5 players with better passing than Lionel Messi on FIFA 17

#4 Thiago – 90 passing rating

Thiago is now a regular fixture for Spain and Bayern Munich

The second La Masia graduate on the list, Thiago was initially viewed as a successor to Xavi Hernandez, but this highly-rated midfielder moved to Germany during the Pep Guardiola revolution at Bayern Munich. He has gone from strength to strength since and has made himself an irreplaceable part in the dynamic Bayern Munich midfield alongside Xabi Alonso and Arturo Vidal.

Thiago’s inclusion in the Bayern Munich set up signalled the change in the clubs’ philosophy from the counter-attacking strategy employed under Jupp Heynckes to a more possession-heavy approach under Pep Guardiola. The midfielder’s La Masia credentials and passing ability were crucial to this change undertaken by Guardiola, bringing a little bit of Barcelona to Bayern Munich.

The Spaniard, at Bayern Munich, has gone from a promising prospect to a world class footballer capable of holding his own against the heavyweights of the footballing world. His passing is precise and forward-looking in nature and it is rare to see his passes not find the mark. It is for these reasons that Thiago is one of the best passers in FIFA with a passing attribute rating of 90, which is two points higher than that of Lionel Messi.