Wayne Rooney thinks Manchester United team-mate Chris Smalling is one of the 'top three centre-halves in the world'... but who actually makes the top 10 in our pick? 

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Wayne Rooney certainly raised a few eyebrows this week when he described his Manchester United team-mate Chris Smalling as one of the 'top three centre-halves in the world.'

The United captain told United Review: 'He has been incredible and for me he is right up there in world football in terms of centre-halves.

'He is in the top three centre-halves in the world - I think he is that good.'

While it is true that Smalling's game for both club and country has come on leaps and bounds over the past year, Rooney might just be jumping the gun a little bit.

We count down our top 10 defenders in world football right now.

Chris Smalling (right) has enjoyed a brilliant start to the season at the heart of Manchester United's defence

Red Devils captain Wayne Rooney has hailed Smalling as one of the 'top three centre-halves in the world'

10. Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal and France)

If Arsenal are to finally end their wait for Premier League glory, rock-solid defence will be essential and Koscielny will be an important cog in the machine.

The Frenchman's game has matured over the last few years into world-class ability and, on their day, Koscielny and defensive partner Per Mertesacker are pretty much unbeatable.

It could be a big season for the 30-year-old, who will round it off by playing for his country in a home European Championship. 

Arsenal will hope Laurent Koscielny can maintain his form if they are to win the Premier League title

9. Gerard Pique (Barcelona and Spain)

Pique is 28 and has already won everything the game has to offer - the World Cup, a European Championship, four Champions Leagues and much, much more.

He has been a rock at the heart of Barcelona's defence since returning to Barcelona from Manchester United, helping them build and sustain an incredible period of success.

His devotion to the Barca cause is proven by his anti-Real Madrid sentiments, which have led to him being jeered by some Spain fans when on international duty. 

Gerard Pique (right) has won three Champions Leagues with Barcelona and one with Manchester United

8. Vincent Kompany (Manchester City and Belgium)

If City go on to build a dynasty of success in the Premier League, their fans will always reflect on the importance of Kompany, arguably the best defender playing in England for some time.

In an eventful few seasons, Kompany has been a rock of reliability in City's back line, helping them to win two Premier League titles, the FA Cup and the League Cup.

At the age of 29, all that remains is for Kompany to help City crack the Champions League and enable Belgium's 'Golden Generation' to realise their potential at Euro 2016.

Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany (right) tackles United's Anthony Martial during Sunday's 0-0 draw

7. Raphael Varane (Real Madrid and France)

The 22-year-old Varane has already achieved a lot in his young career and could well be a mainstay of the Real Madrid defence for years to come.

Jose Mourinho was the man who invested faith in him, helping his game develop, and this continued under Carlo Ancelotti as Real won the Champions League.

With plenty of time on his side, Varane should mature into a world-class centre-half. 

The 22-year-old Raphael Varane (right) is set to be the cornerstone of Real Madrid's defence for years to come

6. Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus and Italy)

Did Chiellini's absence through injury cause Juventus to lose last season's Champions League final to Barcelona? We'll never know, but his value to the Italian giants is not in doubt.

Bringing a wealth of experience and knowhow to the backline, the 31-year-old is among the world's best and if he shows the same longevity as other Italian defenders have, will remain so for some time yet.

Chiellini has four Serie A titles to his credit in addition to many other accolades, both team and individual. 

Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini (centre) and his tough-tackling approach can be daunting for attackers

5. Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund and Germany)

The defender endlessly linked with Manchester United and viewed for a long time as the natural successor to Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.

That hasn't come to pass but Hummels remains vital to one of Europe's best clubs in any case. He shone when Dortmund were at the peak of their powers under Jurgen Klopp, winning two Bundesliga titles and helping them to the final of the Champions League.

The German is also a World Cup winner - little wonder he's coveted by the best teams in the world.

World Cup winner Mats Hummels will be hoping to captain Borussia Dortmund to success this season

4. Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid and Uruguay)

Any team trying to shake up the status quo in football needs to have solid foundations and Uruguayan defender Godin was precisely that for Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid.

When he joined in 2010, Godin could have had little idea of the journey that was to follow - a La Liga title success in 2014, the same year they reached the final of the Champions League, a game in which he scored.

Godin is also captain of his national team and has amassed nearly a century of caps for Uruguay.

Diego Godin (left) has been superb for Atletico Madrid - helping them win La Liga in 2014

3. Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid and Spain)

Another player Manchester United were keen to sign over the summer and, given his pedigree for both club and country, who can blame them?

A World Cup winner with Spain in 2010 between two European Championship successes. They were the highlights of his astonishing 130 international caps all by the age of 29.

Domestically, Ramos has three La Liga titles, two Copa del Reys, the Champions League and Club World Cup in his trophy cabinet.

Like Hummels, Real captain Sergio Ramos has been strongly linked with a move to United

2. Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich and Germany)

Yes, he was embarrassed by Lionel Messi last season but, let's be honest, that happens to every defender. It shouldn't detract from the fact Boateng is one of the world's best.

Bayern's dominance of German football doesn't happen by accident and the German World Cup-winner is vital to them being so miserly.

Regarded as the form team in Europe right now, surely it is a matter of time before Boateng adds a second Champions League to his collection.

Jerome Boateng has developed into the one of the world's best centre backs during his time at Bayern Munich

1. Thiago Silva (Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil)

He may have had a slightly convoluted route to the top - arriving at PSG via Juventude, Porto, Dynamo Moscow, Fluminense and Milan - but Thiago Silva is the best at his craft right now.

The Brazil captain brings just about every defensive attribute to the table and even a few attacking ones as well.

He also has the accolades to back it up, winning league titles with Milan and PSG, and frequently making dream teams at tournaments. 

Thiago Silva's strength, pace and positional awareness are just some of his standout qualities as a defender