'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
What's the story?
Lionel Messi might not become the highest-rated player in FIFA 18, but the Argentine maestro has at least something over Cristiano Ronaldo in the latest FIFA 17 Ultimate Team ratings according to Futhead.com's latest update.
Messi's in-game stats are slightly higher than Ronaldo, although the two share the exact same overall rating.
In case you didn't know...
FIFA 17 is set to head into oblivion later this month when FIFA 18 is rolled out. FIFA Ultimate Team is one of the most popular features of EA Sports FIFA where players can build their own teams by collecting coins and playing against their opponents online. The online version of EA Sports FIFA has been extremely popular among fans and FIFA 18's Ultimate Team will have plenty of new features and add-ons.
The heart of the matter
Messi clocks 2401 in total in-game stats which makes him the best player in FUT 17 ahead of Ronaldo, who has total in-game stats of 2387.
However, Ronaldo is better than Messi in certain attributes like pace, where he clocks 98 and physical attribute of 92. The two players have exactly similar ratings for shooting and dribbling, but Messi edges ahead of Ronaldo in his passing stats.
Following the two megastars of world football are Gonzalo Higuain in third and Neymar in fourth. Robert Lewandowski, Bayern Munich's star striker, comes in next.
What's next?
FUT 17 is coming to a close with the release of FIFA 18 approaching. The latest iteration of the popular console gaming label will hit the stores on 29th September and Ronaldo, being the cover star, is expected to lead the overall ratings. EA Sports have already published the ratings of more than 40 players in FIFA 18 and the rest of the top 100 FIFA players will also be unveiled in the coming days, with Messi expected to be a close second to Ronaldo in the overall ratings.
Author's take
Messi has been under par of late along with his teams, Barcelona and Argentina, and the latest Futhead.com ratings have certainly come as a surprise, especially at a time when Ronaldo is making headlines and winning trophies left, right and centre. The latest FUT 17 ratings, however, just go to show that you can never count out the legend that is Lionel Messi, even when he is down in the dumps.
