The weaknesses were glaring, however. His finishing was modest, his composure was average, and his crossing—often criticized in his early years at United—reflected a player still learning the end product. He was a "raw" talent, and FIFA 04 captured that rawness perfectly.
Representing Manchester United for the first time in the series, his initial card reflected his status as a promising young talent rather than the superstar he would eventually become. Overall Rating: Right Midfielder (RM / RWM) Key Attributes: Pace (85) and Dribbling (88) Manchester United Evolution Following FIFA 04 cristiano ronaldo fifa 04 rating
Ronaldo’s rating saw one of the most significant single-year jumps in the game's history. After an impressive first season at Old Trafford, his rating climbed to , accompanied by a career mode potential of Cristiano Ronaldo's Early FIFA Ratings: FIFA Edition Overall Rating Primary Position of his stats to other Manchester United legends from that same year? CRISTIANO RONALDO'S FIFA EVOLUTION - Goal.com The weaknesses were glaring, however
The speed of Ronaldo’s development was reflected in how quickly EA Sports adjusted his numbers. Just one year later, in , his rating skyrocketed to 88 . This remains one of the largest single-year jumps for a high-profile player in the franchise's history. By then, EA had also introduced his trademark likeness, including his famous earrings, and assigned him a staggering 98 potential in Career Mode. A Two-Decade Legacy (2004–2026) Representing Manchester United for the first time in
To put it in perspective, in FIFA 04, Thierry Henry was rated 96, Alessandro Del Piero was 93, and Michael Owen was 91. For an 18-year-old who had played only a handful of pre-season friendlies in England, a 77 was a nod from EA that this kid was special .
Do you remember playing with Ronaldo in FIFA 04? Share your memories in the comments below. For more retro FIFA ratings and football nostalgia, check out our archive of legendary player cards.