How important are FIFA player work rates?

We are often asked how important are player work rates in FIFA? The answer is yes FIFA player work rates are very important. There is no best work rate for each position as it all depends on your team, formation and tactics. The work rates compliment your style of play so the more you understand them the better. A high attack work rate means just that, the player will react and move more when attacking. A low defence work rate for the same player would mean they don’t react or move back as quick when defending. For a high intense pressing game high attacking and defensive work rates are better. Your players will need high stamina however.

Follow @fifaaddiction

FIFA work rates make a difference to how your players move and react on the pitch. A reason why in real life some defenders move forward all the time to play almost like a holding midfielder. David Luiz was a good example although calmed down a bit these days and his work rates are medium attack medium defence. Used to be high attack in previous FIFAs. Lots of fullbacks on FIFA have high attack so make sure try to tell them to stay back when attacking in player instructions if want them to stay deeper. Defenders and Defensive midfielders with low attacking work rate and high defensive will do a more defensive job for your team helping you stay stronger defensively. If you attack and score lots this might not be a problem.

FIFA work rate test

To show the difference here are 2 players with almost identical stats but different work rates. One famous player for many reasons is Balotelli. He is one of the few players in FIFA with low low work rates. We think this is a bit harsh after a good season in France but he isn’t watched as much now. Although we used FIFA 18 footage it is the same in every FIFA.

His strike partner at Nice when we tested this had very similar stats with different work rates. An identical attacking position is perfect for this test. Rather than create an Ultimate team we could now just use Nice in a game and see how they both react in game. Below you can see Plea has high medium work rates. If you play a style of football where your strikers are on the shoulder looking for the through ball Plea will suit your game more than Balotelli. If you like to pass into the forward players dropping back Balotelli could be a good option as strong too.

FIFA work rate example video

Here we see how Balotelli and Plea react in an attacking situation. We could show lots of examples but basically the high work rate makes Plea move quicker into space than Balotelli.

FIFA work rates players change direction, move quicker. Balotelli (low attack) v Plea (high attack) similar stats strikers for Nice #FIFA18 pic.twitter.com/jJjqPdRFvV

— FIFAAddiction FIFA18 (@fifaaddiction) October 14, 2017