FIFA 17 ratings: A critical comparison between United, City players

As news leaks of EA’s FIFA 17 ratings for players, it’s become clear that although the franchise developers know how to make a compelling video game series, they have no idea about how to evaluate the quality of footballers.

I’m about to stokes the flames of a rivalry that needs no help in further igniting. But this is injustice. Take a look, dear readers:

https://twitter.com/FootyAccums/status/766580457693667328

I can’t let this abomination stand in the name of decency. FIFA’s sin here is mostly inflating certain players because they are on United, so I’m going to deflate them to their accurate ratings. City’s players, for the most part, are correct. I’m biased but I aim at objectivity. I will only comment on the players depicted in the above images. All my ratings will have a margin of error of 1-2.

So now that I’ve established the framework of my critique, without further ado, I give you, the real FIFA 17 player ratings for United and City!

Manchester United

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 90

I’m ok with Zlatan’s rating. As I consider him the third best player in the world, I’d bump him up a point or two to 91 or 92. When he’s on form, I consider him as dominant as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. This is based on the sheer quality of some of his goals. See this wunderstrike against RSC Anderlect in the Champions League. Who can forget that bit of instinctual and acrobatic genius that came at Joe Hart’s expense from a few years back either? These phenomenal moments happen a little too often to not give Zlatan this rating.

Anthony Martial, 82

He’s a tad high. I’d settle for 79 or 80. He hasn’t been around long enough nor has the body of work to rate the admittedly talented striker any higher.

Wayne Rooney, 86

EA got this one right. Rooney is still in the upper 80s but on the decline as he continues to age. He’s not nearly as dominant as he was even a three or fours years ago, but 86 feels right for him.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan, 87

Apart from last year, Mkhitaryan had disappointed at Borussia Dortmund as Mario Gotze’s replacement. His superb season was in large part to the offensive chemistry between him Marco Reus, Shinji Kagawa and Pierre Emerick-Aubamayang, with Reus and Aubamayang being the real studs. He was the beneficiary of a system where the sum is a lot better than its good parts. 87 is simply too generous. I’d say 83 or 84 is more realistic.

Bastian Schweinsteiger, 86

Here is one of EA’s most egregious overestimations. He’s 32, well out of his prime. He’s not nearly the elite midfielder he was throughout the last decade. People thought three years ago Ilkay Gundogan was better than him and was soon-to-be successor on the German national team. Compare him to Rooney: He’s nowhere near at Rooney’s level. Ergo, he’s not an 86. Try 78.

Paul Pogba, 87

I think Pogba is just a tad underrated. He’s more of an 88 — 90-plus potential for you manager mode enthusiasts — but he’s not equivalent nor marginally better than Mkhitaryan. Still not worth £85 million, though.

Luke Shaw, 80

I’m have no complaints with Shaw’s 80.

Eric Bailly, 82

I’m fine with Bailly’s too. But you can take issue with it, seeing that Fernando “Scoreless”–I mean Torres has burnt him. Sort of casts doubt that he can live up to United legend Eric Cantona, Alan Smith or whomever.

Chris Smalling, 85

Overrated. He’s on the low end of 80s. I think 82 like Bailly seems right. There’s reasons in the middle of the defense as to why Iceland upset England in the European Championships. Smalling is one of them.

Matteo Darmian, 81

Way, way too high. He was 74 when at Torino for FIFA 15. EA gifted him to 81 when at United. I’d say the Torino evaluation was closer to the truth. Say, 76.

David De Gea, 91

Out of all of the these ratings, this is the absolute worst. I would not put De Gea in my top-5 keepers in the world, let alone put him in the 90-range, ahead of Zlatan. His hockey kick saves bug me to no end. I’ll grant an 85, but anything more is a deceitful.

Marcus Rashford, 76

His 76 seems right, especially given his young age. One wonders if he’s better than Kelechi Iheanacho, but given he’s more of known quantity, I’m willing to grant it.

Ander Herrera, 82

Slightly overrated. Again, there are reasons why United failed to qualify for any European competitions this year. The middle of the park comes to mind. Herrera is a decent 80 — nothing more, nothing less.

Ashley Young, 79

79 is exactly right.

Jesse Lingard, 79

79 is dead on as well.

Manchester City

Sergio Aguero, 89

89 is absolutely right. He’s not quite a 90, but he’s damn close.

Nolito, 83

I originally thought this was fairly too high. 79 was where I was valuing him. But watching him these last two matches, he’s more like an 84. He’s shifty and dangerous; he needs a rating that reflects those attributes.

Leroy Sane, 79

For FIFA 17 ratings, this is a good one. He’s young but impressed in the Bundlesiga for Schalke. It positions him for growth into the mid to upper 80s. I’ll just bump him to an 80 because he’s simply better than Jesse Lingard.

Ilkay Gundogan, 85

I understand why they rated him as such. Injuries have kept him from big international exposure for Germany. So you don’t know what you’re going to get. 85 is safe. But when he’s healthy, he’s been better than Schweinsteiger for the last three years. Gundogan a true 86, maybe even higher.

Fernandinho, 81

This one is excellent too. It takes into account his age but still his stature in the middle of the park as a hardworking defensive midfielder. I have no issues with it.

Kevin De Bruyne, 88

EA must be full of United supporters. They overrate United, but get close to, if not get right City’s squad. 88 is spot on for De Bruyne. He’s just a shade below Aguero but still an undisputed stud.

Gael Clichy, 81

Right on.

Eliaquim Mangala, 80

He’s a 78. There’s no way he’s in the 80s, let alone low 80s. A disappointment when City brought him in, he’s not starting caliber for the Blues. Stones, if he was listed, is an 80.

Nicolas Otamendi, 85

Like Smalling, this is too high. Otamendi is a flawed defender, and perhaps his potential is 85 or 86, but he’s not there yet. 83, I think, is good.

Bacary Sagna, 81

Another one nailed. He’s good, but I can’t make a case that he’s better than an 81. I just can’t see it. He’s pretty much a push with Clichy.

Joe Hart, 85

I’ve never been the biggest Joe Hart fan. He’s not quite an 85, as he is too mistake-prone. I’ll settle on an 83 or 84 because that because that seems the best reflection of the good and the bad City get with him.

Kelechi Iheanacho, 74

You could make an argument that he’s the 76, while Rashford is the 74. He hasn’t done quite enough to switch the ratings, but I expect that to change as the season goes on. So, I’ll agree with 74.

David Silva, 87

He’s undoubtedly an 87. He’s a midfield game changer, and maybe it’s more of his style of play that sees Silva lower than De Bruyne and Aguero. He’s more of an assist guy than a goalscorer. Still, Silva is part of that golden generation of Spanish midfielders. 87 is spot on.

Yaya Toure, 86

Yaya is sadly an 82. He’s simply too inconsistent nowadays to be in the upper 80s. Two years ago, 88. But he’s not that same player anymore. 82 feels appropriate given the downward trajectory of his play.

Samir Nasri, 83

He’s the most overrated by far for City. Let’s just say EA criminally rates Dimitri Payet as an 83. He’s an 87 in my book. Nasri is both well below 87 and 83. I believe 77 captures his mediocrity.

What do you think of EA’s ratings? What do you think of mine? Let us know down below or via Twitter (@mancitysquare) or Facebook!