EA Sports' FIFA 22 TOTY was revealed today, but many Chelsea fans on social media were left confused by Antonio Rudiger and Edouard Mendy's absence.
2021 was an outstanding year for both Mendy and Rudiger, with the duo playing a vital role in Chelsea's UEFA Champions League and Super Cup success. One of the first decisions made by Thomas Tuchel on his arrival at the Blues was to bring Antonio Rudiger back into the starting XI as a regular, and the German was one of the world's best defenders in 2021.
Mendy joined Chelsea in the summer of 2020, and the 'keeper has been one of the Blues' most important players since, keeping 21 clean sheets during 2021.
The FIFA 22 TOTY was revealed on Thursday, January 20 at 3.30pm, and there was a backlash on social media to both Mendy and Rudiger not being included.
The FUT TOTY is one of the most anticipated releases in the FIFA calendar, where the best 11 players from world football in 2021 are rewarded with permanently upgraded player items, making them some of the best items in the game.
In 2021, Mendy kept more clean sheets in all competitions than any other Premier League goalkeeper, and of the 16 goalkeepers to face 100+ shots on target in the Premier League in 2021, Mendy had the best save percentage - 74.4%.
Rudiger revitalised Tuchel's defence when he was brought into the starting XI on the right of the back three, with Chelsea conceding 0.5 goals per game in all competitions in 2021 when Rudiger played, compared to 1.3 goals per game when he did not play.
Based on those stats alone, it's surprising to see both miss out on the TOTY, and many Chelsea fans on Twitter were outraged with the duo's absence.
As you can see from the reactions, many people disagreed with the decision for Rudiger and Mendy to not be included in the TOTY, with PSG's Gianluigi Donnaruma and Marquinhos both included ahead of the duo.
It wasn't all bad news for Chelsea fans though, with midfield partners Jorginho and N'Golo Kante both included in the TOTY.
Powered by Football, EA SPORTS FIFA 22 brings the game even closer to the real thing with a new season of innovation across every mode and groundbreaking next-gen HyperMotion gameplay technology on PlayStation5 that elevates every moment of the match.
Should Rudiger and Mendy have been included in the FIFA 22 TOTY? Let us know in the comments below!
