Shoot, pass, dribble, speed, agility, defending, and whatnot — these are the qualities that truly define a soccer player. And it’s safe to say that when the name Trinity Rodman comes to mind, all those boxes get a green check, right? At least in the eyes of the USWNT striker and her ardent fans, they do. But the recently released EA FC 2026 rankings don’t seem to reflect the same faith.

For the record, the Washington Spirit forward has earned an overall rating of 85. Compared to last year’s rating of 84, not a lot has increased, but even if it did, what Trinity Rodman actually wanted to see improve hasn’t improved at all; it’s her defensive rating, by the way. No wonder it only led the 23-year-old to raise questions against EA FC. “I need to talk to them about my defensive rating because I do believe it should be higher,” Rodman said with a laugh while speaking to Sports Illustrated.

“I pride myself on being a forward that defends more than most!” Who would have thought, eh? Speaking of this year’s rankings, Rodman has earned 91 in pace, 81 in shooting, 78 in passing, 83 in dribbling, and 82 in physicality. But defense, you ask? Only 43. Now, when compared to last year’s rating, some things have improved or are exactly the same, while others have endured a significant drop as well.

Last year, the very same FUT card had a pace of 94, shooting 82, passing 78, 83 dribbling, physicality 83, and defense, again 43. So it’s only natural for the Newport Beach native to be somewhat in denial about her ratings. Though on the brighter side, an overall 85 this year does put her in the NWSL’s top 26 list, she closely failed to make the cut in the top 26 women’s players.

Mostly, that list consists of big European names from big clubs like Barcelona duo Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati, both topping the charts with a 91 overall. Other key names also include Caroline Graham Hansen, Alessia Russo, and Khadija Shaw. Perhaps the highest one from the NWSL is Rodman’s fellow USWNT teammate and rival, Sophia Wilson, as the Portland Thorns forward hails an overall rating of 88.

In the same bracket sits KC Current’s Debinha. Just a point lower are Gotham’s Rose Lavelle and Chicago Red Stars’ Mallory Swanson, both rated 87. Of course, it’s fair to admit that when it comes to EA FC FUT cards, there’s hardly much a player can do—especially given how competitive it gets for all the stakeholders involved. Then again, more than ratings, it’s recognition that keeps Trinity Rodman highly motivated!

Here’s why ratings somewhat matter to Trinity Rodman

Though the NWSL star admitted she’s “really bad” at playing video games, that hasn’t stopped her from appreciating their impact. For Rodman, titles like EA FC hold massive reach, especially with the inclusion of women’s players—a step she believes has been vital in growing the women’s game. “It’s exciting,” she said in a similar interview. “I love being recognized for that because it’s never something that I thought I could be a part of or even be in the game, so this being real life is really amazing.”

Rodman emphasized that the game helps women’s soccer reach a much larger audience. She noted that while there are plenty of people who already watch and support women’s sports, the impact goes beyond that. According to her, many people who know little about soccer but are deeply invested in video games are now being drawn in, ultimately bringing more eyes to the sport.

Rodman even shared that when she meets people, they all praise her EA card. “Sometimes I’ll make the joke that honestly, my game version is better than I am in real life!” she said. As EA FC 26 approaches its September 26 launch, Rodman believes the frustration and hunger for a higher rating will never fully go away. Still, she accepts how important it is simply to be part of such a development.

“I think no matter what, every player will always be mad about their rating and always want it to be higher, even if you’re at 99,” added the Spirit forward. “But as I’ve grown as a player, the game has done a good job of updating it as the years go on.”

We bet it has. Let’s hope that by next year, Trinity Rodman is able to prove why she deserves a better defensive rating. For now, share your views in the comments below.