French Ligue 1

Lionel Messi dethroned as world’s best player…Ronaldo drops to No. 34!

Published

3 years ago

March 2, 2022

**On the new FM22 database (22.3.0), Messi’s current ability (CA) has been downgraded from 194 out of 200 to 186 out of 200, which has seen him drop from the best player on FM22, down to fourth.**

Following the release of the Football Manager 2022 Main Winter Update, which features an updated player database, Lionel Messi has been dethroned as the best player in the world on the game.

Lionel Messi is no longer ranked as the best player in the world on Football Manager 2022.

Sports Interactive released the Main Winter Update for Football Manager 2022 on Thursday, February 24, 2022, with players now able to load up and use an updated database (22.3.0) for their new save games.

The updated FM22 database features all of the latest winter transfers from around the world, but it also features updated player attributes and current ability levels. The FM22 Main Winter Update also introduces a Versus mode.

And following the FM22 Main Winter Update, there have been a number of current ability changes to some huge names, including the likes of Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski, and it’s completely changed the rankings of the best players in the world on the game.

On the new FM22 database (22.3.0), Messi’s current ability (CA) has been downgraded from 194 out of 200 to 186 out of 200, which has seen him drop from the best player on FM22, down to fourth.

This change means that Bayern Munich striker Lewandowski is now ranked as the best player in the world on FM22, followed by Man City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne in second and Kylian Mbappe in third.

But it’s even worse for Cristiano Ronaldo, who before the Main Winter Update was ranked as the seventh-best player on FM22, but following the release of the new update, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner is now ranked 33rd, following his current ability dropping from 182 to 167 out of 200.

Here is the definitive list of the best players in the world, according to Football Manager 2022, following the Main Winter Update.

Robert Lewandowski – Bayern Munich (190/200)
Kevin De Bruyne – Manchester City (187/200)
Kylian Mbappe – Paris Saint-Germain (186/200)
Lionel Messi – Paris Saint-Germain (186/200)
Mohamed Salah – Liverpool (184/200)
Virgil van Dijk – Liverpool (180/200)
Karim Benzema – Real Madrid (180/200)
Neymar – Paris Saint-Germain (180/200)
Harry Kane – Tottenham Hotspur (179/200)
Thibaut Courtois – Real Madrid (178/200)
Manuel Neuer – Bayern Munich (178/200)
Joshua Kimmich – Bayern Munich (178/200)
Erling Haaland – Borussia Dortmund (177/200)
Jan Oblak – Atletico Madrid (176/200)
Sadio Mane – Liverpool (176/200)
Luka Modric – Real Madrid (174/200)
Marc-Andre ter Stegen – Barcelona (174/200)
Alisson – Liverpool (174/200)
Thomas Muller – Bayern Munich (174/200)
Bernardo Silva – Manchester City (174/200)
Romelu Lukaku – Chelsea (171/200)
Ruben Dias – Manchester City (171/200)
N’Golo Kante – Chelsea (170/200)
Ederson – Manchester City (170/200)
Toni Kroos – Real Madrid (169/200)
Bruno Fernandes – Manchester United (169/200)
Raheem Sterling – Manchester City (169/200)
Leroy Sane – Bayern Munich (169/200)
Heung-Min Son – Tottenham Hostpur (168/200)
Aymeric Laporte – Manchester City (168/200)
Jack Grealish – Manchester City (167/200)
Joao Cancelo – Manchester City (167/200)
Cristiano Ronaldo – Manchester United (167/200)
Vinicius Junior – Real Madrid (166/200)
Antonio Rudiger – Chelsea (166/200)
Luis Suarez – Atletico Madrid (166/200)
Lautaro Martinez – Inter (166/200)
Antoine Griezmann – Atletico Madrid (165/200)
Edouard Mendy – Chelsea (165/200)
Leon Goretzka – Bayern Munich (165/200)
Rodri – Manchester City (165/200)
Mason Mount – Chelsea (164/200)
Jorginho – Chelsea (164/200)
Fabinho – Liverpool (164/200)
Mateo Kovacic – Chelsea (164/200)
Frenkie de Jong – Barcelona (164/200)
David Alaba – Real Madrid (164/200)
Serge Gnabry – Bayern Munich (164/200)
Thiago Alcantara – Liverpool (164/200)
Nicolo Barella – Inter (164/200)
Angel Di Maria – Paris Saint-Germain (164/200)
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic – Lazio (164/200)

French Ligue 1

Sacked former Cote d’ivoire coach, Gasset announces retirement as Marseille manager

Published

4 months ago

May 17, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Europa League - Semi Final - Second Leg - Atalanta v Olympique de Marseille - Stadio Atleti Azzurri, Bergamo, Italy - May 9, 2024 Olympique de Marseille coach Jean-Louis Gasset reacts REUTERS/Daniele Mascolo

Jean-Louis Gasset who was sacked by Cote d’Ivoire after the group stage of the Africa Cup of Nations last January has announced his retirement as a coach of Olympique de Marseille.

He will take charge of his last game on Sunday before retiring from management, the 70-year-old said on Friday.

Gasset was appointed as interim manager by the Ligue 1 club in February after the sacking of Gennaro Gattuso, and Marseille are eight in the standings going into their final Ligue 1 game of the season at Le Havre.

“Sunday will be the last match of my career,” Gasset told a press conference.

“That I stay in football, that my experience, my ideas and my networks are used is a possibility. I don’t know how to garden, I won’t have anything to do. But as a coach, it’s over.”

The Frenchman’s previous job was with Ivory Coast from which he was sacked after the team’s poor performances in the Africa Cup of Nations group stage. They scraped through as the last lucky losers before going on to win the tournament on home soil.

-Reuters

French Ligue 1

Departing Mbappe backs good friend Dembele to become Ligue 1’s best

Published

4 months ago

May 14, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Sealed And Delivered! Mbappe Has Already Signed Contract With Real Madrid -

Kylian Mbappe has backed winger Ousmane Dembele to be a success at Paris St Germain and fill his boots after he exits the club, as he won his fifth successive Ligue 1 Player of the Year award.

France captain Mbappe, 25, last week announced that he will leave the French champions at the end of the season after a seven-year stay, during which he became their all-time top scorer with 256 goals.

Mbappe’s frustration lies with PSG’s performances in the Champions League, a trophy they have never lifted despite huge investment in the squad. He has been heavily linked with a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid, who are in the final this year seeking a 15th European crown.

His 26-year-old compatriot Dembele joined the Parisian club, who have won 10 of the last 12 Ligue 1 titles, from LaLiga side Barcelona in August last year, signing a five-year deal.

“I have shared and played with incredible players, like Dembele who is here, he is a friend and one day he will pick up this award,” Mbappe said on Monday at the award ceremony.

“I thank the club as a whole, the coach, who has helped me and trusted me, his staff, the doctors, all the people at the club, the sporting management, the president, the shareholders of the club, of course, the Emir of Qatar who came to find me at the age of 18, who has accompanied me in all my decisions…”

He said his next chapter is going to be very exciting but did not reveal any further details.

“Now I’m turning the page in my life. Everything that comes next is super exciting, but that’s another subject,” Mbappe said.

“Thank you all, I’m going to miss you. I have always tried to do my best, and I also want to thank my family, who have always been with me in good times and bad.

“My father, who is here, I know that it was very important to him that I made history in Ligue 1 before I left and I think that with humility I have done everything you wanted.”

-Reuters

French Ligue 1

Mbappe Set To Quit PSG –

Published

7 months ago

February 16, 2024

Kunle Solaja

France captain Kylian Mbappe has informed Paris St Germain that he is leaving the club in July as a free agent seven years after joining them, The Athletic website reported on Thursday.

Mbappe, a member of France’s 2018 World Cup-winning team, signed for PSG from Monaco in 2017 for 180 million euros ($194 million) to become the second most expensive player ever after Brazilian Neymar, who joined the French champions the same year for 222 million euros.

“Mbappe has communicated his decision to PSG but the terms of his exit are yet to be fully agreed. An official announcement is expected once the situation is finalised in the next few months,” the report said.

The 25-year-old striker, who helped the capital club win five Ligue 1 titles and three French Cups, is PSG’s all-time leading scorer with 243 goals in 290 appearances.

PSG have not responded to a request for comment.

Mbappe last year sent a letter to PSG stating that he would not take up the option to extend his contract by a year when it expires in June.

He has long been linked with Real Madrid, reportedly rejecting a 200 million euro ($215.36 million) offer in 2021. He was again set for a move to the LaLiga side in 2022 before announcing a contract extension with PSG before the transfer window opened.

PSG, who lead the Ligue 1 standings by 11 points, host Nice on Friday.

-Reuters