5 of the most improved players in FIFA 17

Over the years, EA’s FIFA series has become the go-to game for football fans to follow their passion in the gaming world. The immersive gaming experience and realistic player attributes along with life-like gameplay have made FIFA 17 EA’s highest selling instalment of the franchise to date.

While FIFA usually do a commendable job of accurately estimating player abilities in the form of ratings, every footballing season is different with teams and their players surprising, such as the case of Leicester City in the Premier League last year.

Coming into the season off a relegation dogfight, the Foxes looked set to battle it out to stay in the league but ended up winning the Premier League. Such instances cannot be foreseen and the corresponding changes to player’s FIFA ratings are made in the next instalment of the game.

This has resulted in EA having to make some major changes to a few players’ ratings after unexpectedly impressive performances in the previous season. We list five of those players, who are amongst the most improved in FIFA 17:

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Riyad Mahrez: 73 → 85

Riyad Mahrez was the spark behind Leicester’s success last season

Alongside Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez was the creative spark behind the Foxes’ unlikely Premier League triumph last year. Scoring 15 goals and providing 12 assists, while being a gracefully tricky presence on the right side of Leicester’s attack, the Algerian conjured up some moments of magic as Leicester City went from relegation scrappers to the top of the footballing pyramid in England.

Mahrez’s talent had not been evident the previous season, when he scored only 4 goals and three assists in 30 appearances for Leicester as they won seven out of their last ten games to escape relegation. Consequently, Mahrez, in FIFA 16, was rated at only 73; hardly the world beating winger he showed himself to be in the next season.

The Algerian’s performances not only earned Leicester the Premier League title, but also won him a Ballon d’Or nomination and the BBC African Footballer of the Year. H

is ratings for FIFA 17 shot up to 85, receiving a twelve point boost over the previous year. His passing, dribbling and shooting improved by 7, 11 and 8 points respectively, and recognised for his outstanding contribution to Leicester’s dream season.

Dele Alli: 67 → 80

Dele Alli has become a prolific source of goals at Tottenham

Few will remember that Dele Alli was part of that famous MK Dons team which defeated Manchester United 4-0 in the League Cup in the early stages of Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United tenure. The Red Devils stars were thoroughly outplayed by the then 18-year-old Alli who ran rings around the Manchester United midfield.

Alli’s performance that day came as no surprise to those who had followed his development. In spite of such a masterful performance against the biggest club in the land, EA decided to give Alli a rating of only 67 in FIFA 16, a number which now looks criminally underrated for a player of his calibre.

The Tottenham midfielder has not looked back since that impressive showing. He has become a key player for club and country, developing into a model attacking midfielder who is as comfortable tackling as he is scoring and assisting goals.

EA have given the Englishman a massive upgrade in FIFA 17, giving him a 13-point rating jump.

Yoan Cardinale: 58 → 75

Yoan Cardinale is now OGC Nice’s first-choice shot-stopper

Yoan Cardinale began 2016 as Ligue 1 side OGC Nice’s third choice goalkeeper with little hope of dethroning any of the two players above him due to his relative lack of height for the goalkeeper position. He was rated at a lowly 58 in FIFA 16.

How much difference a year makes in the life of a footballer! Cardinale had started the year as a third-choice keeper but injuries to the other two goalkeepers saw him become the Nice-based club’s first choice shot-stopper with a string of superb performances.

Consequently, the goalkeeper’s rating on FIFA 17 has shot up by an impressive 17 points to an overall of 75, from 58, in FIFA 16. The huge increase in ratings was down to a 25-point boost to handling, a ten-point boost to diving and substantial boosts kicking, reflexes and positioning.

Mahmoud Dahoud: 60 → 79

Dahoud has excelled in Monchengladbach’s encounters in Europe

The second highest gainer on this list, the Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder’s career has been on an upward trajectory since making his debut for the Bundesliga side under Lucian Favre in 2014 and has developed into a key player in current coach Andre Schubert’s midfield at the club.

The 21-year old’s services were in demand in the summer with Liverpool apparently in the running for the youngster’s signature after impressive displays in the Bundesliga as well as the Champions League.

His dominant displays have earned the midfielder a 19-point jump from 60 to a rating of 79 points with shooting, dribbling and passing attributes all rising by more than 13 points.

Mikel Oyarzabal: 56 → 77

The young defender earned a Spain call-up one month short of his 19th birthday

The Real Sociedad defender is the most improved player on FIFA 17 with a 21 point jump in ratings over his FIFA 16 overall rating of 56. The centre-back had just made his debut for Sociedad when FIFA 16 was released and EA had clearly misjudged the talent the then 18-year-old possessed.

The youngster went on to have an incredible 2015/16 season where he made his La Real debut and established himself as a first-teamer. In spite of being a defender, he scored 6 goals in 23 appearances for the club, earning himself a national call-up in the process.

EA, in FIFA 17, have acknowledged the defender’s exponential growth by giving him a 26-point boost in shooting attributes, a further 24 points in dribbling and 15-point gain in his passing statistics, resulting in a massive 21-point improvement for the young defender.