The passion for football doesn’t die when the final whistle blows. The excitement continues for millions of players on a console or PC, where famous stars become the center of virtual teams. The series is still called “FIFA” by many, but the game’s official name is now EA SPORTS FC. FC 26 is the current game – but FC 27 is scheduled for release in September 2026. Some names stand out among the most popular football players in FIFA, not just for online football betting, but for their real-world reputation, ratings, pace, technical ability and sheer recognizability.
Being rated highly helps, but it’s not everything. One particular attribute can make a player a fan favorite. Speed is an obvious one. A winger with explosive pace can change the game, turning a small gap into a clear chance.
Technical ability counts, too. A player's feel in-game depends on dribbling, passing, shooting, and physical strength. That is why the top FIFA players are not always the players with the highest overall rating. A player with the right set of qualities can be more useful to a certain style of play than a player with a higher rating.
That is exactly what the current FC 26 ratings show. Kylian Mbappé has a 97 Pace, Ousmane Dembélé has 93 Dribbling. Harry Kane is leading the shooting stats with 92, while Kevin De Bruyne is best for passing with 92.
And then there’s the familiarity factor. Stars that players know and like watching. Whether you’re a legendary striker, a creative midfielder or a commanding defender, you can feel special even before the first virtual match kicks off.
Liverpool have always had a big connection to football gaming. The club’s worldwide fanbase means its biggest stars are known to players around the world.
Virgil van Dijk offers a special type of appeal. He gives you pace, attacking tricks and physicality rather than strength and defensive intelligence. His FC 26 rating was 90, with 90 Defending and 87 Physicality making him one of the standout defenders in the game.
And the story of Liverpool keeps changing. In FC 27, Van Dijk is Liverpool’s top rated men’s player at 88, followed by Alisson Becker at 87. Alexander Isak, Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz all score an 86.
That change is what makes football games interesting. Ratings change with performances, transfers and the developers’ opinion on players. And a footballer’s virtual reputation can change almost as fast as his real world career.
Football gaming has also evolved from the casual games between friends. FC Pro gives EA SPORTS FC's competitive scene a serious esports structure.
The FC Pro ecosystem features league events, regional competitions, the FC Pro Open and the FC Pro World Championship. The 2026 World Championship was hosted at the Esports World Cup in Paris, with 36 top players.
That competitive element adds another layer to player selection. The professionals who are competing are not just picking a footballer because they like him. They think about formations, tactics, attributes and how individual players fit into their approach.
This is where the FIFA player ratings get really interesting. A few points difference in pace, passing or defending can influence how a competitive player builds his squad. It also explains why the debate on the best footballers in FIFA tends to be more complex than simply overall ratings.
There’s an even wider connection with betting on eSports as competitive gaming has developed its own tournaments, audiences and statistics. But watching competitive FC is not the same as playing it, and betting decisions should always be made separately from the enjoyment of the game.
A footballer's influence extends beyond goals, trophies and television appearances. Fans can recreate famous moments, build dream squads and try out players they may never get to see live thanks to video games.
This can make a familiar player even more familiar for Liverpool fans. Van Dijk can anchor a defense against an elite attack. As they learn how those players perform on the virtual pitch, newcomers can quickly become household names among gamers.
The game also introduces younger audiences to players and footballing styles they may not otherwise closely follow. When a player is a favorite in Career Mode or Ultimate Team, it can inspire someone to watch that footballer in real life.
That two-way relationship is one reason the biggest football games are still culturally relevant. The game is based on real football, whilst helping to keep footballers in the public eye between matches.
There’s no one number that defines the best FIFA players. Ratings matter but so do pace, technique, reputation, position and personal preference in the way fans pick their virtual stars.
Liverpool offers some fine examples. Van Dijk has an elite career in the real world and strong identity in the football gaming world, and the shifting FC 27 ratings serve as a reminder of how quickly the virtual landscape can change.
That’s perhaps the most enjoyable part of the game to explore for fans. No one is perfect. The best player is often the one that fits your style, gives you confidence, and makes the next match worth playing.