Identifying FIFA 22 TOTY nominees who don’t merit your vote and providing strategic voting guidance
Introduction: The TOTY Voting Dilemma
EA SPORTS has unveiled the FIFA 22 Team of the Year nominees, initiating the community voting process. However, amidst the star-studded list, several inclusions raise legitimate questions about their suitability for this prestigious honor.
The FIFA 22 Team of the Year voting window is officially open, running through January 18, but strategic voters should scrutinize which players truly deserve their ballot placement.
The Team of the Year concept celebrates football’s elite performers, rewarding them with enhanced Ultimate Team cards. Yet EA’s 2022 selection includes several puzzling nominations that challenge the award’s credibility. These aren’t difficult choices between equally deserving superstars, but rather questionable inclusions that undermine the selection’s integrity. This analysis examines the nominees who represent poor voting investments, helping you allocate your votes to truly deserving candidates.
5. Cristian Romero: The Questionable Inclusion
EA Sports
Romero’s nomination represents one of the most perplexing choices on the entire ballot.Cristian Romero’s limited impact since joining Tottenham Hotspur in 2021 makes his inclusion difficult to justify. The Argentine defender has managed just seven Premier League appearances for Spurs, raising legitimate questions about his nomination criteria. While his international performances with Argentina show promise, they don’t compensate for his club-level absence. For FUT managers, even Romero’s respectable pace as a defender doesn’t translate to TOTY-worthy credentials. Strategic Voting Tip: Defenders require exceptional all-around stats to compete in the current meta; Romero’s limited sample size makes him a risky investment of your valuable vote.
4. Mats Hummels: The Meta Mismatch
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Hummels stands out as an anomaly among Bundesliga representatives on the TOTY ballot.While Mats Hummels’ domestic performances provide some justification for his nomination, his Ultimate Team viability remains questionable. The Bundesliga veteran’s inclusion feels more like recognition of past achievements than current TOTY merit.
In a potential TOTY lineup featuring speed demons like Mbappé, Lewandowski, and Messi, Hummels’ pace deficiency becomes glaringly apparent. Unless EA dramatically enhances his speed attributes—an unlikely scenario based on his Headliner and base gold card performances—he’ll struggle to compete at the highest FUT levels. Common Mistake to Avoid: Don’t vote based solely on real-world reputation; consider how the card will actually perform in FIFA 22’s pace-dominated gameplay environment.
3. Lucas Paquetá: The Pace Problem
EA Sports
Paquetá suffers from the same fundamental limitation as Hummels: inadequate pace for the current meta.The Brazilian midfielder’s technical qualities don’t compensate for his speed deficiencies in FIFA 22’s gameplay environment. While his pace statistics aren’t as dire as Hummels’, they remain insufficient against the meta’s demands. Other midfield options like Heung-Min Son, Mason Mount, Thomas Müller, and Casemiro offer better statistical profiles and greater likelihood of receiving TOTY upgrades. Optimization Tip for Advanced Players: When evaluating midfield nominees, prioritize players with balanced pace/passing/dribbling stats (minimum 80 pace, 85 passing, 85 dribbling for competitive play).
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2. Gerard Moreno: The Quota Fulfillment
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Moreno’s presence suggests EA needed to satisfy LaLiga representation requirements.While Gerard Moreno demonstrates natural finishing ability and occasional lethal form, his Ultimate Team potential appears limited. His statistical profile seems adequate until compared against other attacking superstars on the ballot, where he resembles placeholder content. Diehard Villarreal supporters may understandably include him, but realistic voters shouldn’t anticipate his inclusion in the primary or secondary TOTY squads. Practical Strategy: Reserve votes for players who offer unique positional flexibility or meta-breaking attributes that justify their inclusion over established superstars.
1. Harry Kane: The Underperforming Star
EA Sports
Kane represents the most viable candidate from this list, though his nomination remains debatable.The England captain’s inclusion completes Tottenham Hotspur’s double representation among questionable nominees.
Kane’s disappointing club form during the 2021/22 campaign undermines his TOTY credentials. The striker has managed just four goals across seventeen Premier League appearances, a concerning output following his EURO 2020 success and protracted Manchester City transfer speculation. His wasteful early-season performances highlight the gap between reputation and current TOTY-worthiness. Advanced Player Insight: Kane’s traditional striker profile struggles in FIFA 22’s meta that favors pacey, agile forwards; even with potential upgrades, his card may not compete with meta alternatives.
Strategic Voting Framework
Successful TOTY voting requires moving beyond name recognition to evaluate genuine impact. Consider these three voting dimensions: Current Form (last 12 months performance), Meta Relevance (FIFA 22 gameplay suitability), and Card Potential (upgrade value versus existing alternatives). Players like Romero and Paquetá fail multiple criteria, while even Kane struggles with the meta relevance component.
Remember that TOTY cards remain in packs for limited durations and represent significant FUT investments. Your votes should prioritize players who will genuinely enhance squad building possibilities rather than simply recognizing established names. The voting period concludes January 18—allocate your ballots strategically to influence which players receive these coveted upgrades.
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