Having raised the proverbial two fingers to the critics and sceptics last season, Gareth Bale is ready to kick on and cement himself as a Bernabeu legend. Following a tricky beginning to his Real Madrid career following a world record £80 million transfer last summer, the Welsh superstar went on to notch 22 goals in all competitions, including a sensational Copa del Rey winner against Barcelona and a decisive effort in the Champions League final against cross-city rivals Athletico Madrid. A progression of three places up from last summer is certainly deserved, and an icing on the cake for an ever-improving British Galactico.
13. Philipp Lahm - 87
Mike Egerton/PA Wire/Press Association Images
FIFA 14 Rank: 14th
Surely captaining your country to World Cup glory merits more than just a jump of one place from last year? Then again, Philipp Lahm was arguably no more outstanding last season than he has been any other - just maintaining his usual, impeccably-high standards. Adopting a new role as defensive midfielder in Pep Guardiola's new-look Bayern Munich, he was often deployed there by international boss Joachim Loew, although he would only excel during the World Cup in his natural role as a full-back. Perhaps the FIFA 15 ratings were somehow leaked to him, and he quit international football to concentrate on boosting his position in the charts further for next year's edition?