Scoring goals is, of course, of pivotal importance inFIFA 23. This concern must be balanced with the ability to protect an advantage once gained, though. A great defensive line is all that matters once your team has the upper hand. At the end of the day, protecting a lead is much safer than risking it for more goals.
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How do you choose the best defenders for the job, then? Here are some of the top defensive players inFIFA Ultimate Team, sure to help you stop conceding goals. That being said, the very best don’t come cheap, and this can’t be achieved without spending big.
10Joao Cancelo
Although he is currently playing for Bayern Munchen, Cancelo’s TOTY variant still belongs to Manchester City, which makes him a valuable player for all Premier League-based squads.
Despite his mediocre Shooting skills, Cancelo is quite fast at Dribbling, which is why he can easily break out from and disperse the efforts of high-pressing forwards. Cancelo’s stellar stats allow him to be quite effective in both attacking and defensive duties, though the player’s physical strength might be a bit underwhelming.
9Marcos Llorente
You probably didn’t expect to see Marcos Llorente in this list, but his Fantasy FUT card is hard to ignore. This card is currently one of the most perfectly-balanced right-backs in FIFA 23 that can be obtained at an affordable price. With 94-rated Pace, Llorente is an excellent choice for wing-back duty. Moreover, his 85-rated Shooting ability is something quite rare among defenders, which makes the Spanish right-back an ideal option for cutting inside the box and shooting. Other stars do exceed his skills in some areas, though.
8Ruben Dias
In case you are looking for a rock-solid centre back to win the ball from the opposing strikers and clear any aerial dangers, Ruben Dias could be just the one-man army to protect your half of the pitch.
The Portuguese player offers impressive stats in Defending and Physical, which seem really cheap compared to his price tag in the Transfer Market. You can easily pair Dias and Cancelo for less than 1.5 million coins, if you need a high-chemistry defensive line. Together, they’d do a phenomenal job.
7Roberto Carlos
Looking for an iconic wing-back with impressive stats? Roberto Carlos is arguably the best player you can get. There aren’t many players in the LWB post in the Transfer Market with satisfying stats, but Roberto Carlos can easily become your quick winger and sturdy defender on the left side of the pitch.
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The player’s 86-rated Physical makes him a real challenge for opposing wingers when it comes to ball-winning runs. Carlos' price is pretty cheap despite the fact that he is an Icon, and a true legend of the game.
If you are looking for another Brazilian superstar, then you’re able to fill in your right-back spot with Cafu. The player features both RB and RWB variants in the Transfer Market, but he is more expensive than Roberto Carlos.
Unlike Carlos, Cafu doesn’t have a great Shooting ability, but his stellar defensive stats make him an ideal option for those who want their right-back to largely remain in their own half rather than running ahead for attacks. That being said, Cafu is fast enough to help you with wide crosses while on the attack.
5Theo Hernandez
Here comes the best left-back on the list. AC Milan’s Theo Hernandez is a nightmare for every defender thanks to his 98-rated Pace. The player can easily run at defense and push up in the attack, making him one of the best side pistons of FIFA 23.
Although he might not be the best option to cut inside and shoot, Hernandez is physically powerful enough to carry the ball deep inside the box and score many assists. The TOTY variant of Hernandez is expensive, but that’s the price you have to pay for such quality. It just depends whether his stats are worth the huge investment.
4Lothar Matthaus
As long as the majority of your squad is from Germany or Bundesliga, there’s no need to worry much about central defenders. Although Matthaus commonly plays as a midfielder, his CB variant is invaluable for teams looking for a goalscoring machine at the heart of the defensive line.
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As surreal as it might sound, Matthaus has a Shooting overall of 90, which is even rare among strikers. He is probably among the top five players in FIFA 23, with equally perfect stats for Pace, Shooting, Passing, and Defending. Simply put, it is a miracle to have such a player in your squad, but you do need to pay a tremendous amount of coins to get him. He’s the most expensive player on this list, in fact.Moment Stars are worth looking into for some valuable players.
3Achraf Hakimi
We talked about the best left-back already, but what about the best right-back? Well, Hakimi brings the same level of impeccable quality as Hernandez to the right side of the pitch, with an unbelievable pace of 99.
Excluding his shooting skills, Hakimi has 90+ stats in all other areas, which sounds like a dream for any Ultimate Team veteran. The player’s TOTY card is truly invaluable, but you need to match him with a squad based on League 1, which is the tricky part.
2Franco Baresi
If you take all the impressive attacking abilities of Matthaus and invest everything in the defensive skills instead, you will have Baresi. The Italian Legend is more of a wall in the defensive line, thanks to his massive Defending stats.
Baresi is a strictly defensive-focused player, with a price tag that’s quite cheap among Icons. Before considering getting him, then, you’ll need to make sure to think about what kind of player your squad needs and who suits your playstyle better. Baresi will probably fit much better into five-defender formations.
1Virgil Van Dijk
Van Dijk’s TOTY variant is quite like Baresi with improved stats. Van Dijk delivers everything that you expect from a central defender. He is physically strong enough to win aerial battles and steal the ball from the opponent’s strikers. He’s been a towering presence on the pitch and an intimidating defender to tangle with through his career (so could youin Career Mode), as any follower of football knows.
Virgil Van Dijk is an ideal option for every Premier League-based squad, but you need a massive amount of coins to get this player from the Transfer Market. With his quality, it’s no surprise that he commands such a price.
