Waldemar Anton

Key strength: Aerial dominance

Defensive anchor

While Borussia Dortmund chase Bayern Munich from second place, their defensive fortress remains remarkably unmoved. Waldemar Anton, the 28-year-old German centre-back, has been the heartbeat of Nuri Şahin's backline—featuring in 33 of 34 Bundesliga matches and accumulating 2,937 minutes, meaning he's missed just 123 minutes all season. Anton isn't merely a passive presence. His aerial dominance has produced four crucial goals from set pieces—impressive for a defender whose primary duty is shutting down attacks. With only four yellow cards across his marathon campaign, he's combined steel with discipline, anchoring a defense that's helped BVB to 15 wins despite their recent stumble in a WLLWW run. At €18 million, Anton represents calculated value in an era of inflated defensive fees. While teammates like Fábio Silva grab headlines with attacking flair, this unassuming general provides the platform for Dortmund's stars to shine. As the title race intensifies, Anton's availability and consistency may prove Dortmund's most precious commodity.