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Why Victor Ibarbo was Unstoppable on FIFA 14

I still have nightmares about Victor Ibarbo to this day. And I really wish I was joking – I woke up in a cold sweat the other day thinking he would ruin my Ultimate Team record again!

FIFA 14, one of the most beloved editions of EA Sports’ iconic football video game series, featured numerous players who became legends in the virtual world.

Among these digital titans, one name stands out: Victor Ibarbo.

The Colombian forward, who played for Cagliari in Serie A at the time, was nothing short of a sensation in FIFA 14, terrorizing defenses and becoming a go-to choice for many gamers. Especially when chemistry became such an important factor in the game and he had that Serie A link.

But that obviously wasn’t his greatest asset. Let us count the ways…

One of the most defining attributes of Victor Ibarbo in FIFA 14 was his incredible speed. With a pace rating that ranked him among the fastest players in the game (93), Ibarbo could outrun almost any defender. His acceleration and sprint speed stats made him a nightmare for opposing defenses, allowing players to exploit his speed on counter-attacks and through balls.

Speed was not Ibarbo’s only weapon.

Standing at 6’2″ with excellent strength, he combined his pace with a physicality that few defenders could handle. This rare blend of attributes made him not only fast but also difficult to dispossess, giving him the ability to hold off challenges and maintain possession under pressure.

Teaming that pace with this physicality made him a brute force on FIFA 14 – especially when the game’s engine highlighted these two things as key ways of breezing past the opposition.

Not much tiki-taka was needed on games like these, to be honest.

Ibarbo’s technical skills and dribbling abilities complemented his physical attributes perfectly. With four-star skill moves, he could pull off a range of tricks and flicks that made him elusive and difficult to defend against. His dribbling rating ensured he could work in tight spaces.

So, the novice FIFA player didn’t need to do much to reap the rewards of Victor Ibarbo. And also, because so many people were using him on Ultimate Team in particular, he was dirt cheap!

Ibarbo was also a competent finisher.

His shooting stats were respectable (73 without a style add-on), allowing him to capitalize on the chances his speed and dribbling created. Whether it was finishing off a counter-attack or converting from close range, Ibarbo could find the back of the net with surprising regularity.

His combination of pace, strength, and skill made him a highly sought-after player. He was often used in hybrid squads due to his links with other popular Serie A players and Colombian stars, making him a staple in many Ultimate Team setups. Including mine, and all of my friends. And all of their friends!

Going to Roma a year later only helped this fact. And that’s where he formed a now-legendary virtual partnership with winger Gervinho – but I’m sure there’ll be more time to talk about that later.

Victor Ibarbo’s dominance in FIFA 14 is a testament to the unique combination of attributes that made him nearly unstoppable. His blistering pace, physical presence, skillful dribbling, and versatile finishing made him a favorite among gamers, particularly in Ultimate Team mode.

Even years later, his name evokes nostalgia and respect among FIFA enthusiasts, highlighting how certain players can transcend the virtual pitch and become legends in the gaming community.

He might even be better than Christian Benteke was – which we spoke about here.

Did you ever use Victor Ibarbo on FIFA 14?

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