of EA FC 25 The Team of the Year has been decided, with the four best defenders during 2024 earning those elusive blue cards.
Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk and Arsenal's William Saliba are two of six Premier League representatives in the squad, while Spain internationals Alejandro Grimaldo and Dani Carvajal capably complete what is a truly dominant back line.
There was talk of Dani Carvajal winning the 2024 Ballon d'Or, such was the nature of his year. of Real Madrid The right-back couldn't stop winning trophies, playing an integral role for both club and country on the biggest stages possible.
The 33-year-old has been a mainstay of world football for more than a decade now and, when fit, remains among the best.
With his ACL injury in the rear-view mirror, Van Dijk is back firing on all cylinders and deservedly recognized for what has been a huge calendar year from the Dutchman. He is playing some of the best football of his career Liverpool and has been crucial to the transition from the Jurgen Klopp era to Arne Slott's current Premier League leaders.
Center backs around the globe continue to name Van Dijk as the best in the world and he shows no signs of relinquishing that crown anytime soon.
At just 23 years old, Saliba has already established himself as one of the best defenders in the world. His blend of physicality and technical ability is something most defenders can only dream of, and his display has been a huge part of Arsenalits resurgence in recent years.
2024 saw Saliba work his way up the ranks in France's national team, which is brimming with elite centre-back talent, and brought recognition with a place in the Euro 2024 Team of the Tournament.
Grimaldo entered the conversation for the biggest free transfer in history when he joined Bayer Leverkusen in 2023 and inspired an unbeaten Bundesliga title triumph. Scoring double figures in both goals and assists as a left back is nothing short of sensational.
Teams across Europe simply couldn't cope with his attacking flair, but Grimaldo doesn't shy away from his defensive duties either, with Leverkusen avoiding defeat throughout the 2023/24 campaign and reaching the Europa League final.