[Top 15] PES 21 Best Defenders Who Are Amazing

Updated:

11 Dec 2023

Defenders are key to any great team and are regarded as the backbone of the team. They are the core of any football game and they also play a vital role in modern football. It is necessary to consider factors such as formation, position compatibility, physicality and overall rating. It also depends upon the defender’s playing style, like operating with a low defensive line. Below is the list of the best defenders in PES 2021.

1. Virgil Van Dijk

Van Dijk occupies the top position on our list and he is also the highest rated defender on PES 2021. He is known for his impressive on-air ability and also an amazing physicality. In fact, there was a period where he was never dribbled past for months!

Virgil Van Dijk

What makes Virgil Van Dijk great?

He is an amazing all-round defender
In fact, he can take set-pieces for your team when necessary

Virgil Van Dijk details:

Player ratings: 91
Age: 29
Position: Center Back
Stronger foot: Right
Playing style: Long ball expert
Player Skills: Heading, weighted pass, low-lofted pass, man marking, interception, acrobatic clear, captaincy, fighting spirit
COM Playing Styles: Long Ball expert

2. Sergio Ramos

The Spanish footballer has been one of the best in his position for many years. He has enjoyed a trophy-laden career. But he is showing no signs of slowing down as he is still relevant.

Sergio Ramos

What makes Sergio Ramos great?

He is one of the best defensive set-piece takers in the game
He is well known for his precise tackles

Sergio Ramos details:

Player ratings: 90
Age: 34
Position: Center back
Stronger foot: Right
Playing style: Extra Frontman
Player Skills: Heading, rising shots, Weighted pass, long throw, penalty specialist, man marking, interception, acrobatic clear, captaincy, fighting spirit
COM Playing Styles: Long ball expert, long ranger

3. Raphael Varane

Varane and Ramos partnership is one of the most formidable pairings in PES 2021. When using Madrid, Varane’s strength and speed complement the skill set of Ramos making them fearsome.

Raphael Varane

What makes Varane great?

He is one of the most fastest defenders in the game
He has great on-ball playing ability

Raphael Varane details:

Player ratings: 88
Age: 27
Position: Center back
Stronger foot: Right
Playing style: Build up
Player Skills: Heading, weighted pass, man marking, interception, acrobatic clear, fighting spirit
COM Playing Styles: Long ball expert

4. Gerard Pique

The Barcelona defender, just like his Spanish counterpart, Sergio Ramos, has been at the top of the rankings of the best defenders over the last few years. He is known for his incredible heading ability.

Gerard Pique

What makes Gerard Pique great?

He has amazing physicality
He is one of the best tacklers in the game

Gerard Pique details:

Player ratings: 87
Age: 33
Position: Center Back
Stronger foot: Right
Playing style: Extra frontman
Player Skills: heading, weighted pass, man marking
COM Playing Styles: Long ball expert

5. David Alaba

Widely known for his versatility, Alaba is one of the best defenders in PES 2021. He has played in virtually every position on the pitch without a drop in his performance.

David Alaba

What makes David Alaba great?

He is one of the most versatile players in the game
He is very great in set-pieces

David Alaba details:

Player ratings: 87
Age: 28
Position: Center back
Stronger foot: Left
Playing style: Build up
Player Skills: Cut behind & turn, step on skill control, long range drive, knuckle shot, dipping shot, one-touch pass, pinpoint crossing, interception
COM Playing Styles: Trickster, speeding bullet, long ball expert, long ranger

6. Kalidou Koulibaly

The Napoli powerhouse has been at the heart of Napoli’s defence over the last few years. His incredible defensive talents have earned him interest from Europe’s top clubs.

Kalidou Koulibaly

What makes Kalidou Koulibaly great?

His physical attributes are one of his greatest assets
He is incredibly fast

Kalidou Koulibaly details:

Player ratings: 91
Age: 29
Position: Center back
Stronger foot: Right
Playing style: The destroyer
Player Skills: Heading, man marking, interception, captaincy, fighting spirit
COM Playing Styles: -

7. Giorgo Chiellini

The 36 year old center back is known for his roughness and versatility. His partnership with Bonucci in the Italian National Team and Juventus is one of most well-known partnerships in history. You really don’t want to have him on your opponent’s side.

Giorgo Chiellini

What makes Giorgo Chiellini great?

His longevity and experience is something you want on your team, especially if most of your defenders are yet to be developed
He has a great positional awareness

Giorgo Chiellini details:

Player ratings: 86
Age: 36
Position: Center Back
Stronger foot: Right
Playing style: The destroyer
Player skills: Heading, long throw, man marking, interception, acrobatic clear, captaincy, fighting spirit
COM Playing styles: -

8. Jose Gimenez

The Uruguayan defender still has a lot of room for development as he is just in his mid thirties. He is yet to reach his peak although you are probably going to have to pay a high fee to bring him into your team.

Jose Gimenez

What makes Jose Gimenez great?

He can play both center back and right back comfortably
He is an aerial threat

Jose Gimenez details:

Player ratings: 86
Age: 25
Position: Center Back
Stronger foot: Right
Playing style: The destroyer
Player skills: Heading, man marking, interception, acrobatic clear, fighting spirit
COM Playing styles: -

9. Niklas Sule

The German international was bought to replace the ageing defensive players at Bayern Munich and he has certainly delivered. He is tall and has a great physique for a defender. He is also very difficult to get off the ball. If you are a player that likes to play through the back, Sule fits the bill.

Niklas Sule

What makes Niklas Sule great?

He is an aerial threat for oppositions
He is difficult to get past, except if the opposition is a fast player

Niklas Sule details:

Player ratings: 86
Age: 25
Position: Center Back
Stronger foot: Right
Playing style: The destroyer
Player skills: Heading, rising shots, man marking, acrobatic clear, captaincy
COM Playing styles: Long ball expert, long ranger

10. Mathijs de ligt

The young defender was one of the most sought after players of the 2019 summer. He is in line to be one of the best defenders of his generation.

Mathijs de Ligt

What makes Mathijs de Ligt great?

His amazing physicality and jump gives him an edge in aerial challenges
He is still young, so has lots of potential to even be better

Mathijs de ligt details:

Player ratings: 86
Age: 21
Position: Center Back
Stronger foot: Right
Playing style: Build up
Player Skills: Heading, One-touch pass, weighted pass, man marking, interception, acrobatic clear, captaincy, fighting spirit
COM Playing Styles: Long ball expert

11. Harry Maguire

Since Maguire’s arrival at Manchester United, he has been integral to the team and the coach’s plans. His amazing defensive ability coupled with his ball playing strength makes him stand out as one of the best defenders in the game.

Harry Maguire

What makes Harry Maguire great?

He has a great physicality
He great on the ball
He can be an aerial threat sometimes

Harry Maguire details:

Player ratings: 85
Age: 27
Position: Center Back
Stronger foot: Right
Playing style: Build up
Player skills: Heading, weighted pass, man marking, interception, captaincy, fighting spirit
COM Playing styles: Long ball expert

12. Leonardo Bonucci

The Italian center back has been quite dominant in his position in the last decade and in fact, he will go down as one of the best defenders in history. For a defender, it is quite impressive how he is always in the position you need him to be, whether it is attack or defence.

Leonardo Bonucci

What makes Leonardo Bonucci great?

He is an experienced defender, so he can bring a lot of experience to your team
He has amazing strength and physicality

Leonardo Bonucci details:

Player ratings: 85
Age: 33
Position: Center Back
Stronger foot: Right
Playing style: Build up
Player skills: Heading, one-touch pass, weighted pass, low lofted pass, man marking, interception, acrobatic clear, Captaincy, fighting spirit
COM Playing styles: Long ball expert, long ranger

13. Alessio Romagnoli

The AC Milan defender has been one of the most consistent players in his position in the past few seasons. He has great awareness and ball winning abilities.

Alessio Romagnoli

What makes Alessio Romagnoli great?

For his ability, he comes at a pretty fair price
He can be pretty useful on the attacks

Alessio Romagnoli’s details:

Player ratings: 84
Age: 25
Position: Center Back
Stronger foot: Left
Playing style: Extra frontman
Player skills: Heading, man marking, interception, acrobatic clear
COM Playing styles: -

14. Ruben Dias

The Portuguese defender has shown his capabilities in the last season and this can also be seen by his performances in the game. He is young and has a dynamic style to his play.

Ruben Dias

What makes Ruben Dias great?

He is young and not too expensive
He has a great development potential

Ruben Dias details:

Player ratings: 84
Age: 23
Position: Center Back
Stronger foot: Right
Playing style: The destroyer
Player skills: Heading, low lofted pass, man marking, interception, captaincy, fighting spirit
COM Playing styles: Long ball expert