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
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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?
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.
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