EA Sports’ FIFA-franchise is one of the most popular sports-based video games in the market. Every year, fans patiently await for the month of September to come, when the latest instalment is released.
With FIFA 17, EA had even outdone themselves. A host of new features along with the new Frostbite-powered engine added new dimensions to the game. However, even then, the game received its own share of criticism from fans and critics alike.
The most common complaint was that many players were grossly overrated or underrated. Here, we compare the ratings of five pairs of players and try to figure out if the ratings are justified or not.
#5 Raheem Sterling (82) – Sadio Mane (79)
Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling and Liverpool’s Sadio Mane are so similar in so many aspects. Both of them are known for the blistering pace and mazy runs down the wing. And yet, they are so different. When you ask who the better of the two is, the easy answer is, perhaps, Sterling.
However, if you take a look at the stats, you will find that Mane is the hands down winner. Last season, in 37 league appearances for Southampton, the Senegalese international scored 11 times and assisted six times. On the other hand, Sterling only scored six times and assisted twice in 31 appearances.
Bearing all these in mind, it really surprised us when we found that Sterling was rated three points higher than Mane by EA. With the winter upgrade, of course, EA tried to rectify the mistake but still rating Mane and Sterling equally is absurd. The Liverpool man, clearly, should have been rated higher.
#4 Jerome Boateng (90) – Diego Godin (88)
Bayern Munich’s Jerome Boateng is probably one of the best defenders in the world. Few come close when it comes to dominating over the opposition forwards. A close contender for the best defender tag is Atletico Madrid central defender Diego Godin.
Both the players are similar in their approach to the game, both have qualities that make them the best defenders in the world. However, when FIFA 17 was released, many were surprised to see that Boateng has been handed the highest-rated defender card whereas Godin was two points below him.
Given that the German was ruled out with injury for most of the last season and only featured in 19 Bundesliga matches, it was absurd that he was rated 90 in the game. On the other hand, Godin, who has been one of the strongest defences in all of Europe, was rated at 88. Quite evidently, the Uruguayan should have been rated higher than Boateng.
#3 James Rodriguez (87) – Christian Eriksen (84)
Real Madrid playmaker James Rodriguez and Tottenham Hotspurs’ Christian Eriksen are not exactly similar players. So it doesn’t quite make sense in comparing them, except when you consider that they have similar roles – to create goal-scoring opportunities – for their respective teams.
Now, Rodriguez, of course, missed out on the action at the start of the season and was reduced to a bench player at Madrid. Regardless of this, he went on to score seven goals and assisted eight times in 26 league appearances. Good numbers, right? That is until you compare them to Eriksen.
Tottenham’s Danish midfielder is probably one of the most underrated players of the game. Last season he assisted 13 times and scored six goals in 35 league appearances. Bearing the statistics in mind, did EA really do justice in giving Rodriguez an 87 rating whereas Eriksen was rated at 84? If you ask me, the Colombian should have been rated at 84 while Eriksen should have been rated at 85.
#2 Jack Wilshere (82) – N’golo Kante (81)
This one is probably the most surprising of the lot. Jack Wilshere WAS an incredibly talented central midfielder back in 2010. But now? Not so sure about that. While the talent has always been there, years spent on the doctor’s table has surely had an impact on the England international.
N’golo Kante, on the other hand, has proved over the last 18 months that he is one of the best central midfielders in the current generation. The Frenchman was the unheralded star of Leicester’s title-winning team and has continued his good form at Chelsea. He made the most number of interceptions and tackles last season. And this season, he has built on the reputation. On the other hand, Wilshere’s career has gone somewhat downhill owing to injuries.
The Arsenal man, who is on loan at Bournemouth, was out for 10 months in the 2015-16 season with a broken fibula. The matter of fact is, while Wilshere has been grossly overrated in the game, at the same time Kante has been severely underrated.
#1 Santi Cazorla (86) – Wayne Rooney (84)
When FIFA 17 came out, Wayne Rooney’s 84 rating had everyone shocked. Quite evidently, he had been overrated by EA. However, on closer observation, we found out that the rating was not all that unjustified. Especially when you compare it with the other players who play the same role.
For instance, take Santi Cazorla’s case. After a good season in 2014-15, much was expected of the Spaniard by the Arsenal fans. But successive injury-spells kept him out of most of the 2015-16 season. In that season, he featured in only 15 league games and could assist thrice.
Rooney, on the other hand, scored eight times and assisted six goals in the same season in 28 league games. Keeping in mind that EA takes into consideration the performances of the players over the last season, it is absurd that Rooney has been rated lower than Cazorla. In my opinion, they have both been overrated.
