Ever since swapping Sporting CP for Manchester United in 2003, Cristiano Ronaldo has been a FIFA mainstay.
For the most part, he’s been one of the very elite players in the game to deservedly reflect his standing in the real world.
Here’s a look at Ronaldo’s rating history.
Ronaldo’s first appearance in FIFA came in time for his debut 2003/04 season at Man Utd.
He had impressed his future teammates in a friendly for Sporting that summer, and clearly had the same impact on the big bosses at EA too, immediately handing him a modest 80 rating.
After an impressive first season in England, Ronaldo received quite the boost on his overall rating (and also EA’s very primitive version of a face scan).
His 88 rating wasn’t enough to make him the best player for Man Utd, however – Rio Ferdinand, Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Ruud van Nistelrooy all had overalls above 90.
But one year later, Ronaldo did break into the 90s with a plus-three upgrade.
Only the game’s cover co-star, Wayne Rooney (93), had a higher rating at Man Utd.
A drop of four ratings? EA must have been angry about his 2006 World Cup quarter-final antics, too.
This wasn’t a slight on Ronaldo, however. It’s just FIFA’s rating system became much tougher.
A year on, Ronaldo’s 91 rating was restored just as he began peaking for the first time in real life.
His stunning 2007/08 season played a huge part in eventually winning his first Ballon d’Or.
Ronaldo’s run of three 91 ratings in four years must be some sort of record, right?
EA handed generous upgrades to the Portuguese’s long shot and free-kick stats, though nerfed his strength by seven to take it back below 80.
Aaaaand back below 90 he goes!
Despite sealing a then-world record £80m move to Real Madrid, Ronaldo’s rating dropped by two – one below that of Lionel Messi’s.
Wow, tough crowd.
Ronaldo remained an 89 rating for FIFA 11, and while most of his stat changes were marginal, his interceptions rating went down by 47.
Ah, normal service is resumed.
Ronaldo became the joint second-highest rated player in FIFA alongside Xavi, but remained two overalls worse than Messi.
Same again.
Ronaldo kept his 92 rating for FIFA 13, again still two overalls behind Messi.
EA really had an easy job with these top-level ratings, huh.
Ronaldo was once again a 92. Messi was once again a 94.
Winning his first Champions League with Real Madrid clearly did not matter to EA, who kept rolling with Ronaldo’s 92 rating.
Sound the alarm! Ronaldo received an upgrade!
48 goals in La Liga alone saw EA budge and up his rating by one. It still didn’t make him the best player in the game, mind.
Two in two years? You OK, EA?
Ronaldo finally took the crown as the highest-rated player on FIFA for the 2016/17 season.
Still number one.
Ronaldo’s final year at Real Madrid was marked with another 94 rating on FIFA, keeping his spot as the best player in the game. He also became the series’ cover star.
Ronaldo moved to Juventus in the summer of 2018, kept his 94 rating but now had to share his title as the best player in the game with Messi, who was upgraded back to a 94 too.
Well, he had a good run.
A productive but ultimately anti-climactic debut season at Juventus (or at this point, ‘Piemonte Calcio’) saw Ronaldo downgraded to a 93 and lose his place atop the FIFA ratings mountain.
The slide continues.
Another fruitful year in front of goal but less successful one for the team meant Ronaldo’s rating dropped by one again. His finishing and heading stats received a minor boost but there were plenty of downgrades elsewhere.
Ronaldo’s return to Man Utd saw him receive a third successive rating drop of one, and this was a pretty significant one in the FIFA world – he wasn’t just rated lower than Messi, but now also Robert Lewandowski.
Another FIFA, another downgrade of one for Ronaldo.
EA’s upcoming instalment will see Ronaldo start with a 90 rating, though his status as a substitute for Man Utd could see him further nerfed over the course of the season if he doesn’t rediscover his form.
