“Attack wins you games, defence wins you titles” I’m sure you’ve all heard this famous saying by one of the greatest managers of all time, Sir Alex Ferguson. Although you won’t be winning 13 Premier League titles anytime soon, a solid defence in FC24 will hopefully get you those extra wins in FUT Champions. In this article, I’ll be telling you all about the best centre-backs in Ultimate Team, and how to get the most out of them.

Disclaimer: The data and players used in this article are that at the start of January 2024 on Title Update #6 and after the release of Winter Wildcards Team 2. This article will exclusively rank every player’s best card with no duplicates, with the lower-rated versions may or may not mentioned. This article will also disregard evolution path players.

15. Sol Campbell - 88 Thunderstruck Icon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBqp59m8HI0

First on the list is Arsenal Legend Sol Campbell, whose best card is his upgraded 88 version. He’s the perfect “no-nonsense centre-back” that you can get on Ultimate Team. 6’2, 96 strength, 91 pace on shadow, along with his power header, block, intercept, slide tackle and aerial playstyles, combined with his bruiser playstyle+, his defensive AI will be taking care of business, shrugging attacker off the ball, and be your brick wall in defence. His passing stats and weak foot are poor, a card for someone who plays longball counter-attacking football.

Details: https://www.futbin.com/24/player/20245/sol-campbell

14. Presnel Kimpembe - 86 Triple Threat

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kjKzdiRM78

The infamous Maestro Kimpembe, who’s been terrorising FUT players since the dawn of time. He’s back in FC24 with an 86-rated special card, and as expected, he’s cracked. For an 86, it’s pretty much impossible to pinpoint any weaknesses. 6’2, 91 pace on shadow, 96 jumping, 91 strength, nice passing and defender-relevant dribbling stats, with power header, block, intercept, aerial, and bruiser+. You know what you’re getting when it comes to Kimpembe, and he’s as broken as usual.

Details: https://www.futbin.com/24/player/20094/presnel-kimpembe

13. Jules Kounde - 86 Trailblazers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWpjydmFKAk

Now to a completely different type of CB, Kounde stands at only 5’11 (although he has 99 jumping), he’s one of the more OP defenders in this game. His animations and quickstep and bruiser playstyle are what make him stand out, alongside the generic 89 pace and 90 strength on anchor, he also has brilliant dribbling stats. An advantage for those coming up against high-pressing teams, he’s going to carry the ball out after brushing attackers off the ball, despite some of them being even bigger than him. He also has a new Winter Wildcards item coming out as a CDM/CM with upgraded passing and the anticipate playstyle, might be worth getting if you can swap in game.

Details: https://www.futbin.com/24/player/19785/jules-kounde

12. Kyle Walker - 86 Winter Wildcards

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7sKP2YiYII

Up next is everyone’s 2nd favourite goalkeeper, Kyle Walker. All jokes aside, his new CB WW item is mouthwatering, taking us back to the FIFA21 days when his RB card is one of the most OP CBs in the meta, but this time his stats adjusted to fit in the heart of defence even better. 95 pace, 90 strength, and mostly lengthy on anchor despite being a natural RB, he’ll be catching up to anyone you face. Rapid, jockey and block+ as his playstyles, unique body type, 6’0 tall, not the best but he does have 97 jumping, he’s sure to be one of the most irritating players to come up against for forwards. He has the long throw playstyle, so be careful to check that he’s not out of position, although he’ll probably catch up in time anyway.

Details: https://www.futbin.com/24/player/20646/kyle-walker

11. Eder Militao - 88 Winter Wildcards

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPmGtay35IY

From one FUT staple to another, most of us have used one of his cards at some point. Well, he’s back with a +2 upgrade on his WW item, and he looks absolutely stunning. You have 2 chemistry style choices with him, with shadow getting his pace up to 94, but I personally prefer anchor, as he gets 90 pace, 89 strength, 99 jumping, and a mostly lengthy AcceleRATE type that you don’t get with shadow. His playstyles are, block+, power header, jockey, intercept, aerial, and a unique one in long ball pass, which might be able to launch some sweet counterattacks. His body type lets him down a little, which is the only reason he’s not in the top 10.

Details: https://www.futbin.com/24/player/20610/%C3%A9der-milit%C3%A3o

10. Marcel Desailly - 88 Icon

https://youtu.be/FHXX-dS_mIc?si=KfL4fvsBEGQXNnBf

The first player in the top 10 is French Icon Marcel Desailly. The fact that he’s not had a promo card yet shows his level with his base icon being top 10. 6’1, block+ and all other essential CB playstyles, he also has great in game stats in passing and dribbling. You can put both anchor and shadow on his card depending on your playstyle. This doesn’t affect his AcceleRATE type, so it’s all down to which stats you prefer for your own CB.

Details: https://www.futbin.com/24/player/19011/marcel-desailly

9. Laurent Blanc - 88 Icon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3A4L3YcEtM

From one French legend to another, Blanc is no.9 on the list, and possibly the most popular CB in FC24. One of the best SBCs to come out so far, and there’s a reason why you see him in every other game. He stands tall at a massive 6’4, with bruiser, aerial, and jockey, you just can’t get through the brick wall. He’s not the fastest at 86 pace with shadow, but to compensate he has the mostly lengthy AcceleRATE type and superb defending stats. You can also apply anchor to boost his jumping, strength, and make him lengthy, but 82 pace seems too slow for me. Depending on your playstyle, it might work, so don’t be afraid to experiment. The thing that makes him stand out though, is his anticipate playstyle+, which is possibly the best boost for defenders in the game, significantly boosting his stand tackles and ability to interrupt play.

Details: https://www.futbin.com/24/player/19008/laurent-blanc

8. Ronald Araujo - 88 Radioactive

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNUpOzUPuAw

Barca’s brick wall is no.8 on our list. The Uruguayan comes in with 90 pace on shadow, lengthy, 6’2, 93 jumping with aerial+, and 90 strength. Alongside them are meta playstyles such as power header, jockey, block, and anticipate. The main concern with Araujo was chemistry, but now you don’t have to worry about it anymore with the Radioactive boost. He comes with 2 chem points straight away, only needing minimal links to get him full chem. His passing might be a little questionable, so consider pairing him with a more technical CB.

Details: https://www.futbin.com/24/player/20285/ronald-araujo

7. Rio Ferdinand - 88 Icon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUT26C6XAqk

Next up on the list is Rio, who combines the strength of the former 2 icon CBs into one. 90 pace with shadow, 86 strength, 6’2 and lengthy. He also has a whopping 7 playstyles, including acrobatic, power header, jokey, slide tackle, bruiser, aerial, and the sacred anticipate+, combined with a great unique body type, he’s a top CB and would help you come through in those high-pressure situations.

Details: https://www.futbin.com/24/player/18953/rio-ferdinand

6. Raphael Varane - 88 Thunderstruck

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUFnIq_8KUU

Quite possibly the most OP defender in FIFA history, Rapha Varane’s promo card is in at no.6. His gold is nearly always one of the most used base cards every season, and there’s a reason why. 90 pace on shadow, 6’3, 93 jumping, 91 reaction and 87 strength, and a unique body type. Combine everything with the perfect playstyle combination for a CB (Power header, jockey, intercept, slide tackle, bruiser, aerial and the mighty anticipate+), he’s an absolute machine, and the best sub-89-rated centrehalf in the entire game. He also has phenomenal links, you can’t get it more perfect than that… or can you?

Details: https://www.futbin.com/24/player/20204/rapha%C3%ABl-varane

5. Carlos Alberto - 91 Icon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHrOr5cQPHA

Our first and only natural fullback in the top five, Capita is the best versatile defender in the game. The Brazilian Icon has all the ingredients of a meta defender. On anchor, he has 93 pace, 94 strength, godly base dribbling stats, 4* weak foot, and compensating his lack of height at 5’11 with 91 jumping. Jockey and intercept are his only defensive playstyles alongside the OP anticipate+, so it’s best that you pair him with a strong, bruiser-type CB, also because of his controlled AcceleRATE type. He’s also the best wide centre-back in the game.

Details: https://www.futbin.com/24/player/18918/carlos-alberto-torres

4. Vincent Kompany - 89 UCL Hero

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhiyOr14OxQ

First in the top 4 is City Legend Vincent Kompany, who stands tall at 6’3. He has 92 strength and 92 reactions, with 89 pace and lengthy on shadow. He has all the right playstyles for a big man in defence, with power header, block, slide tackle, bruiser, aerial, and anticipate+ (of course). He’s a rock in defence, and you wouldn’t be disappointed with him in your backline, and he also has an 88-rated base hero card if you’re short on cash. 

Details: https://www.futbin.com/24/player/16/vincent-kompany

3. Lucio - 89 Hero

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENWua9XRNyI

Starting the top 3 with the first member of the holy trinity, we have Lucio, whose stats transcend any imagination on a base hero card. With the shadow chem style, he’ll have 90 pace, 97 defending, and 91 strength, 6’2, and mostly lengthy, he has the perfect CB build for FC24. The only reason why he’s not further up this list is his lack of playstyles. Power header, slide tackle, aerial, and block+ are nice, but the lack of anticipate, and other defensive playstyles puts him only at 3rd place. Although you won’t have to worry too much, when you have 97 defending, and his defensive AI.

Details: https://www.futbin.com/24/player/19067/lucimar-da-silva-ferreira

2. Paolo Maldini - 93 Dynasties Icon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LnEGGMPnfg

The greatest defender of all time in real life joins in at 2nd in our FC24 list. You know what you’re getting when you have Paolo bloody Maldini. Maxed out defensive stats as expected, 4* weak foot, 94 strength, 91 pace, 95 reactions and 95 composure on anchor, you can’t really ask for much more than that.

Details: https://www.futbin.com/24/player/20439/paolo-maldini

1. Virgil Van Dijk - 91 Winter Wildcards

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_AFVzkgWUI

Finally, to absolutely no one’s surprise, at no.1 is big Virgil Van Dijk, who now has a new 91-rated promo card coming in as the best defender in the game. Lengthy, 6’4, 91 jumping, 95 strength, 92 reactions, and 93 composure on shadow. His playstyles are also phenomenal. Bruiser+ to flick attackers away like paper, power header, jockey, block, anticipate and aerial to round off the defender essentials. Another quirk is he has 91 long passing and the long ball pass playstyle, making those 60-yard diags look like magic. To round it off, he has the best unique body type and defensive AI in the game, and even better, he has a gold card version for those of you who don’t have much to spend too. One word, perfect. If you have this card, let’s just say, congratulations…

Details: https://www.futbin.com/24/player/20606/virgil-van-dijk

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