FIFA 21 best defenders - the best CB, LB, RB and Wing Backs in FIFA

The best FIFA Defenders are the backbone of the finest teams in the game, with your centre backs the last line of defence and full backs playing an ever more important role in modern football.

Here on this page, we'll be listing FIFA 21's best defenders - which includes the best FIFA CB, the best FIFA LB, the best FIFA RB and the best wing backs, too, ranked in order of their overall rating.

Be sure to take also look at the specifics depending on what you want out of them, like Acceleration and Sprint Speed if you like to hold a high line, or Short Passing if you like to play it our from the back.

For other ratings-based guides, it's worth taking a look at our list of the highest potential FIFA 21 wonderkids, plus we have pages on the FIFA 21's best Goalkeepers, FIFA 21's best Midfielders, the FIFA 21's best Wingers and FIFA 21's best Strikers in the game, too.

On this page:

FIFA 21 best CB - the best Central Defenders in FIFA

No prizes for guessing the best centre back in FIFA this year, as Virgil Van Dijk takes top prize once again. Sergio Ramos, Giorgio Chiellini, Mats HUmmels and Thiago Silva continue to defy their age here, although their usefulness in FIFA 21 will depend on how much emphasis is placed on pace this year - in last year's game slow defenders were borderline unuseable.

As with plenty of our other lists this year we've expanded this one to a top 20, given the depth of quality available - not that the state of defending in the real-world game justifies it, if the start of the 20/21 season is anything to go by! Piquet and Lenglet should consider themselves lucky to be anywhere near this one after their end-of-season performances in the summer.

FIFA 21 best Centre Backs (CB)

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FIFA 21 best LB and LWB - the best Left Backs and Left Wing Backs in FIFA

Liverpool's flying full backs justifiably dominate either side of the pitch here, with Andy Robertson taking top spot. Alba gets a generous 86 rating after Barcelona's dismal defensive efforts, while there are no wing backs at all in the top 20. Jonny, of Wolves, is the best LWB in the game on 81, tied with those at the lower end of this list.

FIFA 21 best Left Backs and Left Wing Backs (LB and LWB)

For more on FIFA 21, so far we have new pages on the FIFA 21 release time and download details for all editions, best FIFA 21 goalkeepers, best FIFA 21 defenders, best FIFA 21 midfielders, best FIFA 21 wingers, best FIFA 21 strikers, a big breakdown of FIFA 21 potential wonderkids and career mode hidden gems and a list of FIFA 21 Career Mode's best players. Plus, we've pages on FUT Chemistry explained and a freshly updated FIFA 21 Chemistry styles list and affected attributes explainer, to get you started with FUT. Expect much more soon!

FIFA 21 best RB and RWB - the best Right Backs and Right Wing Backs in FIFA

There's a slight bump in quality right backs this year, with Trent Alexander-Arnold taking top spot on an 87 that could arguably be even higher. There's just one right wing back in the top 20 this year in the form of Tottenham's new signing Matt Doherty, but again this is a longer list than usual to help you find some alternative picks to the usual top 10.

FIFA 21 best Right Backs and Right Wing Backs (RB and RWB)

Other things to know about picking the best FIFA Defenders

As always, there are more than just player ratings to bear in mind when choosing your back three, four or five in FIFA 21, with slightly different factors becoming more or less important depending on the mode you're playing and your style of choice.

• For Career Mode, potential is important too - Some players have higher built-in potential for growth than others, and if you're planning on playing at least two seasons of Career Mode then it's going to have a major impact on your squad. It's also a great way to pick up a bargain, too, so if you're keen on finding some youngsters take the time to go over our detailed list of the best FIFA 21 potential wonderkids and young players, which includes some of the finest young defenders in the game.
• For Ultimate Team, remember you can use Chemistry Styles - Chemistry Styles, if you didn't know, add up to a whopping 90 points to your player's attributes, spread according to the Style you choose. You can read more on Chemistry in general in our guide to how FIFA Chemistry works, and likewise the best FIFA Chemistry Styles in our detailed guide to those, too.
• Think about your style of play when looking at stats - We mentioned this briefly above, but certain defenders will work better in certain situations. Jérôme Boateng is much more phsyical than Gerard Piqué, for example. Generally with Centre Backs you want to compliment physicality with class - think Vidic and Ferdinand in their prime - whilst Full Backs' attributes will depend on whether you want them bombing forward and crossing, or sitting back and purely defending.