FIFA 13 – The 20 Best Players [Guide]

FIFA 13 is yet another new take on EA Sports’ very popular football video game series. It has enhanced graphics, smarter AI, and a whole new control mechanism that will surely interest and challenge fans of the franchise, both old and new. Of course, the video game counterparts of real life players are there, too, and gamers will get the chance to play with their favorite footballers as well as with the teams of their choice. Here are the best players in FIFA 13, and let this article serve as your scouting guide on which players to keep your eye on, as well as a word of warning whenever you play against these top footballers.

Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi is, hands down, the best player in the world today. This fact translates well in FIFA 13, with the Argentine forward being the player with the highest overall ranking at 94. Being great at almost anything, Messi excels in most stats, though he is best with regards to agility and explosiveness. He is also great at ball control and passing, able to make plays while also being able to take the shot himself as well. At just 25 years old, Messi, a player that can play virtually all positions in midfield, can continue to be a star for years to come and a veritable threat for any team that is unfortunate enough to face him.

Cristiano Ronaldo
Whenever the best footballers are discussed these days, the name of Cristiano Ronaldo follows very closely behind that of the aforementioned Messi. With an overall 92 rating and virtually within his prime, the 27 year old Portuguese superstar is only second behind Messi in the rankings. The Real Madrid talisman has pace, power, great link-up play and a very keen eye for goal.

Eden Hazard
Hazard, an attacking midfielder and winger from Chelsea, ranks 87 overall in FIFA 13. At only 21 years old, however, he has tremendous potential to surpass Messi and other superstars in the league with time. Eden Hazard is a player that is difficult to take away the ball from, as he possesses great ball control, as well as tremendous speed. Although not as great a scorer as Messi, Hazard does have exemplary playmaking skills, allowing him to make passes with great effectiveness and accuracy.

Andres Iniesta
28 year old Barcelona winger Andres Iniesta may not be the best long-term signing you can aim for, but he is so good in the first place that he will be an automatic starter for any club he signs for. With an overall rating of 90, plus a small bit of room for growth, the Spaniard has great attacking attributes that make him a top signing early on into a career.

Sergio Aguero
Sergio Aguero is a striker but can also play as a second forward. He ranks 87 overall and possesses high stats with regards to acceleration and strength. This makes him great when playing against powerful players and can be used for quick offensive strategies. Partnered with another strong striker, the couple will pose as a headache for anyone who would be on the defensive end of the field.

Cesc Fabregas
Francesc Fabregas can play as both a central midfielder and second striker. This Spaniard from FC Barcelona is regarded as a general, capable of making great plays due to his high passing accuracy. This 87 overall ranked player can also be depended upon in taking penalty kicks, as well as taking shots during the game, making him a good alternative when FC Barcelona teammate Messi is pretty much blocked by the oppositions defense. This makes Fabregas a great offensive choice, whether as a backup or in the front line.

Mesut Ozil
Ozil, ranked 87 overall, hails from Germany and plays for Real Madrid. He possesses great footwork, being able to dribble and carry the ball even against the toughest defenders. His skills are able to open up the defense, allowing his teammates to cut through the field and having an open path towards the goal. He also has exemplary passing skills, allowing him to put the ball where he wants it to go. In the attacking midfielder position, almost no one beats Ozil with regards to ball control, passing, and making successful plays.

Karim Benzema
Benzema, from Real Madrid, is also ranked 87 overall. However, his potential for growth is a bit stumped. Still, Karim can be used to great effect due to his ability to play as both a striker and a winger on both sides of the field. The Frenchman also possesses solid technical ability, coupled with a powerful style of play and the ability to take and make shots from inside. This makes Karim a great addition to any team, providing both offense and support to a great degree.

Hugo Lloris
Lloris, a 25 year old Frenchman playing for Tottenham Hotspur as their goalkeeper, is ranked at 86, but shows the potential to reach levels of up to 91 within a couple of seasons. Already regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the league, Hugo Lloris provides solid defensive work, being able to deflect even the most powerful and fastest of shots. In this regard, he possesses quick reflexes and great ball catching abilities. If you want a team that can thwart your opponent’s offense at the last hurdle, then Hugo Lloris is certainly the goalkeeper that should first come to mind.

Gerard Pique
Pique is a centre-back for FC Barcelona. The Spaniard is ranked 86 overall, and he possesses immense strength both on the field and in the air. He also has great ball control and passing abilities, making him capable of turning a good defensive stop into a successful offensive run. With Gerard Pique at your back end, and with a team of good offensive players in your roster, your team will surely be an amazing threat at both ends of the field.

Edinson Cavani
Cavani plays as a striker and is ranked 86 overall. This 25 year old from Uruguay shows great offensive skills, especially when partnered with someone with a similar style of play. He can be used as a first offensive choice, or as a decoy, as he also has very decent short and long range passing skills, making him capable of drawing the defense and then passing the ball over to the more open man.

Luis Suarez
Luis Suarez, ranked 86 overall, works primarily as a forward, but can also assume the second striker position quite effectively. Playing for Liverpool, the 25 year old from Uruguay is a prolific scorer, capable of going around the defense to get him into a better position to score goals. He also has a powerful shot and is very quick, allowing him to become both a primary option for scoring or as a decoy to draw the defense away. Not only is Suarez an offensive threat, but his remarkable aerial ability can be quite fun to watch, too.

Angel di Maria
Angel di Maria Hernandez, a 24 year old winger from Brazil, is currently ranked at 86 overall. He brings to the table exceptional passing skills, aside from being a quick dribbler with good speed and pace. This Real Madrid player is also a good defender that can be relied upon when making goals. If you are in search for someone who is truly an all around player, then di Maria should definitely be one of your first choices.

Juan Mata
Juan Mata, also ranked at 86, can play as either an attacking midfielder or as a winger. He is a prolific scorer that can be made into a first option when trying to go for goals. He also has good passing and ball control skills, allowing him to act as a decoy while his other teammates can get into a better position to score. At 24, Mata will be good for not only a couple of seasons, but can be the integral piece of your squad for many years. He is certainly someone that can be used to develop a team around.

Neymar da Silva Santos
Neymar, from Brazil, is a 20 year old standout from Santos and the Brazilian National Team. He is a forward which shows a lot of potential, making you capable of forming a team around him for several seasons. He can play virtually all positions, but he works best as either a striker or an attacking midfielder. Neymar brings an exciting pace into the game, exemplified by his exceptional passing, dribbling, and ball control skills. He can also shoot very well, allowing him to become a threat at any time whenever he is in contact with the ball. FIFA gamers and actual football fans alike can even argue that Neymar, currently ranked 85 overall, has the potential to surpass even other higher ranked players such as Messi and Hazard in succeeding seasons.

Gareth Bale
Bale, currently playing for Tottenham Hotspur as a winger, is currently ranking at 85. Like Neymar, Bale also shows tremendous potential to grow and improve as a player in the coming years due to his immense technical ability and speed. It is this explosive speed and acceleration, plus boundless stamina that can potentially make him a headache for any defenders that would try to stop any of his runs.

Wayne Rooney
Man United forward Wayne Rooney is one of the best all-round attackers in the game, being deadly in carving out shooting opportunities from out of nowhere to producing defence-splitting passes to play in his team mates. At 26 years old and with the potential to grow from his already astronomical 89 overall rating, the English star is ready to slot into any team for many years to come.

David Silva
David Silva, one of the most integral parts to the current Man City squad, which seen them win the Premier League for the first time in their history last season, built his reputation playing for Valencia, one of the premier teams in the Primera League. The 26 year old Spaniard’s movement, vision and playmaking abilities make him one of the best midfielders in the world. Rated an overall 88 in FIFA 13, Silva seems destined to earn more silverware for Man City in the future.

Manuel Neuer
Manuel Neuer has had a mercurial rise in football, climbing to the top in his position. The Bayern Munich shot-stopper is considered by plenty to be the finest goalkeeper currently in world football, with few challenging him for the title. The German international made his impact at senior level from the age of just 20, which is very young for any goalkeeper, for Schalke 04 and his time at the club was capped off with being awarded as the best Bundesliga goalkeeper of the year in 2007 and Bundesliga player of the year in 2011. Neuer, rated 87 overall, has already established himself as the number one for both club and country, and at just 26 years old has plenty of mileage left.

Mario Gotze
An attacking and creative force for Borussia Dortmund, it is hard to believe that Mario Gotze was just 18 years old when he had his breakthrough season two years ago. Still just 20 at the start of FIFA 13, the German international is not just one of the very best prospects in the game, but one of the best midfielders already. Startlingly, he is only going to get better! Pace, technique, passing and a deft ability to score, Gotze is one of the best prospects in the game.

The above list notes down players who are ranked at the top of FIFA 13. Of course, the ability and potential of a player in FIFA 13 also relies on the abilities of the gamer controlling the player, as well as with the support of his teammates. In the right hands, even lower ranked players can be a great threat when used properly. What about you? Who are included among your list of best players in FIFA 13? Let us know.