Winning matches is not just a result of compelling offense but also a product of top-notch defense. Team managers must keep in mind that making goals to score and great defense work hand in hand. That is where center-backs, also known as CBs, come into the picture. In the Career Mode of EA FC 26, building a football team with reliable CBs who can read the game, win duels, and grow into elite defenders will make a club unstoppable in the long run. And team managers can choose from rising stars all the way up to top-tier superstar players. However, since big stars are more expensive, team managers who are on a budget can opt to sign promising CB wonderkids.
To lighten the task of choosing among young talents, this article delivers a streamlined list of the top CB wonderkids in EA’s football simulation video game.
Five Best CB Wonderkids in EA FC 26
Here are a few CB wonderkids in Career Mode who can anchor your backline for a decade with the appropriate development:
Dean Huijsen (Overall Rating: 82 | Potential Rating: 89)
Dean Huijsen is one of the most exciting CB wonderkids in the game. He combines strength, technique, and composure beyond his years. These qualities for his age indicate that his current overall rating and potential can surely soar higher.
The Dutch center-back’s specialties include higher jumps and physical defense in aerial duels. Huijsen also has high success in blocking. He even manages long ball passes faster and more accurately. Plus, Dean performs well in slide tackles. As for the other aspects, he has 71 for pace, 55 for shooting, 73 for passing, 74 for dribbling, 82 for defending, and 76 for physicality. Huijsen is an all-around defender who is perfect for teams in need of dominance in the air and on set pieces.
- Age: 20
- Team: Real Madrid
- League: La Liga EA Sports
- Nation: Spain
- Rank: 397
- Height: 197cm / 6’6″
- Weight: 87kg / 192lb
- Preferred Foot: Right
- Wage: €125K
- Value: €56M
Pau Cubarsí Paredes (Overall Rating: 82 | Potential Rating: 88)
Pau Cubarsí Paredes already shines as one of Spain’s brightest defensive talents. Being one of the CB wonderkids, he boasts maturity on the ball that few players his age can match. His rating and potential also show that he possesses intelligence in the game.
Paredes’s standout quality is displayed in his lob and lofted-through passes that are immensely accurate and quick. When it comes to his overall attributes as a player, he has 70 for pace, 42 for shooting, 66 for passing, 77 for dribbling, 84 for defending, and 76 for physicality. Pau may not be the tallest defender, but teams can utilize him for his great timing in tackles and pass interceptions.
- Age: 18
- Team: FC Barcelona
- League: La Liga EA Sports
- Nation: Spain
- Rank: 429
- Height: 182cm / 6’0″
- Weight: 75kg / 165lb
- Preferred Foot: Right
- Wage: €64K
- Value: €40.5M
Ousmane Diomande (Overall Rating: 80 | Potential Rating: 87)
Ousmane Diomande is one of the fast-rising defenders of Europe. What he brings to the table is a perfect mix of physical power and technical skill. CB wonderkids like him, who have such a rating and potential, suggest he is a future powerhouse.
His key attributes are aerial and blocking prowess, stronger physical tackles, better transition speed, long ball pass accuracy, and precise headers. With regard to other areas of his game, he has 80 for pace, 26 for shooting, 51 for passing, 70 for dribbling, 79 for defending, and 86 for physicality. These promising skills make Diomande a complete modern defender for any team.
- Age: 21
- Team: Sporting CP
- League: Liga Portugal
- Nation: Côte d’Ivoire
- Rank: 738
- Height: 190cm / 6’3″
- Weight: 93kg / 205lb
- Preferred Foot: Right
- Wage: €17K
- Value: €40M
Leny Yoro (Overall Rating: 78 | Potential Rating: 86)
Leny Yoro has been one of the most talked-about CB wonderkids from Europe in EA FC 26. The French footballer combines elite athleticism with exceptional defensive awareness. With his impressive overall rating and potential, he is clearly one of the top defensive prospects in the game.
At the same time, Leny reads the game incredibly well and rarely gets caught out of his position. On top of that, he is confident on the ball, which elevates his composure. In terms of the other things Yoro can offer, he has 69 for pace, 41 for shooting, 60 for passing, 64 for dribbling, 79 for defending, and 73 for physicality. Team managers who want a young talent who can go against fast strikers and physical forwards would love to have Leny on their squads.
- Age: 19
- Team: Manchester United
- League: Premier League
- Nation: France
- Rank: 1257
- Height: 190cm / 6’3″
- Weight: 75kg / 165lb
- Preferred Foot: Right
- Wage: €49K
- Value: €28.5M
Abdukodir Khusanov (Overall Rating: 77 | Potential Rating: 85)
Abdukodir Khusanov might not be as popular as other CB wonderkids, but he is a hidden gem of EA FC 26. He is a smart and dependable player who offers great value for his price, considering his current overall and potential rating.
As for his best traits, Khusanov is a faster sprint jockey and a bruiser when it comes to tackles. Talking about other characteristics of Abdukodir, he has 85 for pace, 39 for shooting, 59 for passing, 64 for dribbling, 77 for defending, and 76 for physicality. He is an ideal pick for teams that value consistency over flashy moves.
- Age: 21
- Team: Manchester City
- League: Premier League
- Nation: Uzbekistan
- Rank: 1511
- Height: 186cm / 6’1″
- Weight: 84kg / 185lb
- Preferred Foot: Right
- Wage: €65K
- Value: €22M
Final Kick Before the Full-time Whistle
In forming a club, including solid center-backs as part of the foundation is a legit team manager move. Accordingly, the CB wonderkids on the list are perfect whether for rebuilding a club or chasing titles, as they offer a good balance of youth and potential. Plus, after a few seasons with suitable training and development, Huijsen, Paredes, Diomande, Yoro, and Khusanov will transform into players with attributes that can form a backline capable of stopping any attack in the game.
Note: This article incorporates the latest available EA FC 26 and Sofifa data and information at the time of writing. Keep in mind that player rating and potential in the game can change over time due to updates and real-world performance. This list serves more as a guide rather than a definitive ranking of CB wonderkids.
