Bundesliga
Sancho and the top 5 Bundesliga players in FIFA 21
Ahead of FIFA 21’s scheduled release in October, EA Sports have published the latest player ratings for their flagship game, with several Bundesliga players receiving some big numbers.
bundesliga.com looks at the league’s top five rated players going into the 2020/21 season…
Position: ST
Club: Bayern Munich
FIFA 21 rating: 91
He's just helped Bayern win the treble of the Bundesliga, DFB Cup and UEFA Champions League title, finishing as the top scorer in each competition, so it's little surprise to see the 32-year-old top this particular pile.
Meticulous about his nutrition, sleep and work ethic, Lewandowski appears to be getting even better with age.
Watch: EA Sports Recreated Goals - Lewandowski vs. Schalke
"I don't feel like I'm 32," the Poland captain told kicker after being named Germany's Footballer of the Year for the first time. "I feel better than I did at 26, not just physically, but also in terms of my footballing and technical ability."
Not only that, but his dedication to Bayern's style of play under Hansi Flick - selflessly hounding opposition defenders and goalkeepers as part of a high press designed to suffocate them into mistakes - gives him extra credit for his defensive work. Add in his FIFA 21 penalty rating of 88 into the mix (Lionel Messi is at 75 while Cristiano Ronaldo has 84) and it's clear why 'Lewy' is among the best in the business.
2) Manuel Neuer
Position: GK
Club: Bayern Munich
FIFA 21 rating: 89
He may be 34 now but Neuer provided further evidence - not that it was needed - of his status as an absolute world-beater in the Champions League finals tournament in Lisbon in August.
Bayern's high defensive line occasionally led to teams breaking through on goal, only to be denied by the Germany No1. Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Memphis Depay, among others, were all left holding their heads in their hands after finding Neuer too big an obstacle to overcome.
Watch: Manuel Neuer, the best in the business
The Bayern captain also conceded a league-low 31 goals as the Reds secured an eighth Bundesliga title in succession, keeping 15 clean sheets in 33 games.
Not only that, but his passing (rated 91 on FIFA 21) and overall defensive rating (56) thanks to his involvement in snuffing out opposition attacks give him an edge nobody else comes close to. “Manu's a class apart, really unbelievable," said Germany coach Joachim Löw. "For me, he would be the world player of the year."
Position: CDM
Club: Bayern Munich
FIFA 21 rating: 88
When the likes of Jose Mourinho, Xavi and Xabi Alonso are singing your praises then there can be no doubt about your footballing credentials. Having taken over from Bayern legend Philipp Lahm at right-back for club and country without so much as a blip, Kimmich has since proved he is also an elite-level player in central midfield too.
Ranked as the defensive midfielder with the best passing (86), dribbling (84), positioning (80), crossing (91) and vision (84) in FIFA 21, Kimmich really can do it all.
The fact he contributed a goal and four assists in the Champions League finals tournament - including the all-important cross for Kingsley Coman in the title-decider against Paris Saint-Germain - is testament to his all-round ability and big-game temperament.
4) Jadon Sancho
Position: RM
Club: Borussia Dortmund
FIFA 21 rating: 87
He's long been recognised as one of the best attacking players in world football, and now Sancho's FIFA 21 rating reflects his status as a player of rare gifts with his highest-ever base card. Ranked 34th in the game overall, the England international is far younger than any of the players above him.
After topping the Bundesliga's assist chart with 14 in 2018/19, the 20-year-old proved he was no one-hit wonder last term, chalking up another 16 to go alongside his 17 league goals - meaning he was directly involved in a goal for Dortmund every 70 minutes in 2019/20.
Watch: EA SPORTS Recreated Goals: Sancho vs. Cologne
Rated with 91 for dribbling, 83 for pace, 81 for passing and 74 for shooting, there are not many defenders out there - on FIFA 21 or in real life - that will be able to stop him.
Position: CAM
Club: Bayern Munich
FIFA 21 rating: 86
Countless pundits, journalists, players and coaches have tried and failed to adequately describe what it is that makes Müller so good - an elusiveness that is one of the hallmarks of his game.
What is clear is that Müller was outstanding over the past year or so, setting a new single-season Bundesliga record of 21 assists, while also scoring eight times.
Bayern coach Hansi Flick has praised his "reading of the game", a quality reflected in Müller's 94 positioning rating on FIFA 21. With solid shooting (82) and passing (82) to boot, the 30-year-old is as dangerous a figure on the console as he is in real life.
Rounding out the Bundesliga’s top 10:
- Yann Sommer, Borussia Mönchengladbach, 86
- Mats Hummels, Dortmund, 86
- Serge Gnabry, Bayern, 85
- Marco Reus, Dortmund, 85
- Erling Haaland, Dortmund, 84