EA FC 25: Will Lionel Messi miss out on a TOTY spot for the first time?

Lionel Messi's performances have been so consistent that he has been in the TOTY starting XI for almost every EA FC (previously FIFA) iteration, starting from FIFA 09 to FC 24. Although in FIFA 21 he didn't make it to TOTY XI, he was selected as the best 12th man. Now the main question arises whether La Pulga can make it to the EA FC 25 TOTY spot.

Messi bagged 20 goals in his 19 MLS appearances for Inter Miami and won the 2023/24 MLS title; however, he was out for several matches. From the looks of it, he hasn’t done anything to write home about it. Therefore, he might not secure a spot in the EA FC 25 TOTY for the first time.

This article will discuss whether Messi has the slightest chance of securing a spot in the TOTY roster.

Note: This article is subjective and reflects the writer's opinions.

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What was Lionel Messi's previous TOTY rating?

Footballers who’ve been exceptional throughout a particular season, maintained decent individual stats, and got a lot of votes from fans usually make it to the TOTY starting XI. Hence, Lionel Messi had an exceptional rating on his EA FC 24 TOTY card.

Lionel Messi got a 97 overall rating in his previous TOTY card with a few amazing stats across the board such as 91 Pace, 96 Shooting, and 98 Dribbling. His amazing performance in the 2022/23 season has secured Argentina their third World Cup in the cabinet, giving him an easy entry into the TOTY list.

Currently, Lionel Messi has three special cards apart from his base 88-rated RW card featuring a Technical+ playstyle trait. He’s the best-controlled dribbler in EA FC 25 right now. However, some find him hard to link due to his Argentine and MLS links.

The TOTY competition is tough as always with several current-generation players like Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Vinicius Junior, and Lautaro Martinez making it to the nominee list.

Vinicius Junior has won the 2023/24 UCL, La Liga, and the UEFA Super Cup, making him a deserving candidate for the starting XI spot. Meanwhile, his teammate Kylian Mbappe could also give him a tough competition with decent stats in LaLiga. Lautaro Martinez won the Copa America along with Lionel Messi and won the Serie A competition being the top-scorer of that season.

On the other hand, Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has been exceptional in the EPL. Currently, he’s the top scorer and has the highest number of assists in the domestic league. Several netizens have already considered him the potential Ballon d’Or winner in 2025.

Erling Haaland also had an incredible season with widereigning EPL champion Manchester City. He was the top scorer in the 2023/24 season and helped the Blues win their fourth consecutive Premier League title. All the aforementioned attacker nominees might prevent Messi from securing a spot in the EA FC 25 TOTY starting XI.

In the 12th-man spot, players like Lamine Yamal and Viktor Gyokeres might have a higher chance of getting the spot. While Lamine Yamal has won the EURO 2024 and performing well in the current 2024/25 season, Gyokeres is bagging goal after goal with Sporting CP, making him the most sought-after striker in Europe.

Also read: "No PlayStyle+ for Gyokeres it’s 2025" - EA FC 25 Fans disappointed with TOTW 17 cards

However, the EA FC 25 TOTY players will ultimately decide on the votes cast by fans worldwide. Regardless of Lionel Messi’s domestic and international achievements, he’ll always be one of the fan favorites to secure a spot in this year’s TOTY list. His popularity could be a key factor in providing him a spot in this prestigious event.

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For more TOTY updates, check out Sportskeeda's EA FC 25 page.