Sega’s flagship managerial game Football Manager 2017 is all set to release and the top ten players of the game have already been revealed. It comes as a surprise that the developers of the game have ranked Real Madrid superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo, third in the rankings, with FC Barcelona’s Lionel Messi taking the first spot.
The video game that delves into the managerial aspects of football is widely popular and the latest edition promises to be a winner. There are a lot of changes from the previous editions and as players progress they get new ratings. Many of the fans have already closed their curtains and told their family that they will be busy until April.
As reported in the Mirror, the names of the top ten rated players have been revealed. While Messi’s top ranking is not much of a surprise, who could be better than Ronaldo to take the 2nd spot ahead of the Portuguese forward?
The entire gameplay revolves around what goes on behind the football field with maximum focus on tactics, strategies, formations, and training – whatever a coach does.
Also read: Fan breaks world record for longest ever Football Manager game
Ronaldo and Messi, arguably the biggest rivalry the football world has ever witnessed, usually contest for the top two berths. EA Sport’s FIFA 17 has ranked Ronaldo above the Argentine playmaker while Brazilian star, Neymar, was ranked third.
Given Ronaldo’s achievements over the last season, this ranking seems justifiable. The 3-time Ballon d’Or winner won the UEFA Champions League with his club and the Euro Cup with his national side.
However, the ratings of Football Manager 2017 suggest a different picture with Messi perched right at the top. The fact that Ronaldo falls behind German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in the rankings is a real surprise.
Neuer, definitely is one of the best goalkeepers in the world currently and many of his fans would be happy to see him ranked second. Sega surely has their own justification behind it, and for now, you will have to accept the fact that Neuer is ranked higher than Ronaldo in the game.
Moving on from the top three, the rest of the top ten players offer little scope for criticism except perhaps, the exclusion of Ballon d’Or favourite, Antoine Griezmann. Here are the top 10 player rankings:
| Rank | Player Name |
| 10 | Gonzalo Higuain |
| 9 | Mesut Ozil |
| 8 | Paul Pogba |
| 7 | Sergio Aguero |
| 6 | Gareth Bale |
| 5 | Luis Suarez |
| 4 | Neymar |
| 3 | Cristiano Ronaldo |
| 2 | Manuel Neuer |
| 1 | Lionel Messi |
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