The release of FIFA 17’s top 50 players has caused quite the upset as among fans as a long-running favorite has finally been dethroned from the number one position.
For the first time in seven years, Barcelona’s very own Lionel Messi is no longer ranked as the best player in the game. Messi now holds a rating of 93 which is one below his previous rank.
The number one spot is now held by the Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo who comes in at an overall rating of 94. Not only has Ronaldo increased his overall rating, he has also increased five out of six of his attributes.
To determine the player ratings, EA has analysed the players based on their performances over the last 365 days in the league and cup competitions.
Despite the upset among fans, the on pitch justification for these ratings are there as Messi had under performed this season compared to Ronaldo. Messi’s goal scoring had definitely suffered last season as Ronaldo’s 16 goals surpassed Messi’s six in the Champions League.
Although, not everyone is happy with the way the ratings have played out as former England footballer, Gary Lineker, has shared his opinions on the matter.
“It’s a game. It’s not real. Messi is the best passer ever. They are taking the piss! Don’t take it to heart.”
It has also been rumored that FIFA rival PES, has a new partnership with Barcelona that is set to begin with PES 2017 that is supposedly preventing Messi from being part of the FIFA 17 promotional material. While this is still yet to be confirmed, it would make sense as to why we are not seeing much of Messi in this years FIFA marketing material.
The full list of the top 50 player ratings are as followed:
50. Blaise Matuidi (CDM 86)
49. Marcelo (LB 86)
48. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (ST 86)
47. Dimitri Payet (LM 86)
46. Arjen Robben (RM 87)
45. James Rodríguez (CAM 87)
44. David Silva (LM 87)
43. Karim Benzema (ST 87)
42. Arturo Vidal (CM 87)
41. Sergio Busquets (CDM 87)
40. Samir Handanovič (GK 87)
39. Mats Hummels (CB 87)
38. Thomas Müller (CF 87)
37. Angel Di María (RW 87)
36. Alexis Sánchez (LW 87)
35. Ivan Rakitić (CM 87)
34. Jan Oblak (GK 87)
33. Leonardo Bonucci (CB 87)
32. David Alaba (LB 87)
31. Hugo Lloris (GK 88)
30. Eden Hazard (LM 88)
29. Giorgio Chiellini (CB 88)
28. Petr Cech (GK 88)
27. Toni Kroos (CM 88)
26. Gianluigi Buffon (GK 88)
25. Marco Reus (LM 88)
24. Andres Iniesta (CM 88)
23. Diego Godin (CB 88)
22. Philipp Lahm (RB 88)
21. Kevin De Bruyne (RM 88)
20. Pepe (CB 88)
19. Gonzalo Higuain (ST 88)
18. Paul Pogba (CM 88)
17. Antoine Griezmann (ST 88)
16. Thiago Silva (CB 89)
15. Luka Modric (CM 89)
14. Sergio Ramos (CB 89)
13. Thibaut Courtois (GK 89)
12. Mesut Ozil (CAM 89)
11. Sergio Aguero (ST 89)
10. David De Gea (GK 90)
9. Robert Lewandowski (ST 90)
8. Jerome Boateng (CB 90)
7. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (ST 90)
6. Gareth Bale (RW 90)
5. Manuel Neuer (GK 92)
4. Luis Suarez (ST 92)
3. Neymar (LW 92)
2. Lionel Messi (RW 93)
1. Cristiano Ronaldo (LW 94)
Full details regarding the players and their details can be found on EA’s official website.
FIFA 17 is set for release on September 27, and is expecting a demo on September 13.
Let us know your thoughts on the FIFA 17 player ratings in the comments section below!
