FIFA 22 Ultimate Team fans are counting down the days until Team of the Year arrives.
Voting has been and gone, and now we are eagerly awaiting any kind of news to reveal who made the final XI.
It's not just about them though, as a 12th Player spot is also up for grabs, so take a look at who is in contention for that below.
Latest - Vote for 12th Man opening soon
With the Team of the Year set to be revealed very soon, the vote for the 12th Man is surely around the corner.
You can expect the 12th Man vote to open on Thursday, 20 January at 1pm ET / 6pm GMT, though this date is not confirmed. yet
In FIFA 21, EA allowed fans to vote for their 12th Man by selecting one of three nominees from a Player Pick in Ultimate Team.
So, all you need to do to vote is head to the Ultimate Team Store, try to open a pack and the player Pick should pop up for you to cast your vote.
What is the 12th Player?
With limited space available in the final XI, EA introduced the 12th Player to Team of the Year to reward someone who is just as deserving to gain an incredible card, if there was just that little extra room.
Last year, Lionel Messi picked up the spot, with EA saying:
He was close to making the ultimate XI, but your votes made sure Lionel Messi is recognised for his incredible year as the TOTY 12th Player!
When will TOTY start?
As expected, the Team of the Year will come to the game in mid-January.
TOTY Schedule:
- Friday, 7 January - Forward Nominees revealed
- Saturday, 8 January - Midfield Nominees revealed
- Sunday, 9 January - Defender & Goalkeeper Nominees revealed
- Monday, 10 January - Voting begins
- Tuesday, 18 January - Voting closes
This schedule suggests that the first Team of the Year cards will arrive in packs on Friday, 21 January, but that is yet to be confirmed.
Forwards will reign supreme
Any player is able to get included as the 12th Player, but it will almost certainly be an attacker.
With only three forward spots up for grabs, many of the biggest names in the game will miss out on a Team of the Year card.
Attacking players are by far the most popular cards in the game, and will also grab the headlines in world football, so they will garner many votes.
We're expecting to see a front three of Mohamed Salah, Robert Lewandowski, and Lionel Messi, so the list of forwards that will miss out is astonishing.
Check out who we think could take the 12th Player spot.
Robert Lewandowski
We're sure that Robert Lewandowski will be the first name in the TOTY XI, however, as he isn't a meta player votes for his inclusion may be swayed.
If that were the case, he could miss out on the 'starting' front three, but still see a deserved TOTY inclusion.
Kylian Mbappe
Another forward, another world star, another man who could just nick in.
Kylian Mbappe is a FUT favourite, one of the best cards to use in-game, but doesn't necessarily feel a must-include for the XI.
If it were a popularity contest (and it sort of is), then backing Mbappe to steal the spot would be a safe bet.
Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema is a very strong contender for the 12th man spot.
He is in the form of his life and has been since taking on more responsibility at Real Madrid.
With 30 goals last season and 20 so far this, he is pushing for inclusion in some way.
He could end up as an Honourable Mention, but that may not do justice to what a year he has had.
Erling Haaland
In most other years you would think that Erling Haaland would be one of the first names on the TOTY list.
It goes to show how outstanding players have been that a man who has 43 goals in 42 appearances during the year may not make the final cut.
Is there a more deserving player to get the 12th man spot? We don't think so.
Cristiano Ronaldo
It feels a bit like the 12th man spot was made for when Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo don't feature in the XI, so we have to mention CR7.
He finished as the top scorer in Serie A, before a move back to Manchester United, where he seemed to single-handedly drag them through the Champions League group stage.
It's not been a vintage year for him, but such a big star will always be in the running for inclusion.
Antonio Rudiger
There is a slim chance that a defender could take the 12th man spot, and if there was one to claim it then Antonio Rudiger would be high on the list.
He has been a key component in Chelsea tightening up at the back, helping them win the Champions League, and also pushing for Premier League success this term.
We're not sure if Marquinhos is fully deserving of his predicted place in the side, so a 12th man inclusion for Rudiger could be just.
FIFA 22 TOTY 12th Man Contenders
- Trent Alexander-Arnold - Liverpool
- Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
- Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)
- Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
- Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund)
- Achraf Hakimi (PSG)
- Jorginho (Chelsea)
- Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
- Lionel Messi (PSG)
- Neymar Jr. (PSG)
- Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig)
- Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
- Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea)
Click here to see the Team of the Year Forward nominees.
Click here to see the Team of the Year Midfielder nominees.
Click here to see the Team of the Year Defender nominees.
Click here to see the Team of the Year Goalkeeper nominees.
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