At the start of FIFA 23, Silva is 37 years old and past his prime FIFA 23 coins; however, his 85 overall rating and impressive stats still put him up as one of the game's best ball-playing defenders. He has impressive short-passing and long-passing stats above 80, which allows him to progress the ball up the pitch beautifully, and his 86-rated composure will enable him to control the ball under pressure from his opponents calmly.

9 Matts Hummels 
Matts Hummels is an experienced German defender who plays the center-back role for Dortmund in the German top-flight league. Hummels is 33 at the start of FIFA 23 and has an overall rating of 83. He is an impressive defender and an efficient asset against the opposition's attack.

As a ball-playing defender, Hummels can utilize his 81-rated short passing to distribute the ball to his fellow defenders and the midfielders; he can also use his 83-rated long passing to progress the ball further up the pitch to the forwards and start the attacking move for his team.

8 Aymerick Laporte 
Aymerick Laporte is a Spanish defender who plays as a central defender for Manchester City, the most dominant team in the English Premier League and one of the best teams in FIFA.

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At the start of FIFA 23 career mode, Laporte is 28 with an overall rating of 86 and a potential rating of 87. He is a solid player who can be deployed in any position across the back line and contribute defensively and offensively as a ball-playing defender with 83 short passing, 81 long passing, and 84 composure.

7 William Saliba 
William Saliba is a young French defender who is an integral part of the Arsenal FC team in the Premier League buy FUT 23 coins, where he features as a central defender. Saliba is only 21 at the start of FIFA 23 and has an overall rating of 83 and 89 potential.