The leaves are falling onto the streets, the kids are going back to school, the pool is closing for the year. And most importantly, the most popular sports video game is coming back. EA Sports FC 26 (once known as FIFA) will be released on September 26, and to nobody's surprise, one of the only 5-star teams is Real Madrid.
Whilst we don't know every single player rating yet, EA have released the full list of the game's top 100 players, including a handful of Real Madrid players. Today, we're taking a look at three of the most surprising Real Madrid player ratings.
The 3 most surprising Real Madrid player ratings in EA Sports FC 26
1. Jude Bellingham (90)
Jude Bellingham's placement at #9 in the overall rankings comes as somewhat of a surprise. The Englishman delivered a historic rookie season in Madrid, but he nevertheless dropped off in 2024/25 in terms of his end product and ability to move the ball from box to box. That said, it's fair to say that his shoulder problem contributed to this decline.
Nevertheless, having a higher rating than the likes of Pedri (89) and Vitinha (89) is certainly a controversial decision for many, and it showcases EA's belief in Bellingham as one of the stars of the game.
2. Vinicius Junior (89)
Another player whose rating is somewhat of a surprise is Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian forward has dropped from 90 to 89, situated as the 26th-highest ranked player in the game (male or female).
Having come agonizingly close to winning the 2024 Ballon d'Or, it's undeniable that Vini has suffered a decline in the past few months, but you'd have still picked him to have a 90/91 ranking. The onus is on him to prove to EA why he remains one of the best players in world football this season and make his case for a potentially higher rating in 2026.
3. Antonio Rudiger (86)
Lastly, Antonio Rudiger's 86 rating comes as a shock as well. The German defender stepped up in the absences of Eder Militao and David Alaba and guided Real to a Champions League + league double in 2023/24, only to fall off tremendously in 2024/25.
He landed himself in hot water after throwing a bandage at a referee in the Copa del Rey Final, returning two months later for the Club World Cup, where he committed a number of high-profile errors. With one year left on his contract, time is running out for Rudiger to justify why he is still a world-class defender.