Potential and Longevity
Last updated
Last updated
Two additional values, which determine their potential and longevity, are randomly assigned to players upon creation. In contrast to the aforementioned core skills, the rating allocated to each of these attributes cannot change over time and is not visible to users. They are sometimes referred to as "hidden" attributes.
POTENTIAL represents the highest possible OVERALL rating a player can achieve. Players with a higher POTENTIAL rating will be able to improve at a faster pace. The POT rating ranges from 0 to 99. You can skip ahead to Player Development to learn more about that.
LONGEVITY relates to how long a player may maintain peak performance before their abilities deteriorate. Players with a high LONGEVITY rating will enjoy longer careers. The LON rating can range from 0 to 10.
To determine which players are truly worth investing in, you must first get to know them; nonetheless, only time will tell if your instincts were right!
Starting from Season 1, players will age by one year after each season. Every season, players inch closer to retirement, making it crucial for managers to monitor their performance and fitness closely. This change means managers must think strategically about how to balance the experience of veteran players with the energy of younger talents.
Each player has a hidden Longevity (LON) attribute, ranging from 0 to 10, which determines their retirement age — from 32 to 42 years old. For instance, a player with a Longevity of 2 will retire when he turns 34 (i.e. at the end of the season during which he was 33). The exact LON value won’t be revealed until the player announces their retirement, adding an element of mystery and strategy to the game. Managers will need to watch for signs of aging without knowing the precise retirement date too far in advance.
Three seasons before retirement, signs of aging start to show. Energy starts to deplete faster, and recovery slows. The closer they get to their final season, the more this will be amplified. Three seasons before retirement, the player may need slightly more regular resting time, but the impact of aging on fitness is still limited.
When players are ready to retire, they announce it one season in advance, giving managers time to plan for their replacement. During this final season, players’ energy will decrease significantly faster, and their recovery rate will be notably lower. The season becomes a balancing act of making the most of their remaining games while managing their stamina.
Managers must be attentive to these hints — as well as the observations displayed on the player’s page — to gauge when a player’s career might be winding down. Exact percentages or numbers for these declines of energy won’t be displayed.
Players cannot play or sign a new contract after their final season. Their contracts automatically end when the season concludes, allowing managers to make plans for their squad’s future. For now, retired players won’t have any additional roles or utility in the game, though this may change in the future. Until then, their impact and legacy live on through the memories of their performances and accolades.
We are hoping to eventually allow players to transition into a career in football operations after they retire in future iterations of the game. As a result, some retired players would retain utility by contributing to the success of clubs as a coach or scout, for example.
What about players that are hidden in packs? Do they age? Yes, even when hidden in packs, players age, with one exception. Players in the MFL account — like those minted for future drops or reserved for the MFL Store Reward Packs — do not.
What’s the most common retirement age? The Longevity (LON) attribute distribution follows a classic bell curve. Most players will retire between the ages of 36–38, while a lesser percentage will hang up the boots on either end of that range.
