Defending is largely overlooked when it comes to the football gaming world yet if you can master the art of a perfectly executed slide tackle or expertly monitor the run of a pacy forward then you're onto a winner. Football isn't just about goals; it's about heading, full-backs, sweepers, last ditch tackles, elbows and marking. So, before you start your FIFA 16 career mode it's important you know who your gladiatorial ball-winners are. Who will keep Zlatan Ibrahimovic tucked away in his pocket for ninety minutes or put Neymar into row Z? Some big names haven't made this year's list; Bayern Munich's David Alaba, Real Madrid's Rafael Varane and Arsenal's Laurent Koscielny's 84 ratings aren't good enough to make the top 25. We have six Premier League players, five Seria A, seven from the Bundesliga and five from La Liga. (I'll let you guess where the other two are from). This list will identify the best defensive players on FIFA 16 based on their defensive FUT rating, if the score is the same then the positions are worked out based on their overall rating and defensive score combined.
25. Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus) - 85
First up on the list is Juventus' Leonardo Bonucci. The 28-year-old has been a key part of Bianconeri's back four and alongside Giorgio Chiellini he has developed into one of the finest centre backs in Europe. FIFA 16 has given the Italian defender an 85 for defending and an 81 for physical strength making him a reliable presence at the heart of the Juve back four.
NCTJ-accredited football writer with an MA in Sports Journalism. What Culture football editor. Write for the official Newcastle United programme. Former video reporter at North News. Featured and published in the Sunderland Echo, Shields Gazette, Mail Online, The Mirror, The Sun and others.
