It looks like age is finally catching up with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, at least in the virtual world of EA Sports FC.
As anticipation builds ahead of the launch of EA FC 26, leaked beta ratings have surfaced online, and the numbers for football’s biggest legends are making serious waves in the community. According to trusted community sources on social media, Lionel Messi has a beta rating of 87, while Cristiano Ronaldo comes in with 85.
These leaks, posted by @exofifa_ and others, aren’t official yet, noted clearly as beta and subject to change, but they’ve already sparked outrage, disbelief, and some intense debates among fans.
Fans sound off: “Age over performance?”
While these beta ratings aren’t final, the ripple on social media has been instant. Longtime followers of the FIFA franchise (now under the EA Sports FC banner) are used to seeing Messi and Ronaldo comfortably in the 90+ rating territory. So this drop is, understandably, stirring the pot.
One fan on X put it bluntly: “Ronaldo won nations league as a top scorer and [doesn’t] have walkout but Messi who won nothing get 87,” referring to Ronaldo’s score. Another chimed in with, “Absolute joke. I hope they do right when the official ratings come.”
You know what? They might have a point.
Messi and Ronaldo: A career of ratings at the top
Let’s take a quick trip down memory lane. Throughout the history of the FIFA series, Messi and Ronaldo were the game’s golden boys. Both hit towering peaks: Messi with a high of 94 in six different editions, and Ronaldo with the same score in three versions.
But the recent trend tells a different story. Messi’s rating fell to 88 in EA FC 25, and if the leaks are right, dipping another notch to 87 in FC 26. Ronaldo, meanwhile, has been on a steady slope since FIFA 21’s 92, and now looks set to drop further from his EA FC 25 rating of 86 to 85 in EA FC 26.
Lionel Messi Ratings History
- FIFA 06 – 78
- FIFA 07 – 84
- FIFA 08 – 86
- FIFA 09 – 90
- FIFA 10 – 90
- FIFA 11 – 90
- FIFA 12 – 94
- FIFA 13 – 94
- FIFA 14 – 94
- FIFA 15 – 93
- FIFA 16 – 94
- FIFA 17 – 93
- FIFA 18 – 93
- FIFA 19 – 94
- FIFA 20 – 94
- FIFA 21 – 93
- FIFA 22 – 93
- FIFA 23 – 91
- EA FC 24 – 90
- EA FC 25 – 88
Cristiano Ronaldo Ratings History
- FIFA 06 – 91
- FIFA 07 – 87
- FIFA 08 – 91
- FIFA 09 – 91
- FIFA 10 – 89
- FIFA 11 – 87
- FIFA 12 – 92
- FIFA 13 – 92
- FIFA 14 – 92
- FIFA 15 – 92
- FIFA 16 – 93
- FIFA 17 – 94
- FIFA 18 – 94
- FIFA 19 – 94
- FIFA 20 – 93
- FIFA 21 – 92
- FIFA 22 – 91
- FIFA 23 – 90
- EA FC 24 – 86
- EA FC 25 – 86
What this means for EA FC 26
With the official release of EA FC 26 still a few months away, these leaked ratings are likely just placeholders based on current club form, stats, and, yeah, probably their age too. The community tends to see beta ratings leak every year during testing phases, and they often evolve before final launch.
Still, it marks a notable shift. The Messi-Ronaldo era dominated the FIFA franchise for nearly two decades. The slow fade out of their dominance in the ratings hints at a new age: one where players like Mbappé, Haaland, and Bellingham begin to represent the new top tier.
The end of an era?
Truth be told, gaming mirrors real life more than we sometimes care to admit. As Messi and Ronaldo reach the twilight of their playing careers in MLS and the Saudi Pro League respectively, it’s no surprise to see their digital selves ageing too.
But even with the downgrades, don’t expect their FUT cards to fall into obscurity. With unique traits and legendary chemistry, these two are likely to remain FUT staples for squads that value legacy and finesse.