When you realise your dream to play football for a career, to the envy of the rest of us, and get paid handsomely to do so, you would think not much else would worry you. But in the latest Super 6 podcast Adebayo Akinfenwa has revealed what winds up pro footballers. The answer is..... FIFA ratings!
EA's latest version of their undisputed king of football computer games, FIFA 21, has just been released, with footballers across the world watching nervously to see how they've been rated.
Think they don't care? Well, just look at Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku's reaction at seeing his rating drop from 86 in the '20 version to 85 in '21. Yes, just one mark lower and still the former Everton and Manchester United player felt the need to rant on social media.
Meanwhile players like Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold and Leicester's Jamie Vardy were left delighted to see their overall rating move upwards after wonderful 2019/20 campaigns.
But why do players care so much about the game? Wycombe striker Adebayo Akinfenwa has revealed just that to his Super 6 podcast co-host Laura Woods and admits that he too cares about his avatar stats.
"12 years in a row I'm the strongest player on the game, let's say world, universe and galaxy too," joked Akinfenwa.
"Yes, these rating matter to you. Even as an adult you are a kid, and as a kid you remember playing the game, so you are always close to it.
"So as you get older you still want validation from the game, because it is the pinnacle game. So when you don't get the marks you feel you should have it does hurts.
"You feel you are being disrespected. If they gave me under 97 rating for strength I'd say they were disrespecting me and I'd be mad. So I understand why Lukaku didn't hold back and I could see his pain and anger through his tweet.
"People say 'boys and their toys' but FIFA means something to us all, so when you undervalue us it is a problem."
Sky Sports and talkSPORT presenter Laura Woods and Sky Bet Championship striker Adebayo Akinfenwa have joined forces this season in the brand new Super 6 podcast.
A new edition is available every Thursday, subscribe and download from your normal podcast provider.
