2019-09-22 14:07:11 Read the





The quality goes up a notch as we enter the top 40 predicted players for FIFA 20.





40. Mats Hummels (OVR 89 -87)













Position: CB





Age: 30





Club: Borussia Dortmund





Country: Germany









Hummels was one of a trio of German World Cup winners unceremoniously retired by coach Joachim Low last season. He may be slightly over the hill but is still a great defender.





This season has seen him return to Borussia Dortmund, where he’ll add some much-needed experience to a young Dortmund backline.





39. Manuel Neuer (OVR 90 – 87)













Position: GK





Age: 33





Club: Bayern Munich





Country: Germany









Manuel Neuer was more pivotal than anyone in the introduction of the sweeper-keeper role, with blistering pace off his line and great ball skills.





Sadly, he hasn’t recuperated his best form after a recurring foot injury kept him out of much of the 2017/18 season, leading to several calls for him to be replaced as Germany’s starting goalkeeper. He should see a three-point ratings fall.





38. Roberto Firmino (OVR 86 – 87)













Position: CF, ST, CAM





Age: 27





Club: Liverpool





Country: Brazil









Roberto Firmino should be rated right on the cusp of 87 and 88. It’s become a common saying that he doesn’t get the credit he deserves, operating as a false nine in Liverpool’s stellar offense with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.





He’s the perfect attacker to play alongside, willingly doing the dirty work to allow Salah and Mane to grab the headlines.





37. Ederson (OVR 86 – 88)













Position: GK





Age: 26





Club: Manchester City





Country: Brazil









Surely no position has been revolutionised in recent years as much as goalkeeper? You can safely say that Ederson has been a significant part of its ongoing revolution. He has the passing range of a top-class deep-lying playmaker, allowing him to frequently start Manchester City attacks himself.





The Brazilian is a useful shot-stopper as well and should be rated as one of the best keepers in the game.





36. Paulo Dybala (OVR 89 – 88)













Position: CAM, RW





Age: 25





Club: Piemonte Calcio (Juventus)





Country: Argentina









Paulo Dybala’s league return of five goals last season was comfortably his weakest in a Juventus shirt. Perhaps he’s struggled with no longer being Juve’s main man in attack, thanks to the arrival of a certain Cristiano Ronaldo.





Scintillating at his best, infuriating at his worst, he’s remained at Juventus for the foreseeable future. Whether or not he can build an effective partnership with CR7 could be crucial in whether Juventus end their wait for the Champions League trophy.





35. Christian Eriksen (OVR 88 – 88)













Position: CAM, CM





Age: 27





Club: Tottenham





Country: Denmark









Like Dybala, Christian Eriksen was widely expected to be moving this summer. As a result, Mauricio Pochettino has used him sparingly so far this season. Their underwhelming performances without him underline how he is Tottenham’s main creative force and one of the finest playmakers in the Premier League.





His rating stays at 88 – keep an eye on whether he signs a new contract with Spurs or signs a pre-contract elsewhere in January.





34. Thibaut Courtois (OVR 90 – 88)













Position: GK





Age: 27





Club: Real Madrid





Country: Belgium













Courtois came into FIFA 19 on a massive high, having sealed a move to Real Madrid and the World Cup Golden Glove. Sadly, he’s another on this list to have suffered a ratings fall, having struggled to initially settle at the Bernabeu.





Now, with Keylor Navas out of the frame, Courtois will be hoping to recapture some of his best Chelsea and Belgium form.









33. Sadio Mane (OVR 86 – 88)

















Position: LW, RW, LM





Age: 27





Club: Liverpool





Country: Senegal













2018/19 was so close to being the perfect year for Sadio Mane, having lost out on the Premier League title by a mere point as well as finishing runner up in the African Cup of Nations.





Still, a Champions League winners medal is a pretty good consolation. Mane was unplayable for much of last season with Liverpool, tying for the Premier League golden boot with 22 goals.









32. Diego Godin (OVR 90 – 88)

















Position: CB





Age: 33





Club: Inter Milan





Country: Uruguay













FIFA 19’s second best centre-back suffers a two-point drop after some mixed performances in Atleti’s back-line. Yet a high rating of 88 indicates that Godin is still a top-class performer.





The 33-year-old Uruguayan legend has started a new chapter in his career this summer by moving to Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan – he’ll be part of a sturdy back three that also includes Milan Skriniar and Stefan de Vrij.









31. Edinson Cavani (OVR 89 – 88) CONFIRMED

















Position: ST





Age: 32





Club: PSG





Country: Uruguay













Edinson Cavani continued his lethal goalscoring form in Paris last season, despite only making 21 league appearances (in which he netted 18 times).





Keep a close eye on how he slots into PSG’s attack this season – they have added Mauro Icardi to what was already an embarrassment of attacking riches.







