Meta on FIFA 22 Ultimate Team is a lot different to last year.

Unlike on FIFA 21, gone are the days where you can have a Reece James or Kyle Walker at centre-back (obviously excluding his TOTW card), as if you do it decreases the player’s attributes such as Pace and Defending.

FIFA 22 has a FIFA 19 vibe with green-timed finesse long shots being extremely overpowered, to do this you need to press RB/R1 and the shoot button to start the shot animation and then follow it up by pressing the shoot button again just before your player strikes the ball. If you hit it at the perfect (green) time, it adds power and accuracy to your shot – mastering this will guarantee you a few extra goals per game.

Finally, this year gameplay is based around of a lot of tiki taka football and close dribbling. Skills are still effective but not as much as previous FIFAs but, of course, Pace is and always will be, a necessity for every player.

But who are the best meta players on FIFA 22 as things stand? We asked competitive FIFA player Josh Buchanan* – who you can find on Twitch here – to get his options in both an expensive and cheaper (under 100k) XI – excluding ICONs.

*Josh Buchanan is a FIFA Ultimate Team Verified Player on Xbox who has twice achieved a Top 200 finish on FIFA 21 Weekend League, regularly hitting Elite by recording 23 wins or more.

Prices via FUTBin, correct as of 13:00 23/11/21.

Best FIFA 22 Ultimate Team Meta players

Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma

Rating: 89
Nation: Italy
League: Ligue 1
Club: PSG
Average price: 49,250 (PS) 44,750 (Xbox)

The 6’5″ goalkeeper completely fills the goal, making it very difficult to score past him. He also provides green chemistry links to several PSG centre-backs.

Gianluigi Donnarumma has now saved 16 penalties in his senior career.

And a reminder that he's won 5/5 penalty shoot-outs. ? pic.twitter.com/GJDGpnQD5k

— Squawka (@Squawka) November 3, 2021

Right-back: Achraf Hakimi

Rating: 85
Nation: Morocco
League: Ligue 1
Club: PSG
Average price: 59,000 (PS) 46,000 (Xbox)

The new PSG man and the fasted right-back on the game at present. With the added bonus of being able to dribble, there is no one else you would want at right-back on FIFA 22.

Centre-back: Marquinhos

Rating: 87
Nation: Brazil
League: Ligue 1
Club: PSG
Average price: 69,000 (PS) 56,000 (Xbox)

An unexpected meta card this year in my opinion, but Marquinhos is a perfect centre-back: Brazilian, fast, tall and strong. What more do you want?

Centre-back: Raphael Varane

Rating: 86
Nation: France
League: Premier League
Club: Manchester United
Average price: 136,000 (PS) 111,000 (Xbox)

Raphael Varane has been the go-to centre-back for several FIFAs now and this year is no different. He offers the option of hybrid French squads along with 82 Pace and 87 Defending – he is a must.

Left-back: IF Theo Hernandez

Rating: 86
Nation: France
League: Serie A
Club: AC Milan
Average price: 172,000 (PS) 155,000 (Xbox)

Never mind Ferland Mendy and Varane, it’s now Theo Hernandez and Varane. With 95 Pace no one is getting past him.

Right-midfielder: Rulebreakers Ousmane Dembele

Rating: 86
Nation: France
League: La Liga
Club: Barcelona
Average price: 458,000 (PS) 395,000 (Xbox)

Ousmane Dembele was a go-to in the previous year and it’s no different this time around. The perfect well-rounded card, French, 5* Skill Moves and 5* Weak Foot, fast, can dribble and shoot from distance, what more do you want?

Central midfielder: Kevin De Bruyne

Rating: 91
Nation: Belgium
League: Premier League
Club: Manchester City
Average price: 60,000 (PS) 61,000 (Xbox)

One of the highest-rated gold central midfielders on the game, there aren’t many other complete all-around CMs on FIFA 22 like KDB, with 5* Weak Foot 4* Skills, 93 Passing, 86 Shooting and 88 Dribbling.

Central midfielder: N’Golo Kante

Rating: 90
Nation: France
League: Premier League
Club: Chelsea
Average price: 285,000 (PS) 225,000 (Xbox)

I don’t think there’s much more that can be said about N’Golo Kante aside from the fact he’s is one of the best CDMs on the game. He’s fast, agile, strong and can tackle – everything you need from your holding midfield player and , again, the French link works perfectly for chemistry. The only downside to Kante for a FIFA player is his height, but he makes up for this in several other key areas.

? "UCL semi-final first leg, second leg and in the final, he was the best player in all three games… by a country mile as well!"@muhammadbutt thinks N'Golo Kanté is the superstar Thomas Tuchel has built Chelsea's system around. ? pic.twitter.com/TojGdrdt8k

— Squawka (@Squawka) September 25, 2021

Left-midfielder: HERO David Ginola

Rating: 89
Nation: France
League: Ligue 1
Club: N/A
Average price: 1,698,000 (PS) 1,194,000 (Xbox)

A brand new edition to FIFA this year, and what a player he is. With 5* Skill Moves, 5* Weak Foot and outstanding long shots, he can play anywhere across the front four.

Striker: Kylian Mbappe

Rating: 91
Nation: France
League: Ligue 1
Club: PSG
Average price: 1,293,000 (PS) 942,000 (Xbox)

There is a reason he is on the front of the cover, as he’s easily one of the best gold cards. Shoot from anywhere within 20 yards and it will go in, Kylian Mbappe is basically a cheat code.

Striker: Neymar

Rating: 91
Nation: Brazil
League: Ligue 1
Club: PSG
Average price: 614,000 (PS) 491,000 (Xbox)

Neymar is one of the most meta players you will find in FIFA. With 5* Skill Moves, 5* Weak Foot, 91 Pace and 94 Dribbling, there isn’t much more to say other than buy him.

Starting formation > In-game formation

Best FIFA 22 Ultimate Team Meta players (around 100k)

Goalkeeper: Hugo Lloris

Rating: 87
Nation: France
League: Premier League
Club: Tottenham Hotspur
Average price: 21,500 (PS) 24,000 (Xbox)

A high-rated and cheap goalkeeper alternative option that can offer a French hybrid link. You can’t go wrong.

Right-back: Kevin Mbabu

Rating: 79
Nation: Switzerland
League: Bundesliga
Club: Wolfsburg
Average price: 1,500 (PS) 1,800 (Xbox)

Giving a green link to Maxence Lacroix, with 88 Pace and 91 Stamina, Kevin Mbabu will run up and down the right flank all day.

Centre-back: Maxence Lacroix

Rating: 79
Nation: France
League: Bundesliga
Club: Wolfsburg
Average price: 1,900 (PS) 1,900 (Xbox)

One of the fastest centre-backs on the game with 88 Pace, less than 2,000 coins and a French hybrid link, this is the definition of a steal.

Centre-back: Jules Kounde

Rating: 83
Nation: France
League: La Liga
Club: Sevilla
Average price: 3,300 (PS) 3,400 (Xbox)

The Joe Gomez of La Liga, Jules Kounde is 83 rated with 81 Pace and 84 Defending and gets those sweet French links.

Jules Koundé x #SquawkaScout ?

ICYMI…https://t.co/0raQJ1x552

— Squawka (@Squawka) November 10, 2021

Left-back: Andrew Robertson

Rating: 87
Nation: Scotland
League: Premier League
Club: Liverpool
Average price: 22,500 (PS) 24,250 (Xbox)

Although he is a little slower than a typical full-back on FIFA, a Shadow chemistry puts Andrew Robertson’s Pace to 94 making him an unstoppable high rated full-back for only 22,000 coins.

Right-midfielder: Anthony Martial

Rating: 81
Nation: France
League: Premier League
Club: Manchester United
Average price: 1,100 (PS) 1,300 (Xbox)

Although Martial isn’t a natural winger with 87 Pace and 85 Dribbling, a Hawk chemistry style will boost these stats to 92 and 86 respectively, making him an ideal wide player.

Central midfielder: Bruno Fernandes

Rating: 88
Nation: Portugal
League: Premier League
Club: Manchester United
Average price: 30,500 (PS) 32,000 (Xbox)

Bruno was one of the most-used cards on FIFA 21, this year he is extremely cheap (compared to last season). The 89 Long Shot isn’t too bad either, he will definitely bring a goal or two to your side.

◉ Rúben Dias
◉ Bruno Fernandes
◉ İlkay Gündoğan
◉ Harry Kane
◉ Mason Mount
◎ Kevin De Bruyne
◎ Phil Foden
◎ Bukayo Saka
◎ Declan Rice
◎ Mason Greenwood
◎ Trent Alexander-Arnold

Five out of 11 unique #PFAawards nominees were included in the Squawka Team of the Season. pic.twitter.com/EYVcdVD0UR

— Squawka (@Squawka) June 2, 2021

Central midfielder: Moussa Sissoko

Rating: 78
Nation: France
League: Premier League
Club: Watford
Average price: 900 (PS) 1,000 (Xbox)

Sissoko is another overpowered cheap card. Tall, French and strong with 87 Physicality costing only 900 coins, there aren’t too many better options in midfield for that price.

Left-midfielder: Allan Saint-Maximin

Rating: 79
Nation: France
League: Premier League
Club: Newcastle United
Average price: 2,100 (PS) 2,200 (Xbox)

A French winger with 5* Skill Moves, 4* Weak Foot, 91 Pace and 87 Dribbling for only 2.1k. Saint-Maximin is the definition of a meta player, agile, fast and perfect for the wing.

Striker: Ousmane Dembele

Rating: 83
Nation: France
League: La Liga
Club: Barcelona
Average price: 6,400 (PS) 4,700 (Xbox)

So fitted for FIFA that he gets in both teams. Dembele’s normal gold card is the perfect fit to play as a striker, CAM or out wide, with 5* Skill Moves and 5* Weak Foot making him extremely unpredictable.

Striker: Marcus Rashford

Rating: 85
Nation: England
League: Premier League
Club: Manchester United
Average price: 12,750 (PS) 11,250 (Xbox)

The stats speak for themselves: 5* Skill Moves, 90 Pace, 84 Shooting and 84 Dribbling. Not to mention he has the long shot trait suited to this year’s meta.

Starting formation > In-game formation