What Are Player Ratings in EA Sports FC and FIFA?

Player ratings are the numbers that summarise how good a player is in EA Sports FC and FIFA. The headline figure is the overall rating (OVR), a single score that sits on the player card and is used to compare players at a glance. Underneath it sit six face attributes — pace, shooting, passing, dribbling, defending and physical — plus more detailed sub-attributes. Ratings appear on player cards in Ultimate Team, in squad screens, in career mode and in online player databases such as FIFPlay. They are not fixed: EA updates them through live updates, promos and special cards, so the value you see today can change.

What the overall rating actually represents

The OVR is a weighted summary of a player's attributes, adjusted by their position. A central defender's overall leans heavily on defending and physical, while a winger's leans on pace, dribbling and shooting. That is why two players with the same OVR can feel completely different in game — the number tells you how good the card is overall, not how it will behave in your formation.

A useful way to read it:

• OVR — the headline comparison number.
• Position — determines which attributes are weighted most heavily.
• Face attributes — the six stats shown on the front of the card.
• Sub-attributes — the detailed breakdown behind each face stat.

The six face attributes

Each face attribute is itself an average of several sub-attributes. For example, shooting rolls up finishing, shot power, long shots, volleys, penalties and positioning. This is why a player can have a high shooting number but still miss chances — the individual sub-attributes behind it may not suit the shot you are taking.

Related ratings worth checking

Beyond OVR and the six attributes, several other values shape how a card performs:

• Potential — the OVR a young player can reach through growth in career mode.
• Weak foot — rated one to five stars; affects how reliably a player shoots and passes on their weaker side.
• Skill moves — rated one to five stars; determines which dribbling moves a player can perform.
• Work rates — attacking and defensive work rate (low, medium, high); affects how far a player moves from their position.
• International reputation and traits — smaller modifiers that influence behaviour and value.

How to compare two players

Comparing ratings only works if you compare like with like. A practical method:

1. Check both players play the same or a similar position.
2. Compare the face attributes that matter for that role, not just OVR.
3. Open the sub-attributes to see where the difference actually comes from.
4. Check weak foot, skill moves and work rates, since these change how the card feels.
5. Confirm you are looking at the current version of the card, not an outdated one.

For example, two strikers both rated 84 overall might differ sharply: one with high pace and finishing but low physical suits a counter-attacking style, while one with high physical and heading suits crosses and hold-up play. The OVR alone would not tell you that.

Filtering and sorting in a player database

Player databases such as FIFPlay let you search and rank players by rating and attribute. Typical workflow:

• Filter by position, league, nation or club to narrow the pool.
• Sort by overall rating to see the strongest options first.
• Add a secondary sort or filter on a specific attribute (for example pace or defending) to match your needs.
• Open an individual player page to see the full attribute breakdown and card versions.

The expected result is a shortlist of players who fit both your rating target and your playing style, rather than just the highest OVR available.

Why ratings change

Ratings are not permanent. EA issues live updates that adjust attributes based on real-world form, and promos introduce special cards with boosted or altered ratings. A player's base card, an in-form card and a promo card can all carry different numbers for the same person. Because of this, always check the current value on the card or in the database before you buy, build a squad around, or compare a player — an old rating you remember may no longer apply.