5 footballers who are world-class in reality but not on FIFA 22

#3 Toni Kroos

FC Barcelona v Real Madrid CF - La Liga Santander

Toni Kroos has a 88-rated card in FIFA 22 that may look valuable in the game but is not used as much. The card has a mere 53 pace which makes it practically impossible to deploy even in low-tier matches.

Kroos has 91 passing and 81 shot, but the card is nowhere good enough to be a top one in FIFA 22. This peculiar aspect of the FIFA 22 match engine often makes great footballers receive terrible items within the game.

However, there's no FIFA 22 meta in real life, and Toni Kroos has been an excellent footballer for Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Germany. The 31-year old 'sniper' is a passing maestro who can provide unthinkable passes. He is a dead ball specialist and can send the ball into the back of the net from the toughest of angles.

Unlike in FIFA 22, Kroos doesn't have to rely on his pace as his intelligence and sense on the ball are enough to send shivers down the spines of any defense. Over the years, Kroos has won several trophies with Real Madrid. This includes multiple La Liga and Champions League trophies, as well as a World Cup winner's medal with Germany in 2014.

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#2 Luis Suarez

Atletico Madrid v AC Milan: Group B - UEFA Champions League

Luis Suarez has been one of the best forwards in the current era. The Uruguayan has been a standout performer for both Liverpool and Barcelona, establishing himself as one of Europe's top marksmen. Suarez is renowned for his silky dribbling and precise finishing. For Liverpool, Suarez was a dominant figure before making the switch to Camp Nou.

Suarez won several major trophies and formed an infamous attacking trio with Neymar and Lionel Messi. In reality, his excellent ball control and accurate finishing were the main reasons why Suarez earned the nickname of El Pistolero.

Suarez currently plays for Atletico Madrid, and it was the Uruguayan who landed the La Liga title at Atletico last season. However, age has caught up with him, and in reality, he has slowed down as well, reflecting on his player item in FIFA 22. Suarez has an excellent finishing of 93, and his ability in front of the goal hasn't taken a hit. However, the 89 rated item has a mere pace of 72, which makes it very tricky to use in FIFA 22.

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#1 Robert Lewandowski

FC Bayern München v 1. FSV Mainz 05 - Bundesliga

Robert Lewandowski has a 92 rated card—one of the highest-rated in FIFA 22. The card's 92 shooting and 95 finishing are up there with the very best, and it's interesting that even with those stats, Robert Lewandowski is not the best striker in the game. Lewandowski may not be a tortoise, but with a pace of 78, he is no cheetah either. The rating is realistic, but it restricts Lewandowski from being the best striker in FIFA 22.

But the reality can't be any different as for many, Lewandowski should have won the Ballon D'Or in 2021. Unlike FIFA 22, footballers also need game sense and intelligence in real life, which is pre-coded in the game itself.

Lewandowski, as written before, is not slow, and his superior goal-scoring abilities bypass the few shortcomings in his game. Lewandowski is terrific with both feet, as he is good in the air. The Polish striker scores as efficiently from outside the box as he does from inside it.

Should Lewandowski deserve a pace upgrade FIFA 22 is debatable, since there is no doubt that those weaknesses do not exist in real life. However, Lewandowski is the most in-form forward in the footballing world at the moment.