Lionel Messi downgraded in 'FIFA 17', Cristiano Ronaldo highest rated

Gold placards bearing the names of FIFA Ballon d'Or nominees Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar
© Getty Images
Cristiano Ronaldo overtakes Lionel Messi as the highest-rated player on FIFA 17, with the former being handed a 94 rating to the Argentine's 93.

Lionel Messi has been downgraded to a 93 rating on FIFA 17, which will be released later this month.

The EA Sports game will be available for purchase on September 27 in North America, while the rest of the world will have to wait another two days for September 29 to get their hands on the latest edition.

There has already been a controversial decision, however, with FIFA 17 downgrading Messi from a 94 rating in FIFA 16 to a 93, which has left Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo as the best player in the game with a rating of 94.

Messi's dribbling statistics have been rated at 96 compared to Ronaldo's 91, but the Portuguese's pace and shots score higher than Messi, whose defending is down at 26 in relation to Ronaldo's 33.

The third-highest rated player in the game is Messi's club teammate Neymar, with the Brazilian picking up a rating of 92, including dribbling of 95 and pace of 91.

Ronaldo has also been given a higher work rate in the attacking third of the field, while the 31-year-old also scores higher than his rival when it comes to skill moves.

Munir El Haddadi of FC Barcelona in action during the pre-season friendly match between FC Barcelona and SSC Napoli on August 6, 2014
Read Next:
Munir to join Valencia on loan
>