- Ronaldo places third behind Lewandowski
Argentine captain and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) star, Lionel Messi has been confirmed as the best player in the upcoming FIFA 22 video game.
As FIFA’s best individual footballer in the video game’s latest edition, the six-time FIFA Player of the Year award winner, who recently moved from Barcelona to Paris, effectively pushed his long-term rival, Cristiano Ronaldo down the pecking order in world football.
Closely on the Argentine forward’s heels is Bayern Munich striker, Robert Lewandowski picked as the second-highest rated footballer in the popular franchise, while Manchester United returnee, Ronaldo, has to settle for joint-third place overall.
Interestingly, PSG have a strong showing in the list of best players in the game, with Messi’s teammates, Kylian Mbappe, and Neymar rated fifth and sixth, behind Manchester City midfielder, Kevin De Bruyne.
Having brought the curtain down on his career as a one-club man this year following his move to Paris from Barcelona, Messi still saw his final exploits at Camp Nou earn him the top spot ahead of other rivals.
As part of a top-three all arguably still at the peak of their powers, it is a tribute to their skills that they continue to dominate ahead of younger contemporaries such as Mbappe and Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland, who could not make the top 10.
Elsewhere, there are key spots for Tottenham forward and England captain, Harry Kane after he went within a whisker of Euro 2020 glory this summer, while Jan Oblak is rewarded for a title-winning season in La Liga as top goalkeeper.
Let the debates begin 🗣️ The #FIFA22 Top 22 are here. #FIFARatings
FIFA 22 best players in full
| Rank | Player | Position | FIFA 22 rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lionel Messi | RW | 93 |
| 2 | Robert Lewandowski | ST | 92 |
| =3 | Cristiano Ronaldo | ST | 91 |
| =3 | Kevin De Bruyne | CM | 91 |
| =3 | Kylian Mbappe | ST | 91 |
| =3 | Neymar | LW | 91 |
| =3 | Jan Oblak | GK | 91 |
| =8 | Harry Kane | ST | 90 |
| =8 | N’Golo Kante | CDM | 90 |
| =8 | Manuel Neuer | GK | 90 |
| =8 | Marc-Andre ter Stegen | GK | 90 |
| =12 | Mohamed Salah | RW | 89 |
| =12 | Gianluigi Donnarumma | GK | 89 |
| =12 | Karim Benzema | ST | 89 |
| =12 | Virgil van Dijk | CB | 89 |
| =12 | Joshua Kimmich | CDM | 89 |
| =12 | Heung-min Son | LM | 89 |
| =12 | Alisson | GK | 89 |
| =12 | Thibaut Courtois | GK | 89 |
| =12 | Casemiro | CDM | 89 |
| =12 | Ederson | GK | 89 |
| =12 | Sadio Mane | LW | 89 |
The bigger picture
Virtually all of FIFA 22’s top players will be in action later this week when they turn their attention to their respective European campaigns.
While Messi, Lewandowski, and Ronaldo will headline a week of Champions League action, Kane will be the highest-ranked player competing in the newly-created Europa Conference League.
All the stars will be hoping to set their respective sides on the path to continental glory, as the game begins the usual long, winding path to next spring’s showpiece finals. – Goal.com reports
