FIFA 22 ratings: Lionel Messi remains best player, Ronaldo decreases - the top player ratings and how they are calculated

EA Sports have released their ratings for FIFA 22 and they have created quite the stir amongst the football community.

For the third consecutive edition of the game, Lionel Messi is the best-rated player with an overall rating of 93.

There is a change to who challenges the Paris Saint-Germain man at the top though and it’s not his long-term rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski, who scored 48 goals in 40 matches, is the second best with a rating of 92.

Ronaldo has had a decrease, perhaps owing to Juventus’ finishing in fourth place in Serie A. The 36-year-old netted 36 times across all competition for the Old Lady and was top scorer at EURO 2020 but the ratings collators have pushed for a decrease.

His rating is the same as the Premier League’s best player Kevin de Bruyne, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.

Jan Oblak, who won the La Liga title with Atletico Madrid, is also rated 91, is the best rated goalkeeper in the game, ahead of Manuel Neuer, EURO 2020 Player of the Tournament, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Ederson.

Champions League winners Chelsea have just one player in the whole list, centre defensive midfielder N’Golo Kanté, who is the best rated player in his position.

Tottenham Hotspur’s wantaway captain Harry Kane, winner of the Golden Boot, is the only British player in the top 22.

PSG, who have signed a number of marquee players this summer, are joint with Liverpool in the number of players represented in the list.

Despite missing a large chunk of the 2020/21 campaign, defender Virgil Van Dijk remains the best defender in the game but drops from 90 to 89. He is one of four Reds players to have dropped off after a below-par campaign for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Mohamed Salah, who had 22 goals and five assists, has had his pace reduced by three but his shooting improved by one, this sees him move to 89. Sadio Mané and Alisson have both been moved to 89 with the Senegal forward losing his pace, shooting and dribbling.

The other ratings, including a questionable score for Mason Greenwood

Leaked by popular YouTuber Mark Goldbridge, who is a passionate fan of Manchester United, he has released nine ratings but more are to follow.

As mentioned, Ronaldo is United’s best player but behind him is his compatriot Bruno Fernandes, meanwhile Jadon Sancho is just behind him on 87 after his multi-million pound move to Old Trafford, Sancho has the same rating as Paul Pogba.

A big discussion point is the 78 rating that teenage sensation Mason Greenwood has been given.

Greenwood has had a blistering start to the current campaign, scoring three goals for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side in their opening four games. Players are mainly judged on their performance last season but those 12 goals in all competitions from Greenwood last season have not won over the scorers.

How are ratings determined?

Michael Mueller-Moehring, an employee of EA Sports, is tasked with verifying and collating data with mainly season ticket holders of specific clubs, professional scouts and coaches.

There are discussions amongst those listed above who share feedback to EA Sports’ ratings team across the season and that feeds into the game.

The top 22 best players in EA Sports FIFA 22

• Lionel Messi - OVR 93
• Robert Lewandowski - OVR 92
• Cristiano Ronaldo - OVR 91
• Kevin de Bruyne - OVR 91
• Kylian Mbappe - OVR 91
• Neymar Jr - OVR 91
• Jan Oblak - OVR 91
• Harry Kane - OVR 90
• N’Golo Kanté - OVR 90
• Manuel Neuer - OVR 90
• Marc-André ter Stegen - OVR 90
• Mohamed Salah - OVR 89
• Gianluigi Donnarumma - OVR 89
• Karim Benzema - OVR 89
• Virgil Van Dijk - OVR 89
• Joshua Kimmich - OVR 89
• Son Heung-min - OVR 89
• Alisson - OVR 89
• Thibaut Courtois - OVR 89
• Casemiro - OVR 89
• Ederson - OVR 89
• Sadio Mané - OVR 89

When is the game released?

EA Sports’ FIFA 22 is due to be released in the UK and Worldwide on Friday, October 1. Keen gamers however can gain early access on September 22 if they subscribe to EA Play, which will give them 10-hours of game play.