Being an Ireland fan over the past several years has been a struggle as Ireland plummet their way down the World Rankings and one of the more sobering experiences an Ireland fan can have this year is to have a look at the Men's ratings in EA Sports FC 25.
Long are the days of regularly having players in the 80's or even the 90's like in FIFA 2005 or even having elite meta players like Aidan McGeady. It's quite telling that Ireland's best players in EA Sports FC 25 are Icon card Roy Keane at 86 and Premier League Hero card Robbie Keane at an 85. There's no men's player that reaches near them two but on the women's side Ireland are very well represented.
Kate McCabe, Denise O'Sullivan and Megan Walsh are the three highest rated current Irish players in FC 25 with McCabe just missing out on being in the Top 100 player sin the game, sitting in at 101st place.
On the men's side there's only 5 gold players on Ultimate team with Caoimhin Kelleher ranking the best out of the lot of them. The Goalkeeper has established himiself as forst choice for Ireland and is often regarded as the best backup goalkeeper in the Premier League so his 77 overall feels correct.
Jake O'Brien is one of the biggest risers in this year's game, having upgraded from his 66 overall he was given at the start of EA Sports FC 24. The now Everton man has been given a massive +35 upgrade to his pace which now sits at 76.
So without further adieu, heres the highest rated Irish players in EA Sports FC 25:
The 13 Highest Rated Active Irish Players in EA Sports FC 25
- Katie McCabe (Arsenal/WSL) (LB) 85 Ovr
- Denise O'Sullivan (NC Courage/NWSL) (CDM) 80 Ovr
- Megan Walsh (West Ham/WSL) (GK) 78 Ovr
- Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool/PL) (GK) 77 Ovr
- Josh Cullen (Burnley/Championship) (CDM) 76 Ovr
- Nathan Collins (Brentford/PL) (CB) 75 Ovr
- Jake O'Brien (Everton/PL) (CB) 75 Ovr
- Sammie Szmodics (Ipswich/PL) (CAM) 75 Ovr
- Courtney Brosnan (Everton/WSL) (GK) 74 Ovr
- Seamus Coleman (Everton/PL) (RB) 74 Ovr
- Evan Ferguson (Brighton/PL) (ST) 74 Ovr
- Ryan Manning (Southampton/PL) (LB) 74 Ovr
- Dara O'Shea (Ipswich/PL) (CB) 74 Ovr
As expected the list is dominated by goalkeepers and defenders and there isn't a plethora of attacking Irish talent in EA Sports FC 25. Sammie Szmodics and Evan Ferguson are the only two base players to make the list.
However after his four goal haul Troy Parrott already has a Team of the week card. The AZ striker was given an 80 rated in form card that looks tasty, though may be hard to link him unless you were building an Eredivisie team.
The very best from the week that was have returned.
Team of the Week 1, the first TOTW available in Ultimate Team during #FC25 Early Access, has arrived. pic.twitter.com/JQDviwFrDI
— EA SPORTS FC (@EASPORTSFC) September 18, 2024
Chiedozie Ogbene could feel hard done by not making this list as the Ipswich man is rated 73 overall and is interestingly a RB in game and not the more forward/wingback position we're used to seeing him play in for Ireland.
Hopefully the rating will go up next year, which will probably mean that the performances on the field will get better too.
