See who are the biggest winners and losers regarding their attribute change in the FM22 winter update.
See who are the biggest winners and losers regarding their attribute change in the FM22 winter update.
For regular Football Manager players, the mid-season update is something to look forward to: a chance to get up to date with the latest happenings in the football world.
One of the main features of the update is the change in stats among players. Used as a yardstick for player value, managers depend on these stats to make crucial decisions that affect their big decisions and, ultimately, their success.
This article focuses on those players affected the most by the FM22 update, and tells you, the avid FM player, what to look out for.
What goes into an FM22 update?
It’s possible to see them as extras: an upgrade to the game you purchased six months ago. However, unlike other perks that exist in the world of online gaming, such as when internet gamblers seek the latest casino bonuses that give them something for nothing, gamers normally view updates as standard these days.
The Football Manager update, though, is unlike any other. It incorporates the latest data from hundreds of leagues around the world, taking into account player form, value and injuries. A player that started the season off as the next big thing might now be yesterday’s news in the fast-paced world of football – and vice versa.
The release of the winter 21-22 update was met enthusiastically by Football Manager fans, but who rose in value and who took a hit?
The winners
Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund)
It’s crazy to think that Jude Bellingham is still only 18. After bursting onto the scene with Birmingham City just 38 days after his 16th birthday, he has already made over 100 senior appearances, including 10 England caps.
Quite rightly, FM put him down as one of the world’s most promising footballers at the start of the season, but the youngster has since proven to be a regular starter in the Bundesliga this season. His three goals and six assists have made Dortmund an outside bet for their first title in a decade.
Bellingham's new FM stats reflect his growing maturity, to the point where we don’t even consider him one of the hottest prospects anymore, but rather a fully-fledged senior pro.
His high stamina, bravery and work rate scores mark him out as the ideal box-to-box midfielder, and his natural ability means he could stay at the top of the game for the next 15 years.
Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer 04 Leverkusen)
Another Bundesliga rising star, Dutch right back Jeremie Frimpong has enjoyed an explosion in form to go with his explosive pace. Always looking to get forward and beat his opposite full-back, Frimpong has notched up six assists as his team eyes up the European spots.
As well as his athleticism, Frimpong also demonstrates good off-the-ball and teamwork skills which suggests a maturity that allows him to adapt to different tactics. He can easily be used as a right wing-back, or even a right winger: just be sure to make use of his decent defensive skills, too.
Fabio Carvalho (Fulham)
Fulham’s march towards the Championship title has appeared unstoppable this season. Averaging almost 2.5 goals per game – a rate that would see them bag 114 goals if continued until the end of the season – it’s no surprise that some of their attacking talent has come to the fore.
Fabio Carvalho is one of those. Barely heard of at the start of the season, he has been a central part of Fulham’s attack with his pace, dribbling and decision-making skills helping to create a raft of chances for his side.
The update sees him rightly marked out as one of the best talents outside of top-flight football, and big clubs will be circling Craven Cottage to make a bid before his value skyrockets out of control.
The losers
Cristiano Ronaldo
The update has hit some of the biggest names in the game right where it hurts. Cristiano Ronaldo’s huge move to Manchester United was predicted to propel the Reds to a title charge by some, but two goals in 11 appearances between Christmas and the end of February means the legend’s value has suffered a major drop.
His new score of 167 out of 200 means he is no longer considered the best player at his own club: that honour falls to Bruno Fernandes with 169. His downgraded attributes include acceleration, pace, dribbling and first touch: all signs of ageing in pro players.
Whether Ronaldo can pick it back up remains to be seen, but United's boss Ralf Rangnick has expressed his concern at the Portuguese’s attitude, which doesn’t bode well for the rest of the season.
Leo Messi
Ronaldo isn’t alone when it comes to fading legends. His long-time adversary Leo Messi is having a similar kind of season after joining Paris St-Germain.
Despite a steady stream of assists, Messi’s poor return of two goals in 16 appearances has caused him to lose his spot as the world’s best player. His score of 186 (down from 194) puts him behind the prolific Robert Lewandowski, Kevin De Bruyne and Kylian Mbappe.
The Champions League remained Messi’s only hope of regaining the top spot. A strong performance in the remaining knockouts was crucial, but he still got outshone by team-mate Mbappe, whose goals almost decided the two-legged tie in PSG's favour in the recent knockout games vs Real Madrid.
