Players & Ratings

Tap any player to open their card. It’s the single best tool you have for judging talent — learn to read it well.

Overall rating (OVR)

Every player has one headline number: his overall rating, or OVR. It sums up how good he is, judged for the position he plays — a striker’s OVR leans on his threat in front of goal, a defender’s on how well he defends. Two players at the same OVR can still be different footballers, but as a quick read of quality, OVR is the number you’ll rely on most.

Compare OVR when you’re weighing one player against another: for the role you need filled, a higher OVR is a better player.

A rating isn’t a promise

OVR tells you how good a player should be — not how he’ll play on the day. Footballers have good runs and bad ones, and now and then a player performs a notch above or below his number. Watch how your players actually perform, not just what their rating says.

Positions

Players have specific positions within the broader lines:

• Goalkeeper: GK
• Defenders: CB, LB, RB
• Midfielders: CDM, CM, CAM
• Forwards: LW, RW, ST

Playing a footballer in his natural position gets the best out of him. You can field a player out of position in a pinch, but don’t expect his best.

Age, wages, and contract

The card also shows:

• Age — how much career (and development) a player has ahead of him. See how players grow and decline in Offseason Overview.
• Salary — his wage, which counts against your salary cap.
• Contract years remaining — when it drops to one, you’ll get the chance to re-sign him in the offseason before he can walk.
• International or domestic status — which counts toward your international limit.

Match and season stats

You’ll also find a player’s output: goals, assists, minutes, match ratings, plus his current injury or suspension status. Over a season these tell you who’s actually delivering — not just who looks good on paper. A player whose form is beating his OVR can be a real find; one falling short of his may be worth moving on.