Guide: Central midfielder

How the midfield rating is built

The position rating is calculated from the following attributes:

• Playmaking — the core of the role and your team's control.
• Passing — almost as heavy, brings key passes and assists.
• Stamina — you cover the most ground on the pitch.
• Technique — receiving and turning under pressure.
• Mental strength — consistency in the biggest matches.
• Defending — breaking up attacks and winning the ball.
• Experience — only built through matches played.
• Set pieces — free kicks and corners. A high set pieces rating makes you the coach's choice for attacking free kicks and corners.
• Shooting and pace — your own goals and runs beyond the line.
• Heading and crossing — contributing in the box and out wide. Heading also applies to attacking set pieces.

Speciality

Team player and Workhorse are the most effective. Technical gives more key passes.

There are several routes to the top

No single build is the correct one. Two players in the same position can reach Division 1 and the national team in completely different ways — a specialist who is extreme in one or two attributes, or a broader player who is solid at everything and therefore fits more tactics.

• The specialist route: pour everything into the heaviest attributes of your position and become irreplaceable in that role.
• The all-round route: build several position ratings at once so you always get minutes — minutes give experience, and experience can only be trained through matches.
• Set pieces and mental strength lift every position and are often underrated.
• Adapt to your coach's philosophy and to the positions your squad is thin in.
• The national team picks the best in the country per position — there is room for both specialists and complete players.