EA Sports’ flagship football-based video game franchise FIFA is one of the most popular and longest running gaming series. EA had started toying with the idea of launching a video game based on the most popular sport in the world, and by 1993 they had released the first game, FIFA International Soccer.
The game would consequently go on to be known as FIFA 94 in the years to come as EA launched one hit title after the other. Every year since then, a fresh, updated version has been released with FIFA 17 being the latest release of the series.
Here, we go through the entire series and pick the highest rated players in each position to create the ultimate, ‘Ultimate Team’. It should be noted that only the primary position of each player has been taken into consideration and the highest rated player in each position has been selected. (For instance, Lionel Messi’s primary position in FIFA 13 was Central Forward. Although he was rated 94 in the game, he does not make it to the team because there are other forwards who have been rated higher in previous instalments.)
Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Buffon (97)
With an overall rating of 97 in FIFA 05, Italy legend Gianluigi Buffon became the highest rated goalkeeper in the history of the video game. However, when you take into consideration Buffon’s performances in the 2003-04 season, it certainly wasn’t one of his bests.
His club, Juventus, only managed one trophy in the entire season, the Supercoppa Italiana. Nonetheless, he still managed to edge out competition from Oliver Kahn, Edwin Van der Sar and Iker Casillas to be rated the top goalkeeper in the game.
Defenders
Right-back: Lilian Thuram (92)
In terms of quality, Lilian Thuram probably doesn’t match up to the rest of his teammates. However, the matter of fact is that he is the best ever right-back to feature in the FIFA franchise. In FIFA 05, the Frenchman was rated 92 eclipsing the likes of Cafu and Javier Zanetti.
Again, Thuram did not have a particularly excellent season in 2003-04. In that season, Juventus were able to win only one trophy, they finished third in Serie A and were ousted in the second round of the Champions League.
Centre-back: Alessandro Nesta (94)
There were no less than nine central defenders who got a rating of 90 and above in FIFA 05. But it was one man who turned out on top with a rating of 94. AC Milan legend Alessandro Nesta beat out competition from Lucio, Jap Stamm, Paolo Maldini to be rated the best in the game.
The rating was justified as Nesta had helped AC Milan to their first Serie A title in 5 years. The Italian defender was even enjoying a stint of three straight years in UEFA’s Team of the Year at that time.
Centre-back: Fernando Hierro (94)
Fernando Hierro was the captain of a Real Madrid side that featured stars like Luis Figo, Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane and others. In FIFA 02, the central defender earned a rating of 94 although he was well past his prime at that time.
In his prime, Hierro was one of the most skilled defenders in the world. Known for his goal-scoring capabilities, the Spaniard helped his club to the La Liga trophy and reach the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Left-back: Roberto Carlos (94)
Brazilian legend Roberto Carlos is the best attacking left back the sport has ever witnessed. In FIFA 02, he earned an overall rating of 94 thus making him the highest rated left back in the history of the video game. His pace and shooting ratings even touched the magical figure of 100.
In 2002, he helped Brazil to a record fifth World Cup title and even finished as the runner-up in the FIFA Ballon d’Or awards. This was one rating that EA got absolutely right.
Midfielders
Right Winger: Luis Figo (97)
Yet another Real Madrid player from FIFA 02 finds his name on this team. Luis Figo was rated 97 in the game, and was quite simply the best, both in the game as well as in reality. Los Blancos comprised a number of Galacticos and Figo headed the bunch.
Madrid had endured a successful season, making the semi-finals of the Champions League and winning the league title. Figo’s arrival from Barcelona certainly helped them as he scored nine league goals in 32 appearances in the 2000-01 season.
Centre Midfield: Matteo Brighi (97)
The most surprising inclusion in this team but the fact is, in FIFA 03, Matteo Brighi was rated 97 thus becoming the highest rated central midfielder in the history of the game. Now, you might be forgiven for not knowing who Brighi is, but at one time he was one of the hottest prospects in the world.
The player had just won the Serie A young player of the year award, and hence, EA decided to give him such a high rating. In time, though, it proved to be one of the biggest blunders EA has ever made.
Centre Midfield: Zinedine Zidane (96)
FIFA 05 saw most of the players in the game receiving a massive boost in their ratings. Although Real Madrid had a very average season in the 2003-04 campaign as they finished fourth in the Spanish top division, Zinedine Zidane became the highest rated midfielder in the game with a rating of 96.
Yes, his team failed to secure any trophy in the season but the Frenchman’s individual performance was top notch as usual. He scored six goals in the league that season.
Left Winger: Cristiano Ronaldo (94)
The only player from the current generation to make this eleven, Cristiano Ronaldo sneaks in by virtue of his rating in the latest instalment of the FIFA franchise. FIFA 17 saw the Portuguese dismantle fierce rival Lionel Messi from the top of the ratings, as he earned a rating of 94.
Coming off the back of his most successful season in which he led Real Madrid to the Champions League title and his national side to Euro Cup glory, Ronaldo received a well-deserved boost from his ratings in FIFA 16.
Forwards
Striker: Ronaldo (98)
In FIFA 04, Brazilian legend Ronaldo became the highest rated player in the history of the game when he earned a rating of 98 in the game. While you might think that no player is good enough to earn a near-perfect rating of 98, Ronaldo’s case was very different.
Coming off the back of a successful FIFA World Cup (which of course, Brazil won), Ronaldo scored 30 goals across all competitions for Madrid, who went on to lift three trophies in the 2002-03 season.
Striker: Thierry Henry (97)
As already stated, FIFA 05 had a number of players who were rated above 90 in the game. In fact, there were 60 players who made it in the 90+ bracket but only one player sat on the top of the pile. And he was none other than Arsenal legend Thierry Henry with a rating of 97.
Henry was one of the most integral members of an Arsenal side that remained unbeaten in the Premier League throughout the season. He scored 30 goals in the league as Arsenal finished as league champions.
Formation
This is how the team would look like:
Substitutes
Olivier Kahn (95 in FIFA 03)
Lucio (93 in FIFA 05)
Jaap Stam (93 in FIFA 05)
Patrick Vieira (94 in FIFA 05)
Ronaldinho (95 in FIFA 06)
Lionel Messi (94 in FIFA 13)
Ruud Van Nistelrooy (95 in FIFA 05)
