FIFA 20 winter ratings refresh: Every La Liga player to receive an upgrade
After weeks of anticipation, EA Sports have finally released the Winter Refresh for FIFA 20.
With the big European transfer windows closed, fans have been looking forward to seeing FIFA 20 updated to mirror current rosters ahead of the second half of the season.
As well as that, players who shone in the first half of 2019/20 were set to be rewarded with improved ratings to reflect their performances.
However, this year things appear to be different. Instead of the full database getting a variety of rating changes, from +1 to +6 in some instances in FIFA 19, just the top 50 players from around the world to have made the biggest improvement have been upgraded. These have all been handed an upgrade of at least +3.
Of the top 50 players, 15 come from La Liga – more than any other league. But who are they?
Players to have improved by the same amount have been ranked based on their overall rating.
15. Alexander Isak (+3)
Age: 20
Current club: Real Sociedad
Position: ST
FIFA rating: 74 – 77
Key stat: Alexander Isak has been directly involved in eight La Liga goals this season, scoring seven and recording one assist.
Real Sociedad are among the top scorers in La Liga this season and Alexander Isak has been at the heart of that. He has also been vital to their Copa del Rey semi-final run, netting twice in their 4-3 win over Real Madrid, earning him a FIFA 20 Man of the Match card and eventually this upgrade.
14. Ezequiel Avila (+3)
Age: 26
Current club: Osasuna
Position: ST
FIFA rating: 75 – 78
Key stat: Ezequiel Avila has scored nine La Liga goals this season.
Osasuna hasn’t had the most spectacular of seasons but one player to have enjoyed his campaign is Ezequeil Avila. The 26-year-old striker has been directly involved in over a third of Osasuna’s league goals but will not be able to add to it having been ruled out for the season with an ACL injury.
13. Marc Cucurella (+3)
Age: 21
Current club: Getafe
Position: LM
FIFA rating: 75 – 78
Key stat: Marc Cucurella (32) has created more chances in La Liga than any other Getafe player this season.
Getafe are pushing for a surprise Champions League spot and midfielder Marc Cucurella has certainly been playing his part. The 21-year-old has been the club’s big threat on the left, setting up chances and recording four assists. Can they keep it up for the rest of the season?
12. Aitor (+3)
Age: 28
Current club: Levante
Position: GK
FIFA rating: 76 – 79
Key stat: Aitor (101) has saved more shots than any other goalkeeper in La Liga this season.
Aitor has certainly been a busy man in goal for Levante this season, with the club unfortunately having one of the leakiest defences in La Liga. But the 28-year-old has been recognised for his efforts in trying to remedy that with an upgrade.
11. Sergio Reguilon (+3)
Age: 23
Current club: Sevilla
Position: LB
FIFA rating: 77 – 80
Key stat: Sergio Reguilon has made 37 tackles in La Liga this season.
Sergio Reguilon has enjoyed a good season with Sevilla on loan from Real Madrid. His performances at left-back, both defensively and in attack, have earned the 23-year-old his first Spain call-up and helped Sevilla to fifth so far. Reguilon has also seen his FIFA rating upgraded and will be hoping for a spot in Spain’s Euro 2020 squad come the end of the season.
10. Emerson (+4)
Age: 21
Current club: Real Betis
Position: 21
FIFA rating: 71 – 75
Key stat: No defender has recorded more assists in La Liga this season than Emerson’s five.
Emerson has been hailed as one of the best young full-backs in Europe right now and with the Brazilian expected to join Barcelona in 2021 – as part of an option the La Liga club have to sign him. But until then he continues to grow and has been bumped up to a gold card for the first time in FIFA 20.
9. Rui Silva (+4)
Age: 26
Current club: Granada
Position: GK
FIFA rating: 71 – 75
Key stat: Rui Silva has saved 70.71% of the shots he has faced in La Liga this season.
Another goalkeeper being rewarded for trying his best to keep goals out is Rui Silva. The 26-year-old shot-stopper has been heavily worked by his Granada defence, conceding 29 goals so far, but that should not take away from all the times he has saved his side this season.
8. Ante Budimir (+4)
Age: 28
Current club: RCD Mallorca
Position: ST
FIFA rating: 72 – 76
Key stat: Ante Budimir has scored eight goals from just 12 shots on target in La Liga this season.
Mallorca are fighting relegation this season but that doesn’t mean they should be overlooked for upgrades with Ante Budimir shining in particular. The 28-year-old striker has scored over a third of his side’s league goals this season and will be hoping to add more to his tally to keep Los Bermellones up.
7. German (+4)
Age: 33
Current club: Granada
Position: CB
FIFA rating: 73 – 77
Key stat: German has won 44 aerial duels in La Liga this season.
Another member of Granada’s squad to have received a boost, German Sanchez has been upgraded to a gold card for his part in trying to keep the defence strong.
6. Unai Lopez (+4)
Age: 24
Current club: Athletic Bilbao
Position: CM
FIFA rating: 74 – 78
Key stat: Unai Lopez has recorded three assists in La Liga this season.
Athletic Bilbao have been underwhelming in La Liga this season but one player to have merited an upgrade on FIFA 20 is Unai Lopez. The central midfielder’s performances have been enough to persuade EA Sports to add four to his initial rating, taking him to a gold card.
5. Federico Valverde (+4)
Age: 21
Current club: Real Madrid
Position: CM
FIFA rating: 77 – 81
Key stat: Federico Valverde has averaged 1.85 tackles per 90 minutes in La Liga this season.
Real Madrid are back to their best and a lot of their established stars have received praise, but one of their younger members has also been recognised for his performances. Federico Valverde has been a regular for Real Madrid this season, also showing his understanding of the game’s dark side, with a last-man foul against Atletico Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final which prevented Alvaro Morata from certainly scoring. Valverde was sent off for the tackle outside the area but Real Madrid went on to win the trophy.
4. Martin Odegaard (+4)
Age: 21
Current club: Real Sociedad
Position: CAM
FIFA rating: 78 – 82
Key stat: Only two players have created more chances in La Liga this season than Martin Odegaard (47).
Martin Odegaard has been excellent for Real Sociedad this season, linking up well with Isak to help them reach the Copa del Rey semi-finals. His performances have earned him praise and links with a spot in Real Madrid’s team next year but, for now, a FIFA 20 upgrade will have to do.
3. Pau Torres (+5)
Age: 23
Current club: Villarreal
Position: CB
FIFA rating: 73 – 78
Key stat: Pau Torres has made 93 clearances in La Liga this season.
Villarreal are pushing for a European spot this season and if they are to do so, they need Pau Torres to keep his form. The centre-back has been solid in defence for Villarreal and was linked with a move to Arsenal in the January transfer window as a result. But, for now, he remains in Spain with a gold FIFA 20 card.
2. Unai Simon (+5)
Age: 22
Current club: Athletic Bilbao
Position: GK
FIFA rating: 73 – 78
Key stat: Unai Simon has saved 76.47% of the shots he has faced in La Liga this season.
Athletic Bilbao may be playing below par but Unai Simon certainly isn’t. The 22-year-old has been fantastic in goal for the Basque side, conceding just 16 goals to help Bilbao have one of the tightest defences in La Liga this season.
1. Mohammed Salisu (+7)
Age: 20
Current club: Real Valladolid
Position: CB
FIFA rating: 68 – 75
Key stat: Mohammed Salisu (119) has made more clearances than any other player in La Liga this season.
Real Valladolid may be in the bottom half of the table but all eyes are currently on them and the performances of Mohammed Salisu. The young centre-back has enjoyed a wonderful season so far and is currently being linked with a move to Manchester United and Real Madrid.
