FIFA 18: 5 players who deserve a downgrade in the winter update

FIFA games are always looking to innovate and stay ahead of their time. It's one of the reasons that we love the game so much. It is literally the closest we can ever get to actually playing the sport with our favorite players without actually being on the ground with them.

The world of Ultimate Team has made things competitive and added fire to the phenomenon surrounding the virtual footballing world. To add to this, the transfer market, in reality, has further made it important to manage your FUT sides in a more focused manner. So FIFA rightly had the bright idea to bring in their winter update, which would not only update players at their new clubs but also assess their performance throughout the season up to this point.

It raises a few important questions. Who did well and deserves an upgrade? Who struggled or was injured too long to make an impact? Well, a lot of questions will be answered when the update is released in mid-February. But till then, speculation is rife as ever. So here we are, giving you our own take on who wasn't quite up to the mark this season and definitely deserves a downgrade in the winter update.

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#5 Arjen Robben

Robben is rated 88 currently

This flying Dutchman hasn't really been flying much at all recently. Injuries have plagued much of Robben's promising career which could still be rekindled but his current rating of 88 in FIFA 18 doesn't quite seem to go with the season he's having. Just one assist each all season in the Champions League and Bundesliga with just three goals doesn't make for great reading for a winger who was used to making the headlines for his incredible skill and blistering pace.

It surely isn't all his fault but with the winter update coming, he could drop down a notch to 87. Since the general trend of changes includes just one point above or below, Robben would still be left with a pretty impressive rating.

#4 Sergio Ramos

Ramos is currently rated 90

Real Madrid fans may not agree with this one, but the truth is that with the team facing serious issues this season, the captain does tend to come into the spotlight. Clearly frustrated with the scene at the Bernabeu these days, Ramos' game has suffered too and the goals keep going in against the Galacticos.

A seemingly unstoppable last season has been largely disappointing this time around with Los Blancos suffering in both the La Liga and the Champions League. Sergio Ramos is rated highly at 90 at the moment, and with that comes great responsibility, an attribute that the Spaniard hasn't completely achieved this season. Two red cards in the La Liga this season haven't helped his cause either. Expect his rating to drop down a point to 89.

#3 Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Ibrahimovic is currently rated 88

This isn't a hard one to guess and has been coming for a while. Zlatan may be no less than a god on the football pitch but he's spent most of this season on the treatment table thanks to a debilitating injury that kept his Manchester United career in jeopardy.

So it isn't a surprise that his form has suffered greatly due to this and despite making a return, he's far from the icon we're used to seeing. Last season may have been simply stunning for the Swede, but this time around things haven't been as straightforward. It should honestly be two but expect Ibrahimovic's rating to drop at least one point down to 87 in this winter update.

#2 Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Mkhitaryan is currently rated 85

One of the transfer stories of the month has to be Armenian ace Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Having moved to Arsenal in a massive swap move, the 29-year-old is hoping to rekindle his forward playing career following a first half of the season where he blew hot and cold in a Manchester United shirt.

His ability is undoubted but his application has been questioned and despite numerous opportunities to shine, Mkhitaryan hasn't produced. Expect his rating to drop down a notch to 84 as he hopes to regain that lost point as a Gunner this season.

#1 Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo is currently rated 94

When you're the cover star and rated highest in FIFA 18, there is no doubt lots of pressure to live up to the hype. For the 32-year-old superstar known as Cristiano Ronaldo, not everything has gone to plan this season.

Despite playing well in the Champions League, the Portuguese has struggled to show the form of previous years and finds himself lost in a Real Madrid team looking to him for answers. His pace has seriously dwindled and his mind looks seriously affected.

The update will surely see him lose a point and drop down to 93, leaving the gates open for Messi to perhaps take over the lead atop the FIFA 18 ratings.