Renato Veiga Among Top Young Centre-Backs for Ball Retention

Portuguese international Renato Veiga has been ranked among the top three U24 central defenders with the highest ball retention percentage, according to an analysis by the CIES Football Observatory.

In a list evaluating performance for the 2026 World Cup, the Portuguese player is only surpassed by 23-year-old Belgian Nathan Ngoy, who leads the rankings, and Spain's Pau Cubarsí, who holds the second position.

The top-10, shared by the Football Observatory, highlights the technical prowess of these defenders in their ability to maintain possession for their team. The list is rounded out by Chadi Riad (Morocco), Finn Surman (New Zealand), Ime Okon (South Africa), Luc de Fougerolles (Canada), Joel Ordóñez (Ecuador), Abdukodir Khusanov (Uzbekistan), and Mbekezeli Mbokazi (South Africa).