The most important thing in any game is to learn and master the controls. FIFA 21 has a rather complex control scheme, which can be broken down into different phases and elements of the game. This includes movement, attacking, defending, goalkeeping, tactics and kick-off emotions, free-kicks, corners and throw-ins, and penalties.
FIFA 21 also has some additional controls for specific modes including Be A Pro: Player, Be A Pro: Goalkeeper, and Volta Mode.
Here’s a list of them all for both Playstation and Xbox.
Movement
Action | Playstation | Xbox |
Move Player | L + Direction | L + Direction |
Sprint | Hold R2 | Hold RT |
Shield/Jockey | Hold L2 | Hold LT |
First-Touch/Knock-On | R2 + R + Direction | RT + R + Direction |
Stop and Face Goal | Release L + Press L1 | Release L + Press LB |
Strafe Dribble | L1 + L + Direction | LB + L + Direction |
Strafe Dribble (Lock Face Angle) | L1 + R1 + L + Direction | LB + RB + L + Direction |
Agile Dribble | R1 + L + Direction | RB + L + Direction |
Skill Moves | R | R |
Stop Ball | Release L + Press R2 | Release L + Press RT |
Jostle | L2 | LT |
Slow Dribble | L2 + R2 | LT + RT |
Attacking
Action | Playstation | Xbox |
Ground Pass/Header | X | A |
Lob Pass/Cross/Header | ▢ | X |
Through Pass | △ | Y |
Shoot/Volley/Header | ◯ | B |
Time Your Shot | ◯ + ◯ | B + B |
Chip Shot | L1 + ◯ | LB + B |
Finesse Shot | R1 + ◯ | RB + B |
Low Shot/Downward Header | L1 + R1 + ◯ | LB + RB + B |
Fake Shot | ◯ then X + L in any direction | B then A + L in any direction |
Fake Pass | ▢ then X + L in any direction | X then A + L in any direction |
Threaded Through Pass | R1 + △ | RB + Y |
Rewind and Try Again | L2 + R2 | LT + RT |
Protect Ball | L2 | LT |
Driven Ground Pass | R1 + X | RB + A |
Lofted Ground Pass | X + X | A + A |
Lofted Ground Through Pass | △ + △ | Y + Y |
Lobbed Through Pass | L1 + △ | LB + Y |
Driven Lobbed Through Pass | L1 + R1 + △ | LB + RB + Y |
Driven Lob Pass/Cross | R1 + ▢ | RB + X |
High Lob/Cross | L1 + ▢ | LB + X |
Ground Cross | ▢ + ▢ | X + X |
Whipped Cross | L1 + R1 + ▢ | LB + RB + X |
Driven Ground Cross | L1 + ▢ + ▢ | LB + X + X |
Trigger Run | L1 | LB |
Call For Support | R1 | RB |
Dummy A Pass | Release L + Hold R1 | Release L + Hold RB |
Flair Pass | L2 + X | LT + A |
Flair Shot | L2 + ◯ | LT + B |
Flair Lob | L2 + ▢ | LT + X |
Let Ball Run | Press and Hold R1 + L away from ball | Press and Hold RB + L away from ball |
Flick Up For Volley | R3 | RS |
Disguised First Touch | Hold R1 + L towards ball | Hold RB + L towards ball |
Set Up Touch | R1 + Hold R + Direction | RB + Hold R + Direction |
Pass and Go | L1 + X | LB + Y |
Pass and Move | X + R + Direction | A + R + Direction |
Directional Runs | Tap L1 + Flick R in any direction | Tap LB + Flick R in any direction |
Player Lock | L + R | L + R |
Switching (Player Lock) | Flick L in any direction | Flick L in any direction |
Hard Super Cancel | L1 + R1 + L2 + R2 | LB + RB + LT + RT |
Cancel Foul Advantage | L2 + R2 | LT + RT |
Defending
Action | Playstation | Xbox |
Change Player | L1 | LB |
Change Player (Manual) | R | R |
Tackle | ◯ | B |
Push or Pull | ◯ when chasing | B when chasing |
Hard Tackle | Hold ◯ | Hold B |
Instant Hard Tackle | R1 + ◯ | RB + B |
Sliding Tackle | ▢ |
X |
Clearance | ◯ | B |
Shoulder Challenge/Seal Out | Tap L2 | Tap LT |
Contain | Hold X | Hold A |
Teammate Contain | Hold R1 | Hold RB |
Running Jockey | L2 + R2 | LT + RT |
Pull and Hold | Hold ◯ | Hold B |
Quick Get Up | ▢ | X |
Engage Shielding Opponent | L2 + L towards shielding direction | LT + L towards shielding direction |
Rush Goalkeeper Out | △ | Y |
Goalkeeper Cross Intercept | △ then hold △ | Y then hold Y |
Jockey/Grab and Hold | Hold L2 | Hold LT |
Goalkeeping
Action | Playstation | Xbox |
Drop Kick | ◯ or ▢ | B or X |
Throw/Pass | X | A |
Drop Ball | △ | Y |
Pick Up Ball | R1 | RB |
Driven Throw | R1 + X | RB + A |
Driven Kick | R1 + ▢ | RB + X |
Move Goalkeeper | Hold R3 + R in any direction |
Hold RS + R in any direction |
Cover Far Post | Hold R3 | Hold RS |
Switch To Goalkeeper | TouchPad Button | View Button |
Tactics and Kick-Off Emotions
Action | Playstation | Xbox |
Display Attacking Tactics | DPad ⇧ | DPad ⇧ |
Get In The Box | DPad ⇧ + DPad ⇧ | DPad ⇧ + DPad ⇧ |
Attacking Full Backs | DPad ⇧ + DPad ⇦ | DPad ⇧ + DPad ⇦ |
Hug Sideline | DPad ⇧ + DPad ⇨ | DPad ⇧ + DPad ⇨ |
Extra Striker | DPad ⇧ + DPad ⇩ | DPad ⇧ + DPad ⇩ |
Display Defending Tactics | DPad ⇩ | DPad ⇩ |
Striker Drop Back | DPad ⇩ + DPad ⇧ |
DPad ⇩ + DPad ⇧ |
Team Press | DPad ⇩ + DPad ⇦ | DPad ⇩ + DPad ⇦ |
Overload Ball Side | DPad ⇩ + DPad ⇨ | DPad ⇩ + DPad ⇨ |
Offside Trap | DPad ⇩ + DPad ⇩ | DPad ⇩ + DPad ⇩ |
Change Game Plan | DPad ⇦ or ⇨ | DPad ⇦ or ⇨ |
Quick Substitute | R2 | RT |
Angry Towards Opponent | DPad ⇧ | DPad ⇧ |
Angry Towards Team | DPad ⇩ | DPad ⇩ |
Happy Towards Opponent | DPad ⇦ | DPad ⇦ |
Happy Towards Team | DPad ⇨ | DPad ⇦⇨ |
Free-Kicks
Action | Playstation | Xbox |
Aim | L | L |
Move Kick Taker | R | R |
Timing Shot | ◯ + ◯ | B + B |
Curled Shot | ◯ + R⇩ | B + R⇩ |
Apply Curl During Run-Up | R | R |
Driven Shot | L1 + ◯ | LB + B |
Ground Pass | X |
A |
Lob Pass/Cross | ▢ | X |
Wall Jump | △ | Y |
Wall Charge | X | A |
Move Wall | L2 + R2 | LT + RT |
Select Kick Taker | R2 | RT |
Add Additional Kick Taker | R1 or L2 | RB or LT |
Move Goalkeeper | ▢ or ◯ | X or B |
Call 2nd Kick Taker | L2 | LT |
2nd Kick Taker Curled Shot | L2 + ◯ | LT + B |
2nd Kick Taker Layoff Pass | L2 + X | LT + A |
2nd Kick Taker Layoff Chip | L2 + ▢ | LT + X |
2nd Kick Taker Run Over Ball | L2 + ▢ + X | LT + X + A |
Call 3rd Kick Taker | R1 | RB |
3rd Kick Taker Curled Shot | R1 + ◯ | RB + B |
3rd Kick Taker Run Over Ball | R1 + ◯ + X | RB + B + A |
Call For Short | R1 | RB |
Corners and Throw-Ins
Action | Playstation | Xbox |
Corner Lob Cross | ▢ | X |
Corner Pass | X | A |
Aim Kick | L | L |
Apply Kick Power | ▢ | X |
Turn Aim Indicator Off | DPad ⇧ | DPad ⇧ |
Display Corner Tactics | DPad ⇩ | DPad ⇩ |
Run Far Post | DPad ⇩ + DPad ⇧ | DPad ⇩ + DPad ⇧ |
Edge of Box Run | DPad ⇩ + DPad ⇦ | DPad ⇩ + DPad ⇦ |
Crowd The Goalkeeper | DPad ⇩ + DPad ⇨ | DPad ⇩ + DPad ⇨ |
Run Near Post | DPad ⇩ + DPad ⇩ | DPad ⇩ + DPad ⇩ |
Move Along Line (Throw-In) | L | L |
Short Throw In | X | A |
Short Throw In (Manual) | △ | Y |
Long Throw In | Hold X or ▢ | Hold A or X |
Call For Short (Corner) | R1 | RB |
Fake Throw | ▢ + X | X + A |
Penatlies
Action | Playstation | Xbox |
Aim | L | XL |
Shoot | ◯ | B |
Move Kick Taker | R | R |
Stutter/Slow-Jog | L2 | LT |
Sprint | R2 | RT |
Finesse Shot | R1 + ◯ | RB + B |
Chip Shot | L1 + ◯ | LB + B |
Select Kick-Taker | R2 | RT |
Toggle Aim Indicator | DPad ⇧ | DPad ⇧ |
Goalkeeper Move Side To Side | L or DPad ⇦ and ⇨ | L or DPad ⇦ and ⇨ |
Goalkeeper Dive | R | R |
Goalkeeper Gestures | X or ◯ or △ or ▢ | A or B or Y or X |
Be A Pro: Player
Action | Playstation | Xbox |
Call For Pass | X | A |
Call For or Suggest Through Pass | △ | Y |
Suggest Shot | ◯ | B |
Call For Driven Ground Pass | R1 + X | RB + A |
Call For Threaded Through Pass | R1 + △ | RB + Y |
Call For Lobbed Through Pass | L1 + △ | LB + Y |
Call For Lobbed Threaded Through Pass | L1 + R1 + △ | LB + RB + Y |
Call For Cross | ▢ | X |
Call For Ground Cross | R1 + ▢ | RB + X |
Call For High Cross | L1 + ▢ | LB + X |
Be A Pro: Goalkeeper
Action | Playstation | Xbox | |
Call For or Suggest Pass | X | A | |
Suggest Through Ball | △ | Y | |
Suggest Cross | ▢ | Y | |
Suggest Shot | ◯ | B | |
Toggle Camera Target | TouchPad | View Button | |
Dive | R | R | |
Auto-Positioning | Hold L1 | Hold LB | |
2nd Defender Contain | Hold R1 | Hold RB |
Volta Mode Exclusives
Action | Playstation | Xbox |
Simple Skill Moves | L2 + R2 + L | LT + RT + L |
Simple Flicks | R3 + L | RS + L |
Taunts | Release L + Hold R2 | Release L + Hold RT |
Change Mentality | DPad ⇦ | DPad ⇨ |
Hard Stand Tackle | ▢ | X |