Hakimi sets new benchmark as FC 27 reveals Africa’s elite ratings

Achraf Hakimi has overtaken Mohamed Salah as the highest-rated African player in EA Sports’ FC 27, with the Paris Saint-Germain defender awarded an overall rating of 88. The new game will be released on 25 September 2026, but EA Sports has already published its player ratings.

Hakimi, the reigning African Ballon d’Or winner, is one point ahead of Egypt forward Salah, who has been given a rating of 87. The change marks the first time in several years that Salah has not led the African rankings in the latest edition of the game.

The Paris Saint-Germain right-back is also ranked 24th among all players worldwide. His standing reflects his consistency at the highest level, as well as Paris Saint-Germain’s dominance, which has helped him establish a clear lead among the continent’s leading players.

Salah remains second despite leaving Liverpool and the European Big Five. Now playing for Trabzonspor, the Egypt international retains a particularly strong rating and remains comfortably ahead of the next group.

Victor Osimhen, Serhou Guirassy and Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo share third place among African players, each with a rating of 85.

The leading African players in FC 27

The rankings also highlight the emergence of a number of younger or less established names. Yan Diomande, who has recently joined Real Madrid in a deal that made him the most expensive African player in transfer history, is seventh in the African standings with a rating of 84.

Bayern Munich’s Moroccan forward Ismael Saibari is next on 83. Saibari has also been at the centre of a major transfer this summer. Evan Ndicka and Ademola Lookman complete the listed top 10 with ratings of 83.

The changing order means several familiar names are no longer among the highest-rated African players in the game. Sadio Mane, despite being named the most valuable player at the most recent Africa Cup of Nations, has a rating of 82. The same mark has been given to Kalidou Koulibaly and Yassine Bounou, who was one of the standout performers at the World Cup.

Riyad Mahrez does not appear in the ranking because he is currently without a club. The decline of players who have been prominent figures for much of the past decade reflects a gradual change of the guard at the top of African football.

No single country dominates the FC 27 list. Morocco, Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire each have two players among the top 10, while Egypt, Guinea, Ghana and Cameroon are represented once apiece.

Algeria are absent from the top 10. Their highest-rated player in FC 27 is Rayan Ait-Nouri, who has an overall rating of 81. Ibrahim Maza is rated 80, while Anis Hadj Moussa has been given 77.

That ranking underlines the changing fortunes of Algerian football. Mahrez was previously an almost permanent presence among Africa’s elite, but his current absence has created space for a new generation of Algerian players who have yet to establish themselves fully at the highest level.