Every great team in history has almost always been built around a world-class central defensive midfielder.
Think Roy Keane at Manchester United, Claude Makélélé at Chelsea, Sergio Busquets at Barcelona—all players who did the dirty work, controlled the tempo, and let the stars shine.
In EA FC 26, it’s no different. A good holding midfielder can make or break your team. Without one, your defence will leak goals—but with the right player shielding your back line, you’ll win the ball back, transition faster, and dominate the middle of the park.
With that in mind, here are the 15 best men’s central defensive midfielders in EA FC 26, based on their official ratings at launch.
