After winning back-to-back European Championships and a World Cup between 2008 and 2012 Spain were always set to suffer a blip as they looked to replace their golden generation. Ten years on, with a new crop of talent, La Roja are once again ready to compete in the latter stages of major tournaments. Below we take a look at the 10 best Spanish players in FIFA 22.
The 10 Best Spanish Players in FIFA 22
10. Mike Oyarzabal Ugarte (Real Sociedad: LW, RW)
Real Sociedad through and through, 24-year-old Mike Oyarzabal Ugarte has made over 250 senior appearances for the Basque club. A pacy winger with end product Oyarzabal is rated 85 overall on FIFA 22 and is expected to continue improving and eventually achieve a potential rating of 89, making him a serious talent. Whilst he’s not the most skilful, Oyarzabal is incredibly technical, and gifted in most areas of his game. 85 dribbling, 85 positioning, 84 finishing and 83 crossing show he’s an intelligent footballer.
9. Sergio Ramos (PSG: CB)
Despite hardly featuring for PSG this season due to injury, Sergio Ramos remains one of Spain’s best players in FIFA 22. Now 35, Ramos is still rated 85 overall and while he’s no longer as fast as he once was, he remains as aggressive and defensively aware as ever. In the air he is dominant with 91 jumping and 90 heading accuracy, whilst on the ground he needs no invitation to put a foot in with 84 sliding tackles and 83 standing tackles. Like most modern day centre backs, Ramos is comfortable on the ball and has the ability to pick a pass. He’s composed too, especially when pressed, with 86 composure.
8. Koke (Atletico Madrid: CM, CDM)
Jorge Resurrección Merodio, better known as Koke, has spent his entire senior career at Atletico Madrid racking up over 400 appearances. Still only 29, the combative central midfielder is a key figure for Diego Simeone’s industrious side providing bags of energy in the middle of the park with 92 stamina and 79 acceleration. An effective ball winning midfielder Koke has 83 interceptions, 82 defensie awareness and 81 standing tackles. In possession Koke is composed and can dictate play with 86 short passing and 84 long passing. He can also carry the ball forward with 83 ball control and 80 dribbling.
7. Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid: CM, RM, RB)
Atletico Madrid’s Marcos Llorente is what traditionalists would call a ‘utility player’, capable of playing a number of positions including centre midfield, right back and right wing. Most comfortable in the centre of the park, though, operating as a box to box midfielder, the 26-year-old has a similar style of play to teammate and compatriot Koke, but with a bit more elegance and class in the final third. He’s quicker too, much quicker with 90 sprint speed and 85 acceleration. In front of goal he’s composed and has 81 finishing, which isn’t to be sniffed at for a midfielder who sometimes slots in at full back.
6. Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City: CB)
With both Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique nearing the end of their illustrious careers, there will be a big void to fill in the centre of Spain’s defence. Aymeric Laporte is likely to take up one of the spots having already made 15 appearances for La Roja since switching international allegiances back in 2021. And, to be fair, they could do a lot worse. Already rated 85 overall with a potential of 88 the 27-year-old has been praised for his excellent reading of the game. 87 interceptions, 87 standing tackles and 86 defensive awareness show he has a high footballing IQ.
Despite being born and raised in France, Laporte fits the mould of your typical Spanish centre back. He can play out from the back with 84 composure and 83 short passing, is physical and not scared to get stuck in and will stick his head on pretty much anything.
5. Gerard Moreno (Villarreal: ST, RM)
While he’s not expected to improve in the future, 29-year-old Gerard Moreno is Spain’s best attacking talent in FIFA 22 with an overall rating of 86. A prolific striker, also capable of playing on the wing, Moreno averages a goal every other game for Villarreal, and every three games for Spain, which is no surprise considering he has 89 finishing, 83 shot power and 83 heading accuracy. Short in stature, Moreno has a low centre of gravity, and with 96 dribbling and four star skill moves, has the ability to glide past defenders with ease.
4. Parejo (Villarreal: CM)
If there’s one thing Spain aren’t short on right now it’s central midfielders, with three of their top ten best players in FIFA 22 all playing in the middle of the park. Including Villarreal’s Daniel Parejo. Rated 86 overall, the 32-year-old has lost that all important yard of pace, but he makes up for it with a wand of a right foot. He’s deadly from freekicks with 90 freekick accuracy and can pick a pass with 92 short passing and 90 long passing. Despite having performed consistently for a number of years, Parejo has only received four senior international caps, the first of those coming back in 2018, so he can perhaps count himself a little unlucky to be playing at a time when Spain’s midfield is packed with an abundance of talent.
3. Thiago (Liverpool: CM)
A midfielder who doesn’t receive half as much praise as he probably deserves is Liverpool’s Thiago Alcantara. Rated 86 overall, the 30-year-old is a creative playmaker who has the ability to make things happen with 91 short passing, 89 dribbling and 86 vision. Back in 2013 Xavi described Thiago as “an extraordinary player” with many expecting the midfielder to be a natural replacement for one of Spain’s greatest of all time, however 46 senior international appearances in 11 years is a pretty poor showing for a player of his ability. Thiago is a clever footballer and can therefore play in a number of midfield roles including a deep lying playmaker or attacking midfielder.
2. Rodri (Manchester City: CDM)
Many believed Manchester City would struggle to replace the ageing Fernandinho, but in 25-year-old Rodri the Citizens have already found the perfect replacement. A ball winning midfielder, there are few, if any, players in world football right now who are better at protecting the back four than the Spaniard. 86 standing tackles and 84 defensive awareness show the defensive midfielder has the ability to break up play. Often compared to compatriot Sergio Busquets, Rodri is tidy on the ball. He’s effective at retaining possession with 86 short passing and 81 vision. Given time and space he also has the composure to carry the ball forward with 84 ball control and 78 dribbling. Rated 87 overall, Rodri is already one of Spain’s best players in FIFA 22, and he’s only going to get better with a potential rating of 89.
1. David De Gea (Manchester United: GK)
Manchester United’s David De Gea is Spain’s best player in FIFA 22 with an overall rating of 87. Since arriving in England, De Gea’s reflexes and shot stopping have both been second to none and that’s replicated in FIFA 22 with 89 GK reflexes and 88 GK diving. During his ten year spell at the club, De Gea has often come to Man United’s rescue, saving them from further embarrassment with some incredible stops.
At international level though, he had a tough act to follow in Iker Casillas. Despite making his debut for Spain in 2014, De Gea was made to wait a few more years before he became La Roja’s number one. How long that continues remains to be seen with a number of young, promising goalkeepers bursting onto the scene.
With a blend of experience and youth Spain look set to once again challenge at major tournaments in the coming years. They’ve talent in abundance at both ends of the pitch, especially in the middle of the park, with the likes of Rodri and Thiago providing a solid core to build around.
