Best PES 2017 players: FFT's ultimate guide to the top stars and their ratings

In this table-heavy feature, we’ve put together a guide to the highest-rated forwards, midfielders, defenders and goalkeepers in PES 2017. However, as listing players with the best overall ratings in each category probably won’t tell you anything that you don’t already know, we’ve also researched best-in-class player lists in various useful categories – such as tenacious midfielders, fast centre-backs and powerful targetmen. We’ve also used our Master League experience to document young players with high growth potential. If you have yet to make meaningful progress in the Pro Evo management mode, these are targets that should eventually earn a place in almost any squad – and some will step right into your first team as if they belong there. (If, of course, you can afford them.) Before we get to the tables, a few notes: The majority of players in the 85+ “world class” tier in PES are great if you’re playing straight online head-to-heads, MyClub, or other game modes, but aren’t the players you should (or even can) acquire in Master League careers. They tend to be prohibitively expensive and, moreover, are usually at the wrong point in their development to represent a sound long-term investment (unless you’re lucky enough to bag them one of them on a Bosman). As most people with an interest in these kinds of lists will be scouting for potential Master League recruits, our tables covering individuals who excel in a particular role focus on players between the ages of 16-26. Players always tend to perform best in their primary designated position in PES (indicated as a position marked in bold in the tables below). Even if a player is ostensibly capable of playing in several positions, most will experience an overall rating drop when outside their specialist role. While there are exceptions (some individuals actually get a marginally higher rating), this is worth bearing in mind before you make a late-night Master League signing for a player who can also fill in as a RWF… only to find that he drops eight points when played there. In Master League careers, note that all retired players are resurrected as 16-year-olds within a season or two of hanging up their boots. These youngsters are not cheap to buy (unless you’re lucky enough to have them land in your youth squad), and make unusually high wage demands, but the right ones can be phenomenal purchases. Be sure to check your team’s academy when new intakes arrive at the start and middle of each season. If a player has rating from 68-73, he could be a solid prospect or even better – but anything above that usually means that he’s a potential world-beater. Players listed in the “Hot Prospects” sections are all below the age of 24 when you start a Master League career, but will all experience growth over several seasons. If you prefer to develop your own superstars, these are all sound investments. Should you have the squad space and the funds to acquire them, you can buy more than you really need and farm the surplus signings out on loan. If they don’t have a role at your club, you can later sell them on for a profit. All player data within this feature is correct as of the most recent live update. Top Attackers Best Overall Ratings Name Rating Positions Messi 94 RWF, SS, AMF Ronaldo 93 LWF, CF, SS, RWF, LMF, RMF Suarez 92 CF, RWF, LWF, SS Aguero 90 CF, SS Ibrahimovic 90 CF, SS, AMF Neymar 90 LWF, SS, LMF Bale 90 RWF, LWF, RMF, LMF Stegers* 90 CF, SS, AMF Higuain 89 CF, SS, RMF Tevez 88 SS, CF, LWF, RWF Muller** 88 SS, RWF, AMF, RMF Robben** 88 RWF, LWF, SS, AMF, RMF, LMF Sanchez 87 RWF, LWF, CF, AMF, LMF, RMF Griezmann 87 SS, RWF, LWF, AMF, RMF Benzema 87 CF, RWF, LWF, SS Di Maria 87 RWF, LWF, AMF, RMF, CMF, LMF Reus 87 LWF, RWF, CF, SS, AMF, RMF, LMF *PES 2017 version of Lewandowski, not registered to a club. **Not registered to a club Agile Forwards (16-26) Search criteria: Attacking Prowess 80+, Ball Control 75, Finishing 75, Speed 85 and Explosive Power 85 Players who have the ability to unlock defences with great footwork and world-class acceleration, but can also deliver a respectable standard of finishing. Name Rating Positions Neymar 90 LWF, SS, LMF Hazard 87 LMF, RMF, AMF, SS, RWF, LWF Griezmann 87 SS, RWF, LWF, AMF, RMF Salah 85 RWF, LWF, SS, AMF, RMF, LMF Lacazette 84 CF, SS, RWF Bellarabi 84 RMF, LMF, SS, RWF, LWF Morata 83 CF Lucas Moura 83 RWF, SS, AMF, RMF Promes* 83 RWF, LWF, AMF Schurrle 82 LWF, RWF, SS, LMF, RMF *Not registered to a club Targetmen (16-26) Search Criteria: Attacking Prowess 75+, Header 80+, Physical Contact 80+ Many forwards of this archetype obviously lack pace, but more than compensate for that with their physical presence and aerial prowess. Name Rating Height Positions Kane 84 188 CF Lukaku 83 193 CF, SS L. De Jong 83 188 CF, SS, RWF, LWF, AMF Klaassen 82 185 AMF, CMF, SS Benteke 80 190 CF, SS Pure Finishing (16-26) Search Criteria: Attacking Prowess 75+, Finishing 85+, Kicking Power 75+ With the peak-level superstars taken out of the equation, this is the next generation of potential Golden Boot winners in PES 2017. Name Rating Positions Neymar 90 LWF, SS, LMF Griezmann 87 SS, RWF, LWF, AMF, RMF Kane 84 CF Lacazette 84 CF, SS, RWF Icardi 83 CF, SS Hot Prospects Deulofeu (RWF): Slight but very skilful; excellent pace and technical stats. Berardi (RWF): Good technique, strength and a wand of a left foot, but a mediocre Form stat of 3 will limit his starts per season. Gabriel (SS): Fast, consistent, two-footed poacher; may cost over 20m to acquire. Sterling (LWF): Versatile but slight. His pace and footwork can make an impression immediately, but you’ll need to wait a year or two for his shooting stats to rise to respectable levels. Martial (CF): Physical, fast and great with the ball at his feet. Can become a complete forward within a few years. El Ghazi (RWF): Taller than most wingers, and good in the air, so an excellent buy if you favour a 4-3-3 with an onus on crossing. Embolo (CF): Balanced, industrious striker with great pace. Rashford (CF): Will take a few years to stake a claim if joining a larger club, but his pace makes him a solid understudy until then. Cornet (LWF): World-class pace and strength for a winger within a season… but his crossing ability isn’t great due to an unusually low Lofted Pass stat. Top Midfielders Best Overall Ratings Name Rating Positions Pogba 89 CMF, DMF Iniesta 89 CMF, RMF, LMF, AMF, LWF Kroos 88 CMF, AMF, RMF, LMF, DMF Vidal 88 CMF, LMF, RMF, DMF, RB, LB Ozil 87 AMF, LWF, LMF Willian 87 RMF, LMF, AMF, SS, RWF Hazard 87 LMF, RMF, AMF, SS, RWF, LWF Fabregas 87 CMF, SS David Silva 87 AMF, RMF, LMF Busquets 87 DMF, CMF Modric 87 CMF, RMF, LMF, AMF Verratti 87 CMF, DMF Cazorla 86 CMF, DMF, LMF, AMF, LWF De Bruyne 86 RMF, CMF, LMF, AMF, RWF, LWF Marchisio 86 CMF, DMF, AMF Hamsik 86 AMF, CMF Rodriguez 86 AMF, RMF, LMF, SS, LWF, RWF Playmakers (16-26) Search Criteria: Ball Control 80+, Dribbling 75+, Low Pass 80+, Lofted Pass 75+ Players with an eye for a pass, and the technique to make the space to play it. If you’re struggling to break down packed defences, these are the type of players who can make a difference. Name Rating Positions Pogba 89 CMF, DMF Kroos 88 CMF, AMF, RMF, LMF, DMF Hazard 87 LMF, RMF, AMF, SS, RWF, LWF Verratti 87 CMF, DMF De Bruyne 86 RMF, CMF, LMF, AMF, RWF, LWF Box-to-Box Workhorses (16-26) Search Criteria: Speed 75+, Ball Control 75+, Low Pass 75+, Lofted Pass 75+, Defensive Prowess 70+, Stamina 80+ Players who can make a contribution in all phases of play, but are mostly defined by their boundless energy. Name Rating Positions Pogba 89 CMF, DMF Verratti 87 CMF, DMF Kante 84 CMF Florenzi 82 RMF, RB, LMF, CM, AMF, RWF, LWF Danilo Pereira 82 DMF, CMF, CB Long Shot Wizards (16-26) Search Criteria: Finishing 70+, Kicking Power 70+, 'Long Range Drive' player skill Top-class midfielders who can turn a tight match on its head with a 30-yard drive are a special commodity. These aren’t necessarily the best players at taking long-shots in PES 2017, but they’re all highly skilled individuals who definitely have that ability in their repertoires. Name Rating Positions Kroos 88 CMF, AMF, RMF, LMF, DMF De Bruyne 86 RMF, CMF, LMF, AMF, RWF, LWF Oscar 84 AMF, CMF, RMF Gundogan 84 CMF, RMF, LMF, AMF Ramsey 83 CMF, RMF, DMF Ball-playing Anchormen (16-26) Search Criteria: Low Pass 75+, Defensive Prowess 70+, Ball Winning 75+, Physical Contact 75+ A good anchorman in PES should sit deep on the formation grid, just in front of the centre-backs. It’s not enough to be a pure destroyer: they also function as a pivot as you build or recycle attacking moves, so a good standard of passing ability is a necessary attribute. Name Rating Positions Kante 84 CMF G. Xhaka 83 CMF, AMF, DMF Strootman 83 CMF, DMF Danilo Pereira 82 DMF, CMF, CB William C. 82 DMF Prospects Renato Sanches (CMF): Can become undroppable within a year in the first team. Exceptional pace, strength and tackling ability, though it takes a season or two for his passing stats to develop. Great long shots, too. Calhanoglu (AMF): Becomes one of the best at shooting with power from dead-ball situations, but he’s also great at cracking them in from range in open play (he has the Long Range Drive and Knuckle Shot skills). Sane (RMF): Exceptionally fast but extremely one-footed inverted winger: you really have to pay attention and ensure that you always use his left peg. Potentially brilliant impact sub if you have money to burn. Dier (DMF): No great pace, but otherwise develops ideal attributes for a holding role. Bazoer (CMF): Strong and energetic box-to-box midfielder. It takes a while for his defensive attributes to develop. Kenedy (LMF): Can play all along the left side of the pitch. Great signing for a smaller side: his club seem to be desperate to offload him when Master League begins, so he could be a real bargain. Top Defenders Best Overall Ratings Name Rating Positions Thiago Silva 92 CB Sergio Ramos 90 CB, RB Boateng* 90 CB, RB, LB Vertonghen 87 CB, LB Godin 87 CB Pique 87 CB Miranda 86 CB Jordi Alba 86 LB, LMF Pepe 86 CB, DMF Marcelo 86 LB, LMF Alaba* 86 LB, CB, LMF, DMF, CMF Hummels* 86 CB, DMF Koscielny 85 CB Baines 85 LB, LMF Otamendi 85 CB, RB Kompany 85 CB G. Rodriguez 85 CB *Not registered to a club Strong Centre-Backs Search Criteria: Header 80+, Defensive Prowess 85+, Ball Winning 80+, Physical Contact 85+ When you absolutely, positively have to clatter an opposing player, accept no substitute. Name Rating Positions Manolas 84 CB, RB Mustafi 83 CB, RB Koulibaly 83 CB Gimenez 83 CB Gomez 80 CB Fast Centre-Backs Search Criteria: Header 80+, Defensive Prowess 80+, Ball Winning 80+, Speed 80+, Explosive Power 75+ The defenders listed here can catch any forward in PES 2017 but, perhaps more importantly, have the raw pace to recover from their mistakes. The sheer strength and pace of Manolas makes him an extraordinary buy for any Master League team that can afford him. Name Rating Positions Manolas 84 CB, RB Koulibaly 83 CB Laporte 83 CB, LB Varane 83 CB Zouma 82 CB Attacking Full-Backs Search Criteria: Dribbling 70+, Low Pass 70+, Lofted Pass 70+, Defensive Prowess 70+, Ball Winning 70+, Speed 75+, Explosive Power 75+, Stamina 75+ Wing play is often the best way to break down packed defences in PES 2017, and full-backs with all-round ability are absolutely critical. Name Rating Positions Alaba 86 LB, CB, LMF, DMF, CMF R. Rodriguez* 85 LB, LMF Daniel Carvajal 84 RB, LB, RMF, LMF Danilo 82 RB, DMF, CMF, RMF Clyne 81 RB Ghoulam 81 LB, LMF, LWF Mario Rui 81 LB Mario Gaspar 81 RB Fabinho 81 RB Kurzawa 81 LB *Not registered to a club Prospects Bellerin (RB): Can hit 99 in both speed stats in a season or two. He’s not entirely polished until later in his career – but with pace like that, you’ll easily overlook such shortcomings. Laporte (CB): Becomes a world-class centre-back within a season or two. Zouma (CB): Fast and strong from the start. Surprisingly good at making driving runs from deep. Gimenez (CB): Outstanding in the air – may hit a 90 in the Jump stat within a year. Jose Gaya (LB): Consistent, indefatigable attacking full-back. Top Goalkeepers Best Overall Ratings Name Rating Neuer* 90 Buffon 88 Courtois 87 De Gea 87 Cech 86 Lloris 86 Handanovic 86 Bravo 85 Navas 85 Hart 84 *Not registered to a club Prospects As in real life, buying a high-class goalkeeper under the age of 28 really isn’t cheap, so most players will be unlikely to prioritise this position in the opening few seasons… by which time, any names we suggest here will probably be established first-team players. That said, if you happen to pick a top-level side with a calamitous clown minding the nets, Leno of Leverkusen might be worth a look. We saw his overall rating rocket from 83 to 89 within a single year of a Master League career. The same growth might not happen for you, but he’s a great keeper nonetheless. Miscellany Fastest Players Though pace matters less in PES 2017, players with incredible acceleration and top speed can still terrify defences if supplied with the right passes. Name Rating Position Speed Explosive Power Aubameyang 85 CF 97 96 Gervinho* 86 LWF 96 97 Walcott 81 RWF 96 95 Bellerin 80 RB 95 97 Bale 90 RWF 93 94 *Not registered to a club Best Dribblers In addition to Ball Control and Dribbling, we’ve added the essential Body Control stat (which represents tackle resistance and balance recovery after impacts) to our calculations. PES 2017 is a very physical game: mesmeric footwork alone will only get you so far. Name Rating Position Ball Control Dribbling Body Control Messi 94 RWF 96 96 96 Neymar 90 LWF 95 97 93 Iniesta 89 CMF 96 94 92 Robben 88 RWF 88 94 90 E. Hazard 87 LMF 91 92 86 Set-Piece Specialists Payet’s feats last season (and, of course, that goal at the Euros) have evidently caught the attention of the Pro Evo development team. If you’re desperate to add a quality dead-ball specialist to your Master League team, and you have 20 million or so to burn, poaching Eriksen from Spurs – sorry, North East London – would be a smart move. He grows by a few points, and maintains a high level for several seasons. Name Rating Position Place Kicking Swerve Payet 85 LMF 92 89 Messi 94 RWF 91 89 Lodi 75 DMF 88 87 Sneijder* 85 AMF 87 90 Eriksen 83 AMF 87 85 *Not registered to a club More great PES 2017 content on FourFourTwo.com • New features