Everyone is eager to get their hands on FIFA 17, which is set to launch on 29 September (27 September – North America). This year’s game will not be like any other game. It features the revolutionary Frostbite engine that is set to deliver better physics during gameplay. EA has also tweaked the AI for better responsiveness. New set pieces design and the story format make this edition one of the most anticipated in FIFA’s history.
As the saying goes, ‘Defence wins you leagues’ and a good defence will certainly win you many matches in FIFA 17. One cannot overlook the quality of defence in FIFA, after all, the lesser the goals you concede, the more are the chances of victory.
Looking at the player performances in the past year, EA releases player ratings for every player before the game’s official launch.
We look into the 10 best defenders of FIFA 17. Interestingly, only three attribute points separate the top 10 defenders. Moreover, we do not see any defender from the Premier League.
Let us not wait any longer and dive into the list.
#10 David Alaba: Overall - 87
At number ten, it is David Alaba from Austria. The 24-year old left back currently plays for FC Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga and is the highest rated left back in FIFA 17. He has shown good growth and moved to an overall of 87 from an overall of 85. He possesses a high attack work rate and is deadly when asked to play in an overlapping role.
Alaba is also one of the fastest left backs in FIFA 17 with excellent passing skills combined with a great cross and exceptional dribbling skills. These attributes allow him to play even as a wide midfielder. He shows tremendous stamina and can run for miles throughout the match.
Overall – 87
Pace – 86
Shooting – 73
Passing – 81
Dibbling – 83
Defence – 83
Physical – 73
David Alaba is only 24 and shows a lot of room for improvement. Buy him in manager mode and you will have one of the best defenders in the game within two seasons. However, getting him from Bayern Munich will not be easy.
#9 Leonardo Bonucci: Overall – 87
Leonardo Bonucci from Juventus takes the ninth spot on our list. This 29-yer old central defender has a major improvement in his overall ratings, 87 from an overall of 83. The Italian had a fantastic season with Juventus last season and had a decent outing in Euro 2016.
Bonucci has a high defence work rate and will be the first to run back to cover his lines and close the gaps. He is also extremely good in the air, making him lethal during corners. He is an exceptional tackler and a great interceptor. With his reactions and strength, he will spot most of the attackers with ease. He is also good with his long passes to provide a fine long ball when required.
Overall – 87
Pace – 70
Shooting – 53
Passing – 68
Dibbling – 69
Defence – 87
Physical – 81
Bonucci will make for an excellent defender for any team in FIFA 17 and should be on the wish list for every player.
#8 Mats Hummels: Overall – 87
Mats Hummels recently moved to FC Bayern Munich from Borussia Dortmund. The 27-year old centre-back from Germany is a complete defender and shows a tremendous amount of strength and is a master tackler.
Hummels is a long passer and will set up a lot of balls to the attack right from the other half. He is exceptional in the air and is the one to watch out for during corners. He displays good amounts of strength and is very good with his marking. Hummels is a great tactician and is a force to be reckoned with.
Overall – 87
Pace – 64
Shooting – 58
Passing – 74
Dibbling – 71
Defence – 88
Physical – 77
Mats Hummels is a complete defender and being only 27 years old makes him a great buy in manager mode but be prepared to shell huge amounts of money to lure him away from Bayern Munich.
#7 Diego Godín: Overall – 88
At number seven, it is Diego Godín from Atletico Madrid. The 30-year old centre-back from Uruguay had a fantastic season last year. In fact, Atletico Madrid had the best defence in La Liga conceding only eighteen goals.
Godín received a bump in his rating, to 88 from an overall of 85 last year. He is a wonderful tackler and a great tactician showing good amounts of aggression. He is brilliant in the air with a rating of 92 for heading accuracy. His slide tackles are venomous and his interceptions are spot-on. The only downside, an average rating for stamina.
Overall – 88
Pace – 65
Shooting – 48
Passing – 65
Dibbling – 63
Defence – 88
Physical – 79
You can pick up Diego Godín in FIFA 17 just by looking at the defending stats. He is a wall and will fit into any team with ease. However, Atletico Madrid will not let him go easily in the manager mode.
#6 Giorgio Chiellini: Overall – 88
Giorgio Chiellini just misses the top-5 on our list. This 30-year old central defender is also from Juventus and even had a decent outing in Euro 2016. Last season, Juventus had the best defence in the league conceding only 20 goals, 12 goals less than the second placed team Napoli.
Chiellini is a wonderful player to have at the back. He displays tremendous strength and is a great tackler. His rating of 90 for defending is the highest in the game. Moreover, he is also a great leader and keeps things organised on the defensive front. Chiellini has a powerful header on him and is quite handy during corners.
Overall – 88
Pace – 74
Shooting – 46
Passing – 53
Dibbling – 58
Defence – 90
Physical – 85
Giorgio Chiellini is always a great addition to any team in FIFA 17. However, getting him away from Juventus will not be easy in manager mode. Moreover, Chiellini has ‘One Club Player’ trait to him, making the transfer even more difficult.
#5 Phillip Lahm: Overall – 88
At number five, we have another defender from FC Bayern Munich. This 32-year old right back is the best-rated right back in the game. He had a terrific season last year, lifting the 25th Bundesliga title for FC Bayern Munich. Last year, he was rated at 87, and has moved up to 88 this year.
Lahm is a terrific wing back who has the passing abilities of a midfielder and the defending attributes of a central defender. He is an excellent passer and can set up few quick attacks out wide. His dribbling skills are also comparable to midfielders.
Also Read: FIFA 17: 10 best midfielders
Excellent tackles and uncompromised marking make Phillip Lahm a wonderful defender. The only disappointment, an average rating for strength and aggression.
Overall – 88
Pace – 68
Shooting – 56
Passing – 82
Dibbling – 84
Defence – 86
Physical – 64
Lahm has the highest rating for interceptions in FIFA 17. Just like Chiellini, getting Phillip Lahm in the manager mode will not be an easy task. He is valued at around €15 million.
#4 Pepe: Overall – 88
At number four, we have the 33-year old centre-back from Real Madrid. Pepe had a fantastic season last year, winning the Champions League and Euro 2016. He has shown a huge growth in overall to 88 from an overall of 84.
Pepe shows tremendous aggression and strength, making him an ideal central defender. His tackles are extraordinary and he is very good with his marking too. Pepe is equally good in the air as well but with a rating of 70 for pace, do not expect Pepe to catch up on pacey strikers in FIFA 17.
Overall – 88
Pace – 70
Shooting – 50
Passing – 56
Dibbling – 59
Defence – 88
Physical – 81
Pepe is a great central defender but is 33 already and so, buying him in manager mode is not advisable in the long run. If you are looking to strengthen your squad for two or three seasons, consider buying him for around €8 million.
#3 Thiago Silva: Overall – 89
Thiago Silva from Brazil takes the third spot on our list. The 32-year old Brazilian centre-back was the best defender of FIFA 16 with an overall 88. He had an excellent season last year, lifting the Ligue 1 cup along with conceding the least number of goals in the league.
Also Read: FIFA 17: Ultimate XI based on ratings
His standing tackles are outstanding while his marking is top-class. He has a decent pace and dribbling skills on him for a central defender. With a rating of 93 for jumping and a rating of 82 of heading accuracy, Silva is venomous during corners. The rating of 90 for defending makes him one of the highest rated central defenders in the game.
Overall – 89
Pace – 74
Shooting – 57
Passing – 73
Dibbling – 73
Defence – 90
Physical – 79
Be prepared to shell huge amounts of money if you plan to get him in manager mode.
#2 Sergio Ramos: Overall – 89
At number two, it is Sergio Ramos. This 30-year old centre back from Real Madrid had a fantastic season last year, even scoring a goal in the Champions League final against Atletico Madrid. Sergio Ramos is a wonderful tackler and great leader.
His venomous slide tackles will bring down even the top attackers in FIFA 17. He has a powerful header and is very accurate too. Ramos is never afraid to leave his line and join the attack. He is versatile enough to play even as a right back as he is pacy enough, not like your usual central defender.
Overall – 89
Pace – 78
Shooting – 63
Passing – 70
Dibbling – 70
Defence – 87
Physical – 83
Sergio Ramos is a wonderful centre-back but getting him on FIFA 17 manager mode will not be easy for he is valued around €40 million.
#1 Jerome Boateng: Overall – 90
Jerome Boateng from FC Bayern Munich takes the top spot on our list. This 28-year old German centre-back had a great last season and even had a great run at Euro 2016. Remarkably, the defence of Bayern’s playing XI is on this list.
Boateng’s ratings have increased to an overall of 90 from an overall of 87 last year. The German is versatile with his passing and can set up some beautiful long balls. He also possesses tremendous strength and is an exceptional tackler.
He has good reactions and is equally good with his heading. His 94 rating for standing tackle is best in the game.
Overall – 90
Pace – 79
Shooting – 50
Passing – 72
Dibbling – 68
Defence – 90
Physical – 85
Boateng is a must-have for any team in FIFA 17. However, getting him will not be easy in manager mode for he is valued at around €45 million. You may have to pay a lot more to lure him away from Bayer Munich.
