Another year, another FIFA and another Team of the Year. Some things can be expected like the seasons. Like Lionel Messi being on the FIFA TOTY. Right? Well, well, well have we got news for you: EA Sports announced the official FIFA 21 Team of the Year and there is no Lionel Messi on it.
Cristiano Ronaldo is on the 2021 TOTY and Messi isn't. Hm... Ronaldo G.O.A.T. confirmed? Ok, we're not going to try and take it there, but Messi's absence definitely highlights this Team of the Year. Other highlights are Robert Lewandowski and his Treble-winning FC Bayern teammates. Kevin De Bruyne will also get a huge FIFA Ultimate Team upgrade, but... let's just look at the team in full:
The people's champions. Over 10 million votes from 185 countries.Introducing your Team of the Year.#TOTY #FIFA21 pic.twitter.com/vQFiDwckSq
— EA SPORTS FIFA (@EASPORTSFIFA) January 22, 2021
GK: Manuel Neuer – FC Bayern Munich
LB: Alphonso Davies – FC Bayern Munich
CB: Sergio Ramos – Real Madrid
CB: Virgil van Dijk – Liverpool
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold – Liverpool
CM: Bruno Fernandes – Manchester United
CM: Joshua Kimmich – FC Bayern Munich
CM: Kevin De Bruyne – Manchester City
LW: Cristiano Ronaldo – Juventus (Piemonte Calcio)
ST: Robert Lewandowski – FC Bayern Munich
RW: Kylian Mbappé – Paris Saint-Germain
After 10 million votes, the TOTY was announced at 5pm GMT on January 22. If we go by past trends, you can expect the TOTY FUT cards available in packs soon (or now, depending on when you're reading this).
One set of player-ratings was already announced though...
FIFA 21 TOTY Ratings
Lewandowski and Ronaldo received 98 cards and Mbappé received a card with a 97 OVR.
As for Messi... well, it's the first time ever he was not included in TOTY. Messi was in every single FIFA Team of the Year since the first one in FIFA 11. Rough. FIFA clearly has no sympathy for the struggling FC Barcelona and its superstar. Neymar is another notable absence, but there is still hope for Neymar and Messi to be voted into the TOTY with the 12th man vote.
You can expect the FIFA 21 Team of the Year players to roll out into packs by their position. We will keep you updated on Squad Building Challenges as soon as more info on the SBCs becomes available in the coming days.
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