The EA FC 27 player ratings are out, and the race at the top is close. If you expected one player to sit above everyone else, that is not quite what happened this year. Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland both have a 91 OVR, which puts them together at the top of the men's ratings. Alexia Putellas also reaches 91 and leads the women's list.

Of course, that overall number only tells part of the story. Mbappé and Haaland may share the same rating, but you would never use them in quite the same way. One relies heavily on pace and dribbling, while the other brings elite shooting and strength. So, if you are looking through the best EA FC 27 players, it is worth checking the individual stats as well as the number on the front of the card.

Top 10 EA FC 27 players with the highest ratings

The top of the EA FC 27 player ratings is not limited to men's football. Kylian Mbappé takes first place with 91 OVR, but Alexia Putellas sits right behind him with the same rating. Erling Haaland completes the 91-rated group in third.

After that, things get crowded. Every player from fourth to tenth has a 90 OVR, so their individual stats tell you much more about what separates them on the pitch.

Mbappé gets the No. 1 spot, and his 96 PAC immediately shows where much of his threat comes from. He also has 91 SHO and 92 DRI, so defenders will have plenty to deal with when he gets space in attack.

Putellas takes second place and brings a much more balanced set of attacking midfield stats. She has 91 PAS and 92 DRI alongside 90 SHO. That combination makes her one of the strongest all-around attacking midfielders among the highest-rated players.

Haaland reaches 91 in a very different way. He has 92 SHO and 89 PHY, while his 87 PAC keeps him quick enough to threaten behind a defence. You know, Haaland is Haaland, so there aren’t too many reasons to explain why he is one of the best players in the game. He was also the cover star of last year’s game.

Then you get to the 90-rated group, and this is where things become more interesting. Dembélé has 90 PAC and 93 DRI. Kane, on the other hand, has only 62 PAC but leads the entire game with 94 SHO. This obviously wouldn't be a list without the Golden Boy, Yamal, too.

Who is the highest-rated player in EA FC 27?

If you are only looking at men's football, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland are the highest-rated players in EA FC 27. Both have 91 OVR, and no men's base player goes above them.

There is no clear winner between the two based on OVR alone. That is where their individual numbers become more useful.

Mbappé gives you far more speed and better dribbling. Haaland gives you stronger shooting and much more physical power. So, even though the game puts the same 91 on both cards, they suit different styles of play.

Across the women's ratings, Alexia Putellas also reaches 91. That means three players sit at the highest overall rating in the initial FC 27 database.

Highest-rated women in EA FC 27

Alexia Putellas sits at the top of the women's EA FC 27 ratings with a 91 OVR. Aitana Bonmatí and Khadija Shaw come next at 90.

Just below them, several players have an 89 rating. That group includes Caroline Graham Hansen, Mariona Caldentey, Ewa Pajor, Claudia Pina and Temwa Chawinga.

Putellas also has some excellent individual numbers. Her 91 PAS and 92 DRI make it easy to see why she sits at the top. Pajor is another attacker to watch, especially if you care about speed. She has 93 PAC along with 91 SHO.

Best EA FC 27 players by key attribute

Sometimes you do not care who has the highest OVR. You just need a winger who can fly down the touchline, or a striker who can finish chances consistently.

That is where the individual ratings become much more useful.

• Fastest player: Kylian Mbappé, 96 PAC
• Best shooter: Harry Kane, 94 SHO
• Best passer: Bruno Fernandes, 92 PAS
• Best dribblers: Ousmane Dembélé and Lamine Yamal, 93 DRI
• Best defensive player: Gabriel, 91 DEF
• Most physical player: Taylor Flint, 91 PHY

There are a few interesting names there. Bruno Fernandes has an 89 OVR, for example, but nobody in the database has a better passing rating. Gabriel also has 89 OVR yet leads the defensive category with 91 DEF.

So, when you start putting together squads or looking at the best EA FC 27 formations, do not automatically pick a player because the OVR is one point higher. The better choice depends on what you actually need from that position.

How EA FC 27 player ratings work

The overall rating gives you a quick idea of how highly EA rates a player. You will usually see it written as OVR, and it appears as the main number on a player's base card.

Behind that number, you have the individual attributes. For outfield players, the main card stats cover pace, shooting, passing, dribbling, defending and physical ability.

Position also changes what matters. A centre-back with great defending and physical stats can earn a high OVR without being quick on the ball. A winger may get there through pace and dribbling instead.

EA builds its FC ratings from real-world football performance data and its own football analysis. The database covers more than 21,000 players from more than 800 clubs and national teams.

The numbers in this guide refer to standard base Player Items. Football Ultimate Team will later get special cards with different ratings and stats, so you may eventually see much higher versions of the same players.