Why FC 27 Fans Think Saliba Deserved a 90+ Rating

Published 2026-08-31 · DB.Coins Blog

The Rating That Kicked Off the Argument

When EA dropped the full FC 27 ratings database this week, most of the noise went to Mbappe and Haaland sharing the top 91 OVR spot. But once the dust settled, a quieter argument took over Ultimate Team corners of Reddit and X: William Saliba, widely regarded as one of the best center-backs on the planet right now, landed at just 88 overall.

His card isn't bad on paper — a 90 DEF, a matching 90 Reactions stat, and Anticipate+ as his standout ability. But for a lot of players that headline 88 still reads low next to how dominant he's looked for Arsenal and France. Threads comparing his real-world form to his in-game number have been doing steady numbers, with fans asking versions of the same question: if the eye test says top-three CB in the world, why does the card say otherwise?

Two Sides of the Same Argument

The "he's underrated" camp points to Saliba's actual output — clean sheets, aerial dominance, and composure under pressure against elite attackers — and argues EA's ratings algorithm still leans too hard on reputation and trophy count rather than current-season performance data.

The "the number is fine" camp pushes back with the attribute breakdown: his Pace (77) and Physicality (82) aren't elite by FC standards, and OVR is a blend, not just a defending score. They'll also point out that 88 still puts him comfortably inside the world's best defenders, even if it's not a flashy round number.

Neither side is wrong exactly — it's the classic tension between "how good is this player really" and "how does a stat-weighted algorithm see him," and it resurfaces every single year once the ratings drop.

It's Bigger Than One Card

Saliba isn't the only name fueling this year's version of the debate. A few other results are feeding the same "EA undervalues consistency" narrative doing the rounds:

Put together, the pattern fans keep pointing to is that defenders and "steady" veterans are getting squeezed while breakout attackers like Lamine Yamal (81 to 90) and a resurgent Messi (86 to 89) get the big jumps. Whether that's EA rewarding current form or just chasing hype cards is exactly what's being argued.

What It Means for Your Club and Your Coins

Ratings arguments make for good scrolling, but they also move the market. Expect Saliba and similarly "snubbed" defenders to stay cheap relative to their real-world quality early in FC 27's life cycle — good news if you're building a balanced back line without burning your whole budget on center-backs. Meanwhile, breakout risers like Yamal usually spike hard in the first few weeks before settling once pack supply catches up, so chasing that hype early can be expensive.

Either way, this early-cycle window — before Team of the Week and Evolutions reshuffle the meta — is usually the cheapest point to build a squad foundation. If you're topping up for launch week, DB.Coins offers safe trading that increases your coin balance, with instant delivery — Get FC Coins.