EA Sports set up their big FIFA 20 ratings reveal – and we finally know who the best players on the game are.
This piece features the top rated defenders in world football, and there are some unexpected surprises in store.
Virgil van Dijk (OVR
90)
Position: CB
Age: 28
Club: Liverpool
Country: Netherlands
Van Dijk is a physically strong, right-footed centre-back,
who usually features on the left-hand side of central defence, although he can
also play as a right-sided centre-back. He is gifted with pace, good technique,
and has an eye for goal.
Sergio Ramos (OVR 89)
Position: CB
Age: 33
Club: Real Madrid
Country: Spain
Ramos is a physically strong player who excels in the air
due to his elevation and heading accuracy, making him a goal threat on
set-pieces; he is also a competent, aggressive tackler. Ramos is also often
criticised for using excessive, reckless force while playing, such as when he
unnecessarily injured Mo Salah in the World Cup.
Giorgio Chiellini (OVR 89)
Position: CB
Age: 35
Club: Piemonte Calcio (Juventus)
Country: Italy
Chiellini began his professional career as a defensive-minded left-back, but later made his name as an aggressive, courageous, physical, and hard-tackling center back, with an eye for scoring headers from set-pieces.
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Kalidou Koulibaly (OVR 89)
Position: CB
Age: 28
Club: Napoli
Country: Senegal
A large, aggressive, quick, and physically strong yet
elegant player, Koulibaly is recognised for his aerial prowess, anticipation,
positioning, tackling, character, technique, and passing ability as a defender.
Gerard Pique (OVR 88)
Position: CB
Age: 32
Club: Barcelona
Country: Spain
Piqué is a modern defender, who combines strength with good
technique and passing. Due to his height and physical attributes, he is particularly
good in the air.
Diego Godin (OVR 88)
Position: CB
Age: 33
Club: Inter Milan
Country: Uruguay A natural leader in the dressing room and on the pitch, Diego Godin is Athletico’s defensive rock. "Godín is a nuisance; he's always there next to me, he never leaves me alone." Said Luis Suarez when asked about the defender.
Jordi Alba (OVR
87)
Position: LB
Age: 30
Club: Barcelona
Country: Spain
Alba is a technically very gifted and fast attacking left-back,
who’s attacking mindset enables him to be used as a left winger.
Mats Hummels (OVR 87)
Position: CB
Age: 30
Club: Borussia Dortmund
Country: Germany
Hummels is a large, consistent, and physically strong
player, known for his powerful tackling and strength in the air, as well as his
ability to read the game and intercept loose balls.
Toby Alderweireld (OVR 87)
Position: CB
Age: 30
Club: Tottenham
Country: Belgium
Toby Alderweireld is a Belgian professional footballer who plays for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, helping them reach the UEFA Champions League finals last season.
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Aymeric Laporte (OVR 87)
Position: CB
Age: 25
Club: Manchester City
Country: France
Laporte is described by pundits as a center back who is
comfortable with playing out from the back. His size and power make it
extremely difficult to knock him off the ball.
Thiago Silva (OVR 87)
Position: CB
Age: 34
Club: PSG
Country: Brazil
Silva is heralded as one of the fastest defenders in
football, and is usually described as a strong defender with good aerial
ability. He combines these physical gifts with a phenomenal tactical
intelligence and knowledge of the game, as well as an excellent positional
sense.
Jan Vertonghen (OVR 87)
Position: CB
Age: 32
Club: Tottenham
Country: Belgium
Vertonghen is a versatile Belgian professional footballer who plays for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur. He plays mainly at centre back, forming an iconic partnership with Alderweireld, but can also play as a right back.
Marquinhos
(OVR 86)
Position: CB, CDM
Age: 25
Club: PSG
Country: Brazil
Marquinhos is predominantly deployed as a centre back
but has also been used at right-back and in a central defensive
midfield role. He is noted for his anticipation, pace, and intelligence, as
well as his technical skills, composure, and confidence in possession.
Leonardo Bonucci (OVR 86)
Position: CB
Age: 32
Club: Piemonte Calcio (Juventus)
Country: Italy
Bonucci is primarily known for his technique, passing range,
and his ability to launch an attack from the back with long passes. Although
he is not the quickest player over short distances, he is a tall, mobile, and
strong defender
Milan Skriniar (OVR 86)
Position: CB
Age: 24
Club: Inter Milan
Country: Slovakia
Skriniar has been described as a defender who is "a strong tackler who is quick to make clearances". A natural centre-back, he can also be deployed as a defensive midfielder where he also produced outstanding performances with under-21 side.
READ MORE: All the Goalkeepers in the FIFA 20 Top 100 - Oblak, Alisson & more
Samuel Umtiti (OVR 86)
Position: CB
Age: 25
Club: Barcelona
Country: France
Umtiti is a young, French central defender who takes risks,
feeds the ball between the lines, and rarely picks the wrong option. Of the six
summer signings Robert Fernandez made in 2016, Umtiti was the best pick of the
lot.
Marcelo (OVR 85)
Position: LB
Age: 31
Club: Real Madrid
Country: Brazil
Known mainly for his offensive capabilities, trickery, and
technical qualities, Marcelo plays mainly as a left-sided attacking full-back
or wing-back. His flair, touch, and control on the ball enables him to
frequently beat opponents in one on one situations.
Raphael Varane (OVR 85)
Position: CB
Age: 26
Club: Real Madrid
Country: France
Varane has been described by Lens youth coach Eric
Assadourian as a "truly first class player" who is "comfortable
on both the tactical and technical level".
Andrew Robertson (OVR 85)
Position: LB
Age: 25
Club: Liverpool
Country: Scotland
Robertson is considered by former England defender Phil
Neville to be one of the best left-backs in the world, due to his pace,
energy, and crossing ability. He has been a revelation for Liverpool
(along with Trent) and played a major part in getting them to the UEFA
Champions League final last season.
Matthijs de Ligt (OVR 85)
Position: CB
Age: 20
Club: Piemonte Calcio (Juventus)
Country: Netherlands
De Ligt is among the most highly regarded young prospects in
European football as shown by him winning the award, which is awarded to the
most impressive young footballer in European football
Alex Sandro (OVR 85)
Position: LB, LM
Age: 28
Club: Piemonte Calcio (Juventus)
Country: Brazil
Alex Sandro is a quick, energetic and offensive minded defender, who is also a strong tackler and a good reader of the game, courtesy of his speed and anticipation.
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Niklas Sule (OVR 85)
Position: CB
Age: 24
Club: Bayern Munich
Country: Germany
After a decent debut campaign in 2017/18, Sule established
himself as a key player for Bayern under Niko Kovac. He ended up making 42
appearances for Bayern across all competitions. Sule has also established himself
as the first-choice central defender for Germany.
David Alaba (OVR 85)
Position: LB, CB
Age: 27
Club: Bayern Munich
Country: Austria
Ask a Bayern fan if they would swap David Alaba for any left-back in the world, and you are likely to get a very firm 'Nein' and a quizzical look as to why they would even consider it.
Dani Carvajal (OVR 85)
Position: RB
Age: 26
Club: Real Madrid
Country: Spain
Carvajal is a player that came through the ranks at the
Santiago Bernabeu, but has recently indicated that he would regret not moving
to the Premier League before he retires. Given his status as perhaps the best
in his position in the world, his comments may raise some eyebrows among the
Premier League's elite.
Kostas Manolas (OVR 85)
Position: CB
Age: 28
Club: Napoli
Country: Greece
Manolas possesses the speed to keep track of smaller,
quicker attackers while also possessing the strength needed to battle with more
physical opponents. Without the ball, he is both assertive and attentive, never
neglecting his defensive duties and always keen for a challenge.
Jose Gimenez (OVR 85)
Position: CB
Age: 24
Club: Atletico Madrid
Country: Uruguay
Jose Gimenez’s contract was extended last season, showing exactly what he means to his club and manager Diego Simeone. Described as a positional chameleon, Gimenez has brought versatility and strength to Athletico’s defence since he signed back in 2013.
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