FIFA 21: 10 Players Who Will Be Horribly Underrated

They deserve better and we all know it.

By Callum James /

When EA release their annual database there are always a fair few contentious decisions to be discussed.

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Whilst we can allow the fact that there are literally thousands of footballers spanning multiple continents available in the game, there are constant allegations from the fans that EA tends to ignore many of the league outside of the typical top 3 of the Premier League, La Liga and Bundesliga.

Between strange decisions on ratings, stats and positions, there are certainly a lot of areas the developers can improve upon.

One major talking point every year is which players deserved to be higher-rated.

Maybe they had an exemplary year but in a league viewed as less challenging or they picked up an injury that prevented their development. Sometimes EA gets caught downgrading and underrating players just for being the wrong side of 30, no matter how they perform.

This list is for those players that EA has forgotten, or maybe just haven't been generous enough.

Whatever the reasoning, these players deserve justice.

10. Chuba Akpom (PAOK)

Part of PAOK’s incredible invincible season in 2018/19, Akpom has hit the ground running after leaving Arsenal for the Greek giants on a permanent deal worth £900,000.

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Akpom was seen as a failed talent, struggling on loan moves to Brentford, Coventry, Nottingham Forest, Hull, Brighton and Sint-Truiden. With PAOK Chuba Akpom now has 19 goal and assist contributions in 43 league games over the last two seasons.

While this may sound pretty average if not unimpressive, the fact that Akpom has only played enough league minutes to equate to just under 25 full games means that his contribution of goals and assists rests at 0.76 a game over this period.

This is almost an almost identical output to that of current Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette, who has an output of 0.78 goals and assists a game over the same period.

Yet there is a 13 rating gap between the two forwards.

It is also a far better return than Dominic Calvert-Lewin (0.54), who has been showered with plaudits this season and looks set to be upgraded to a 79 for FIFA 21.

By no means am I suggesting that Akpom should be rated higher than either, but surely his achievements and form warrant higher than the 73 he is likely to be stuck with.

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