FIFA 20 Best Defenders | top centre backs, left backs, and right backs for any team

It might not be the most glamorous position on the pitch, but a solid defence is vital to footballing success. Here are some of the best FIFA 20 defenders, including left and right backs as well as centre backs.

While the skill sets required are vastly different, players with the set positions of CB, LB, RB, LWB, and RWB are grouped as defenders, so we’ll include them all in these lists.

We've taken another look back at our suggestions after a few ratings tweaks and the January transfer window - but most remain intact.

First, we’ll start with the highest overall defenders in FIFA 20, just so you have an idea of the best-of-the-best. Then we’ll take a look and some more interesting pickups for you to try, since you’ve probably already heard of the likes of Sergio Ramos and Virgil van Dijk.

Thanks to the new tackling animations in FIFA 20, top defenders seem to take the ball away from skilful attackers more smoothly, but you’ll still need to time it right to retain possession.

And while athleticism is most important for full backs, pace is still vitally important for the strongest central defenders to keep up with this year’s pacey attackers.

If you would prefer to search out your own players, SoFIFA is a quality resource for data.

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FIFA 20 - Best Defenders

Here is a list of the highest overall defenders in FIFA 20. It’s no surprise that the imperious VVD tops the list after Liverpool’s stellar season, but old heroes (and villains) like Marcelo, Sergio Ramos, Pique, and Thiago Silva are still going strong.

Name	Age	Overall	Potential	First Position	Current Team
Virgil van Dijk	27	90	91	CB	Liverpool
Kalidou Koulibaly	28	89	91	CB	Napoli
Sergio Ramos	33	89	89	CB	Real Madrid
Giorgio Chiellini	34	89	89	CB	Piemonte Calcio
Diego Godin	33	88	88	CB	Inter
Gerard Pique	32	88	88	CB	Barcelona
Aymeric Laporte	25	87	90	CB	Man City
Jordi Alba	30	87	87	LB	Barcelona
Toby Alderweireld	30	87	87	CB	Spurs
Mats Hummels	30	87	87	CB	Dortmund
Jan Vertongen	32	87	87	CB	Spurs
Thiago Silva	34	87	87	CB	PSG
Milan Skriniar	24	87	90	CB	Inter
Joshua Kimmich	24	86	88	RB	Bayern
Marquinhos	25	86	90	CB	PSG
Samuel Umtiti	25	86	89	CB	Barcelona
Leonardo Bonucci	32	86	86	CB	Piemonte Calcio
Matthijs de Ligt	20	85	93	CB	Piemonte Calcio
Clement Lenglet	24	85	89	CB	Barcelona
Jose Maria Gimenez	24	85	89	CB	Atletico Madrid
Andy Robertson	25	85	89	LB	Liverpool
Niklas Sule	24	85	90	CB	Bayern
Dani Carvajal	27	85	86	RB	Real Madrid
Raphael Varane	26	85	90	CB	Real Madrid
David Alaba	27	85	86	LB	Bayern
Kostas Manolas	28	85	86	CB	Napoli
Alex Sandro	28	85	85	LB	Piemonte Calcio
Marcelo	31	85	85	LB	Real Madrid
Lucas Hernandez	23	84	89	CB	Bayern
Alex Telles	26	84	86	LB	Porto

Best defenders to buy in FIFA 20 Career Mode

Many of the world’s best defenders are nearing the end of their illustrious careers, which doesn’t really fit with a road to glory career mode. Here are a few ideas for players to pick up with different clubs with all kinds of budgets:

• Dayot Upamecano & Ibrahima Konate - 20 - CBs - 80/89, 79/88 - Leipzig

Either one of this Leipzig pair are great to add to your squad in any top-tier career mode. They’re both tall, fast, strong, and decent on the ball. After a quality first half of the season, Upamecano has overtaken Konate in terms of starting overall, but they both have the similarly high potential.

• Manuel Akanji - 24 - CB - 79/85 - Dortmund

Moving across to Dortmund, Manuel Akanji is another great young centre back with tons of room to grow. He’s a solid, if expensive, buy for any big club across europe. It’s not the most realistic signing after the sale of Diallo in the summer, but a fun one nonetheless.

• Jonathan Tah - 24 - CB - 81/86 - Leverkusen

Sticking in Germany once again, Jonathan Tah has long been courted by top clubs after years of solid performances for Leverkusen. While he’s had a tougher time for his national team, those wobbles haven’t been transferred to his in-game stats, which are great across the board.

• Jesus Corona - 26 - RB - 82/83 - Porto

I just love when tricky wingers start playing at the back and get huge buffs to their defending stats. With tackling in the high 70s, 5 star weak foot, 4 star skills, and all sorts of technicals in the high 80s, Jesus Corona is a whole lot of fun to play with - but will cost you.

• Reggie Cannon - 21 - RB - 70/81 - FC Dallas

For a cheaper right back option with pace to burn and room to grow, look no further than American talent, Reggie Cannon. He gets points for having an amazing name too.

• Lucas Digne - 26 - LB - 83/86 Everton

Lucas Digne has gone from strength to strength at Everton, and looks ready to make the step up. While he isn’t the quickest full back, Digne has quality technical stats, good stamina, and a good balance of defensive abilities. For the record, it's pronounced "Loo-ka Deen", not "Loo-kas Dig-nay".

• Filip Kostic & Danny Da Costa - both 26 - LWB & RWB - 83/83, 77/79 - Eintracht Frankfurt

Yet another Germany-based duo, the Eintracht wing backs were vital in their sucessful seasons under Niko Kovac and Adi Hutter, and would be a solid addition to top and middle tier teams. They’re not the best defenders based on their tackling stats, but both have incredible stamina, good pace, and can carry the ball well - which is vital in FIFA 20.

• Ruben Dias - 22 - CB - 82/88 - Benfica

The future of Portugal’s back line, Ruben Dias already has strong physicals and a good standing tackle. With a potential of 86 his best years are yet to come, and he’d suit a variety of top clubs.

• Ferro - 22 - CB - 78/85 - Benfica

For a slightly cheaper option from Benfica, check out Ferro. He’s slow as molasses, but has a potential of 87 and already decent physical, technical, and the all-important defensive stats.

• Panagiotis Retsos - 21 - CB/RB/LB - 75/82 - Leverkusen - LOANED TO SHEFFIELD UNITED

Greece seems to have a way with producing quality central defenders. If you’re looking for a marquee defensive signing with a middling team that has a high ceiling, then Retsos is one to consider. At least until Sheffield United acquired him in January - he's no longer available in the first season.

• Josha Vagnoman - 18 - LB/RB - 66/85 - Hamburg

A much cheaper option from Germany is Josha Vagnoman, who has great pace and can play on either flank with a 4 star weak foot. If you’re also short-staffed in the middle, he’s 6ft 2” and has strength in the mid 70s.

• Benoit Badiashile - 18 - CB - 72/85 - Monaco

Another cheap option is Benoit Badiashile from Monaco. Despite poor pace, he’s strong and has okay defensive stats to start work with. Badiashile has a potential of 85 though, and can be picked up without breaking the bank. With training he can turn into a really classy defender with good physical presence.

• Jonathan Panzo - 18 - LB/CB - 66/80 - Cercle Brugge

For even smaller budgets, consider another Monaco youngster, Jonathan Panzo. His potential is one lower than Badiashile, but his starting value is almost half. You’ll have to train his stamina to make him more usable, but he’s left-footed, which makes him an interesting option for the left centre back role in a lower league defense.

• Ki-Jana Hoever - 17 - RB/CB - 62/84 - Liverpool

If your defensive holes are bigger than your bank balance, then Ki-Jana Hoever is a versatile, high-potential defender that can be had for a cheap fee. He’s got enough height to be useful in the middle, and decent pace and defending stats.

• Nathan Collins 18 - CB - 63/84 - Stoke City

Nathan Collins is great for a lower league career mode, since his starting overall and price are low but he's got lots of room to improve. At 6 foot 4, he's got the height to deal with crosses from the start, along with passable stamina and strength for a young player.

If you’re after young players all over the pitch, take a look at our list of the best FIFA 20 Wonderkids here.

Or if it’s fire power you’re after, here’s our list of the best strikers in FIFA 20.