Before I get started, I want to mention that the in-game FIFA player ratings aren’t true player representations - it's just a way for EA Sports to market in-game features, such as Ultimate Team. While I understand and agree with that, the irrational New Yorker in me can’t let this stand. For example, how is Ramon Abila, who has an overall rating of 73, rated higher than Ola Kamar, who has an overall rating of 72!? Not only is Kamara a fellow teammate that is above Abila on the depth chart, but he is also MLS’s leading goal scorer. This is just one example of how FIFA and EA Sports don’t accurately rate players. Let’s dive into some position groups and see where things are truly messed up.
Striker is likely the easiest position to break down for a rating system - more goals should logically equal a higher rating. If we are looking at 2021 stats alone, the top-rated strikers in MLS should include Raul Ruidiaz, Ola Kamara, Gustavo Bou, Ricardo Pepi, CJ Sapong and Tati Castellanos, who all have over 10 goals in MLS action, as well as many other excellent strikers around MLS. Since MLS is not on the “European schedule”, I can understand looking at 2020 statistics alone for FIFA ratings. Still, if we look at the 2020 MLS season, than the top rated strikers should include Robert Beric, Gyasi Zardes, Raúl Ruidíaz, Ayo Akinola, and Daryl Dike. If we want to look at combined 2020/2021 statistics for striker ratings, there are only 7 strikers who have scored a combined 17 goals or more: Gustavo Bou, Adam Buksa, Felipe Mora, Gyasi Zardes, Tati Castellanos, Kamara, and Ruidíaz. Guess how many of those 7 are featured in the top 10 of the FIFA 22 striker ratings? TWO (Ruidíaz and Bou). Even if we were to look at strikers who have scored a combined 10+ goals between 2020 and so far through 2021, only 5 have made the top 10. Are we really okay with a 50% accuracy rate?
FIFA 22
Top 5
MLS Strikers
Gonzalo Higuain - Inter Miami: 81 overall
Josef Martínez - Atlanta United: 80 overal
Raúl Ruidíaz - Seattle Sounders: 79 overall
Javier “Chicharito” Hernández - Los Angeles Galaxy: 78 overall
Gustavo Bou - New England Revolution: 76 overall
Another position I feel could be easily ranked is goalkeepers. Yes, defenses impact keeper statistics but, for the most part, you can tell a top goalkeeper from an average one. Right, FIFA? If you want to follow the combined 2020/2021 MLS stats for player ratings and focus on shutouts and saves alone, there are only 6 goalkeepers in MLS that have recorded 10+ shutouts and 120+ saves: Matt Turner, Joe Willis, William Yarbrough, Sean Johnson, Brad Guzan and Jimmy Maurer. Do you know how many made the top 10 in the FIFA 22 ratings? TWO! (Turner and Johnson). With that said, the six players in this group aren’t necessarily in my own top 6. I understand standouts like Andre Blake, Stefan Frei, Bill Hamid, and Pedro Gallese have all missed some time over the past two season due to injury, but do guys like Nick Marsman, Kenneth Vermeer, and Marko Maric deserve to be listed over William Yarbrough and JT Marcinkowski? No.
FIFA 22 Top 5 MLS Goalkeepers
Andre Blake - Philadelphia Union: 76 overall
Matt Turner - New England Revolution: 75 overall
Bill Hamid - D.C. United: 74 overall
Stefan Frei - Seattle Sounders: 74 overall
Eloy Room - Columbus Crew: 74 overall
The final position that I am going to look at is centerback. Now I do think that rating centerbacks can be way more subjective than most other positions on the field. They aren’t usually as offensive as fullbacks and don’t typically get involved in as many duels or tackles as defensive midfielders. However, there are clearly some of player ratings that are downright DIRTY. I understand the top 10 containing players like Yeimar Gomez Andrade, Aaron Long, Walker Zimmerman, Jonathan Mensah, and Maxime Chanot. But do Alan Franco, Larrys Mabiala or Bakaye Dibassy deserve to be in the FIFA 22 top ten over the likes of Antonio Carlos, Alexander Callens, Jesus Murillo, Miles Robinson, Eddie Segura, Auston Trusty, or Nouhou Tolo? I know that overall FIFA has never been great at truly rating defenders but some of these names listed within the top 10, 15, or even 20 are just major head scratchers to me.
FIFA 22 Top 5 MLS Centerbacks
Yeimar Gomez Andrade - Seattle Sounders: 76 overall
Aaron Long - Red Bull New York: 75 overall
Alan Franco - Atlanta United: 74 overall
Walker Zimmerman - Nashville SC: 74 overall
Jonathan Mensah - Columbus Crew: 72 overall
Who did I miss in here? Who should be higher on the rankings lists? Leave your thoughts in the comments below! Also make sure to tune into the MLS Aces Podcast live every Thursday on Twitch – the podcast hits your podcast and YouTube feeds every Friday!
