Kim Min-jae: FIFA and Bundesliga’s Best, Europe’s Second—The 'Monster' Returns

 Kim Min-jae: Recognized as the World’s Best Center-back by FIFA’s CIES, Also Crowned the Best Defender in the Bundesliga

Kim Min-jae has been recognized as the best center-back in the world by the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES), an organization under FIFA, and also as the top defender in the Bundesliga. Excelling in both passing accuracy and the number of attempts, he ranks among the elite in Europe’s top five leagues, setting a new standard for modern football.

According to the football statistics platform "DataMB," Kim recorded the highest score among Bundesliga center-backs this season, earning an impressive 92 points. This places him significantly ahead of Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen, 86 points) and his Bayern Munich teammate Dayot Upamecano, as well as Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck, who both tied for third place with 85 points. Kim is the only center-back to exceed 90 points this season, solidifying his status as one of the best in history.

Previously, CIES also ranked Kim as the best center-back globally, awarding him 91.1 out of 100 points in their performance metrics. This exceptional score reflects Kim’s dominance in defensive skills, build-up play, spatial control, and overall game contribution. Manchester City’s Rúben Dias followed with 89.7 points, while Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) and Éder Militão (Real Madrid) were also ranked highly. However, Kim’s unique achievement of surpassing 90 points underscores his standout position in global football.

DataMB also praised Kim’s remarkable performance in the Bundesliga this season. He not only topped their center-back performance rankings with 92 points but also outscored Jonathan Tah (86 points) by a considerable margin. His teammate Upamecano tied for third with 85 points.

Kim’s defensive impact is further highlighted by Bayern Munich’s solid performance this season. The team has conceded only seven goals in 10 league matches, showcasing their defensive stability. Notably, Bayern has kept clean sheets in their last five games, including Bundesliga, Champions League, and DFB-Pokal matches, with Kim playing a crucial role.

In addition to his defensive abilities, Kim has proven himself as one of Europe’s best center-backs in build-up play. According to DataMB, he averages 97.61 passes per 90 minutes this season, ranking second among central defenders in Europe’s top five leagues. Bayern’s Joshua Kimmich leads with 104.25 passes, while Upamecano ranks third with 94.03. These figures highlight Kim’s vital role in Bayern’s possession-oriented strategy.

Kim’s contribution goes beyond just the number of passes. He leads Europe’s top five leagues with 398 successful progressive passes this season, surpassing Barcelona veteran Iñigo Martínez (375). His precise passing not only facilitates smoother offensive transitions but also establishes him as a cornerstone of Bayern’s tactical setup.

Kim has also been a standout performer in the UEFA Champions League. In a match against Benfica, he completed all 113 of his pass attempts with a 100% success rate, setting a historic milestone. He became the first player since the 2003-04 season to record over 103 passes in a Champions League match with perfect accuracy.

Despite his remarkable success, Kim remains ambitious and continues to set higher goals. In an interview with the German outlet Bild, he stated, “Munich now feels like home, but I haven’t yet reached the level I had in Napoli,” demonstrating his commitment to further improvement.

Kim faced initial criticism during his first season with Bayern due to tactical adjustments and occasional mistakes. However, he has steadily solidified his place in the team with consistent performances. New head coach Vincent Kompany quickly recognized Kim’s potential and positioned him as a key defender. Kim is expected to maintain his impressive form in Bayern’s upcoming Bundesliga match against Augsburg on the 23rd, where he is likely to start.