Barcelona kicked off the PES 2020 announcement, with the Spanish champions renewing their partnership with Konami this year.
Although not exclusive to the game like Juventus, the Camp Nou will not appear in rivals FIFA 20 once again this year, with legends Ronaldinho and Andres Iniesta representing them in MyClub.
But that was then, and this is now. Barca will be a popular choice in the PES 2020 thanks to a certain cover star known as Lionel Messi.
We take a look at Messi and the rest of the squad in this breakdown of the Barcelona player ratings on the new game.
Barcelona Team Rating
It won’t surprise that Barcelona have a five star rating on PES 2020, which is broken down into a 93 attack, 86 midfield and 87 defence, making them the best team on the demo.
Their formation is their classic 4-3-3, with the firepower clearly coming up top but still plenty of depth all over the park.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen (OVR 89)
Position: GK
Age: 27
Country: Germany
An underappreciated goalkeeper, many think that Marc-Andre ter Stegen is the best German stopper and should be starting ahead of international captain Manuel Neuer. He has been near faultless for Barcelona, and aged 27 he still five or six years left at the top.
Sergi Roberto (OVR 83)
Position: RB
Age: 27
Country: Spain
Sergi Roberto offers an engine and versatility to the squad, able to play at right back and in midfield. Also 27, the Spanish international is becoming a big feature in the dressing room, having been at the club since the age of 14.
Gerard Pique (OVR 90)
Position: CB
Age: 32
Country: Spain
Age 32 it could be Gerard Pique’s swansong season as he has to deal with two young French centre backs in Clement Lenglet and Samuel Umtiti. Pique has been their and done it however, winning World Cups, European Championships, Champions Leagues and eight La Liga titles.
Clement Lenglet (OVR 85)
Position: CB
Age: 24
Country: France
Barca fans would have been worried for their defence following the injury to Samuel Umtiti at the start of last season, with then centre halves Jeremy Mathieu and Thomas Vermaelen not providing adequate cover. The £30 million signing of Clement Lenglet from Sevilla has put them at ease, and it’s hard to see how he can now lose his place in the side.
Jordi Alba (OVR 87)
Position: LB
Age: 30
Country: Spain
Jordi Alba is the best left back on the planet for many, but aged 30 his best days are now behind him. Fortunately for his sake, there is no serious competition in his position in the squad, but expect the Barcelona scouts to be eying up a replacement over the course of the season.
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Sergio Busquets (OVR 89)
Position: DMF
Age: 31
Country: Spain
One of the most underrated Barcelona players of the last decade, Sergio Busquets makes this side tick. Whether it be winning the ball back, using his aerial presence, spraying passes or buying free kicks, this man can do it all.
Ivan Rakitic (OVR 87)
Position: CMF
Age: 31
Country: Croatia
Surprisingly the same age as Busquets, it’s time to see Ivan Rakitic play a more leader role in the dressing room. The Croatian has the quality to take on the baton from the likes of Andres Iniesta and Xavi, but the jury remains out on whether he can fulfil their emotional void at the club.
Lionel Messi (OVR 94)
Position: RWF, SS, CF
Age: 32
Country: Argentina
The best player on PES 2020 alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, cover star Lionel Messi shows no signs of letting up. Aged 32, he is meant to be slowing down but the Argentine still netted 51 goals in 50 games last season, the sixth time he has brought up a half century in his career.
Luis Suarez (OVR 91)
Position: CF
Age: 32
Country: Uruguay
25 goals is far from a bad return for a striker, but when you consider Lionel Messi is doubling that number and the expected goal return in Spain, Luis Suarez’s time may be running out. His decline last season may have encouraged the move for Antoine Griezmann, and with the Frenchman to compete against, Suarez could be out the starting lineup sooner rather than later.
Philippe Coutinho (OVR 87)
Position: LWF, AMF
Age: 27
Country: Brazil
Philippe Coutinho is another man who could suffer from the arrival of Griezmann, with the Brazilian linked with moves to Manchester United, Liverpool and PSG. Despite being a huge talent, the Camp Nou have not warmed to the Brazilian, despite 32 goal involvements in one and a half seasons at the club.
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On the bench
With Jasper Cillessen joining Valencia, you have two inexperienced goalkeepers to choose form in Jokin Ezkieta (OVR 66) and Inaki Pena (OVR 64).
Samuel Umtiti (OVR 86) has been linked with an exit, but should he stay, he is likely to get back into the starting lineup after some injury troubles, with this perhaps Gerard Pique’s last season at the top.
Fellow centre backs Jorge Tuenca (OVR 67) and Jean-Clair Todibo (OVR 74) will struggle for game time, but could be used in early round Copa del Rey matches or towards the end of the campaign.
Nelson Semedo (OVR 82) is a serious first team option, and will be used in rotation with Sergi Roberto at right back.
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In midfield, Arturo Vidal (OVR 86) surprisingly holds on to a strong rating, despite becoming a bench player aged 32. Carles Alena (OVR 78) is at the other end of his career having recently got his first team opportunities and could be a name to watch out for this season.
Rafinha (OVR 81), the brother of Bayern midfielder Thiago, is a versatile player who can operate in midfield or attack, and he will be looking to bounce back from a nasty anterior ligament injury suffered last term.
On the wing, Malcom (OVR 83) struggled to make an impact following his move from Bordeaux, and with Ousmane Dembele (OVR 86) and new signing Antoine Griezmann to contend with, you can’t imagine that changing this year.
Summer transfers
In the Barcelona reserves you won't recognise many names, but the one that does stand out is new man Frenkie de Jong (OVR 85). His rating is so high it would put him straight into the starting lineup.
Right back Emerson (OVR 75) has also arrived having been loaned out to Real Betis for the second half of the last campaign, following a move from Brazilian outfit Atletico Mineiro.
Jasper Cillessen (OVR 82) is on the demo but is on his way to Valencia this summer, but there is no space for new signing Antoine Griezmann. Expect a rating close to 90 OVR to get him in that starting lineup.
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It is Barcelona after all, so expect plenty of young talent to come to fruition on Master League. Chumi (OVR 67) is still part of the Barcelona B setup having signed for the Catalans aged 15.
Moussa Wague (OVR 74) is already a regular for the Senegal national team with 17 caps aged 20, holding plenty more experience that fellow full backs Guillem Jaime (OVR 64) and Juan Miranda (OVR 70).
Oriol Busquets (OVR 72) provides further depth in defensive midfielder with young starlet Riqui Puig (OVR 72) and Alex Collado (OVR 63) still learning their trade at La Masia.
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