With the release of FIFA 20 approaching, the question arises about the ratings of the players. We have taken a closer look at nine stars who may perform worse in the next installment of the series.
New Ratings in FIFA 20: As every year, the players’ ratings will be adjusted for all leagues based on the last season. Some players will become stronger, while others will weaken.
Even big stars will not be spared from declining ratings. We have looked at some of the strongest players in FIFA 19. Who might slide down in the upcoming season?
Jérôme Boateng
Why Boateng’s rating could drop: Jérôme Boateng did not have an ideal season at FC Bayern. 19 starts and one short substitute appearance are actually too few for the world champion, plus there was a lot of criticism. A transfer in the summer was on the table, but after the Hummels transfer to Dortmund, it is currently off the table.
How strong Boateng could be in FIFA 20: In FIFA 17, Boateng had a strong 90, then followed 88 in FIFA 18 and 86 in FIFA 19. It’s likely he might drop another two points to 84. By the way, here you can find out how the rest of the Bayern squad might look in the upcoming season!
Ralf Fährmann
Why Fährmann’s rating could drop: FC Schalke 04 had an extremely unfortunate season—and goalkeeper Ralf Fährmann as well. The keeper, who has been playing for Schalke since his youth, lost his starting position to Alexander Nübel and was loaned to Norwich City in the summer.
How strong Fährmann could be in FIFA 20: The goalkeeper was still one of the favorites in Bundesliga goalkeeping in FIFA 18, but in FIFA 19, even his rarity value was lowered. The rating of 83 may fall another one to two points.
Mats Hummels
Why Hummels’ rating could drop: Mats Hummels had a similarly difficult Bayern season as Boateng. However, he regained stronger form in the second half of the season and helped Bayern in securing the championship. Nevertheless, the 89 rating, which makes Hummels an absolute top defender, is likely not going to happen again. This is also due to Hummels being 30 years old now, and the FIFA series tends to downgrade players as they age rather than improve them.
How strong Hummels could be in FIFA 20: Despite the slightly weaker first half of the season, Hummels is still a strong defender. In the Borussia Dortmund jersey, he should be among the best players in the Bundesliga stadiums. A rating around 87 seems possible.
Naldo
Why Naldo’s rating could drop: Naldo had a rating of 86 in FIFA 19 and was one of the top defenders in the Bundesliga. However, in real football, the Brazilian, after being outstanding in previous seasons, suddenly became irrelevant at Schalke 04. He then moved to Ligue 1 with Monaco, where Naldo only made seven appearances—and even got sent off twice.
How strong Naldo could be in FIFA 20: Naldo will most likely not receive an 86 rating anymore. The defender is already 36 years old. It’s very possible that there will be a significant drop, and Naldo might only receive an 82 or 83.
Marcelo
Why Marcelo’s rating could drop: Marcelo has been one of the best left-backs in the FIFA series for years. He stands out with strong defensive and offensive stats and has also been one of the best dribblers. In real football, however, he did not have an ideal season last year. Real Madrid had an overall rather unfortunate season—and Marcelo often found himself on the bench.
How strong Marcelo could be in FIFA 20: Clearly, Marcelo will continue to be among the top left-backs. And he will retain his status as a 5-star skiller. However, it is possible that he may have to settle for a rating around 87 or 86 instead of the current 88.
Alexis Sanchez
Why Sanchez’s rating could drop: The Chilean transferred in winter 2018 as a hope from FC Arsenal to Manchester United. However, Sanchez has yet to replicate his strong performances at the “Gunners” with the “Red Devils”. One goal and three assists in the entire Premier League season is not much for someone who was brought in as a top striker.
How strong Sanchez could be in FIFA 20: Sanchez has proven that he can play at a world-class level. Therefore, his 87 rating is unlikely to plummet entirely. However, last season is likely to have a significant impact, leading to a loss of at least two, possibly three points.
Romelu Lukaku
Why Lukaku’s rating could drop: Romelu Lukaku had a better run than his teammate Sanchez. The Belgian scored 12 goals in 32 games. However, Lukaku has repeatedly found himself in the shadow of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial—and transferred to Inter Milan this summer.
How strong Lukaku could be in FIFA 20: Currently, Lukaku has an absolute top rating of 87. This is likely to drop by one to two points. However, he remains dangerous due to his individual stats as a strong striker.
Mesut Özil
Why Özil’s rating could drop: Apart from the fact that Mesut Özil is now also 30 years old, last season did not go particularly well for the Arsenal playmaker. He was only responsible for seven scoring points in 24 matches and could be facing a transfer this summer.
How strong Özil could be in FIFA 20: In FIFA 19, Özil already lost two points compared to FIFA 18 and had a rating of only 86. In the upcoming season, this could result in a drop to 85 or 84.
Gareth Bale
Why Bale’s rating could drop: Gareth Bale has been one of the absolute best wingers in the FIFA series and in real football over the past years. However, last season saw a drop in his performance, partly because Real Madrid performed significantly weaker than usual. Real coach Zinedine Zidane wants to finally get rid of the Welshman this summer.
How strong Bale could be in FIFA 20: It is unlikely that the rated 88 attacker will suddenly become useless. His pace and shot power are likely to remain high. However, it’s possible that Bale may also experience a drop of one to two points. An interesting question remains: Where will Bale play next season? After all, chemistry is also important for Ultimate Team – losing Bale could mean a strong La Liga player falling out for fans of the Spanish league in Ultimate Team.
What do you think, who will be the best players in the next season? Tell us in our FIFA 20 Facebook group!
Predictions for the best German Bundesliga players can be found here.
