Match performance. Every competitive match, players bank growth. Every minute on the pitch earns some, better performances earn more, and identical performances always bank identical growth, no dice involved. Friendlies do not build growth.

Youth develop faster. Young players aged 15 to 23 accumulate growth faster than older players.

Scaled by minutes played. A player who plays 45 minutes earns roughly half the growth of a full 90-minute appearance.

Every 12 competitive games. Each player gets a report after every 12 competitive games at their club. The report converts their accumulated growth into a rating change, then resets growth to zero for the next window.

Strong form lifts rating. If a player kept their form high (around 10+ bars) across the window, their rating can increase. The higher the growth, the bigger the increase.

Poor form risks a drop. If form was below that, the rating change is throttled and may even drop, especially for older players.

Players age over time. Players age by one year every four reports, roughly every 48 competitive games, not at a fixed calendar point.

Veterans decline. Players aged 33+ start to decline regardless, though high growth and the stamina quality can slow it.

Higher ratings improve slower. A player's current rating affects how much they can improve. At lower ratings a strong season can produce a sizeable jump. Higher up, the same season's growth converts into a smaller increase.

Gains are priced step by step. A jump that crosses a rating threshold pays the cheap rate up to that line and the steeper rate beyond it, so identical games can never see a lower rated player overtake a better one.

Top ratings are earned. Reaching rating 16 takes consistent good seasons. Climbing to 17 or 18 is rare and usually takes years of standout play.

Legends are generational. Rating 19 and 20 are reserved for legendary, generational players. Most squads will never produce one.

Veterans hang up their boots. Each player report (every 12 competitive games) carries a retirement check that grows more likely as the player ages, with a hard ceiling: no one plays past 40.

Two-stage send-off. When the check fires, you get a Retirement Announced notification. The player keeps playing, but you have one full report cycle (about 12 games) to scout a replacement. Their next report becomes the Final Report and they retire after it.

Locked at the club. Once retirement is announced, the player can't be transfer listed, quick sold, or released. They finish their career at your club. Any active transfer listing is cancelled and bidders' funds are released back.

Skill is a modifier. Elite veterans push on a year or two longer; fading ones bow out a little earlier. Skill never gates retirement on its own. Even a generational talent retires by 40.