FIFA 20: 5 Real Madrid players who will get a downgrade

FIFA 20 is set to hit stores later this year and is expected to be bigger and better than ever before. As always, in the lead-up to its release, all the focus will be on how the different teams and players stack up against one another.

Real Madrid CF were among the most popular teams in FIFA 19 and for good reason. They had just won three successive Champions League titles and had four of the 15 highest-rated players in FIFA 19 in their ranks, making them easily the most formidable team in the game.

However, the Madrid players were a shadow of their usual selves this past season and that is expected to reflect in their FIFA 20 ratings.

On that note, here are five Real Madrid players who are likely to get a downgrade in FIFA 20:

#5 Thibaut Courtois

Real Valladolid CF v Real Madrid CF - La Liga

After Keylor Navas' struggles in 2017/18, Madrid decided to rope in Thibaut Courtois from Chelsea hoping he would alleviate their goalkeeping woes.

However, Courtois' displays mirrored that of Navas' from the previous season as he made a series of high-profile errors, particularly during the first half of the campaign.

His rating in FIFA is likely to take a hit as a result. Courtois was rated 90 in FIFA 19, on par with Jan Oblak, which is quite surprising considering the fact that the Atletico shot-stopper is currently the best in the world.

EA are unlikely to make the same mistake again and the Belgian is likely to witness his rating drop by 2, to 88.

#4 Marcelo

Real Madrid CF v Real Betis Balompie - La Liga

Marcelo endured a torrid 2018/19 season, losing his starting spot to Sergio Reguilón during the latter half of the campaign.

The Brazilian entered the past season as the best left-back in the world, however, that reputation took a hit following a string of sub-par displays.

The arrival of Ferland Mendy this summer could spell the end of Marcelo's tenure as Madrid's first-choice left-back as well.

Marcelo was rated 88 in FIFA 19 and could drop several notches in the upcoming edition. It wouldn't be a surprise to see him rated under 86 in FIFA 20.

#3 Toni Kroos

"Kroos" World Premiere In Cologne

Toni Kroos was one of Real Madrid's most influential figures in the 2017/18 season and he was duly rewarded for his efforts with a rating of 90 in FIFA 19.

However, after a miserable 2018/19 campaign in which he provided just four assists and failed to score a single league goal, Kroos' rating is set to take a massive hit.

EA are likely to hand him a downgrade of about 2 rating points which should see him rated at 88 in the upcoming edition.

#2 Gareth Bale

Hungary v Wales - UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifier

Gareth Bale's disastrous spell at the Santiago Bernabeu is set to finally come to an end this summer.

Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has all but confirmed that Bale is not a part of his plans going forward and as a result, the Welshman is set to be offloaded in the coming weeks.

Bale was the joint fourth-highest rated Madrid player in FIFA 19, at 88, but that will surely drop in FIFA 20. The former Spurs winger will be lucky to be rated above 85.

#1 Luka Modric

Luka Modric in action - Rayo Vallecano de Madrid v Real Madrid CF - La Liga

After a stellar 2017/18 season in which he led Real Madrid to their third successive Champions League crown and Croatia to the World Cup final, Luka Modric was expected to kick on and take his game to a whole new level.

However, despite winning the 2018 Ballon d'Or, Modric's form faded away and he was one of Madrid's worst players this past season.

He managed just three goals and six assists in La Liga, and his poor form contributed to Madrid's steep decline.

The Croatian was Madrid's highest-rated player (along with Sergio Ramos) in FIFA 19 with a rating of 91. However, that's expected to take a massive hit in FIFA 20 and it's unlikely EA will even rate him at 90 in the upcoming release.