For many years, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been considered the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) in football. Their amazing skills on the pitch and great rivalry to win individual awards have earned them worldwide fame. This has led to Messi and Ronaldo being featured as special players in many football video games over the years. However, in a surprising turn of events, EA Sports has announced that Messi and Ronaldo will not be included as special players in the newest installment of their football video game franchise, EA Sports FC 24.
As reported by Trstdly, both Messi and Ronaldo have missed out on a rating above 90 in EA Sports FC 24, which is required to be considered a special player in the game. Instead, several rising stars of the game have taken their place at the top of the player rankings. The likes of Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, Kylian Mbappe, Alexia Putellas and Sam Kerr are all tied as the highest rated players in EA Sports FC 24 with a rating above 90. Other world-class players like Karim Benzema, Wendie Renard, Caroline Graham Hansen, Alex Morgan and Robert Lewandowski are next in line with an overall rating of 90.
For Messi and Ronaldo, often regarded as among the best to ever play the game, the low ratings come as a major surprise. The two legends have been the face of their respective clubs and leagues for over a decade. Ronaldo started out at Manchester United where he first rose to fame, before becoming the star player at Spanish giants Real Madrid. The Portuguese ace has since made a return to Manchester United but has struggled to replicate his earlier success. Messi on the other hand has spent his entire career at Barcelona, becoming their all-time top scorer before making a high-profile switch to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.
Throughout their illustrious careers, both players have racked up stunning goal tallies and won every major trophy in club football multiple times. Ronaldo holds the record for most Champions League goals scored while Messi has won a record seven Ballon d'Or awards. Their rivalry to be crowned the best player in the world pushed them to consistently perform at stratospheric levels season after season. Ronaldo and Messi have won 12 out of the last 13 Ballon d'Or awards between them.
In EA Sports' FIFA video game franchise, Messi and Ronaldo have been permanent fixtures as the highest rated players for over a decade. In FIFA 23, the last installment under EA Sports before the rebranding to EA Sports FC, Messi and Ronaldo were rated 91 and 90 respectively. To suddenly drop below 90 means the two legends no longer have the in-game attributes to replicate their real life abilities. For eager fans worldwide, not being able to play as prime versions of Messi and Ronaldo will markedly reduce the experience of playing the new EA Sports FC game.
The decision by EA Sports could mark the beginning of a new era as the focus in football shifts to the next generation of superstars. The game developers likely wanted to highlight the rapidly rising status of young phenoms like Haaland and Mbappe who seem poised to take over the mantle from Messi and Ronaldo. But for now, theshocking downgrade has left fans divided, with some expressing disappointment at the omission of the two all-time greats.
As reported in trstdly, others feel the lower ratings are justified when looking at Messi and Ronaldo's performances in the past year. At 35 and 37 years old respectively, both players are past the normal peak years for football players. After incredible goal scoring exploits in the last decade, the numbers have finally dried up. Ronaldo had his worst season statistically in the 2021-22 campaign, netting just 18 league goals while Messi managed only 6 goals in his debut season for PSG.
Age catching up coupled with playing in weaker leagues has exposed the deterioration in their speed, stamina and abilities. Consequently, their actual performance levels no longer correspond to the near perfect ratings they have enjoyed in previous FIFA games. For the first time in their careers, Messi and Ronaldo face competition from younger players staking their claim as the best in the world.
Still, writing off two players who have set unprecedented records in the sport seems premature. Though not as consistent anymore, both continue to show flashes of their brilliance. Ronaldo recently became the first male player to score 700 club career goals while Messi inspired Argentina to the 2022 World Cup trophy. Even in the twilight of their careers, they possess the quality to decide games on their own as they have done so often in the past.
Only time will tell whether the EA Sports FC 24 ratings are reflective of the current landscape or an overreaction to a below par 12 months. With Ronaldo no longer guaranteed to be a starter under new Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag and Messi adjusting to a new league in France, the upcoming season presents an opportunity for redemption.
Understandably, the transition to a new stage where they are no longer the undisputed stars will be difficult. But with their relentless work ethic and drive to succeed, no one would bet against Ronaldo and Messi forcing their way back into EA's top 10 ratings next season. After conquering every other record and accolade in the sport, reclaiming their crown as the highest rated players in the world will likely be a fresh source of motivation.
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