I challenge you to a duel
So this is the FM24 best duelling players according to my model and the age curve I have built. Some are going to be familiar, others on the other hand you may not have heard of.
Let’s have a look at the results!
Welcome to a new series that I am rolling out for a bit of fun while we wait for FM26. I am going to do a series of FM24 top ten lists for Duelling, Possession, Creation and Shooting. This article is based around FM24 best duelling players.
Duelling players tend to make up the spine of the team in positions such as centre back, defensive and centre midfield as well as striker. They are players that love to challenge for the ball in the air or on the ground. Having top duellers in these positions will help you remain solid, keep control and dominate on set pieces.
As we discussed in the FM24: Age Curve article, we have found the peak ages of 21-27. Ideally we want to buy players at 21 and sell them at 27, but it isn’t as easy as that. So these players are the ones that fit the model and the age curve. Let’s take a look at the team!
FM24 Best Duelling Player List
So this is what we been building up to the list of the top ten Duelling players in the top five leagues. I am going to do three lists to help you keep them separate between defenders, midfielders and strikers. The defenders are players which will keep your defence watertight whether in a high line or low block.
The midfielders are there to break up the oppositions play, screen your backline and challenge anyone who dares cross the half way line. The forwards are mainly target men and deep lying forwards which challenge for the ball and love a set piece.
Defenders
The majority of these defenders are really good at duelling on the ground or in the air. They are focussed on being the best defenders in the world and in the right system can be great. I would aim to have a mix though unless you are playing a counter attacking system.
- Nordi Mukiele – PSG
- Marash Kumbulla – Roma
- Rafa Marin – Real Madrid
- Keven Schlotterbeck – SC Freiburg
- Jeff Chabot – FC Koln
- Abdul Mumin – Vallecano
- Rasmus Nicolaisen – Toulouse
- Lorezo Pirola – Salernitana
- Christoph Klarer – Darmstadt 98
- Nico Elvedi – Gladbach
Midfielders
Next on the FM24 Best Duelling Players list are the midfielders. The majority of these defenders are not here because of their playmaking ability, they are here to win that ball back and pass it on.
- Benedikt Gimber – Heidenheim
- Ibrahima Sissoko – Rennes
- Ko Itakura – Gladbach
- Erhan Masovic – Bochum
- Aurelian Tchouameni – Real Madrid
- Randy Nteka – Vallecano
- Tom Krauß – Mainz 05
- Yangel Herrera – Girona
- Maximilian Dietz – NYC FC
Strikers
Now my favourite part on the FM24 best duelling players list, the strikers! Some of these players give your team such character and with a solid team can really shine. Like I said previously, a lot of these forwards are deep lying, target men or even complete forwards.
- Sasa Kalajdzic – Wolves
- Juanmia Latasa – Real Madrid
- Dion Drena Beljo – Augsburg
- Didier Lamkel Ze – Hatayspor
- Raul Garcia – Osasuna
- Lorenzo Lucca – Pisa
- Luca Pfeiffer – Stuttgart
- Shamar Nicholson – Spartak Moscow
- Mohamed Bayo – Lille
- Mostafa Mohamed – Nantes
Conclusion
There are some really fun players in these lists, some unusual recommendations. They are made from various budgets and defensive systems from the unknown players to the world class.
The main reason to focus on these types of players is that if you out duel your opponent then you win over 50% of your games. Duelling is a really important metric in football in terms of controlling the play, stopping the opposition and winning set pieces.
There are a number of players in these lists that I personally recommend such as Klarer the defender and Latasa the forward. Both were part of my West Ham team that won the Premier League.
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