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FIFA 19: We spoke to the (joint) worst rated player on the game

What's it really like to be the worst player on FIFA? Well the honour has fallen to Shandon Baptiste from Oxford United this year

Every true FIFA fanatic has created virtual versions of themselves so they can play alongside their heroes.

So what’s it like to be someone who actually exists on the game in the first place?

I spoke to Oxford United midfielder Shandon Baptiste, officially the joint worst rated player on FIFA 19, about what it’s like to be one of 14 names to co-own the unwanted accolade.


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Seems a little harsh

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Seems a little harsh

“I’m not going to lie the boys were giving me a lot of stick when the ratings first came out,” Baptiste told Dream Team.

“A lot of them are between 50 and 55 yet I’m down as 47. Maybe it’s because I’ve just broken into the first team and they’ve given me any old rating.

“Hopefully after the next update I’ll go up because the younger guys at the club are really giving me some banter.”

Two of Baptiste’s Oxford team-mates on the game

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Two of Baptiste’s Oxford team-mates on the game

Unsurprisingly the 20-year-old is a loyal FIFA player, buying the game every year.

This is the second season he’s featured and indeed the second year in a row he’s been rated 47.

“I was on last year and my rating was the same,” Baptiste added.

“Every time I start a career mode I always play as myself, but even then my potential is quite low.

“I must have taken Oxford all the way to the Premier League last year and I still only got up to 49.

“From League One to the Premier League… and I went up two ratings!”

Baptiste is on a mission to ensure his rating improves throughout the game, but admits his current limitations make it hard to compete with the higher rated players.

Baptiste tackling Gabriel Jesus a few weeks ago

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Baptiste tackling Gabriel Jesus a few weeks ago

“Even when you play as yourself, because I’m so low [rated] all the better players can just run past me and are much stronger.

“It’s kind of frustrating and hard to be myself but hopefully one day I can have a higher rating.”

As a devoted Oxford player on the game I asked Baptiste if, for once he was tempted to stray towards another club, which one of his team-mates he would sign first.

The answer was pretty emphatic.

“Rob Hall. No doubt,” Baptiste says.

“I like fast players and his pace is like 89 or something silly.

“For some reason pace is my highest attribute too. I really don’t think I’m that quick.”

Hall’s pace is a real asset

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Hall’s pace is a real asset

Away from the virtual side of things, Baptiste came up against some of the best around in real life when Oxford hosted Man City in the Carabao Cup a couple of weeks ago.

The likes of David Silva, Vincent Kompany and Riyad Mahrez all started in a 3-0 City win, but Baptiste had special consideration for a star earmarked as the future of English football.

In a Diaz/Stones sandwich

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In a Diaz/Stones sandwich

“You can see the quality in all the players but obviously [David] Silva stood out for me as I was playing up against him,” he added.

“But Phil Foden is a very good young player and you can tell he will definitely play regularly for City one day.”

Foden has the world at his feet

PA:Empics Sport
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Foden has the world at his feet

It’s easy for the average FIFA punter to forget that a real player exists behind the computerised version.

Luckily for Baptiste this is just the start of his promising career, so there’s plenty of time to prove EA Sports wrong one day.


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