As we approach the end of 2022, attention is starting to turn towards the most hotly anticipated campaign of the season - Team of the Year (TOTY).
With England now into the knockout stages of the World Cup and a real possibility of going all the way, Jude Bellingham could become one of the favourites for a place in FIFA 23's Team of the Year XI.
Generational talent
The youngest player in the Three Lions squad, 19-year-old Jude Bellingham has been England's standout performer at the 2022 World Cup.
The Borussia Dortmund midfielder set the tone when he scored the opener for England against Iran in their first match in Qatar and has since been sensational in each and every match.
Covering every blade of grass and equally comfortable going forward as he is in defence, there seem to be no holes in the teenager's game.
Unfortunately, Bellingham's club currently sits in sixth place in the Bundesliga, nine points off their rivals and league leaders, Bayern Munich.
So, depending on the success of his country at the World Cup, the England international could be set to become the first British player included in the TOTY since Trent Alexander-Arnold was back in FIFA 20.
TOTY midfield contenders
Bellingham will be hard-pushed for a Team of the Year spot with only three slots available in the midfield and several truly world-class players competing for a place in the starting XI.
The top midfield contenders for the FIFA 23 TOTY are:
- Kevin De Bruyne
- Luka Modric
- Federico Valverde
- Pedri
- Jude Bellingham
- Bruno Fernandes
- Toni Kroos
- Bernardo Silva
- Joshua Kimmich
- Casemiro
- Rodri
We've come to expect Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne to be included year in, year out, having made each of the last five TOTY squads.
We are also likely to see one of Real Madrid's UEFA Champions League-winning midfielders in FUT 23's TOTY, with Modric, Valverde, Kroos and Casemiro all in the running.
The likes of Bernardo Silva, Rodri and Joshua Kimmich are all top contenders having barely put a foot wrong since the start of 2022.
FUT all-timer
Should Bellingham make the FIFA 23 Team of the Year, we'll no doubt be getting one of the greatest cards in Ultimate Team history.
The youngster will likely be bumped up to 95 OVR and due to the well-rounded nature of the player will have incredible stats across the board.
Bellingham's TOTY base stats could include 96 dribbling, 94 physicality, 93 passing, 91 defending, 89 shooting and 88 pace.
These attributes, coupled with four-star skill moves and a four-star weak foot will make Jude truly unstoppable.
This card can only be likened to that of a Prime Ruud Gullit, although we think the Englishman could even outdo the Dutch legend.