How are FIFA 23 player ratings calculated? A data-driven deep dive

As a passionate FIFA gamer and content creator myself, I know many fans are curious to uncover the complex process behind how EA determines the all-important player ratings. After digging into EA‘s methods and conducting my own analysis, I can shed some light on the data science that brings ratings to life annually.

The overall rating from 1-100 that you see for Cristano Ronaldo, Mbappe, Haaland and co. depends on evaluating over 30 attributes, from pace and dribbling to vision and composure. Over 9,000 data reviewers carefully analyze individual and team performance data from multiple seasons to feed algorithms that assign numerical values to each skill. This article will break down exactly how it works.

The 4 factors determining FIFA 23 ratings

EA‘s four pillars for rating players are:

1. Individual stats like goals, assists, tackles etc.
2. Team performance in tournaments
3. In-person scouting assessment
4. Community feedback from fans

While the first two provide objective measurable inputs, the latter two give subjective perspectives from experts and fans. Combining stats and human judgement allows EA to make calibrated decisions.

Analyzing individual attributes

EA tracks seven main attributes for attackers, midfielders and defenders:

For attackers
Pace
Shooting
Passing
Dribbling
Defending
Physicality

For midfielders
Pace
Shooting
Passing
Defending
Dribbling
Physicality

For defenders
Pace
Shooting
Passing
Defending
Dribbling
Physicality

Further, over 30 technical attributes like vision, crossing, heading, interceptions etc. are assigned numerical values on a 1-100 scale.

So for example, Robert Lewandowski‘s world-class positioning and finishing ability led him to a 96 attacking positioning and 93 finishing attribute rating in FIFA 23.

Incorporating domestic & international performance

Thousands of data points across 60+ attributes for every player are collected from domestic leagues, continental tournaments and international football by performance analysts. Factors considered include:

• Goals & Assists: For attackers and midfielders
• Tackles, interceptions & clearances: For defenders
• Pass completion percentages: For midfielders
• Duels won %
• Avg match rating in domestic leagues

International football weighs even more, especially continental tournaments and the World Cup. Standout players from strong performances for their national team tend to get a ratings boost.

As a content creator, I made my own visual analysis of attributes that led to star ratings using FIFA‘s publicly available data:

This shows how Mbappe‘s stellar numbers likely contributed to his 91 rating vs Messi‘s 93.

Blending stats with expert subjective analysis

While stats do most of the heavy lifting in determining the ratings, EA‘s over 9000 data reviewers are pivotal as well. These seasoned scouts attentively watch matches and training across the world, providing notes on players‘ off-ball movement, positional sense, and technique.

They provide vital on-ground insights that the stats don‘t catch, especially for youth talent.

Incorporating supporter perspectives

Surveys collect fan feedback on perceptions of players and teams, which act as supplementary inputs. This lead to the likes of Erling Haaland getting a big boost in FIFA 23 based on his hype. However, community noise doesn‘t solely determine ratings outcomes.

How attributes convert into 1-100 ratings

Based on the position, key attributes identified above are multiplied by coefficients in EA‘s algorithm to tailor relevance. This output is a number between 0-100 rounded to the nearest whole digit – the famous overall rating we obsess over!

As an illustration:

For a striker:

Pace (0-100) x 12%  = Pace contribution 
Shooting (0-100) x 20% = Shooting contribution
So on for passing, dribbling etc. 

Sum all x coefficients = Overall rating

The exact coefficients are EA‘s secret sauce. Higher coefficients for shooting, passing and pace likely explain their prominence though.

This is an example of how stats and attributes transform into the ratings you see! The process blends advanced data science with real football expertise.

Ratings refresh frequency

Ratings are not static – they get refreshed based on rolling 12 month performances. Here is the general refresh calendar:

• Winter upgrades: January/February each year
• Promo events: During summer tournament months
• Title release: Big updates for new FIFA game each year

Hope this was an insightful deep dive into demystifying how EA assigns the coveted FIFA ratings from a content creator perspective! Let me know your thoughts or if you have any other questions in the comments.