With stellar performances when played at the front of PSG’s attack, Lionel Messi recorded a ridiculous average rating in a Back 5 defense.
| Player | Rating | Defense | Minutes Played | Team |
| Lionel Messi | 9.69 | Back 5 | 900 | PSG |
| Lionel Messi | 8.74 | Back 4 | 782 | PSG |
| Kylian Mbappé | 8.69 | Back 4 | 912 | PSG |
| Kylian Mbappé | 8.50 | Back 5 | 1664 | PSG |
| Alexandre Lacazette | 8.31 | Back 4 | 2171 | Lyon |
| Alexandre Lacazette | 7.91 | Back 5 | 649 | Lyon |
| Jonathan David | 7.72 | Back 4 | 2657 | Lille |
| Gaëtan Laborde | 7.65 | Back 4 | 563 | Nice |
| Junya Ito | 7.56 | Back 5 | 537 | Reims |
| Amine Gouiri | 7.42 | Back 4 | 1349 | Rennes |
| Alexis Sánchez | 7.35 | Back 5 | 2302 | Marseille |
| W. Ben Yedder | 7.33 | Back 4 | 1761 | Monaco |
| Florian Sotoca | 7.27 | Back 5 | 523 | Lens |
| Terem Moffi | 7.24 | Back 4 | 941 | Nice |
| Folarin Balogun | 7.13 | Back 4 | 2068 | Reims |
| Terem Moffi | 7.11 | Back 4 | 1355 | Lorient |
| Elye Wahi | 7.05 | Back 4 | 2086 | Montpellier |
Conditions for the presented data:
– Minimum minutes played in the season: 450 minutes (equivalent to 5 full games) per type of defense played (Back 4 or Back 5);
Data from FBref.