The PES 2021 Season Update is out now. The controls haven’t changed but if you are new to the game or a regular PES player, it is worth checking you know ALL the controls.
Check out our full controls guide below.
Standard Attacking Controls
Action | Standard PS4 | Alternate PS4 | Standard Xbox One | Alternate Xbox One |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Player movement | LS | LS | LS | LS |
Cursor change (change player) | L1 | L1 | LB | LB |
Dash (sprint) | R1 | R2 | RB | RT |
Shoot | ▢ | O | X | B |
Low pass | X | X | A | A |
Lofted pass/cross | O | ▢ | B | X |
Through ball | △ | △ | Y | Y |
Special controls | R2 | R1 | RT | RB |
Manual controls | L2 | L2 | LT | LT |
Super cancel (cancel action) | R1 + R2 | R1 + R2 | RB + RT | RB + RT |
This is what you should most be familiar with, and not much of it needs explaining.
The only thing that could be of use is super cancel, to be used if you change your mind from making a pass or shot.
If you really fancy yourself as a top player, you could try to use manual controls to make your passing and finishing more precise.
Standard Defensive Controls
Action | Standard PS4 | Alternate PS4 | Standard Xbox One | Alternate Xbox One |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Pressure (press the ball) | X | X | A | A |
Standing tackle | Double tap X | Double tap X | Double tap A | Double tap A |
Sliding tackle | O | ▢ | B | X |
COM teammates pressure (teammates press ball) | Hold ▢ | Hold O | Hold X | Hold B |
Bring out goalkeeper | △ | △ | Y | Y |
Winning the ball back on PES is incredibly difficult, and for first timers you must recognise the standing tackle control.
SOLID! Becoming a good defender will help you stay one step ahead
Tackling is still very difficult to time, so look to find a balance between pressing your opponent and using your teammates to steal the ball back.
Dribbling Controls
Action | Standard PS4 | Alternate PS4 | Standard Xbox One | Alternate Xbox One |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Close control | R2 + LS | R1 + LS | RT + LS | RB + LS |
Dash dribble | LS + R1 | LS + RT | LS + RB | LS + RT |
Speed burst | Double tap R1 + LS | Double tap R2 + L2 | Double tap RB + LS | Double tap RT + LS |
Knock on (when stationary) | R2 + RS in any direction | R1 + RS in any direction | RT + RS in any direction | RB + RS in any direction |
Quick stop | Release LS + R1 | Release LS + R2 | Release LS + RB | Release LS + RT |
Quick stop then face opposition goal | Release LS + R2 | Release LS + R1 | Release LS + RT | Release LS + RB |
Dive | Click L3 + Click R3 + L1 + L2 | Click L3 + Click R3 + L1 + L2 | Click LS + Click RS + LB + LT | Click LS + Click RS + LB + LT |
What you can do with the ball at your feet will separate the men from the boys on PES 2021.
You need to understand what kind of dribbles can be performed when sprinting, allowing you to burst past your opponent and open up the defence.
SILKY! Dribbling past your opponent will help create space for your team
Have a practice with these in the training mode, and if you can nail the dive control, you can win yourself some vital penalties and wind up your mates.
Trap Controls
Action | Standard PS4 | Alternate PS4 | Standard Xbox One | Alternate Xbox One |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Flick | Click and hold R3 as you receive the ball | Click and hold R3 as you receive the ball | Click and hold RS as you receive the ball | Click and hold RS as you receive the ball |
Control and face opposition goal | Push then release LS + start holding R2 before player controls ball | Push then release LS + start holding R1 before player controls ball | Push then release LS + start holding RT before player controls ball | Push then release LS + start holding RB before player controls ball |
Through feint | Let go LS and before trapping the ball hold R1 | Let go LS and before trapping the ball hold R2 | Let go LS and before trapping the ball hold RB | Let go LS and before trapping the ball hold RT |
Trap feint | Let go LS and before trapping the ball hold R1 | Let go LS and before trapping the ball hold R2 | Let go LS and before trapping the ball hold RB | Let go LS and before trapping the ball hold RT |
Trap controls just apply when receiving the ball.
These can be used to gain a yard or two on the defender, or to slow the game down to suck them back. Master these and the tempo of the game will be in the palm of your hand.
Advanced Movement Control
Action | Standard PS4 | Alternate PS4 | Standard Xbox One | Alternate Xbox One |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Jockey (in defence) | R2 + LS | R1 + LS | RT + LS | RB + LS |
Manual cursor change (change player) | RS | RS | RS | RS |
Positioning for high balls | R2 + LS | R1 + LS | RT + LS | RB + LS |
These advanced controls are rarely used, but they can give you an extra edge.
Want to change to a specific player? Simply flick the right stick in the direction of the player you want.
Getting your positioning right for high balls is also useful and increases the odds of you winning an aerial battle.
As for jockeying in defence, with defending as hard as it is, and the inability to sprint whilst jockeying, this is a hard control to master.
Advanced Passing Controls
Action | Standard PS4 | Alternate PS4 | Standard Xbox One | Alternate Xbox One |
|---|---|---|---|---|
High pass | RB + O | RB + ▢ | RB + B | RB + X |
Chipped through ball | LB + △ | LB + △ | LB + Y | LB + Y |
Low cross | Double tap O | Double tap ▢ | Double tap B | Double tap X |
Early cross | L1 + any type of cross | L1 + any type of cross | LB + any type of cross | LB + any type of cross |
One-two pass | LB + X then △ | LB + X then △ | LB + A then Y | LB + A then Y |
Dynamic one-two | LB + X then hold LB + RS in direction you want player to make run | LB + X then hold LB + RS in direction you want player to make run | LB + A then hold LB + RS in direction you want player to make run | LB + A then hold LB + RS in direction you want player to make run |
Pass and move | X or △ then R2 before player kicks ball | X or △ then R1 before player kicks ball | A or Y then RT before player kicks ball | A or Y then RB before player kicks ball |
Call for the ball (co-op match an fixed only) | Double tap R2 | Double tap R1 | Double tap RT | Double tap RB |
Teammate forward run | L1 + RS then release RS | L1 + RS then release RS | LB + RS then release RS | LB + RS then release RS |
A great way to break down the defence on PES 2021 is with short, sharp passing. If you can throw in here a sweet final through ball, then few opponents have a chance against you.
FLAIR! You can score some incredible team goals on PES 2021
The one-two moves or the pass and move should be heavily used with the opponent often struggling to track the runners.
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And, if you really want to cut the defence in two, get the teammate forward run going so you can play balls forward when you want.
Advanced Shooting Controls
Action | Standard PS4 | Alternate PS4 | Standard Xbox One | Alternate Xbox One |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Controlled shot | R2 + ▢ | R1 + O | RT + X | RB + B |
Chip shot | LB + X | LB + O | LB + X | LB + B |
These two shooting controls will be vital when you get in and around the box.
The controlled shot is to be used when you are looking to bend the ball into the corner and opting for placement rather than power.
As for the chip shot, it can be difficult to know when to use, with goalkeepers on PES reluctant to rush out from goal.
If you do come within inches of the goalkeeper, use the chip shot and see the ball dink over him as the 'keeper drops to the ground.
Set Piece Controls
Action | Standard PS4 | Alternate PS4 | Standard Xbox One | Alternate Xbox One |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Select set piece taker | Select | Select | View button | View button |
Pass/shot direction | LS ←/→ | LS ←/→ | LS ←/→ | LS ←/→ |
Adjust trajectory (whilst shooting or crossing) | LS ↑/↓/←/→ | LS ↑/↓/←/→ | LS ↑/↓/←/→ | LS ↑/↓ /←/→ |
Position second free kick taker | L1 + D-pad ↑ | L1 + D-pad ↑ | LB + D-pad ↑ | LB + D-pad ↑ |
Line up both takers | L1 + D-pad ↓ | L1 + D-pad ↓ | LB + D-pad ↓ | LB + D-pad ↓ |
Pass/shoot with second taker | Hold L2 | Hold L2 | Hold LT | Hold LT |
Trick free kick | O then X | ▢ then X | B then A | X then A |
Short knock-on | L1 + X | L1 + X | LB + A | LB + A |
Fix pass/shot direction and trajectory (offline only) | R1 | R2 | RB | RT |
Dash/ touchline strategy | D-pad ↑ | D-pad ↑ | D-pad ↑ | D-pad ↑ |
Set-pieces are difficult to master on PES 2021, so make sure you take the time in training to at least give yourself a chance of finding the net.
AERIAL THREAT! Dominating aerial duels will really benefit your side
There are plenty of options you can tinker with, so it is important to find what works, and at what range, for you.
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When playing against the COM, fouls are at a premium, but when playing your mates the challenges may fly around; make sure you are prepared.
Penalty Controls
Action | Standard PS4 | Alternate PS4 | Standard Xbox One | Alternate Xbox One |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Shoot | ▢ | O | X | B |
Chipped penalty | L1 + ▢ | L1 + O | LB + X | LB + B |
Display aiming guide | R1 | R2 | RB | RT |
With penalties, it's all about making sure you use the aiming guide.
Once you have a feel for this, you can go without it, as you won't want to telegraph your spot-kick to an offline opponent.
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The chipped penalty, or Panenka, can be used if you want the goalkeeper to look silly, but miss and you'll be the one with egg on your face.
GK Controls (on the ball)
Action | Standard PS4 | Alternate PS4 | Standard Xbox One | Alternate Xbox One |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Put ball down/ pick up ball | Release LS then R1 | Release LS then R2 | Release LS then RB | Release LS then RT |
Throw | X | X | A | A |
Throw into space | △ | △ | Y | Y |
Drop kick | O | ▢ | B | X |
High punt kick | R1 + O | R2 + ▢ | RB + B | RT + X |
Pass feint | Any pass command then X | Any pass command then X | Any pass command then A | Any pass command then A |
All fairly standard, but if you have a striker who is great in the air, it may be worth utilising the high punt kick to give the forward more time to get under the ball.
If you are about to throw the ball straight to an opponent, save your blushes with the pass feint control.
Strategy Controls
Action | Standard PS4 | Alternate PS4 | Standard Xbox One | Alternate Xbox One |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Switch preset tactics | Hold D-pad ↑ or ↓ | Hold D-pad ↑ or ↓ | Hold D-pad ↑ or ↓ | Hold D-pad ↑ or ↓ |
Switch Attack1 strategy on/off | L2 + D-pad ↑ | L2 + D-pad ↑ | LT + D-pad ↑ | LT + D-pad ↑ |
Switch Attack2 strategy on/off | L2 + D-pad ↓ | L2 + D-pad ↓ | LT + D-pad ↓ | LT + D-pad ↓ |
Switch Defence1 strategy on/off | L2 + D-pad ← | L2 + D-pad ← | LT + D-pad ← | LT + D-pad ← |
Switch Defence1 strategy on/off | L2 + D-pad → | L2 + D-pad → | LT + D-pad → | LT + D-pad → |
Increase attack/defence level | Double tap D-pad ↑ | Double tap D-pad ↑ | Double tap D-pad ↑ | Double tap D-pad ↑ |
Decrease attack/defence level | Double tap D-pad ↓ | Double tap D-pad ↓ | Double tap D-pad ↓ | Double tap D-pad ↓ |
Quick substitution (when ball out of play) | Select button | Select button | View button | View button |
For top end PES players, knowing how and when to use strategies can put you in the ascendancy.
In attack, these can be attacking full backs or tiki-taka, whereas in defence you have the gegenpress and tight marking. Find the tactics that work for your side, and in your formation.
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