugge
Borussia DortmundConfirmed lineups: Club Brugge vs. Borussia Dortmund
Post-match reaction VFB StuttgartFuming Undav laments "shitty set-piece goal" after Real Madrid defeat
Post-match reaction VfB StuttgartSebastian Hoeness: Stuttgart "can be proud" despite loss to Real Madrid
Post-match reaction FC BayernKompany reveals reason for taking Neuer off in Bayern's 9-2 win over Dinamo Zagreb
Post-match reaction FC BayernFour-goal hero Kane reacts to Bayern's thrashing of Dinamo: "Amazing game!"
Facts FC BayernBayern become first team to score nine goals in a Champions League game with 9-2 win over Dinamo Zagreb
Match report VfB StuttgartSpirited Stuttgart feel the sting as Madrid spoil efforts with late strikes
Match report FC BayernKane scores four goals as Bayern crush Dinamo 9-2
Preview VfB StuttgartConfirmed lineups: Real Madrid vs. VfB Stuttgart

DFB-Pokal

Other DFB PokalDFB-Pokal second round fixtures released
Post-match reaction Bayer 04 LeverkusenAndrich criticizes Leverkusen performance in the DFB-Pokal: "That's not us"
Post-match reaction VfB StuttgartHoeness after 5-0 win: "We're only at the beginning"
Preview DFB-PokalCarl Zeiss Jena vs. Bayer Leverkusen preview: Team news and predicted lineups
Preview DFB-PokalPreussen Münster vs. Stuttgart preview: Team news and predicted lineups
Match report DfB PokalFrankfurt show their class to break down stubborn Braunschweig
Match report DfB Pokal18:00 Pokal Kickoffs: A tip-Topp evening for Bremen, Wolfsburg scrape by Koblenz, Kickers Offenbach stun Magdeburg
Other SC FreiburgFreiburg praise resurgent Adamu: "He can become an important player for us."
Match report DfB Pokal18:00 Pokal Kickoffs: Hamburg and Karlsruhe simply unstoppable, Dresden eliminate Fortuna Düsseldorf
Other VfL WolfsburgHasenhüttl names Lacroix captain for cup tie: "I know that he will stay."
Match report DfB Pokal1.FC Köln survive first-round scare in Sandhausen
Match report DfB Pokal15:30 Pokal Kickoffs: Big shock as Bochum bow out; Hertha Berlin, Paderborn, Darmstadt, and Elversberg advance
Match report DfB PokalNürnberg squeeze past Saarbrücken after penalty shoot-out drama
Match report DfB PokalAugsburg comfortably see off Viktoria Berlin in Pokal opener
Match report DfB Pokal18:00 Pokal Kickoffs: Rosenboom the hero as Holstein Kiel survive Aachen upset, Bielefeld brush Hannover aside
Match report DFB PokalGroß records two assists as Dortmund get Sahin Era off to winning start
Match report DfB Pokal15:30 Pokal Kickoffs: Leipzig, Freiburg, Heidenheim, and Union Berlin all advance; Kaiserslautern and Schalke secure second-round berths
Match report DfB Pokal13:00 Pokal Kickoffs: Gladbach complete comeback, Fürth swipe Schott Mainz aside
Match report DFB Pokal18:00 Pokal Kickoffs: St. Pauli and Mainz avoid upsets in extra time, Hoffenheim advance on penalties
Bayer LeverkusenAlonso not committing to starting goalkeeper: "We'll see from game to game"
FC BayernReport: Goretzka left out of Bayern squad for DFB-Pokal game
Other VfB StuttgartHoeneß confirms ongoing search for "quality" defender, leaves Undav-Demirovic question open ahead of Supercup
DFB-PokalDFB-Pokal first round draw
Post-match reaction FC KaiserslauternFunkel praises Lautern support, hints that he might again return to coaching
Post-match reaction DFB PokalXabi explains rein-in of Wirtz: "We had to calm things down."

German National Team

FC BayernBayern bosses comment on possible Germany return for Neuer
Post-match reaction Hoffenheim & DFBBaumann comments on ter Stegen injury and ongoing disputes with TSG fans
Other Bremen & DFBNiemeyer endorses Zetterer for German national team
Rumor DFBWill Wanner play for Germany or Austria? Here's what his international future depends on
DFBWho will replace the long-term injured ter Stegen for Germany?
DFB UEFA reportedly admits Germany should have been awarded a penalty against Spain
Other DFBConfirmed: Surgery to sideline ter Stegen for eight months or more
DFBTer Stegen expected to be out for months with horror injury
Post-match reaction Hoffenheim & DFBMatarazzo remains under fire while Völler quashes Wagner rumors
DFBNagelsmann reveals World Cup "master plan"
Other Stuttgart & DFBWoltemade on missing Stuttgart's European tour: "My time in the Champions League will come."
Post-match reaction Dortmund & DFBAdeyemi on hopes of returning to German national team: "Inshallah."
Other Bayern, DFB, & ÖFBWanner denies he's made a decision to represent Germany over Austria
Post-match reaction DFBKoeman launches surprise attack on Tah: "He made a lot of mistakes"
Post-match reaction DFBUndav "over the moon" after scoring his first goal for Germany
Post-match reaction DFBNagelsmann on "very entertaining" Netherlands draw: "Both defences were vulnerable"
Post-match reaction DFBMusiala reacts to Netherlands draw: "Many decisions didn't go our way"
Analysis/Commentary DFBGermany player ratings against the Netherlands
Match report DFBGermany share spoils with Netherlands in thrilling draw
Match report Dortmund, Stuttgart, & DFBAdeyemi, Woltemade, and Krätzig shine in German U21 demolition of Estonia
DFBConfirmed lineups: Netherlands vs. Germany
DFBNagelsmann "can imagine" Wirtz and Musiala playing together at club level
Post-match reaction Stuttgart & DFBStiller speaks on "goosebump" moment: "Hey, I'm playing for Germany!"
Other DFBFour German U21s receive guaranteed starts ahead of crucial match
DFBMatthäus backs Germany to win the World Cup in 2026

Long reads

Editor's pick FC BAYERNThe secrets behind Vincent Kompany's brilliant start as Bayern Munich's head coach
Analysis/Commentary Werder BremenThe world’s worst restart: Naby Keïta’s disastrous one-year spell at Werder Bremen
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga"Ones to watch" for Bundesliga Matchday 3
Analysis/Commentary VfL Bochum‘The Unrelegatables’: How Peter Zeidler’s tactics can secure VfL Bochum’s Bundesliga status
Analysis/Commentary DFBGermany player ratings against the Netherlands
Analysis/Commentary SC FreiburgSC Freiburg analysis – Perfect response and jubilant mood on opening day
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga Matchday 1"Ones to watch" for Bundesliga Matchday 1 (New transfers edition)
Analysis/Commentary FantasyFantasy Bundesliga: A guide to the new rules for the 2024/25 season
Analysis/Commentary Bayer 04 LeverkusenHow Bayer Leverkusen could line up for the 2024/25 season
Analysis/Commentary FC BayernHow Bayern could line up for the 2024/25 season
Analysis/Commentary DFBGermany player ratings against Denmark
Analysis/Commentary DFBGermany player ratings against Switzerland
Analysis/Commentary DFBGermany player ratings against Hungary
Analysis/Commentary DFBGermany player ratings against Scotland
Analysis/Commentary BundesligaShould the Bundesliga relegation/promotion tie be scrapped?
Analysis/Commentary BundesligaBundesliga Team of the Season
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga "Tactics Talk"Bundesliga Tactics Talk: Round 34
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga Matchday 34"Ones to watch" for Bundesliga Matchday 34
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga "Tactics Talk"Bundesliga Tactics Talk: Round 33
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga"Ones to watch" for Bundesliga Matchday 33
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga "Tactics Talk"Bundesliga Tactics Talk: Round 32
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga"Ones to watch" for Bundesliga Matchday 32
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga "Tactics Talk"Bundesliga Tactics Talk: Round 31
Analysis/Commentary BayernBayern Munich player ratings against Real Madrid
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga"Ones to watch" for Bundesliga Matchday 31

Exclusive interviews

Interview SC Freiburg vs VfB StuttgartFreiburg vs Stuttgart - Reactions from the fan scene
Interview BundesligaEXCLUSIVE: Michael Owen talks Kane, Musiala, Sancho and looks back on famous hat-trick against Germany
Editor's pick Bundesliga & DFBEXCLUSIVE: Dietmar Hamann on the Bundesliga title fight, Der Klassiker and Nagelsmann's start as Germany coach
Editor's pick MainzEXCLUSIVE: Danny da Costa rules out future coaching job
Interview Bayer LeverkusenEXCLUSIVE: Edmond Tapsoba on England links, his role models and Leverkusen's struggles this season
Interview Bundesliga InterviewEXCLUSIVE: From infancy to Eisernen - An Interview with Union Berlin’s rising star Laurenz Dehl
Editor's pick LeverkusenSimon Rolfes interview – part two: Leverkusen boss points out "problem" with German youth development
Editor's pick LeverkusenFernando Carro interview: Bayer Leverkusen CEO says Bundesliga rights are “sold under value”, questions 50+1 rule
Editor's pick Bayer 04 LeverkusenSimon Rolfes interview: Leverkusen boss on global scouting, Frimpong’s “fantastic” rise and more
Editor's pick WolfsburgEXCLUSIVE: Jonas Wind on Wolfsburg's poor start, Niko Kovac, his dream club and more
Editor's pick EXCLUSIVE: Wolfsburg's Jonas Wind gives injury update, shares thoughts on ...
Editor's pick DortmundEXCLUSIVE: Ex-BVB star and agent Niclas Jensen on life on and off the pitch and why Bielefeld's Bello is one to watch
Editor's pick GladbachEXCLUSIVE: Gladbach's Joe Scally on first United States call-up and World Cup chances
Editor's pick GladbachEXCLUSIVE: Gladbach and USMNT defender Joe Scally on his rise to stardom and season so far

Team News

Bundesliga - Holstein Kiel - FrankfurtBundesliga - Hoffenheim - Bremen