FIFA 22: Riyad Mahrez Road to the Final Review - Is he worth the giant prize tag?

The Road to the Final (RTTF) promo is bringing us plenty of top content in FIFA 22 Ultimate Team, alongside the Icon Swaps 2 campaign.

EA released some outstanding RTTF cards including the likes of Sadio Mane, Presnel Kimpembe and Renato Sanches, but one, in particular, stood out to me above the rest.

Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez was handed an incredible 91 OVR Right-Winger card, which has the potential for several future upgrades, of course.

Mahrez comes with a hefty price tag, so, we're here with a player review to help you decide whether he is worth your coins in FUT 22.

First Impressions

Pace, agility, skills and clinical finishing. Mahrez's Road to the Final card is everything you want from an attacker in FIFA 22.

You may be hesitant to spend upwards of 1 million coins on a player in Ultimate Team, and I was sceptical too, but this card offers not only a top-tier forward but an investment opportunity too.

Mahrez's five-star skill moves allows you to create space in more creative ways like you can see in the video above where I used an 'Elastico' before a trademark finesse shot to the goalkeepers' right.

What really stands out though is Mahrez's unbelievable dribbling and agility, which can only be likened to that of a Team of the Year (TOTY) card and is the best that I personally have experienced in FIFA 22.

Positional Play

RTTF Mahrez can fill pretty much any gap you have in your attack.

I utilised Mahrez in both the central CAM position in a 4-2-3-1 and the ST position in a 4-4-2 in order to get the player more involved with the play, but he would no doubt do a great job in a wide position too.

Mahrez's four-star weak foot felt like a five-star in-game, as he was so accomplished on his right foot when finishing.

This means that you can shift the ball onto either foot and get your shot away in the tight spaces in the penalty area.

Investment Opportunity

RTTF Riyad Mahrez's extremely high price tag is partially down to the fact that it is a 'live' card that can be upgraded by several OVR points.

The Road to the Final cards will be upgraded when a player's team:

• Wins 1st knockout game after campaign launch.
• Qualifies for Quarter-Finals.
• Qualifies for Semi-Finals.
• Qualifies for the Final.
• Wins the Final.

So, this means that if Manchester City wins the UEFA Champions League, Riyad Mahrez will reach an astonishing 96 OVR.

Pep Guardiola's side reached the UCL final in the 2020/21 campaign and will be hoping to go one step further this year.

It's safe to say that your 1 million coin investment is in safe hands with a Manchester City asset, as they are one of the best footballing teams in Europe, meaning Mahrez is almost guaranteed upgrades.

Verdict

The highest-rated Premier League Right-Winger in FUT bar Mohamed Salah, and in the top ten RWs/RMs/RFs currently available worldwide, Mahrez certainly has pedigree.

Taking into account that he has the potential for future upgrades, the 1 million+ coins you will need to spend to sign him doesn't seem so steep.

Once a Hunter Chemistry Style is applied, the Man City winger has 99 acceleration and 98 sprint speed, along with 99 finishing and 99 volleys.

Once you couple this with 95 agility, 94 ball control and 91 balance, you have one of the most effective forwards in the entire game on your hands.

RealSport Rating: 9/10

*Reviewed on PS5 by RealSport101 Sports Writer, Mark Pangalos.