In short: the best Build Up players in eFootball
- What it does: a ball-playing centre-back
- Positions: it only triggers at CB
- No.1: Paolo Maldini — 104 overall at max level
- How it is ranked: all 3,464 Build Up cards, by max-level overall with boosters applied
- Best by play type: 1v1 defending — Leonardo Bonucci · Aerial — Franco Baresi · Pace — William Saliba · Build-up — Makoto Hasebe
What is Build Up?
Build Up in eFootball carries the ball out of the back line and builds the attack from deep. A ball-playing centre-back built on technique and passing.
Which positions trigger Build Up
Build Up only triggers when the player is used at CB. Played anywhere else the behaviour does not appear, so playing the card in one of these positions is the basic requirement for getting anything out of the style.
Build Up tier list — SS to B
Every Build Up card graded on the same scale used across eFootball LABO. Only cards at 95 overall or above make the table, and each player appears once with their strongest card.
SS
Top 5 in its position or playing-style ranking — the cards to chase first
S
Max overall 100+ — a starter you can rely on long term 20 cards in this tier
Raphael Varane102Raphael VaraneCBRaphael Varane102Raphael VaraneCBJaap Stam102Jaap StamCBMakoto Hasebe101Makoto HasebeCBGerard Pique101Gerard PiqueCBGerard Pique101Gerard PiqueCBIto Hiroki101Ito HirokiCBRafael Marquez101Rafael MarquezCBTaniguchi Shogo101Taniguchi ShogoCBGary Cahill101Gary CahillCBRiccardo Ferri101Riccardo FerriCBVirgil van Dijk101Virgil van DijkCBRio Ferdinand101Rio FerdinandCBFrank Rijkaard100Frank RijkaardCB
A
Max overall 98–99 — just behind the elite
Klaus Augenthaler99Klaus AugenthalerCBMarquinhos99MarquinhosCBPau Cubarsi99Pau CubarsiCBSantiago Ramos Mingo99Santiago Ramos MingoCBRio Ferdinand99Rio FerdinandCBVirgil van Dijk99Virgil van DijkCBJonathan Tah99Jonathan TahCBDavid Alaba98David AlabaCBMarquinhos98MarquinhosCBDean Huijsen98Dean HuijsenCBMatthijs de Ligt98Matthijs de LigtCBJustin Hubner98Justin HubnerCBKota Takai98Kota TakaiCB
B
Max overall 95–97 — usable depending on position and tactics 116 cards in this tier
Lisandro Martinez97Lisandro MartinezCBFranz Beckenbauer97Franz BeckenbauerCBEric Garcia97Eric GarciaCBMicky van de Ven97Micky van de VenCBJohn Stones97John StonesCBJohn Stones97John StonesCBRiccardo Calafiori97Riccardo CalafioriCBKoji Nakata97Koji NakataCBJosko Gvardiol97Josko GvardiolCBTaiyo Koga97Taiyo KogaCBYusuf Akcicek97Yusuf AkcicekCBNico Schlotterbeck97Nico SchlotterbeckCBMarc Guehi97Marc GuehiCBRick van Drongelen97Rick van DrongelenCB
Build Up ranking — Top 30
Every Build Up card ranked by overall rating at max level, with the card’s own booster applied. 3,464 cards were compared.
🥇
Epic · Italy
Max overall104
Total stats1883 (tiebreaker)
PositionCB
Playing styleATTBuild UpDEFHigh Line Master
BoosterDuelling +4Defensive Awareness+4 · Tackling+4 · Speed+4 · Stamina+4
Special skillsLong-reach TackleAerial Fort
🥈
Epic · Munchen RW
Max overall103
Total stats1903 (tiebreaker)
PositionCB
Playing styleATTBuild UpDEFBasic
BoosterStealing +3Tackling+3 · Aggression+3 · Acceleration+3 · Physical Contact+3
Special skillsPhenomenal PassLong-reach Tackle
🥉
Epic · AC Milan
Max overall103
Total stats1851 (tiebreaker)
PositionCB
Playing styleATTBuild UpDEFBasic
BoosterShutdown +3Defensive Awareness+3 · Defensive Engagement+3 · Tackling+3 · Speed+3
Special skillsFortressAerial Fort
4
Show Time · Spain
Max overall102
Total stats1844 (tiebreaker)
PositionCB
Playing styleATTBuild UpDEFBasic
BoosterRebuilding +3Low Pass+3 · Defensive Awareness+3 · Defensive Engagement+3 · Aggression+3Goalkeeping +3GK Awareness+3 · GK Catching+3 · GK Parrying+3 · GK Reflexes+3
Special skillsVisionary PassLong-reach Tackle
5
Epic · Italy
Max overall102
Total stats1807 (tiebreaker)
PositionCB
Playing styleATTBuild UpDEFBasic
BoosterDuelling +3Defensive Awareness+3 · Tackling+3 · Speed+3 · Stamina+3
Special skillsFortressAerial Fort
6
Epic · France
Max overall102
Total stats1796 (tiebreaker)
PositionCB
Playing styleATTBuild UpDEFBasic
BoosterRebuilding +3Low Pass+3 · Defensive Awareness+3 · Defensive Engagement+3 · Aggression+3
Special skillsFortressLong-reach Tackle
7
Epic · Madrid Chamartin B
Max overall102
Total stats1795 (tiebreaker)
PositionCB
Playing styleATTBuild UpDEFBasic
BoosterShutdown +3Defensive Awareness+3 · Defensive Engagement+3 · Tackling+3 · Speed+3
Special skillsLong-reach TackleAerial Fort
8
Epic · Manchester United
Max overall102
Total stats1771 (tiebreaker)
PositionCB
Playing styleATTBuild UpDEFBasic
BoosterStealing +3Tackling+3 · Aggression+3 · Acceleration+3 · Physical Contact+3
Special skillsFortressAerial Fort
9
Epic · Eintracht Frankfurt
Max overall101
Total stats1884 (tiebreaker)
PositionCB
Playing styleATTBuild UpDEFBasic
BoosterShutdown +3Defensive Awareness+3 · Defensive Engagement+3 · Tackling+3 · Speed+3
Special skillsVisionary PassFortress
10
Epic · Spain
Max overall101
Total stats1833 (tiebreaker)
PositionCB
Playing styleATTBuild UpDEFBasic
BoosterDefending +3Defensive Awareness+3 · Tackling+3 · Acceleration+3 · Jumping+3
Special skillsFortressAerial Fort
11
Epic · FC Barcelona
Max overall101
Total stats1832 (tiebreaker)
PositionCB
Playing styleATTBuild UpDEFBasic
BoosterDefending +3Defensive Awareness+3 · Tackling+3 · Acceleration+3 · Jumping+3
Special skillsLong-reach TackleAerial Fort
12
Show Time · Japan
Max overall101
Total stats1830 (tiebreaker)
PositionCB
Playing styleATTBuild UpDEFBasic
BoosterStealing +3Tackling+3 · Aggression+3 · Acceleration+3 · Physical Contact+3Aerial Block +3Heading+3 · Defensive Awareness+3 · Physical Contact+3 · Jumping+3
Special skillsVisionary PassLong-reach Tackle
13
Epic · FC Barcelona
Max overall101
Total stats1806 (tiebreaker)
PositionCB
Playing styleATTBuild UpDEFBasic
BoosterStealing +3Tackling+3 · Aggression+3 · Acceleration+3 · Physical Contact+3
Special skillsFortress
14
Show Time · Japan
Max overall101
Total stats1806 (tiebreaker)
PositionCB
Playing styleATTBuild UpDEFBasic
BoosterDefending +3Defensive Awareness+3 · Tackling+3 · Acceleration+3 · Jumping+3Stealing +3Tackling+3 · Aggression+3 · Acceleration+3 · Physical Contact+3
Special skillsFortressAerial Fort
15
Epic · Chelsea B
Max overall101
Total stats1798 (tiebreaker)
PositionCB
Playing styleATTBuild UpDEFBasic
BoosterShutdown +4Defensive Awareness+4 · Defensive Engagement+4 · Tackling+4 · Speed+4
Special skillsLong-reach TackleAerial Fort
16
Epic · Internazionale Milano
Max overall101
Total stats1788 (tiebreaker)
PositionCB
Playing styleATTBuild UpDEFBasic
BoosterStealing +3Tackling+3 · Aggression+3 · Acceleration+3 · Physical Contact+3
Special skillsFortress
17
Show Time · Liverpool R
Max overall101
Total stats1760 (tiebreaker)
PositionCB
Playing styleATTBuild UpDEFBasic
BoosterRebuilding +3Low Pass+3 · Defensive Awareness+3 · Defensive Engagement+3 · Aggression+3
Special skillsVisionary PassLong-reach Tackle
18
Epic · Manchester United
Max overall101
Total stats1745 (tiebreaker)
PositionCB
Playing styleATTBuild UpDEFBasic
BoosterDefending +3Defensive Awareness+3 · Tackling+3 · Acceleration+3 · Jumping+3
Special skillsFortressAerial Fort
19
Epic · Netherlands
Max overall100
Total stats1855 (tiebreaker)
PositionCB
Playing styleATTBuild UpDEFBasic
BoosterDuelling +2Defensive Awareness+2 · Tackling+2 · Speed+2 · Stamina+2
Special skills—
20
Franco BaresiS
Epic · AC Milan
Max overall100
Total stats1835 (tiebreaker)
PositionCB
Playing styleATTBuild UpDEFBasic
BoosterShutdown +2Defensive Awareness+2 · Defensive Engagement+2 · Tackling+2 · Speed+2
Special skillsFortress
21
Epic · Arsenal FC
Max overall100
Total stats1830 (tiebreaker)
PositionCB
Playing styleATTBuild UpDEFBasic
BoosterAerial Block +3Heading+3 · Defensive Awareness+3 · Physical Contact+3 · Jumping+3
Special skillsVisionary PassFortress
22
Show Time · CR Flamengo
Max overall100
Total stats1827 (tiebreaker)
PositionCB
Playing styleATTBuild UpDEFBasic
BoosterTotal Package +3All stats+3
Special skillsLong-reach Tackle
23
Show Time · Crystal Palace RB
Max overall100
Total stats1806 (tiebreaker)
PositionCB
Playing styleATTBuild UpDEFHigh Line Master
BoosterRebuilding +4Low Pass+4 · Defensive Awareness+4 · Defensive Engagement+4 · Aggression+4
Special skillsVisionary PassLong-reach TackleShadow Hunt
24
Epic · Piemonte BN
Max overall100
Total stats1799 (tiebreaker)
PositionCB
Playing styleATTBuild UpDEFBasic
BoosterRebuilding +3Low Pass+3 · Defensive Awareness+3 · Defensive Engagement+3 · Aggression+3
Special skillsVisionary PassFortress
25
Show Time · Fenerbahce SK
Max overall100
Total stats1794 (tiebreaker)
PositionCB
Playing styleATTBuild UpDEFBasic
BoosterTotal Package +3All stats+3
Special skillsLong-reach TackleAerial Fort
26
Show Time · Arsenal FC
Max overall100
Total stats1768 (tiebreaker)
PositionCB
Playing styleATTBuild UpDEFBasic
BoosterDefending +3Defensive Awareness+3 · Tackling+3 · Acceleration+3 · Jumping+3
Special skillsLong-reach TackleAerial Fort
27
Big Time · Liverpool R
Max overall100
Total stats1720 (tiebreaker)
PositionCB
Playing styleATTBuild UpDEFBasic
BoosterStealing +3Tackling+3 · Aggression+3 · Acceleration+3 · Physical Contact+3
Special skillsLong-reach Tackle
28
Epic · AC Milan
Max overall99
Total stats1841 (tiebreaker)
PositionCB
Playing styleATTBuild UpDEFBasic
BoosterDefending +2Defensive Awareness+2 · Tackling+2 · Acceleration+2 · Jumping+2
Special skills—
29
Epic · Munchen RW
Max overall99
Total stats1831 (tiebreaker)
PositionCB
Playing styleATTBuild UpDEFBasic
BoosterShutdown +2Defensive Awareness+2 · Defensive Engagement+2 · Tackling+2 · Speed+2
Special skillsFortress
30
Show Time · Paris Saint-Germain
Max overall99
Total stats1825 (tiebreaker)
PositionCB
Playing styleATTBuild UpDEFBasic
BoosterRebuilding +2Low Pass+2 · Defensive Awareness+2 · Defensive Engagement+2 · Aggression+2
Special skillsFortress
Best Build Up by play type
Overall rating alone does not tell you which card suits your squad. These are the top 3 Build Up cards for each play type, scored on the stats that matter for that role.
1v1 defending
1v1 specialists who stop attacks on their own. They lock down the back line.
Scored on: Tackling, Defensive Awareness, Aggression
Aerial
Aerial targets for crosses and set pieces. They pair well with wing play and long-ball tactics.
Scored on: Heading, Jumping, Physical Contact
Pace
Quick players who break in behind and turn counters into chances. They shine in tactics built around attacking space.
Scored on: Speed, Acceleration
Build-up
Defenders who can carry and pass out from the back. For teams that build from deep.
Scored on: Low Pass, Lofted Pass, Attacking Awareness
Summary
✓Summary
- Build Up = a ball-playing centre-back. It triggers at CB.
- The strongest Build Up is Paolo Maldini at 104 overall.
- 3,464 Build Up cards were compared, all at max level with boosters applied.
