FIFA 15: 10 Players Who Need Downgrading After World Cup
2. Lionel Messi 94
Of all the players competing in the 2014 World Cup the stakes were highest for Lionel Messi. Taking the trophy back to Argentina would confirm Messis place alongside the likes of Pele and Maradona as one of the greatest of all time. In the earlier stages of the tournament the Barcelona star looked set to fulfill what many believed to be his destiny. Not only did he rack up four goals but he also got four Man of the Match awards to accompany them. However, in the semi-finals and finals the Argentine striker looked far from his best. He was smothered out of the game by the Dutch and German defences and looked increasingly absent in the later stages of the game. Many had expected the man touted as the best player in the world to be capable of producing some form of game changing magic in these high pressure situations. However, Messi was incapable of sparking the Argentina side into pulling off the upset in the final (despite having some extremely hittable chances) and it is likely now that his legacy will rank him alongside the likes of Ronaldo, Zidane and Xavi rather than Pele and Maradona. Though it is impossible to deny that he is still the best in the world, his performances in the 2013/14 season combined with his disappointing finish to Argentinas World Cup campaign mean that he should be ranked alongside Cristiano Ronaldo as the best player in FIFA 15. Suggested Rating: 93
Hailing from South East London, Sam Heard is an aspiring writer and recent graduate from the University of Warwick. Sam's favourite things include energy drinks, late nights spent watching the UFC with his girlfriend and annihilating his friends at FIFA.
