Fans demand a downgraded Cristiano Ronaldo in FIFA 18

What’s the story?

Cristiano Ronaldo along with Lionel Messi has been part of a duopoly which has ruled world football for more than a decade. Such has been their dominance that nobody apart from the two has won a Ballon d’Or since Ricardo Kaka last won it in 2007.

It has been a similar story on FIFA too with the pair being the best players in the game since FIFA 09 was released in 2010. Ronaldo was crowned the best player in FIFA 17 but after a subpar season compared to his usual numbers, Dreamteamfc have found FIFA players demanding on Reddit that Ronaldo's rating be downgraded in the upcoming instalment of the game, FIFA 18.

In case you didn’t know...

Ronaldo capped off a brilliant 2016-17 with club and country by winning the Ballon d’Or, which confirmed the Real Madrid striker’s status as the best footballer in the world over closest rival Messi. In addition to this accolade, the Portuguese also became the highest rated player in EA’s FIFA 17 with his card rated at an overall of 94.

The heart of the matter

Ronaldo’s 94 rated card makes him a superpower on FIFA and justifies his last season’s performance. But the forward’s numbers this season have been under par compared to his high standards.

Ronaldo also has a Team Of The Year (TOTY) card which has been given an astounding rating of 99, which is almost like a cheat on the game. He has a 98 pace attribute, 99 shot power, passing rated at 92 and 98 dribbling in addition to a physicality rating of 94 which to be fair is an unrealistic summation of the Portuguese’s abilities.

Fans on Reddit are demanding that the Portuguese’s rating be reduced with comments like, “He does not have 92 pace, and he does not have 91 dribbling. He is still clearly a world class player with world-class finishing and positioning, but if we are looking at players like Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben who had their pace nuked, surely Ronaldo has to have his downgraded, right?”

What’s next?

It is likely that EA will reduce Ronaldo’s rating in the next instalment of FIFA but in all probability, the Portuguese will still be the highest rated player in the game. Despite a subpar season, his rating is likely to remain in the 90s with a slight dip in pace and dribbling ratings, while the finishing attribute might even show a slight increase.

Author’s Take

Ronaldo’s ability has visibly reduced over the past couple of years as the Real Madrid man completes his transformation from a flying winger to an all-out number nine. The forward’s speed and dribbling have waned while his finishing still remains world class.

It would only be fair to have a minor correction in Ronaldo’s rating which will maintain the integrity of the game and also give a more realistic playing experience.