These are the world’s 50 best footballers, according to Fifa 15

The developers of the latest Fifa football game has released a list of the world’s best players, based on their performance in the hugely popular game

The development team behind the hugely successful Fifa series of football games has published a list of the 50 best players in the world. No prizes for guessing who is at number one – but the rest of the line-up already has fans arguing over questionable omissions and placements.

According to EA Sports, the list is based on player performances over the last 365 days (both in club and cup competitions), as well in-game statistics. The developers claim that the latest instalment in the series, due out on 25 September, uses the most detailed up-to-date stats yet to accurately recreate every player from all the key leagues throughout the world. It currently works with the Premier League to produce the EA Sports Player Performance Index, which analyses player contributions to each match based on five criteria.

The top ten is, predictably, dominated by players in the German and Spanish leagues – well, Bayern Munich and Barcelona to be precise. We do not get to a Premier League player until number ten: Chelsea’s Eden Hazard – who just happens to the the cover co-star for the UK edition of the game.

Anyway, here is the full list:

50. Giorgio Chiellini – Juventus (Italy)
49. Andrea Pirlo – Juventus (Italy)
48. Xabi Alonso – Bayern Munich (Germany)
47. Iker Casillas – Real Madrid (Spain)
46. Cesc Fàbregas- Chelsea FC (England)
45. Hugo Lloris – Tottenham Hotspur (England)
44. Javi Martinez – Bayern Munich (Germany)
43. Sergio Busquets – FC Barcelona (Spain)
42. Jerome Boateng – Bayern Munich (Germany)
41. Juan Mata – Manchester United (England)

40. Karim Benzema – Real Madrid (Spain)
39. Carlos Tevez – Juventus (Italy)
38. Mario Götze – Bayern Munich (Germany)
37. Diego Costa – Chelsea FC (England)
36. Toni Kroos – Real Madrid (Spain)
35. Arturo Vidal – Juventus FC (Italy)
34. Petr Čech – Chelsea FC (England)
33. Edinson Cavani – Paris Saint-Germain (France)
32. James Rodríguez – Real Madrid (Spain)
31. Thibaut Courtois – Chelsea FC (England)

30. Neymar Jr. – FC Barcelona (Spain)
29. Mats Hummels – Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
28. Mesut Özil – Arsenal (England)
27. Thomas Müller – Bayern Munich (Germany)
26. Marco Reus – Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
25. Ángel Di María – Manchester United (England)
24. Sergio Agüero – Manchester City (England)
23. Wayne Rooney – Manchester United (England)
22. Yaya Touré – Manchester City (England)
21. Xavi – FC Barcelona (Spain)

20. Vincent Kompany – Manchester City (England)
19. Robert Lewandowski – Bayern Munich (Germany)
18. Luka Modrić – Real Madrid (Spain)
17. David Silva – Manchester City (England)
16. Thiago Silva – Paris Saint-Germain (France)
15. Sergio Ramos – Real Madrid (Spain)
14. Gareth Bale – Real Madrid (Spain)
13. Philipp Lahm – Bayern Munich (Germany)
12. Radamel Falcao – Manchester United (England)
11. Robin van Persie – Manchester United (England)

10. Eden Hazard – Chelsea FC (England)
9. Franck Ribéry – Bayern Munich (Germany)
8. Bastian Schweinsteiger – Bayern Munich (Germany)
7. Luis Suárez – FC Barcelona (Spain)
6. Andrés Iniesta – FC Barcelona (Spain)
5. Manuel Neuer – Bayern Munich (Germany)
4. Zlatan Ibrahimović – Paris Saint-Germain (France)
3. Arjen Robben – Bayern Munich (Germany)
2. Cristiano Ronaldo – Real Madrid (Spain)
1. Lionel Messi – FC Barcelona (Spain)

Who is missing and who is ridiculously under/over-rated? Let us know in the comments section.

stumbleupon.com