Sports
Messi Ranked No 1 Player On FIFA21 (See Top 100)
We may still be just under a month away from the release of FIFA 21, but EA Sports have added to the anticipation by announcing the top 100 players for the new game.
Despite being disrupted, the 2019/20 campaign was one of the most exciting in recent footballing memory, with all of Europe’s top five leagues either bringing drama or incredible stories — alongside the other divisions around the world..
Liverpool won their first league title in 30 years, Real Madrid pipped Barcelona to La Liga, Juventus won yet another Serie A title and Bayern Munich wrapped up the Treble, including their sixth Champions League.
And the performances of the players have been reflected in their ratings, with Liverpool boasting three players in the Top 10 — though Kevin De Bruyne remains king in the Premier League. But who else joined them in the Top 10, who made it into the Top 100 and who dropped out from last season’s elite group? We’ve got all that, and more, covered below.
Also announced, but not in the top 100, are Steven Bergwijn (83), Joao Felix (81), Theo Hernandez (80), Mason Mount (80), Rodrygo (79) and Sergino Dest (77). But let’s get into the top group.
FIFA 21 Top 100: The best 10 players
10. Sadio Mane (90).
In FIFA 20, Sadio Mane was ranked 28th with an overall of 88, but the Senegalese forward’s contribution to Liverpool’s Premier League title win brought a deserved rise up the rankings.
9. Mohamed Salah (90).
Joining Mane on 90 is Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah, who keeps his FIFA 20 rating of 90 after a good season, although he is one lower than his eighth-placed ranking from last season.
8. Kylian Mbappe (90).
Overtaking Salah after yet another quality season, and a step towards becoming the best in the world, is Kylian Mbappe. The FIFA 21 cover star has his highest rating yet, albeit only one more than his FIFA 20 overall of 89.
7. Virgil van Dijk (90).
The best defender in the Premier League and the division’s second-best player, according to FIFA 21, Virgil van Dijk keeps his rating of 90 after being key in Liverpool’s Premier League dominance.
6. Jan Oblak (91).
Moving us into the 91s, again keeping his FIFA 20 rating, is Jan Oblak who is widely regarded as the best goalkeeper in the world. Still only 27, there is time for Oblak to go even higher — though it would be strange to see a goalkeeper breach the top five on FIFA.
5. Neymar (91).
Despite helping PSG to the Ligue 1 title and a Champions League final, Neymar has dropped in rating from 92 to 91. As a result, he slips out of the top three but remains one of the best players in the game.
4. Kevin De Bruyne (91).
The Premier League’s number one star, Kevin De Bruyne has retained his rating of 91 from FIFA 20 after a record-equalling season. Only two players are rated higher in terms of overall.
3. Robert Lewandowski (91)
Speaking of excellent seasons, Robert Lewandowski has been given the boost he fully deserved, going from 89 to 91 after a simply ridiculous campaign for Bayern Munich, firing them to the Treble.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo (92).
At no surprise to anyone, Cristiano Ronaldo is the second-highest rated player on FIFA 21, representing Piemonte Calcio with an overall of 92 after another top season. There are no signs of the Portuguese stopping any time soon.
1. Lionel Messi (93).
Leading the way at the top of the list for the second consecutive season, having previously dropped below Ronaldo, is Lionel Messi. Dropping one from his overall in FIFA 20, it may not be long before the Argentinian is permanently knocked off top spot, but for now, let’s all just enjoy it.
Although they may not have made it into the top 10, the rest of the top 100 reads as a list of some of Europe’s best players. And there were quite a few fresh players moving into the group having not been in FIFA 20’s Top 100 — 18 in total. Leading the way with the highest jump was Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose initial FIFA 20 rating was 83 but he now boasts an 87. Alexander-Arnold is joined in the 87s by countryman Jadon Sancho, who enjoyed yet another good season at Borussia Dortmund.
Jamie Vardy and Jordan Henderson were both rewarded for their Premier League campaigns with boosts to 86, alongside Yann Sommer. Then a large number of 85s break into the Top 100 for the first time, including Serge Gnabry, Luis Alberto, Memphis Depay, Peter Gulasci and new Chelsea pair, Timo Werner and Kai Havertz.
Then, right at the bottom, breaking into the Top 100 at 84 — a rating that would not have made it last year, is Erling Haaland, whose wonderful season for Red Bull Salzburg and Borussia Dortmund saw him jump up from an initial rating of 73 (winter upgrade of 79).
Below is the full list of players that make up the rest of FIFA 21’s Top 100, with those breakthrough entries marked with an asterisk.
11. Marc-Andre ter Stegen (90)
12. Alisson (90)
13. Sergio Ramos (89)
14. Manuel Neuer (89)
15. Sergio Aguero (89)
16. Karim Benzema (89)
17. Casemiro (89)
18. Thibaut Courtois (89)
19. Joshua Kimmich (88)
20. Toni Kroos (88)
21. Harry Kane (88)
22. Eden Hazard (88)
23. Raheem Sterling (88)
24. Paulo Dybala (88)
25. Ederson (88)
26. N’Golo Kante (88)
27. Samir Handanovic (88)
28. Kalidou Koulibaly (88)
29. Luka Modric (87)
30. Ciro Immobile (87)
31. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (87)
32. Bruno Fernandes (87)
33. Angel Di Maria (87)
34. Jadon Sancho (87)*
35. Son Heung-min (87)
36. Luis Suarez (87)
37. Trent Alexander-Arnold (87)*
38. Antoine Griezmann (87)
39. Aymeric Laporte (87)
40. Wojciech Szczesny (87)
41. Roberto Firmino (87)
42. Bernardo Silva (87)
43. Andrew Robertson (87)
44. Fabinho (87)
45. Keylor Navas (87)
46. Sergio Busquets (87)
47. Giorgio Chiellini (87)
48. Hugo Lloris (87)
49. Thomas Muller (86)
50. Jamie Vardy (86)*
51. Paul Pogba (86)
52. Marco Verratti (86)
53. Gerard Pique (86)
54. Alejandro Gomez (86)
55. Jordan Henderson (86)*
56. Dani Carvajal (86)
57. Mats Hummels (86)
58. David Silva (86)
59. David de Gea (86)
60. Raphael Varane (86)
61. Jordi Alba (86)
62. Yann Sommer (86)*
63. Serge Gnabry (85)*
64. Marquinhos (85)
65. Romelu Lukaku (85)
66. Thiago (85)
67. Kai Havertz (85)*
68. Luis Alberto (85)*
69. Riyad Mahrez (85)
70. Memphis Depay (85)*
71. Gianluigi Donnarumma (85)
72. Hakim Ziyech (85)
73. Marco Reus (85)
74. Timo Werner (85)*
75. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (85)
76. Georginio Wijnaldum (85)*
77. Matthis de Ligt (85)
78. Thiago Silva (85)
79. Ricardo Pereira (85)*
80. Lorenzo Insigne (85)
81. Miralem Pjanic (85)
82. Marcus Rashford (85)*
83. Leroy Sane (85)
84. Dani Parejo (85)
85. Milan Skriniar (85)
86. Koke (85)
87. Dries Mertens (85)
88. Bernd Leno (85)*
89. Clement Lenglet (85)*
90. Leonardo Bonucci (85)
91. Frenkie de Jong (85)
92. Rodri (85)
93. Peter Gulacsi (85)*
94. Toby Alderweireld (85)
95. Diego Godin (85)
96. Mauro Icardi (85)
97. Kyle Walker (85)*
98. Alex Sandro (85)
99. Christian Eriksen (85)
100. Erling Haaland (84)*
FIFA 21 Top 100: The dropouts
With new members of the FIFA 21 Top 100, that unfortunately means there have been drop outs. Not every player from the FIFA 20 Top 100 had a good 2019/20 campaign, and while some like Eden Hazard or Christian Eriksen have dropped in rating but remained with the elite, a total of 19 players have dropped out completely, replaced by those mentioned above making their debuts or returns.
The highest-rated member to fall out was 88-rated Edinson Cavani, although he is currently without a club so obviously cannot be included in the game as things stand. Among those still registered with a team in FIFA 21, both Fernandinho and Jan Vertonghen have dropped from 87 out of the top 100, with the former now an 84-rated centre-back.
Five former 86s have falling out, including Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette, Ivan Rakitic, Samuel Umtiti, Philippe Coutinho and Isco. Then, a total of 11 FIFA 20 85s have decreased by at least one including Bayern Munich’s David Alaba (now 84) and Blaise Matuidi, who recently joined Inter Miami. There is also no place for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Saul, Jose Maria Gimenez, Kostas Manolas, Blaise Matuidi, Azel Witsel, Marcelo or new Everton duo Allan and James Rodriguez.
Edinson Cavani
Fernandinho
Jan Vertonghen
Alexandre Lacazette
Ivan Rakitic
Samuel Umtiti
Philippe Coutinho
Isco
Marcelo
James Rodriguez
Axel Witsel
Niklas Sule
Blaise Matuidi
David Alaba
Kostas Manolas
Jose Maria Gimenez
Allan
Saul
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
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