World Cup 2018 Best XI (Heading Into Tournament)

9. Centre Back - Mats Hummels (Germany)

Germany's Mats Hummels smiles at the end of the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Germany and France at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, July 4, 2014. Germany won the match 1-0. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Martin Meissner/AP

Alongside Ramos is a man who played a key role in Germany winning the World Cup four years ago. Hummels has been described as the "best ball-playing centre-back in the world" and is a five-time Bundesliga champion.

With Jerome Boateng, he forms one of the most reliable centre-back pairings in international football, as evidenced by Germany's measly four goals conceded in qualifying. The 29-year-old is a lynchpin of the German golden generation squad and just edges out Raphael Varane to make our XI.

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