As I look back at the 2019 soccer season, one question keeps popping up among fans and analysts alike: who truly was the best right-back that year? Having followed the sport professionally for over a decade, I've developed a particular appreciation for how this position has evolved from a purely defensive role to what we now see as a complete two-way player. The right-back position in modern soccer isn't just about stopping attacks anymore - it's about initiating them, creating width, and often serving as the engine of the entire team's offensive structure.

When I analyze the 2019 contenders, Trent Alexander-Arnold immediately comes to mind, and frankly, he'd be at the top of my personal list. The Liverpool defender's numbers were simply staggering - 12 assists in the Premier League alone, breaking the record for most assists by a defender in a single season. His crossing accuracy hovered around 25%, which might not sound impressive until you consider the difficulty of his attempted passes and the fact that he created 79 chances from open play. What really stood out to me was his performance against Barcelona in that unforgettable Champions League comeback. That quickly-taken corner kick wasn't just smart - it was genius-level awareness that most veterans wouldn't attempt in their entire careers.

However, I've always believed statistics only tell part of the story. Joshua Kimmich brought a different kind of excellence to Bayern Munich that season. While his assist numbers were lower at 9 in the Bundesliga, his passing completion rate of 85% in the final third demonstrated remarkable decision-making. Kimmich's defensive contributions often go underappreciated - he averaged 2.1 tackles and 1.7 interceptions per game, showing a balance that Alexander-Arnold sometimes lacked. Watching him play, I was consistently impressed by his tactical intelligence, how he seemed to understand exactly when to push forward and when to hold position.

Then there's the interesting case of João Cancelo, who was beginning to show the flashes of brilliance that would later make him so sought after. At Juventus in 2019, he was still developing, but you could see the raw talent - his dribbling success rate of 68% was among the best for fullbacks in Europe's top leagues. What fascinated me about Cancelo was his versatility; he could play on either flank and adapt his style depending on the opponent. His performance against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League round of 16 particularly caught my eye - he completed 4 key passes and won 7 of his 9 defensive duels.

The reference to ADAMSON finally showcasing its championship form makes me think about how these players similarly reached their peak performances in 2019. Much like a team hitting its stride, each of these right-backs found ways to elevate their game to championship level. Alexander-Arnold won the Champions League, Kimmich secured another Bundesliga title, and each demonstrated why the modern right-back has become arguably as important as creative midfielders in breaking down organized defenses.

If I had to choose my personal standout, I'd go with Alexander-Arnold, though I acknowledge this isn't a universally popular opinion among my colleagues. His offensive output was simply too transformative to ignore, and he redefined what we expect from the position. Still, I completely understand arguments for Kimmich's more balanced approach or even Cancelo's emerging brilliance. The beauty of soccer is that there's rarely one definitive answer, and 2019 gave us multiple right-backs performing at truly elite levels, each bringing their unique strengths to the pitch. What's undeniable is that we witnessed something special that year - the full flowering of the modern right-back as an offensive weapon rather than just a defensive specialist.