FIFA 2013: Predicting Player Ratings of Top European Clubs

FIFA '13 is set to be released this fall. 

With each release of the franchise comes heated anticipation of the new features, new gameplay, and most importantly, the new player ratings. 

FIFA's player ratings are one of the hottest points of debate with lovers of the game. Everyone has a right to their opinion, and everyone wants to see their beloved club have good players. 

Here are my player ratings for the upcoming FIFA '13 game, with the starting XI's, benches, and potential transfers in/out of the top clubs throughout Europe. 

I invite you to leave your thoughts and reactions in the comments below! Here goes, starting with Arsenal.

Arsenal F.C.

Team Rating: 4.5 stars

Formation:  4-3-3 (4-1-2-3)

GK		Wojciech Szczesny	82
RB		Bacary Sagna	84
RCB		Laurent Koscielny	82
LCB		Thomas Vermaelen	82
LB		Kieran Gibbs	79
CDM		Alex Song	83
RCM		Mikel Arteta	82
LCM		Jack Wilshire	82
RW		Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain	81
ST		Olivier Giroud	83
LW		Lukas Podolski	83
Bench
CB		Per Mertesacker	79
LB		Andre Santos	79
CAM		Tomas Rosicky	82
RW		Theo Walcott	82
LW		Gervinho	81
Transfers?
ST		Robin Van Persie	89
CM		Yann M'Vila	84

Conclusion

The departure of Robin Van Persie will be a huge blow to the Gunners. Sagna is the highlight of a relatively weak defense, but they are strong in the midfield with the likes of Jack Wilshire and Mikel Arteta. If Arsenal can sign Yann M'Vila from Ligue 1 side Rennes, the Gunners look to be a five-star team again. If you like to play fast, with lots of slick passing, this could be your team. 

Chelsea F.C.

Team Rating: 5 stars

Formation:  4-3-3

GK		Petr Cech	87
RB		Branislav Ivanovic	84
RCB		John Terry	86
LCB		David Luiz	81
LB		Ashley Cole	85
RCM		Ramires	81
CM		Michael Essien	82
LCM		Frank Lampard	84
RW		Eden Hazard	85
ST		Fernando Torres	84
LW		Juan Mata	86
Bench
CB		Gary Cahill	82
CAM		Yossi Benayoun	79
LW		Flourent Malouda	81
ST		Daniel Sturridge	82
ST		Romelu Lukaku	80
Transfers?
RW		Hulk	84
CAM		Oscar	83

Conclusion:

Chelsea have been active thus far in the transfer market. They are physical, fast and deep. What was a previously aging squad is getting younger with every transfer, such as that of Eden Hazard, who I've rated a healthy 85. Perhaps Torres' rating should be higher, but only recently has he hit form. Let's not forget his disastrous goal drought—it wasn't too long ago. Chelsea are an easy team to play with and it's hard to lose playing with them. 

Liverpool F.C.

Team Rating: 4.5 stars

Formation: 4-3-3

GK		Pepe Reina	84
RB		Glen Johnson	83
RCB		Martin Skrtel	82
LCB		Daniel Agger	84
LB		Jose Enrique	80
RCM		Jordan Henderson	79
LCM		Lucas Leiva	81
CAM		Steven Gerrard	85
LW		Luis Suarez	85
ST		Andy Carroll	81
RW		Joe Cole	82
Bench
LM		Stewart Downing	81
CB		Jamie Carragher	79
ST		Fabio Borini	80
CM		Alberto Aquilani	81
Transfers?
CAM		Clint Dempsey	82

Conclusion:

Liverpool has added a lot of fresh faces to the squad over the past couple seasons. Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez are easily the team's best players. The poor form of Andy Carroll affects his rating here. New signing Fabio Borini may not start, but the youngster has a lot to prove at Anfield. Liverpool have some serious talent, but it's not at the level of Chelsea, Manchester City, or Manchester United.

Manchester City F.C.

Team Rating: 5 stars

Formation: 4-2-4 (4-2-2-2)

GK		Joe Hart	84
RB		Micah Richards	83
RCB		Joleon Lescott	84
LCB		Vincent Kompany	87
LB		Gael Clichy	80
RCM		Gareth Barry	82
LCM		Yaya Toure	88
RAM		David Silva	89
LAM		Samir Nasri	83
RS		Sergio Aguero	87
LS		Mario Balotelli	84
Bench
CB		Kolo Toure	81
LB		Aleksandar Kolarov	79
CDM		Nigel De Jong	80
LM		James Milner	81
ST		Edin Dzeko	84
ST		Carlos Tevez	83
Transfers?
ST		Robin Van Persie	88

Conclusion:

Manchester City have a deep and talented team. They are strong in all parts of the pitch, from defense to striker. David Silva is their best player. It's hard to predict the starting XI of such a deep squad. Do they really need RVP? They are one of the easier teams to use in the game thanks to their physicality, speed and sheer talent in numbers. In my opinion, Manchester City is the best team in the game behind Barcelona. 

Manchester United F.C.

Team Rating: 5 stars

Formation: 4-5-1 (4-2-3-1)

GK		David De Gea	83
RB		Phil Jones	81
RCB		Rio Ferdinand	84
LCB		Nemanja Vidic	87
LB		Patrice Evra	83
RCM		Michael Carrick	82
LCM		Paul Scholes	81
RAM		Antonio Valencia	85
CAM		Shinji Kagawa	83
LAM		Ashley Young	83
ST		Wayne Rooney	89
Bench:
CB		Jonny Evans	81
CB		Chris Smalling	82
LM		Ryan Giggs	80
CM		Tom Cleverly	80
RW		Nani	83
ST		Javi Hernandez	81
ST		Danny Welbeck	81
Transfers?
CAM CF		Lucas Robin Van Persie	84 89

Conclusion:

Manchester United have signed Shinji Kagawa, an attacking midfielder from Japan. It's hard to speculate whether or not he will start but Fergie doesn't pay that much cash for a benchwarmer. Deep in attack, Manchester United have wingers and forwards in abundance.

Giggs and Scholes are so old, it's hard to give them ratings any higher than this. Using Manchester United in FIFA is bound to produce hundreds of combinations of starting XI's, as they have multiple players for every position. They are also one of the easier teams to use. 

Tottenham Hotspur

Team Rating: 4.5 stars

Formation: 4-3-3 (4-1-2-3)

GK		Brad Friedel	82
RB		Kyle Walker	80
RCB		Jan Vertonghen	83
LCB		Younes Kaboul	81
LB		Benoit Assou-Ekotto	80
CDM		Scott Parker	82
RCM		Luka Modric	86
LCM		Rafael van der Vaart	83
RW		Aaron Lennon	82
ST		Emmanuel Adebayor	82
LW		Gareth Bale	85
Bench:
ST		Jermain Defoe	81
CAM		Gylfi Sigurdsson	82
CB		William Gallas	79

Conclusion:

If Luka Modric leaves Tottenham, it will be tough for the London club to replace him. Midfield is where Tottenham are weakest. Andre Villas-Boas loves his 4-3-3 system, which will make it difficult for exciting youngster Gylfi Sigurdsson to crack the starting XI right off the bat. Tottenham is comparable to the level of Arsenal and Liverpool in the game, though they are one of the fastest teams in England, with Lennon and Bale running the wings. 

A.C. Milan

Team Rating: 4.5 stars

Formation: 4-3-1-2

GK		Christian Abbiatti	84
RB		Ignazio Abate	82
RCB		Philippe Mexes	82
LCB		Francesco Acerbi	80
LB		Luca Antonini	77
RCM		Matthieu Flamini	80
CM		Riccardo Montolivo	82
LCM		Antonio Nocerino	81
CAM		Kevin-Prince Boateng	84
RS		Alexandre Pato	85
LS		Antonio Cassano	83
Bench
ST		Robinho	82
LM		Urby Emmanuelson	80
CAM		Stephan El Shaarawy	79
CB		Mario Yepes	78
CDM		Massimo Ambrosini	78
CB		Daniele Bonera	79
Transfers?
ST		Eden Dzeko	84

Conclusion:

A.C. Milan have sold their two best players to another club on this list, PSG. At the time of writing this, the club have not replaced them. This leaves Milan woefully thin at the back, as Alessandro Nesta also parted ways with the club this summer.

Milan are strong in attack but that's where the good stops. Other than Boateng, Nocerino and Montolivo, Milan don't have a lot of quality in midfield. Milan have never been an easy club to play with in recent years of FIFA, thanks to their lack of speed and physicality. They are a bit younger, and a bit faster, but the loss of Nesta and Thiago Silva has made Milan's defense look like a rickety old shack about to collapse. If you're up to the challenge, go for it—you'll embarass the heck out of your Real or Barca-using opponents.

F.C. Internazionale

Team Rating: 4.5 stars

 Formation: 4-3-1-2

GK		Julio Cesar	85
RB		Jonathan	81
RCB		Andrea Ranocchia	81
LCB		Walter Samuel	82
LB		Yuto Nagatomo	80
LCM		Ricardo Alvarez	82
CM		Esteban Cambiasso	81
RM		Dejan Stankovic	80
CAM		Wesley Sneijder	85
RS		Giampaolo Pazzini	80
LS		Diego Milito	82
Bench
CB		Juan	81
LB		Javier Zanetti	80
CAM		Phillipe Coutinho	82
RB		Maicon	83

Conclusion:

Inter Milan have done relatively little to refresh their aging squad. They seemed to have sold away much more talent than they have bought back. Those that they do buy aren't even good enough to crack the starting XI for the most part. They may even be worse off than their city rivals. Sneidjer and Julio Cesar are the bright spots on an otherwise unimpressive roster. Not an easy team to play with against the top sides. 

Juventus F.C.

Team Rating: 5 stars

Formation: 4-2-4 (4-2-2-2)

GK		Gianluigi Buffon	88
RB		Stephan Lichsteiner	81
RCB		Andrea Barzagli	82
LCB		Leonardo Bonucci	83
LB		Giorgio Chiellini	86
RCM		Andrea Pirlo	88
LCM		Claudio Marchisio	81
RAM		Arturo Vidal	84
LAM		Sebastian Giovinco	83
RS		Alessandro Matri	80
LS		Mirko Vucinic	81
Bench
CB		Lucio	81
RW		Simone Pepe	77
CM		Kwadwo Asamoah	81
LM		Milos Krasic	79
ST		Fabio Quagliarella	79
ST		Marco Borriello	78
Transfers?
ST		Robin Van Persie	88

Conclusion:

Juventus have added several players this summer, but few will crack the starting XI already in place. Andrea Pirlo and Gianluigi Buffon are head and shoulders above the rest of the squad in ability. Juve is strong in all areas but attack. Their forwards are not at the level of the rest of the squad—if Juventus were to add a world-class striker this summer, they'd be a serious force in FIFA.

A.S. Roma

Team Rating: 4.5 stars

Formation: 4-3-1-2

GK		Maarten Stekelenburg	85
RB		Rodrigo Taddei	80
RCB		Nicolas Burdisso	81
LCB		Gabriel Heinze	79
LB		Jose Angel	77
RCM		Michael Bradley	79
CM		Daniele De Rossi	85
LCM		Miralem Pjanic	83
CAM		Erik Lamela	82
CF		Francesco Totti	81
ST		Bojan Krkic	80
Bench
RM		Simone Perrotta	78
ST		Mattia Destro	77
ST		Pablo Osvaldo	80
Transfers?
ST		Marco Borriello	80

Conclusion:

Roma have been rebuilding for a while now. They boast plenty of young talent around their core of Daniele De Rossi and Francesco Totti. Roma's defense is somewhat weak, but it's backed by a very talented shot-stopper in Maarten Stekelenburg. If you're gonna win with Roma, the team won't do you any favors—your talent will win you the game, not the players. 

F.C. Bayern Munich

Team Rating: 5 stars

Formation: 4-2-3-1 (4-2-4)

GK		Manuel Neuer	87
RB		Rafinha	82
RCB		Holger Badstuber	84
LCB		Jerome Boateng	81
LB		Phillip Lahm	86
CDM		Bastian Schweinsteiger	85
CDM		Toni Kroos	83
RAM		Arjen Robben	88
CAM		Thomas Muller	82
LAM		Frank Ribery	87
ST		Mario Gomez	85

Conclusion:

Bayern Munich are loaded with talent at all positions on the pitch. They have two of the world's best wingers in Ribery and Robben, who each deserve at least 87. While Gomez is certainly a formidable force up front, he doesn't deserve more than 85. Bayern's issues, if you can call it that, lie in defense, with inconsistent talent across the back four. Bayern will be one of the best squads in FIFA 13. 

F.C. Barcelona

Team Rating: 5 stars

Formation: 4-1-2-3 (4-3-3)

GK		Victor Valdes	84
RWB		Dani Alves	86
RCB		Gerard Pique	88
LCB		Carles Puyol	85
LWB		Jordi Alba	83
CDM		Sergio Busquets	83
RAM		Xavi Hernandez	90
LAM		Andres Iniesta	91
RW		Alexis Sanchez	85
CF		Lionel Messi	94
LW		Cesc Fabregas	87
Bench
ST		David Villa	86
LW		Pedro	84
CM		Thiago Alcantara	82
CDM		Javier Mascherano	82
RW		Ibrahim Affelay	80
LB		Eric Abidal	81

Conclusion:

Ahhh, FC Barcelona. We've heard it all with them—too stacked, too deep, too ... good. As the best player on planet earth, Lionel Messi is, and should be, FIFA 13's highest ranked player. Other mercurial talents supporting him such as Xavi and Iniesta also get high marks. One thing I've really gotten annoyed about over the years is how overrated Valdes seems to be in FIFA games. I'm sorry, he's no Casillas. It's hard enough scoring against Barca, but Valdes has been ranked way too high for too long. 84 is really good. If you're terrible at FIFA, use Barcelona. If you're really good at FIFA, don't use Barcelona. It's just not fair how good they are.

Real Madrid

Team Rating: 5 stars

Formation: 4-2-3-1 (4-2-4)

GK		Iker Casillas	90
RB		Alvaro Arbeloa	81
RCB		Sergio Ramos	87
LCB		Pepe	85
LB		Marcelo	83
RCM		Sami Khedira	82
LCM		Xabi Alonso	85
RAM		Angel Di Maria	84
CAM		Mesut Ozil	88
LAM		Cristiano Ronaldo	93
ST		Karim Benzema	85
Bench
CAM		Kaka	83
CM		Nuri Sahin	81
CM		Callejon	81
CDM		Lassana Diarra	80
ST		Gonzalo Higuain	84
LB		Fabio Coentrao	81

Conclusion:

Barca's eternal rivals, Real Madrid, boast the second-best player on earth in Cristiano Ronaldo. I think Ozil is one of the best attacking midfielders in the world. Di Maria has been overrated in past renditions of FIFA. As the best goalkeeper in the world, Casillas' 90 is the highest for a goalkeeper in the game. Very much akin to using Barca, using Madrid as an elite FIFA player will do nothing but boost your ego as you slaughter all signs of opponents. This is another team that will mask your own ability to play FIFA, as the talents of the players are so high. 

Paris Saint-Germain F.C.

Team Rating: 5 stars

Formation: 4-2-3-1

GK		Salvatore Sirigu	81
RB		Christophe Jallet	77
RCB		Thiago Silva	90
LCB		Mamadou Sakho	83
LB		Maxwell	80
CDM		Mohamed Sissoko	82
CDM		Thiago Motta	81
RAM		Jeremy Menez	84
CAM		Javier Pastore	85
LAM		Ezequiel Lavezzi	84
ST		Zlatan Ibrahimovic	88
Bench
CB		Alex	81
LW		Nene	82
ST		Guillaume Hoarau	79

Conclusion:

PSG are Europe's latest club to play the Manchester City spending-spree role. In the past year this team has acquired a squad capable of doing some serious damage in Europe. Thiago Silva is worthy of his 89 rating, as I think he's the best center back in the world. New signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic had a season to remember at Milan, scoring 28 goals in 32 appearances. This justifies his 88. Still weaker in the middle of the park, PSG have a front four that could do great things together. PSG will be a lot of fun to use in FIFA, thanks to its mix of world-class talent and not-so-skilled players. 

Team Rankings

So my ratings aren't perfect, but how could anyone's be? It's opinion, but I tried to be as objective as humanly possible.

Here are my rankings of each team. Remember, these are FIFA 13 ratings, not real-life ratings. I think in FIFA 13 the best teams, in this order, will be:

1. Barcelona
2. Manchester City
3. Real Madrid
4. Chelsea
5. Bayern Munich
6. Manchester United
7. Paris Saint-Germain
8. Juventus
9. Tottenham
10. Liverpool
11. Arsenal
12. AC Milan
13. Inter Milan
14. AS Roma

I'd love to hear your opinions on the matter—which players/teams should be rated higher? Lower? Just right?

Leave your comments below.

Follow me on Twitter @BeauBourne