Predicted FIFA 18 Team of the Year

FIFA 18 is all set to unveil its own Team of the Year (TOTY) from today. The line-up will be decided by members of the FIFA community and football professionals. The players, who make it to the line-up, will receive special TOTY cards in FIFA Ultimate Team, making them the highest rated players in the game.

A week back the nominees for every position were announced. 17 out of the 55 players who were nominated are from the Premier League. The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi have all been included in the list. However, there are a few notable exclusions like Mohamed Salah.

Here, are Sportskeeda's predictions f our own Team of the Year taking only the nominated players under consideration.

Goalkeeper

David de Gea

De Gea has gone from strength to strength at United

Last year’s winner Manuel Neuer missed out on the nominations this season as he was injured for most of last year. This opens the door for Manchester United’s David de Gea, who has gone from strength to strength ever since his proposed move to Real Madrid fell through.

Veteran Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon will give stern competition to the Spaniard. But we feel De Gea has done enough to tilt the votes in his favour. After all, he is the primary reason why United were among the teams to have conceded the least number of goals in the last calendar year.

Defenders

Antonio Valencia

Valencia edges out Dani Alves and Carvajal

Among the nominees for the right back position, Dani Alves, Carvajal and Antonio Valencia were the most impressive in 2017. However, it was Valencia who really caught our eye as United’s right back.

In a team with no specialist right winger, the Ecuadorian ran up and down the pitch tirelessly, offering his team support in both attack and defence. While his crossing was excellent, his tackles and interceptions were also incredible which makes him the complete deal.

Sergio Ramos

Sergio Ramos has been one of the best defenders in the world for quite a few years now. He is ever-present in the different Teams of the Year and there is no reason why he shouldn’t make it this year as well.

The Spanish defender led his club, Real Madrid, to win both the league title and the Champions League last season. This season has not exactly gone according to plan so far for the Los Blancos captain, but one thing we should know by now, never write Ramos off.

Leonardo Bonucci

Bonucci will face tough competition from Chiellini and Pique

While the selection of Ramos in the team was a no-brainer, we expect Leonardo Bonucci to partner him in defence. Barcelona’s Gerard Pique or Juventus’ Georgino Chiellini might make a case for themselves but Bonucci was exceptional last year.

He helped Juventus retain the Scudetto last season before moving to AC Milan. What make him inarguably the best in business and an automatic pick for the TOTY ahead of Pique and Chiellini, are his positioning sense, intercepting abilities and passing range.

Marcelo

The once error-prone Marcelo has improved with each and every passing year. In the last calendar year, he seemed to have found the right balance between attack and defence as he inspired Real Madrid to do the double.

However, Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso could give him tough competition for the position. Alonso was terrific for the Premier League champions last season but that Madrid ended up winning both the league and the Champions League should tilt it in Marcelo’s favour.

Midfielders

Luka Modric

Modric was brilliant for Madrid in 2017

In a Real Madrid squad filled with superstars, it was Luka Modric who stole the limelight in the club’s double-winning season with his incredible performances in the league as well as the Champions League. His work rate is second to none; he is capable of finding anyone on the pitch and helps out in defence as well.

The former Tottenham midfielder, who is adept at picking holes through any defence in the world, clearly edges out the likes of Andres Iniesta, Marco Verratti and others.

N’Golo Kante

N’Golo Kante has been undoubtedly the best and most effective midfielder in the world in the last two seasons or so. His ability to regain possession in midfield, positional sense and awareness of the game are second to none.

Under Antonio Conte, his attacking play has improved vastly which makes him a formidable addition to any team. There is absolutely no doubt that he will find a place in the TOTY when it is announced.

Kevin de Bruyne

De Bruyne has been far more impressive than the other nominees

Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has been a consistent performer over the last year for Manchester City. His wide range of passing skills, immaculate technique, and ability to score spectacular long-range goals with either foot make him one of the most complete midfielders in world football at the moment.

Even Pep Guardiola admits the importance of De Bruyne in his team. His inclusion might raise a few eyebrows but to be honest, he has been far more impressive than the other nominees.

Forwards

Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo's inconsistency might cost him his place in the TOTY

A fifth Ballon d’Or, fourth Champions League trophy and second La Liga trophy certainly makes Cristiano Ronaldo an easy pick for the FIFA 18 TOTY. He was the top scorer in the Champions League last season and virtually defined the term Big-Game player.

However, his inconsistency towards the latter half of the year, when he was utterly wasteful, could cost him his place. In that scenario, Tottenham star Harry Kane might find his name in the team.

Lionel Messi

Through most of 2016-17, it was Messi who carried Barcelona on his shoulders, easily outscoring everyone else in the league. Even this season, he has been scoring and assisting for fun. Not a single player comes even close to him.

He single-handedly inspired his national team to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. The Argentine has been consistent, impressive and impossible to stop and there should be no doubt about his place in the TOTY.

Neymar

2017 has been Neymar's year

Last year was the year of Neymar. He grabbed the headlines after his €222m move to Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain but what got buried in all the hoola about the transfer sum was just how good he had been in 2017.

He inspired Barcelona to a brilliant comeback win over PSG in the Champions League. Since moving to France, he has been in terrific form, bagging 20 goals and 12 assists already and must be picked for the TOTY.