“Time waits for no man”
This adage is true for everyone, even more so for sportspersons. 30 is usually the number after which teams and fans start doubting a player’s abilities to play at the highest level. However, the great players prove that age is just a number by delivering amazing performances with consistency.
Players such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Gianluigi Buffon and Cristiano Ronaldo are still going strong after the age of 30.
The virtual world is no different, with games like FIFA 17 having the Career Mode where gamers can see how players evolve every season and how player attributes change with age.
With FIFA 18 is set to be released worldwide on Friday, September 29, and we look at current footballing stars in FIFA 17 and pick out 5 world class players to see how good they are in the FIFA 17 Career Mode at the far end of their careers – with the help of YouTubers Rich Leigh and JoseManu.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo capped off a brilliant 2016-17 with club and country. A season, which confirmed the Real Madrid striker’s status as the best footballer in the world. The 32-year-old led Real Madrid to a double – they won the La Liga and the UEFA Champions League as the talisman scored a total of 48 goals in all competitions.
Ronaldo was crowned the best player in FIFA 17 with his card rated at an overall of 94. He also had a Team Of The Year (TOTY) card which was given a rating of 99. He had a 98 pace attribute, 99 shot power, passing rated at 92 and 98 dribbling, in addition to a physicality rating of 94.
However, the Portugese cannot withstand the effects of ageing on FIFA 17 as at 39 years old, his overall rating is 66. His acceleration is down to 18 and his agility is rated ‘1'. Despite these shortcomings, Ronaldo still has decent stats in ball control, volleys, penalties, reactions, jumping and shot power.
#2 Lionel Messi
The Argentine ace has an astonishing five Ballon d’Or’s to his name and is one of the two best players in the world currently. He was the top scorer in La Liga this season, with 45 goals and has scored 40+ goals in every season to date.
Lionel Messi also had a 99-rated TOTY card with a pace rating of 97. Messi’s La Masia background also ensures that he has higher rated passing attributes at 98, with his physicality rated at 82.
The talisman plays till he is 40 years old and has an overall rating of 57. His other stats are really bad with the worst being a ‘1’ score for acceleration, agility and sprint speed – and 47 for stamina.
His ball control, vision and reactions remain good but his passing ability has decreased considerably.
#3 Antoine Griezmann
Antoine Griezmann has been a phenomenal player for Atletico Madrid as the attacking lynchpin in a hard-working side. The Frenchman has been in spectacular form and has scored 55 goals for club and country in the 2016-17 season.
He was awarded the player of the tournament at the EURO 2016 and also won the Golden Boot having scored six goals for France.
The Frenchman had a TOTY rating of 95 but at the age of 33 in the career mode, he may just be a little past his best. His sprint speed is down to 70 but he’s still agile with a score of 87. Ball control is a decent 87 and and retains a finishing score of 89.
However, his stamina is 69 which means he will struggle to last a full match but the Atletico Madrid star will still be a force to reckon with.
#4 Paul Pogba
The most expensive player in the world, Paul Pogba is one of the best midfielders in the world right now. The Frenchman currently plays for Manchester United and won a cup double in his very first season, winning the EFL Cup and the Europa League.
At 31 years old in the career mode, the Manchester United Star will still be one of the world’s best. Rated 88 at the start of the game, he goes on to have a brilliant 94 rating, with 80+ scores across nearly every attribute. His passing and ball control are one of the best in the game along with 92 rated vision, while his 81 sprint speed really good as well.
#5 Gareth Bale
Gareth Bale is a once in a lifetime footballer with an amazing left foot. Starting at Southampton, as a raw left-back, he developed into a truly world-class left-back at Tottenham, before securing a then world-record move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2013.
Since then, he has won three Champions League trophies and also scored a famous winning goal in Copa Del Rey final against Barcelona in 2014.
Bale had a 90 overall rating at the start of FIFA 17 career mode, but by 34 years old, he’s down to a 78 rating and his sprint speed is 56. The Welshman has a decent finishing and ball control but his lethal acceleration and agility is now long gone.
