FIFA 17 is slated to release worldwide on 29 September 2016 and football fans cannot wait to get their hands on the game. The latest edition by EA Sports has several new features including the Frostbite Engine which enable enhanced graphics and the Journey Mode which lets gamers play with a young player and see him rise to greatness.
For the first time in four years, someone other than Lionel Messi will feature on the cover, with Marco Reus having been voted as the cover-star by the fans. One of the most popular video games in the world will see some of the best players featuring in it.
EA Sports released the top players of the game earlier along with the best players from the top leagues in the world.
Also Read: FIFA 17 - Demo review
We have compiled an Ultimate XI in FIFA 17 based on the ratings released as well as looking into the balance of the squad. In this insanely fantastic team, each player is the highest rated player in his position and several big names miss out.
Let’s take a look at the Ultimate XI of FIFA 17
Goalkeeper
Goalkeeper – Manuel Neuer: 92 Overall
Manuel Neuer with a rating of 92 makes the team as the highest rated goalkeeper in FIFA 17. Neuer has, through the years , defined the role of the sweeper-keeper and made it his own. Impeccably gifted with the ball at his feet, he is no pushover when it comes to making outstanding saves from point blank or at a distance.
Signed by Bayern Munich in 2011, the German has won four Bundesliga titles and a Champions League in 2013and also has a World Cup to his name. The German has risen leaps and bounds to establish himself as the best goalkeeper of the world and his reputation is reflected in the FIFA 17 ratings where he possesses 89 diving, 89 handling, 89 reflex and 91 positioning skills.
Defenders
Left Back – David Alaba: 87 Overall
David Alaba is the highest rated left back in FIFA 17 with an overall rating of 87. A brilliant passer, David Alaba was one of Pep Guardiola’s best players during his time at Bayern. Due to his versatility, Alaba played much of last season in midfield.
Alaba played 46 matches across all competitions for Bayern last season, scoring 2 goals in the process. The Austrian is one of the best left-backs in the world and makes the ultimate team based on his FIFA 17 ratings with 86 pace, 81 passing, 83 dribbling and 83 defending.
Centre Back – Jerome Boateng: 90 Overall
Another Bayern Munich player in Jerome Boateng makes the ultimate team based on his overall 90 rating in FIFA 17, the highest for any defender. The former Manchester City man joined Bayern in 2011 and since then has perfectly integrated into the team.
Jerome Boateng, in his time at Bayern, has won as many as 12 trophies including four Bundesliga titles and a Champions League crown in 2013. For his impressive displays last season, Boateng was named as the German Footballer of the Year for 2015-16.
In FIFA 17, he has got an overall rating of 90 with 90 defensive and 85 physicality stats.
Centre back – Sergio Ramos: 89 Overall
Sergio Ramos partners Jerome Boateng in central defence with an overall rating of 89. The defender was instrumental in Real Madrid’s Champions League win last season and is regarded as one of the best centre-backs of his generation.
The Spaniard is physical and extremely strong and possesses an immense threat from set pieces. He featured in 33 matches in all competitions for Real Madrid last season and guided them to a Champions League triumph.
In FIFA 17, he is attributed with 78 pace, 87 defence and 83 physicality.
Right Back – Philip Lahm: 88 Overall
Philip Lahm is the only right back to make it to EA Sports’ Top 50 Players list for FIFA 17. An ever-present element in the Bayern defence, Philip Lahm is considered by many as the best right back of his generation. The 32-year-old has been a consistent performer for Bayern and has spent all his playing career at Bavaria.
Lahm has won a whopping 8 Bundesliga titles along with a Champions League crown in 2013 with the German giants. He makes it as the right back in the ultimate team with an overall rating of 88 and is attributed 82 passing, 84 dribbling and 86 defensive stats.
Midfielders
Central Midfield – Luca Modric: 89 Overall
The Croatian is a little wizard in the Real Madrid midfield, pulling the strings and transforming defence into attack with a single pass. Modric was brilliant last term for Real Madrid and gets a rating increase of 2 points to 89.
The midfielder is one of the best in his position, he can also play as a defensive and an attacking midfielder. Signed from Tottenham Hotspur in 2012, Luca Modric is one of the essential elements at Real Madrid but often goes unnoticed.
Modric gets a rating of 89 in FIFA 17 and is attributed with 86 passing and 89 dribbling stats.
Also Read: FIFA 17: 10 best midfielders
Central Midfield – Paul Pogba: 88 Overall
The most expensive player in the world finds his place in central midfield in the ultimate team with an overall rating of 88. Bought by Juventus in 2012, he spent four years in Turin and became one of the most sought after players in the world. During his time at Juventus, he won four consecutive Serie A titles.
A brilliant box-to-box midfielder, Paul Pogba is known for his passing and physicality and shooting from long range. At Juventus, he paired impeccably well with Andrea Pirlo and pulled the strings from midfield.
Though he needs time to get going at Manchester United, EA Sports rates Pogba with 88 for his impressive displays for the Old Lady last term. He is attributed with 80 shot, 83 passing, 87 dribbling and 87 physicality stats in the new edition of FIFA.
Attacking Midfield – Mesut Ozil: 89 Overall
The former Real Madrid man is one of the two Premier League players to make it to the Ultimate team of FIFA 17 with an overall rating of 89. Ozil had a brilliant season for the Gunners last year and helped them finish second in the League. Deadly with the final ball and a great passer in general, Ozil’s calibre in assisting goals is matched by few in the world.
With EA Sports upping the artificial intelligence in the new FIFA 17 where players make intelligent runs into space, Ozil’s through ball will be absolutely devastating for opponents as it is often so on the football pitch.
He is rated 80 overall and attributed with 87 passing and 86 dribbling stats.
Forwards
Right Wing – Lionel Messi: 93 Overall
The Argentine magician misses out on being the top rated player on FIFA 17 and it is the first time in four years that he will not be featuring on the cover of the popular game. However, with a rating of 93, he still is one of the best players on the pitch and the console and finds his place on the right wing in the ultimate team.
After coming into the senior team at Barcelona through the ranks at La Masia, it didn't take much time for Messi to establish himself as the best in the world. Regarded by many as the greatest player ever, Messi is a magician who can conjure brilliant dribbles, assists and goals for his team.
He narrowly missed out on the Copa America for the second time in a row but won La Liga with Barcelona.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner is the best dribbler in FIFA 17 with a 96 dribbling stat and is attributed with 89 pace, 90 shot and 86 passing stats.
Left Wing – Cristiano Ronaldo: 94 Overall
The Portuguese superstar finally pipped Lionel Messi as the highest rated player on FIFA in its latest edition. Ronaldo, with a rating of 94, makes it to the ultimate team of FIFA 17.
Ronaldo was absolutely brilliant for Real Madrid yet again last season helping them to win the Champions League for the second time in three years. The winger also won his first crown for Portugal after snatching the Euros earlier this year in France.
Ronaldo is quick, a good dribbler, great in the air, but above all, a goal machine, scoring almost whenever he wants. In FIFA 17, he is attributed with 92 pace, 92 shot and 91 dribbling stats.
Striker – Luis Suarez: 92 Overall
Arguably the best striker in the world at the moment, Luis Suarez is the target-man in the deadliest attacking trio of the MSN at Barcelona. Suarez scored an outstanding 59 goals in all competitions for Barca and is sure to be in running for this year’s Ballon d’Or.
Signed by Barcelona in 2014 after an impressive season with Liverpool, Suarez took La Liga by storm and has not looked back since. He has already scored more than 100 goals for the Spanish champions and makes the ultimate team as the striker with an overall rating of 92.
Suarez has already won the Champions League in his debut season at Barcelona along with two La Liga titles in his two-year stay. He will, once again, look to conquer the European footballing scene with his lethal accuracy in front of goal and help Barcelona win the treble once again.
In FIFA 17, Suarez is rated 92 and is attributed with 82 pace, 90 shot and 87 dribbling stats.
Substitutes
David De Gea: 90 Overall
Thiago Silva: 89 Overall
Marcelo: 86 Overall
Toni Kroos: 88 Overall
Neymar: 92 Overall
Gareth Bale: 92 Overall
Zlatan Ibrahimovic: 90 Overall
