The yearly announcement of FIFA ratings is one of the most scrutinized topics in the gaming industry. Inevitably some players will complain about their ratings because that's just the competitive nature that comes with being a top-class athlete. Fans also criticize the ratings, but those voices with EAFC 26 Coins have much less merit. Even so, FC 26 has sold a few players short this season. There's even more focus on boosting the ratings of young players this season, so some seasoned vets have fallen through the cracks.

The four players on this list have been veterans of EA's soccer simulation series for some time. Some on this list have seen better days, but they still deserve more respect than the current OVR rating suggests they get. There's a bonus player that is an all-time great who should see his ICONS card bumped up at the end too.

Robert Lewandowski is the closest anyone has ever come to dethroning Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as FIFA's two best players over the past decade. Lewandowski scores outrageous goals at Bayern Munich, and lead his team to Champions League glory last season. He deserves the bump up to 92 OVR. With Cristiano Ronaldo's age contributing to his decline, Lewandowski's Champions League performance should've been enough to see him at least equal Ronaldo's rating of 92.

Jamie Vardy had a party in 2020. The hero of the Foxes' 2016 championship bagged 23 goals in the English Premier League last season, which lead the league. While the Foxes haven't returned to championship heights, Vardy has sustained his world-class play. He's a pacey striker who plays off the shoulder of the last man in defense. Players that use the new 'Creative Runs' feature of FC 26 will excel with Vardy. He's not a good dribbler of the ball, (rated 79) but if combined with a creative maestro in midfield, Vardy will provide countless forward runs for through balls.

He's criminally underrated at 86 OVR, especially considering that Roberto Firmino and Aubameyang are both rated ahead of him at 87. Aubameyang was second in the PL last season with 22 goals, so that could be why mistakes were made. Firmino has no excuse, he only scored 9. Vardy should be at least an 88 with higher acceleration, finishing, and penalty ratings.

Bale became a star in his first spell in the white half of north London before landing a mega-money transfer to Spanish royalty Real Madrid. His time in Madrid was successful on the pitch, where he scored more than one iconic goal in crucial moments but was marred by clashes with fans. Finally the Wales international was frozen out by Real Madrid manager Zidane. He's returned to the old stomping grounds at White Hart Lane to play for Jose Mourinho for 2020/21.

His FUT card is rated 88 Pace, 84 Shooting, and 80 Dribbling, solid stats for a winger who likes to cut inside and fire long shots. However, if Bale is moved to center forward, he could be even more devastating. Bale's career corresponds similarly to his former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo used to be the speediest winger with all the dribbling tricks in the book. Similarly, Bale used to beat defenders using his fantastic pace, but those days are long gone.

A move to CF won't happen at Tottenham, but video game Bale would flourish in the middle. He's still got the world-class finishing ratings that come with nailing a bicycle kick in a Champions League final, and the dribbling and pace to create goals to buy FIFA 26 Coins out of nothing. It would be hard to make his wages work, but Bale could be the perfect option for a mid-table side needing 15 goals per season.