Attack wins games; defense wins titles. This famous football phrase rings true in using professional fouls when needed.

While in some positions, you can get away with having lower-rated stars, after striker, center backs are arguably the most important position in EA Sports FC 25. In career mode, you need solid defenders, while in the online matches in Ultimate Team, you must stop the opposition regularly to have a chance in games. Here are the ten highest-rated center backs in EA Sports FC 25.

10 Bremer: 86

An All Round Top Defender

There are three 86-rated center-backs in EA Sports FC 25, with Arsenal's Gabriel and Bayern Leverkusen's Jonathan Tah also having this rating. However, the best of the three is Juventus defender Bremer. While there are a host of different stats for every single player, for center-backs, three are the most important. In all three, Bremer excels, with 82 paces, 86 defending, and 85 physical stats. Pace is vital for center-backs to keep up with the fastest players in EA Sports FC 25, and the Brazilian can do this. However, his physical attributes also allow him to go toe-to-toe with the more powerful attacking players.

9 Alessandro Bastoni: 87

A Star In The Making

Alessandro Bastoni is one of the highest-regarded defenders in world football and has an upgraded card this year to match his abilities. He has jumped two to an 87 overall rating with fantastic defending stats that are all in the high 80s, including 87 standing tackles and defensive awareness.

Bastoni's intercept-plus playstyle further increases his reach and possession retention, in addition to his 88-rated interception stat.

His physical abilities also match up, and while he doesn't have the top pace for a defender, it is enough to face off against the majority of top strikers. He also has a composure stat of 85 and ing of 75, meaning he can be trusted with the ball. Despite his rating, Bastoni can be picked up for under 15,000 coins on the Ultimate Team transfer market, but he is more expensive when playing career mode due to his potential in future seasons.

8 Marquinhos: 87

The Veteran Defender Has Still Got It

Once most defenders reach a certain age, they drop out of the EA Sports FC 25 meta due to their lack of pace. However, Brazilian Marquinhos remains one of the best defenders available in the game's early stages. His pace of 79 is more than enough, but his defending and physical stats put him ahead of a lot of other options in the center of defense.

His high defensive stats include 90 defensive awareness, which means he will automatically position himself in the best location. Combine this with one of the best playstyles and abilities for a center back of intercept, and he is very tough to get past. While the French top division isn't as strong as last year, he still has lots of great chemistry potential.

7 William Saliba: 87

Arsenal's Star At The Back

While center-back partner Gabriel just misses out on the top ten, his Arsenal teammate William Saliba's 87 overall rating sees him as one of the best options in EA Sports FC 25, as ranked by JT11 as well. Of all the center-backs on this list, no one has a higher pace rating than Saliba's 82, making him very effective at stopping the best attackers.

Saliba has one of the best chemistry possibilities available in Ultimate Team. He plays in the Premier League while being French, allowing him to link with a large number of players.

An overall defending stat of 87 and physical of 83 means he can match up against any striker. The Frenchman also has the anticipate plus playstyle, significantly increasing his standing tackle success percentage. It is one of the best playstyles for certain positions in the game. He does come at a cost in all modes in EA Sports FC 25, especially in Ultimate Team, where he is currently one of the most expensive defenders.

6 Antonio Rudiger: 88

German Dominates At The Back

Antonio Rudiger, a former Chelsea man, has continued to shine at Real Madrid and is one of the most all-around defenders in EA Sports FC 25. Like Saliba, he has 82 pace, making him quicker than some of the attacking players he will face. He also has the rare bruiser playstyle, which further enhances his stats as a powerhouse defender who is almost impossible to get past.

According to awesomePCgames, the bruiser's playstyle, combined with his 91 strength and 92 aggression, makes it harder to avoid him when he is in your way. The only area he lacks is that he struggles with the ball, so if you like to use your defenders to the ball, there could be better options in the same position.

5 Irene Paredes: 88

One Half Of A Dominating Pairing

Three women's players sit in the top ten of the highest-rated center-backs in EA Sports FC 25, starting with Barcelona's Irene Parades. Her stand-out stats are, unsurprisingly, in the defending category, with 92 defensive awareness and 89 interceptions. Her playstyle plus is slide tackle, so if you are a player that likes to go to ground, Parades could be an option for you. While she is expensive to pry away from Spain in career mode, her price is around the 15,000 coins mark in Ultimate Team, making her a bargain for a player of her caliber.

4 Wendie Renard: 88

Experience Shows In Defense

34-year-old veteran Wendie Renard captains Lyon and her nation, , as one of the leading stars in the women's game. She has a deserved overall 88 rating and some incredible defensive stats. This includes 94 heading accuracy, making her a danger at both ends of the pitch. She is also one of the most powerful women's players in EA Sports FC 25, with a 91-strength stat.

Her pace at 48 does limit her capabilities for online Ultimate Team matches, but she is one of the stand-out players you can use offline in career mode. Renard is another one with the anticipated playstyle plus, which is a great ability for any of the best defenders.

3 Ruben Dias: 88

City's Key Man In Defense

Ruben Dias has been a Premier League star over the last few years, a key part of the Manchester City team that has dominated English football. This puts him as the t third highest-rated defender in EA Sports FC 25.

Many players could overlook him due to his 67 pace, which has led to a low price on the Ultimate Team market. However, his other stats make up for this. His 90 stats for defensive awareness, standing tackle, and strength make him a tough physical presence to get past. By playing in the Premier League, he automatically has great chemistry links and remains an imposing figure to try and get past.

2 Virgil Van Dijk: 89

The Dutchman Dominates Once Again

Over the last few years, Virgil Van Dijk has been regarded as the best center-back available in the series, and he once again has the t highest ratings in EA Sports FC 25. Due to the Liverpool man's height and size, he is automatically difficult to get past, but this is further enhanced by his incredible stats. 93 strength, 90 defensive awareness, 91 standing tackle, and 89 jumping make for the complete defender, as seen in DanFIFA's video.

To top it off, the Dutchman's pace of 78 is only beaten by a handful of center backs, meaning he is never out of the game. He is the all-around perfect defender but also the most expensive.

Van Dijk has the aerial playstyle plus ability, meaning he will dominate any contest in the air and command the nearby area.

1 Mapi Leon: 89

The Ultimate Ball-Playing Defender

ing Van Dijk with the highest rating of any center back is Mapi Leon, who is also given an 89. The Barcelona star has no weaknesses, with all her main defensive stats being 89 or higher, along with physical stats that make her very hard to .

In addition to her defensive attributes, she is very good on the ball, arguably the best center back in EA Sports FC 25. This makes her a fantastic option for those who like to play out of defense. It also allows Leon to play in various of the best formations you can use in FC25.

Leon has great links for chemistry and also a bargain on the transfer market in Ultimate Team, making her a player who should pick up.

The best center backs can really affect the results in EA Sports FC 25, so you should ensure you have some of them in your club.

Video Credit: DanFIFA/YouTube, awesomePCgames/YouTube, JT11/YouTube