FIFA 17: 15 Real Madrid Player Ratings Leaked

Has Bale overtaken Ronaldo yet?

Real Madrid's l-r  Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodriguez
Mike Egerton/EMPICS Sport

What a difference a year makes.

This time last year, the Santiago Bernabeu was a far more sullen place. The bags underneath Rafa Benitez' eyes were palpable as he attempted to impose his strict philosophy upon a squad who had flourished under his predecessor's carefree, free-flowing styles.

The rigid formula failed to be accepted by a notoriously obtuse Madrid side, with Cristiano Ronaldo in particular said to be lamenting Carlo Ancelotti's departure. A 4-0 defeat to Barcelona ensured he wasn't around long.

Zinedine Zidane may be a managerial novice - the French Alan Shearer, if you will - but it mattered little as the former Castilla coach and Bernabeu legend hauled the club back into the title race, ended Barcelona's 39-match unbeaten run and beat their cross-city rivals Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final.

It's never dull at the Santiago Bernabeu, and last season provided more ups and downs than an Alton Towers roller coaster. You may have wondered what kind of effect such an emotionally draining campaign would have on the FIFA ratings for the players, who looked every bit a world-beater as they did a pub player at times last season.

Well wonder no more. Madrid's FIFA ratings have been leaked...

15. Lucas Vazquez: 80

Real Madrid's l-r  Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and James Rodriguez
2015 Getty Images

Last season was Lucas Vazquez's breakthrough year at the Santiago Bernabeu. He has had to bide his time and be patient, and when the club made moves in the market - such as shelling out £85 million to bring Gareth Bale to the club in 2013 - the 25-year-old must have thought his opportunity would never come.

However, a star at underage level with Madrid, the pacy winger enjoyed his first taste of top-flight football in 14/15 when he impressed during a season-long loan deal, before returning to his parent club at the end of the season.

He has flourished under Zidane's tutelage, and while there was never really any danger of either Bale or Ronaldo finding themselves benched for the Spaniard, he can find himself relatively pleased with his contribution for the season.

With 25 appearances and four goals for the club, this was his long-awaited moment and he grabbed it. As the cherry on the cake that was a splendid year, he was drafted into Vincent del Bosque's Spain squad for Euro 2016, ahead of some high-profile attacking options such as Juan Mata, Fernando Torres and Diego Costa. He made one appearance, replacing club-mate Alvaro Morata in the 2-0 defeat to Italy in the last 16.

FIFA 16 Rating: 76

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Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future. Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.