EA Sports reveals the top 30 MLS players in the upcoming FIFA 19

EA Sports FIFA has the immense task of rating and ranking every single player in the world, inciting debate and outrage aplenty. With FIFA 19 nearing its full release, Sept. 28, they have made official their top 30 MLS rated players. Here they are:

No. 30 – No. 26

Rank	Name	Team	Pos.	Rating
30.	Leandro Gonzalez Pirez	ATL	CB	75
29.	Ike Opara	SKC	CB	75
28.	Kaku	RBNY	CAM	75
27.	Alberth Elis	HOU	RW	75
26.	Andre Blake	PHI	GK	75

A pair of defenders kicks us off, as Opara and Gonzalez Pires are given equal ratings of 75. Their athleticism will make render their cards more useful than the average 75. Dynamo star Elis gets a 75 and ever-important four-star skills while current MLS assists leader Kaku comes in with a 75 as well. Blake is the first – and only – keeper in FIFA’s top 30 MLS players.

No. 25 – No. 21

Rank	Name	Team	Pos.	Rating
25.	Darwin Quintero	MIN	CF	75
24.	Raul Ruidiaz	SEA	ST	76
23.	Maxi Moralez	NYC	CAM	76
22.	Guram Kashia	SJ	CB	76
21.	Osvaldo Alonso	SEA	CDM	76

Quintero, with 10 goals and 9 assists in 20 matches, rounds out the 75s with Ruidiaz being the first entrant as a 76 alongside NYCFC’s Moralez. All of Ruidiaz, Quintero and Moralez have four-star skills. Alonso is the first defensive midfielder in the top 30 and Kashia takes the crown of highest rated defender in MLS according to FIFA.

No. 20 – No. 16

Rank	Name	Team	Pos.	Rating
20.	Haris Medunjanin	PHI	CM	76
19.	Jonathan dos Santos	LAG	CM	77
18.	Jozy Altidore	TOR	ST	77
17.	Nicolas Lodeiro	SEA	RM	77
16.	Giovani dos Santos	LAG	CF	77

Medunjanin is the highest rated Union player while Altidore gets a slight upgrade with a 77, up from the 76 he started with last year. Both dos Santos brothers are given the same 77 rating, both down from last year. Jona was an 80 and Gio a 79. Lodeiro joins them, crashes the top 20 and is given four-star skills, as does Gio dos Santos.

No. 15 – No. 11

Rank	Name	Team	Pos.	Rating
15.	Victor Vazquez	TOR	CM	77
14.	Michael Bradley	TOR	CDM	77
13.	Federico Higuain	CLB	CAM	77
12.	Bradley Wright-Phillips	RBNY	ST	77
11.	Romain Alessandrini	LAG	RM	77

When Alessandrini got an in-form card in FIFA 18, he immediately became a favorite in the Ultimate Team community. This year, he starts at a 78, keeps his four-star skills and 89 pace but just misses out on top 10 in the league. Behind him, TFC duo Vazquez and Bradley are level at 77, Higuain gets a slight bump from last year and so does Wright-Phillips, who jumps from a 75. 

No. 10 – No. 6

Rank	Name	Team	Pos.	Rating
10.	Miguel Almiron	ATL	CAM	80
9.	Wayne Rooney	DC	ST	80
8.	Diego Valeri	POR	CAM	80
7.	Ignacio Piatti	MTL	LW	80
6.	Bastian Schweinsteiger	CHI	CM	80

Into the top 10, each player is rated an 80 or above. Almiron gets us started. Like Alessandrini, Almiron may well be one of the more valuable cards with his 89 pace and 80 dribbling. A new entrant to the league, Rooney is no stranger to top-rated FIFA lists and comes in at No. 9 thanks to his balanced 81 shooting and 81 passing. Reigning MVP Valeri hits the top 10 again and is given a boost on last year’s card. Piatti stays at an 80 like last year and Schweinsteiger drops from an 81, though is still the highest rated non-attack-first player in the game.

The Top Five

Rank	Name	Team	Pos.	Rating
5.	Josef Martinez	ATL	ST	81

MLS’ record breaker, Martinez comes in at fifth in the league to kick off FIFA 19. With 29 goals and counting, Martinez gets a deserved boost from the 76 he started with last season. His card will be a must for any MLS team with his pace, skill moves and weak foot. An added bonus: high work rate.

Rank	Name	Team	Pos.	Rating
4.	Carlos Vela	LAFC	RW	81

Carlos Vela | EA Sports FIFA

Vela’s card may not be shiny and rare as the others, but it’s still as effective. Four-star skills, workable pace for a winger as well as well-rounded technical ability. Also: expect the finesse shot train.

Rank	Name	Team	Pos.	Rating
3.	Sebastian Giovinco	TOR	CF	82

Sebastian Giovinco | EA Sports FIFA

Giovinco has been one of the premier players in MLS since joining the league and that has always been reflected in FIFA. Again, Giovinco’s card will be quality with his skill, weak foot, pace, dribbling and shooting.

Rank	Name	Team	Pos.	Rating
2.	David Villa	NYC	ST	82

David Villa | EA Sports FIFA

Villa, an ageless wonder, retains his 82 overall rating again. His card is nearly identical to last year, as his pace, dribbling, shooting and passing are all the same as last season.

Rank	Name	Team	Pos.	Rating
1.	Zlatan Ibrahimovic	LAG	ST	85

Zlatan Ibrahimovic | EA Sports FIFA

Zlatan is king.

The highest rated MLS player, Ibrahimovic’s card is lower than it’s been in years but it’s still a must-have for MLS fans. He doesn’t have much pace, but standing at 6’5″ with a 78 physicality and 86 shot, he doesn’t need to do much sprinting.