FIFA 20 Winter Upgrades: When will the ratings refresh happen and which players will be upgraded?

At the start of the season, every player was given a unique rating in FIFA 20 based on their recent form.

As the 2019-20 campaign progressed, it was clear that some players had been underrated, while others have had a breakout season making their initial rating redundant.

In order to make sure each player in the FIFA 20 database is properly rated, EA Sports update player ratings throughout the season in the live database for online seasons.

FIFA Ultimate Team does not have dynamic ratings like this, but each February, a Ratings Refresh takes place, where upgraded cards are released into packs.

When are the winter upgrades happening?

During the January transfer window, EA Sports will release new versions of players at their new clubs. This takes place throughout the month of January and into February once all the deals are completed.

The Ratings Refresh takes place once the transfer window is closed and usually kicks off in mid-February.

In FIFA 19, the first batch of winter upgrades was released on Friday, February 15, 2019. As a result, it is predicted that the FIFA 20 winter upgrades will begin on Friday, February 14, 2020.

As well as ratings increases, some players may also receive boosts to their weak foot and skill stats, while other players may benefit from position changes to reflect their real-life positions. Raheem Sterling is likely to receive a position change from his original right-wing spot to left-wing in the Ratings Refresh.

The ratings refresh usually occurs in batches, with each of Europe’s top five leagues released separately as well as another update for players from the rest of the world.

Which players will receive upgrades?

The latest live database for Career Mode and Online Seasons is a good indicator for which players will receive upgrades during the Ratings Refresh.

The following players have all been upgraded in the live database, so there is a very good chance they will receive a boost in FIFA Ultimate Team in February.

Player
Club
Old Rating
Upgraded Rating

Robert Lewandowski
Bayern Munich
89
90

Sadio Mane
Liverpool
88
89

Raheem Sterling
Man City
88
89

Karim Benzema
Real Madrid
87
88

Casemiro
Real Madrid
87
88

Roberto Firmino
Liverpool
86
87

Angel Di Maria
PSG
86
87

Clement Lenglet
Barcelona
85
86

Raphael Varane
Real Madrid
85
86

Andrew Robertson
Liverpool
85
86

Mauro Icardi
PSG
85
86

Hakim Ziyech
Ajax
85
86

Arthur
Barcelona
84
85

Pizzi
Benfica
84
85

Timo Werner
RB Leipzig
83
84

Lucas Moura
Spurs
83
84

Trent Alexander-Arnold
Liverpool
83
84

Idrissa Gueye
PSG
83
84

Jamie Vardy
Leicester
82
84

Ricardo Pereira
Leicester
82
84

Thomas Partey
Atletico Madrid
82
83

Quincy Promes
Ajax
82
83

Wilfred Ndidi
Leicester
81
82

Marcel Sabitzer
RB Leipzig
81
82

Dimitri Payet
Marseille
81
82

Lautaro Martinez
Inter
81
82

Marcos Acuna
Sporting CP
81
82

Ruben Dias
Benfica
80
82

Moussa Dembele
Lyon
80
81

Chris Smalling
Roma
80
81

Raul Jimenez
Wolves
80
81

Mario Hermoso
Atletico Madrid
80
81

Juan Bernat
PSG
80
81

Moussa Marega
Porto
80
81

James Maddison
Leicester
79
81

Richarlison
Everton
79
80

Fabian Schar
Newcastle
79
80

Achraf Hakimi
Borussia Dortmund
79
80

Agustin Marchesin
Portp
78
80

Jordan Veretout
Roma
78
79

Renan Lodi
Atletico Madrid
77
79

Marcus Thuram
Borussia Monchengladbach
75
79

Scott McTominay
Man Utd
77
78

Dayot Upamecano
RB Leipzig
77
78

Reguilon
Atletico Madrid
77
78

Luiz Felipe
Lazio
77
78

Patrick Herrmann
Borussia Monchengladbach
77
78

Konrad Laimer
RB Leipzig
77
78

Stefano Sensi
Inter
77
78

Tammy Abraham
Chelsea
76
78

Amine Harit
Schalke
76
78

Caglar Soyuncu
Leicester
74
78

Erling Haaland
Borussia Dortmund
73
78

Kieran Tierney
Arsenal
76
77

Rodrygo
Real Madrid
76
77

Phil Foden
Man City
76
77

Goncalo Paciencia
Eintracht Frankfurt
76
77

Theo Hernandez
AC Milan
76
77

Gianluca Mancini
Roma
76
77

Franco Cervi
Benfica
76
77

Mason Mount
Chelsea
75
77

John McGinn
Aston Villa
75
77

Matteo Guendouzi
Arsenal
75
77

Islam Slimani
Monaco
74
77

Paulo Gazzaniga
Spurs
75
76

Alexander Nubel
Schalke
75
76

Jetro Willems
Newcastle
75
76

Suat Serdar
Schalke
75
76

Takumi Minamoto
Liverpool
75
76

Dodi Lukebakio
Hertha BSC
75
76

Bouna Sarr
Marseille
75
76

Moussa Diaby
Bayer Leverkusen
74
76

Enda Stevens
Sheff Utd
74
76

Emiliano Buendia
Norwich
74
76

John Egan
Sheff Utd
74
76

Tim Krul
Norwich
73
76

Fiyako Tomori
Chelsea
72
76

Daniel James
Man Utd
72
76

Adama Traore
Wolves
74
75

Philip Billing
Bournemouth
74
75

Moussa Djenepo
Southampton
74
75

Djibril Sow
Eintracht Frankfurt
74
75

Diego Rico
Bournemouth
74
75

Jack O’Connell
Sheff Utd
74
75

Giovanni Di Lorenzo
Napoli
73
75

Hwang Hee Chan
Red Bull Salzburg
71
75

Daichi Kamada
Eintracht Frankfurt
73
74

Lys Mousset
Sheff Utd
71
74

Mohamed Ihattaren
PSV
68
74

Alphonso Davies
Bayern Munich
72
73

Cody Gakpo
PSV
72
73

Dan Burn
Brighton
71
73

Laszlo Benes
Borussia Monchengladbach
70
73

Carles Perez
Barcelona
67
73

Ruben Vinagre
Wolves
70
72

Aaron Ramsdale
Bournemouth
68
72

Gabriel Martinelli
Arsenal
68
72

Todd Cantwell
Norwich
68
72

Mason Greenwood
Man Utd
67
70

John Lundstram
Sheff Utd
67
70

Aaron Connolly
Brighton
64
65

Will my current players be upgraded?

Only special versions of players in your club are eligible for an upgrade. Regular gold, silver or bronze cards will not be automatically upgraded.

If a player’s new rating exceeds or equals the rating of their special versions (Team of the Week, Team of the Group Stage, etc.), then these special cards will receive an automatic boost.

For example, Sadio Mane’s initial card had an 88 rating, but he is now rated 89 in the live FIFA database. A new 89-rated basic version will be added to packs in February, but anyone who has the original 88-rated version will not receive an upgrade. His 89- and 90-rated Team of the Week in-form cards will both get +1 overall, while his Player of the Month card should also be boosted from 91 to 92.

All new players found in packs will be upgraded but the lower-rated original cards will still be available to be bought and sold on the transfer market.