FIFA 15's top five players and the ratings excluded from consideration

To help build the buzz for the release of FIFA 15 later this month, EA Sports has published the ratings for the top 50 players in the game. Cover star Lionel Messi edged out Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo for the top spot, but the high ratings of each player in the top five are helped by the exclusion of certain categories.

Here are the five best players in the game and the rating categories that were conveniently left out...

5. Manuel Neuer, Bayern Munich, goalkeeper

Appropriately timed jazz hands: 17

Playing less than four positions at once: 20

4. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, PSG, striker

Daring to do anything other than Zlatan: 00

Speaking French: 29

Bashfulness: Zlix

3. Arjen Robben, Bayern Munich, winger

Doing anything other than cutting inside: 00

Resisting the urge to fall down when in the general vicinity of other people's feet: 18

Endearing himself to Mexicans: -94

2. Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid, winger

Wearing a shirt for a full 90 minutes: 03

Actually returning to Manchester United after repeatedly saying how much he wants to: Undefined

Avoiding questions about Lionel Messi: 15

1. Lionel Messi, Barcelona, forward

Paying taxes: :-(

Living up to impossible expectations: :-/

Infectious Giggles: :-)

The full top 50 can be seen here. And for the sake of comparison, FIFA 14's top 50 can be found here.

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Brooks Peck

is the editor of Dirty Tackle on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him or follow on Twitter! Follow @BrooksDT