In football, having a solid centre-back pairing could be the difference between winning and losing games. Here is a list of 10 central defenders who are considered the best in their position, and FC Barcelona's Gerard Pique is, perhaps surprisingly, not among them.

Click through the gallery above to see the 10 best centre-backs in world football, according to FourFourTwo.

FourFourTwo recently compiled a list of players they believe are the 10 best centre-backs currently playing the game, and at the top is Real Madrid and Spain captain Sergio Ramos. The defender is certainly not the most likeable character in the sport, but he is someone who does the basics very well and is an extremely tough opponent to go up against.

In second place is another Los Blancos star, one who recently became a FIFA World Cup winner with France. Raphael Varane, who is 25 years old, was described as an "elegant, intense but composed" defender by FFT, and has numerous pieces of silverware in his trophy cabinet already.

Netherlands international Virgil van Dijk is the third best centre-back in the world, according to FFT, and he is also the most expensive defender of all time, while in fourth and fifth place are Atletico Madrid stalwart Diego Godin and Senegal star Kalidou Koulibaly, respectively. Both are often described as old-fashioned defenders but are certainly no slouches with the ball at their feet.

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To see FFT's complete list of the world's 10 best central defenders, click through the gallery above!

Do you agree with the selections? Have your say in the comments section below.