Old School RS Gold A Golden Boot winning performance at this summer’s World Cup has earned James Rodriguez an army of new fans and international attention following a largely under-the-radar spell at AS Monaco last season. Rodriguez only scored nine league goals for the French outfit but his dazzling performances in Brazil ensured 2013-14 was his first and last campaign in Ligue 1 as Real Madrid paid a reported €80 million for his services this summer.

And it’s easy to see why the Spanish giants forked out such a fat wad of cash for the Colombian, who averaged a goal once every 67 minutes at the World Cup finals, finishing as the tournament’s leading marksman with six goals and two assists. He played all six of his country’s games during the competition and shone as the Colombians became one of its biggest surprise packages.

Now considered one of the world’s best young players, the 23-year-old’s new-found standing in football’s occasionally-fickle hierarchy has seen his rating in the FIFA franchise increase from 83 in last year’s iteration to a far-loftier 86 in ’15, and again, you have to say this is deserved.

3. Karim Benzema – 87

It is easy to sympathise with Karim Benzema. The striker is sometimes overlooked in a side containing so many ‘Galácticos’ with big names such as Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo more often than not hogging all the media attention. However, Benzema should not be overlooked, for he played a key role in the Real Madrid side that finally won an historic ‘La Decima’ last season.

The Frenchman scored five Champions League goals to fire his side to an unprecedented tenth European crown back in May, while he also struck 17 La Liga goals from a return of 35 games in 2013-14, though it was not enough to stop city rivals Atletico Madrid winning the league. Nevertheless, Benzema has still been rewarded by

EA for his recent performances.

FIFA Coins EA have increased his rating of 85 in FIFA 14 to 87 in its upcoming sequel, if the leaks are to be believed, meaning the Madrid man is one of the highest-rated forwards on the game. His two-point increase isn’t much of a shock considering his goal-scoring form last term and the fact he has already opened his account from his one game so far this season suggests it’s justified.