Kobbie Mainoo didn’t take long to say which position in football is the easiest to play.
Manchester United and England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo recently joined a fun debate that has football fans talking for years – which position on the pitch is the easiest to play?
Mainoo, who’s been one of Manchester United’s bright stars this season, was chatting with content creator Kaljit Atwal at a Nike Football event when he got asked this very question. Without hesitation, the 21-year-old said “full-back,” and Atwal noted that he answered it really quickly.
Mainoo isn’t alone in thinking full-back might be the easiest spot. Earlier this year, players like Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Jordan Henderson gave the same answer when asked before England’s World Cup campaign. Back in 2024, some Chelsea players shared their opinions too—Everton’s Kieran Dewbury-Hall agreed full-back is easier, while Cole Palmer thought defensive midfielder was the simplest. Christopher Nkunku picked centre-back as the least demanding.
Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe recently gave his take, saying centre-back is the easiest because defenders have more support and can even play in a back three. He pointed out that some defenders still play at top clubs into their 40s, which you don’t see with strikers.
But former Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti disagreed with Mbappe. Speaking to RMC, Umtiti said mistakes in defense come with immediate consequences, so it’s not necessarily easier. Even with three defenders giving more protection, if you lose a one-on-one, the striker is straight through and the game’s on the line.
So, it seems there’s still no clear answer, but it’s interesting to hear what the pros think!