The player ratings for FIFA 19 will be revealed over the next week with EA Sports counting down the game’s top 100 footballers each morning. Today, the players ranked 100-81 were unveiled (including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Marco Reus and Raheem Sterling), and EA Sports celebrated the always contentious ratings by dropping a video featuring the world’s most celebrated footballers.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Paulo Dybala, Neymar, Kevin De Bruyne, Thomas Muller and a smorgasbord of other footballers are disappointed, but Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez makes a quick cameo to say, “You’re completely right about that,” so he’s evidently quite pleased.
Of the initial ratings that’ve been released, the most questionable decision from EA Sports seems to be giving Arjen Robben a pace rating of 79. Yes, the Dutchman is now 34, but four years ago he set the official FIFA World Cup top speed record by hitting 37 kph (22.99 mph). His 79 rating is only one higher than the pace of 31-year-old Juventus midfielder Blaise Matuidi.
Also, I’ve got a quibble with Edin Dzeko and Diego Costa holding the same rating. Dzeko has scored 63 goals over the last two seasons, Costa has 29. The Roma man just doesn’t get any respect.