The yearly announcement of FIFA ratings is one of the most scrutinized topics in the gaming industry. Inevitably some players will complain about their ratings because that's just the competitive nature that comes with being a top-class athlete. Fans also criticize the ratings, but those voices have much less merit. Even so, FIFA 21 has sold a few players short this season. There's even more focus on boosting the ratings of young players this season, so some seasoned vets have fallen through the cracks.
The four players on this list have been veterans of EA's soccer simulation series for some time. Some on this list have seen better days, but they still deserve more respect than the current OVR rating suggests they get. There's a bonus player that is an all-time great who should see his ICONS card bumped up at the end too.
Most Underrated Players in FIFA 21
Robert Lewandowski - 91 OVR - ST - Bayern Munich
- Robert Lewandowski is the closest anyone has ever come to dethroning Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as FIFA's two best players over the past decade. Lewandowski scores outrageous goals at Bayern Munich, and lead his team to Champions League glory last season. He deserves the bump up to 92 OVR. With Cristiano Ronaldo's age contributing to his decline, Lewandowski's Champions League performance should've been enough to see him at least equal Ronaldo's rating of 92.
Jamie Vardy - 86 OVR - ST - Leicester City
- Jamie Vardy had a party in 2020. The hero of the Foxes' 2016 championship bagged 23 goals in the English Premier League last season, which lead the league. While the Foxes haven't returned to championship heights, Vardy has sustained his world-class play. He's a pacey striker who plays off the shoulder of the last man in defense. Players that use the new 'Creative Runs' feature of FIFA 21 will excel with Vardy. He's not a good dribbler of the ball, (rated 79) but if combined with a creative maestro in midfield, Vardy will provide countless forward runs for through balls. He's criminally underrated at 86 OVR, especially considering that Roberto Firmino and Aubameyang are both rated ahead of him at 87. Aubameyang was second in the PL last season with 22 goals, so that could be why mistakes were made. Firmino has no excuse, he only scored 9. Vardy should be at least an 88 with higher acceleration, finishing, and penalty ratings.
Gareth Bale - 83 OVR - RW - Tottenham Hotspur
- Bale became a star in his first spell in the white half of north London before landing a mega-money transfer to Spanish royalty Real Madrid. His time in Madrid was successful on the pitch, where he scored more than one iconic goal in crucial moments but was marred by clashes with fans. Finally the Wales international was frozen out by Real Madrid manager Zidane. He's returned to the old stomping grounds at White Hart Lane to play for Jose Mourinho for 2020/21. His FUT card is rated 88 Pace, 84 Shooting, and 80 Dribbling, solid stats for a winger who likes to cut inside and fire long shots. However, if Bale is moved to center forward, he could be even more devastating. Bale's career corresponds similarly to his former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo used to be the speediest winger with all the dribbling tricks in the book. Similarly, Bale used to beat defenders using his fantastic pace, but those days are long gone. A move to CF won't happen at Tottenham, but video game Bale would flourish in the middle. He's still got the world-class finishing ratings that come with nailing a bicycle kick in a Champions League final, and the dribbling and pace to create goals out of nothing. It would be hard to make his wages work, but Bale could be the perfect option for a mid-table side needing 15 goals per season.
Edin Dzeko - 83 OVR - ST - Roma
- Dzeko is more limited than the first two on this list because he's not as mobile. At 34 years of age, he's taken plenty of stops around Europe's top leagues. He's scored over 50 goals for clubs in England, Italy, and Germany while avoiding spotlight status. His 16-goal season last year didn't deserve a downgrade from his FIFA 20 avatar. Dzeko is a target man. He's slow and can't dribble well. He was great at hold-up play in his youth and deserves a higher rating for short passing. He also deserves a higher volley and long-shot rating, and 85 OVR.
Thierry Henry - 90 OVR - LW - ICONS
- Thierry Henry is one of the most iconic players of all time. Between his time at Arsenal, Barcelona and NY Red Bulls, the Frenchmen filled countless highlight reels with his eccentric play. He's a 'The streets will never forget" player. Henry deserves respect amongst other legends. He's no Diego Maradona, but Henry deserves a few bumps up. It's time that EA releases a 93 OVR Henry card that's capable of his top-drawer finishes and subliminal tricks with the ball.
For the most part, FIFA 21 has done a good job of rating the player pool this year, but nonetheless, some players will still complain. There's an influx of youth at the top level, so seasoned players like Dzeko and Bale don't get the respect they deserve. All of the players on this list would be worth a pick-up on FUT because they're sure to be stronger than their ratings suggest.
FIFA 21 is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.