The Highest Rated FIFA Player Of The Last 20 Years Isn't Who You'd Expect

The highest rated player in the history of FIFA is Ronaldo Nazario after the Brazilian was given an insane 98 rating back in 2004.

EA Sports' huge franchise has had a huge impact on football since it's first numbered iteration in 1995.

Ultimate Team has introduced a number of special cards to bump up player ratings based on real life performance - but only one man has the right to be called the undisputed best.

Brazilian legend Ronaldo had won the World Cup and been a Ballon d'Or winner in the 18 months prior to FIFA 2004's release meaning his rating was well earned.

PA

In game, he was an absolute monster and you can check out his insane attacking stats below.

Ronaldo Nazario (Real Madrid and Brazil) 98 OVR

Position: Striker

Skill: 98

Pace: 96

Shooting: 100

Shot Power: 100

Aggression: 90

Awareness: 100

Balance: 99

Balance and control: 100

Dribbling: 95

Heading: 96

Longball: 88

Passing: 86

Stamina: 94

Strength: 94

Conditioning: 95

If you came up against those stats on Ultimate Team nowadays it would result in so many rage quits.

The last decade and a half of FIFA ratings have been dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

PA

Since FIFA 2007, one of the two longtime rivals have been the highest rated on the game with the Ballon d'Or result of the previous year often swinging the difference.

But which other players have been the top rated player on the game?

Check out the entire list below.

FIFA 2001 - Paul Scholes (Man Utd and England) 95 OVR

FIFA 2002 - Luis Figo (Real Madrid and Portugal) 97 OVR

FIFA 2003 - Matteo Brighi (Parma and Italy) 97 OVR

FIFA 2004 - Ronaldo Nazario (Real Madrid and Brazil) 98 OVR

FIFA 2005 - Iker Casillas (Real Madrid and Spain) & Ronaldinho (Barcelona and Brazil) 95 OVR

FIFA 06 - Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus and Italy) & Wayne Rooney (Man Utd and England) 92 OVR

PA

FIFA 07 - Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus and Italy), Ronaldinho (Barcelona and Brazil) & Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd and Portugal) 91 OVR

FIFA 08 - Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd and Portugal) & Iker Casillas (Real Madrid and Spain) 91 OVR

FIFA 09 - Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd and Portugal) & Iker Casillas (Real Madrid and Spain) 91 OVR

FIFA 10 - Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Argentina & Iker Casillas (Real Madrid and Spain) 90 OVR

FIFA 11 - Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Argentina) 90 OVR

FIFA 12 - Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Argentina) 94 OVR

FIFA 13 - Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Argentina) 94 OVR

FIFA 14 - Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Argentina) 94 OVR

FIFA 15 - Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Argentina) 93 OVR

PA

FIFA 16 - Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Argentina) 94 OVR

FIFA 17 - Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid and Portugal) 94 OVR

FIFA 18 - Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid and Portugal) 94 OVR

FIFA 19 - Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus and Portugal) & Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Argentina) 94 OVR

FIFA 20 - Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Argentina) 94 OVR

Who do you think is the greatest player in FIFA history?

Let us know in the comments below.

Topics: Paul Scholes, Football News, Football, FIFA, Lionel Messi, Ronaldo, EA, EA Sports, Luis Figo, Cristiano Ronaldo

Daniel Marland

Daniel is a journalist for SPORTbible and he has previous experience with Manchester United. He has spoken to some of the biggest names in sport including Rio Ferdinand, Peter Crouch, WWE COO Triple H and WWE legend The Undertaker. May or may not do a decent impression of Jamie Carragher.

@DanMarland_