By Rune Gjerulff@runegjerulff

The Bundesliga's best full-backs of 2019 so far

Here are the best Bundesliga full-backs of 2019 so far, according to Kicker.
Every six months Kicker releases a ranking of the best players in the Bundesliga as well as the best German players abroad, dividing them into four categories: 'World Class', 'International Class', 'In the Wider Circle' and 'Field of Vision'.

Today, the German sports magazine has released the first part of the rankings based on the performances in the second half of the 2018/19 season. Below, you'll find the full-back rankings.

World Class:
None.

International Class:
1. Joshua Kimmich, Bayern München
2. Filip Kostic, Eintracht Frankfurt
3. David Alaba, Bayern München
4. Jerome Roussillon, VfL Wolfsburg
5. Nico Schulz, Hoffenheim

In the Wider Circle:
6. Marcel Halstenberg, RB Leipzig
7. Lukas Klostermann, RB Leipzig

Field of vision (ranked alphabetically):
Aaron, Mainz 05
Danny da Costa, Eintracht Frankfurt
Christian Günter, SC Freiburg
Pavel Kaderabek, Hoffenheim
Wendell, Bayer 04 Leverkusen


Kicker's rankings at other positions:

Goalkeepers

Centre-backs

Defensive midfielders

Offensive midfielders

Wingers

Strikers

Bundesliga news

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
FC BayernKompany gives fresh injury update on Neuer and speaks on possible rotation
Fantasy Football FantasyWatch: Matchday 4 Fantasy Bundesliga show
Fantasy Football FantasyFantasy Bundesliga: Scout squads for Matchday 4
Match report UEFA Champions LeagueLeipzig fall to defeat in Madrid as Giménez grabs glory for Atlético
Preview Bundesliga Matchday 4Augsburg vs. Mainz preview: Hosts targeting back-to-back victories
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
GladbachOmlin set for spell on the sidelines
DFBNagelsmann reveals World Cup "master plan"
Bayer 04 LeverkusenFrimpong on facing Feyenoord: "We're not the favorites"

Table

Match days

FC BayernKompany gives fresh injury update on Neuer and speaks on possible rotation
GladbachOmlin set for spell on the sidelines
Mainz 05Henriksen keeping his cards close to his chest ahead of Danish coaching duel
FC AugsburgThorup praises Marius Wolf's immediate impact at Augsburg
Post-match reaction Bremen & BayernKöhn reflects on "storybook" Bundesliga debut, looks ahead to meeting with former club Bayern
Post-match reaction FC AugsburgAugsburg praise new signings after massive home win: "A great bunch in the locker room!"
Post-match reaction Bayer 04 LeverkusenAlonso on Boniface: "He can and must do more"
Bayer Leverkusen Alonso outlines high expectations for Terrier
Team of the week Bundesliga Matchday 3Bundesliga Team of the Week: Matchday 3
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 3Mainz undone by spirited 10-man Bremen as Köhn makes the difference
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 3Second-half onslaught sees Augsburg past St.Pauli
Post-match reaction SC FreiburgSchuster marvels at Adamu's form: "He never seems to get tired!"
Post-match reaction Bundesliga Matchday 3Neuer hails return of "winning mentality" while Holtby and Becker reflect on rough evening
Post-match reaction RB LeipzigRose after Openda's missed penalty: "Not a coach who specifies penalty takers."
Post-match reaction TSG 1899 HoffenheimBaumann calls for détente between TSG and its fans: "We're the ones suffering."
Other Freiburg & GladbachPlea's knee injury may be serious, Freiburg's Röhl set for sidelines
Post-match reaction Bayer 04 LeverkusenBoniface after dancing away the goal drought: "I forgot how I scored."
Other BayernEberl speaks on Musiala's contract and Goretzka's situation in pre-kickoff interview
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 3Bayern exact cruel revenge on Kiel, secure first place in Bundesliga table
Post-match reaction VfB StuttgartDemirovic credits cheerleading Undav and "attack dog" Rieder for winning brace
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 315:30 Kickoffs: Leverkusen back on track, Stuttgart earn first win, Leipzig fail against Union
Post-match reaction Dortmund & DFBAdeyemi on hopes of returning to German national team: "Inshallah."
Match report Bundesliga Matchday 3"Adeyemi Show" rolls on as Dortmund hand Heidenheim first defeat
Other FC AugsburgThorup hints at starts for Mounié and Wolf against St. Pauli
Other FSV Mainz 05Henriksen praises Jenz's leadership qualities ahead of potential start

German Teams in Europe

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 Bynoe-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
FC BayernConfirmed lineups: Bayern Munich vs. Dinamo Zagreb
FC BayernVincent Kompany: Playing against Bayern should be an "almost impossible mission"
VfB StuttgartUndav warns against Rüdiger: "I know what a nasty defender he can be"
Preview RB LeipzigAtletico Madrid vs. RB Leipzig preview: Team news and predicted lineups
Preview Bayer 04 LeverkusenFeyenoord vs. Bayer Leverkusen preview: Team news and predicted lineups
Preview Borussia DortmundClub Brugge vs. Borussia Dortmund preview: Team news and predicted lineups

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

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
DFBXavi Simons "extra motivated" for Germany clash
Preview DFBNetherlands vs. Germany preview: Team news and predicted lineups
DFB Völler wants to step down as Germany boss in 2026
Post-match reaction DFBFüllkrug: "A gift" to play with Wirtz and Musiala
Match report German National TeamGermany hit a fantastic five in trouncing of Hungary
Other Gladbach & DFBKramer hints at retirement: "Not optimistic something will crop up."
Other Hertha & DFBFormer German national team defender Plattenhardt retires from football
DFBNagelsmann confirms that Gross and Füllkrug will start against Hungary
Other Frankfurt & DFBDahoud switches allegiance back to Germany: "I would love to play for my home country."

Long reads

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
Analysis/Commentary Bayer 04 LeverkusenBayer Leverkusen are getting closer to immortality
Analysis/Commentary Bundesliga "Tactics Talk"Bundesliga Tactics Talk: Round 30
Analysis/Commentary Leverkusen"Laterkusen" - the art of deciding games late

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 - Augsburg - Mainz 05