The Highest-Rated Football Players in the FIFA Video Game Series
Football is the most popular sport in the world. In relation to this, the FIFA video game franchise is also one of the most popular video games. Over the years, it has featured all of football’s greatest players. And, being the highest-rated player in the game often spells to the rest of the world. That said, the player indeed is the best current footballer on the planet.
Over the last five installments in the FIFA series, we’ve seen some amazing players be crowned the top-rated player. But who were they and how have their ratings changed over time? From FIFA 18 to FIFA 22, let’s take a look at some of our favorite superstars. Let’s also find out who rises above all others.
Admittedly, in recent installments of the franchise, there have been players rated as high as 99 in the Ultimate Team game mode. Such players can be acquired through squad-building challenges in FUT. That is akin to mind-boggling strategy and table casino games. Yet, in this article, we won’t be looking through any supercharged FUT-only players. We will rather look at the official best-rated player from each of the last five FIFA video games.
Ready to go down memory lane with some of the greatest virtual athletes ever? From Messi’s mastery of world-class footballing skills to Ronaldo’s dynamic athleticism, let’s see which players truly stand out from soccer superstars past and present.
FIFA 23: Lionel Messi – Rating 93
For the fifth consecutive year, Lionel Messi is once again the highest-rated player in FIFA 23. FIFA 23 is the most recent installment in the franchise. And boy, he lives up to the honor this season.
The little Argentinian genius climbed his final peak late last year. This is when he led Argentina to a third FIFA World Cup success and the first since the days of Diego Maradona. Messi was in scintillating form throughout the tournament. He bagged two goals in the final en route to being named the player of the tournament.
When La Albiceleste lost their opening game of the tournament to lowly Saudi Arabia, many thought that Messi may have been finished as the planet’s top player. With the likes of Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappé waiting in the wings to take up the mantle as the planet’s undisputed number-one footballer, the pressure was on. But in the end, it was Messi who proved once and for all that he will go down in history as the greatest player of all time after defeating Mbappé’s France in the Lusail Iconic Stadium showpiece.
FIFA 22: Lionel Messi – Rating 93
Lionel Messi was once again the undisputed number one on FIFA 22, and the game’s release came at a crucial time in the Argentinian winger’s career. That’s because the Rosario-born star was leaving the safe haven of FC Barcelona and the Camp Nou after 21 years. Paris Saint-Germain was the club he chose to further his career and to be fair, it was only the Parisians and Manchester City that could afford Messi’s astronomical wage demands.
The seven-time Balon d’Or winner repaid owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi’s investment by bringing the Ligue 1 trophy back to the Parc Des Princes. However, the one trophy he so desperately craves, the UEFA Champions League, still remained elusive. PSG were eliminated at the last 16 stage by former rival Real Madrid following a late capitulation in the Bernabeu.
FIFA 21: Lionel Messi – Rating 93
The player on FIFA 21 was once again Lionel Messi, who received a rating of 93. In 2020/21, Messi’s individual performance was remarkable as he scored 38 goals and provided a further 14 assists in 47 appearances for Barcelona. Personally, it was another stellar campaign for the Argentinian superstar however, for his team, it was a disappointment.
As the season got underway, the Blaugrana were still reeling from a humiliating 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League semifinals. And off the pitch, global events plunged the club into turmoil. With no supporters allowed into the Camp Nou, the club racked up debts totaling €1bn.
The club finished seven points behind eventually champions Atletico Madrid in La Liga. In the Champions League, they were thumped by Paris Saint-Germain 5-2 on aggregate. They did however lift the Copa Del Rey following a 4-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao.
FIFA 20: Lionel Messi – Rating 94
Surprise surprise. Lionel Messi was FIFA 20’s best-rated player with a rating of 94. By Messi’s standards, he had a disappointing season in 2019/20. His club Barcelona ended the season without any silverware however, he did manage to net 31 times throughout the course of the campaign.
FIFA 19: Cristiano Ronaldo & Lionel Messi – Both Rated 94
Finally, Lionel Messi’s stranglehold on the top spot is over. Well, not quite.
Both Cristiano Ronaldo and the Barcelona icon shared number one status on FIFA 19. Cristiano Ronaldo – who was the outright number one rated player on FIFA 18 – was coming off the back of a third consecutive UEFA Champions League crown with Real Madrid, and that was enough to see him earn a share of the top spot.
