Football is full of tactical tweaks and new ideas, but in the end it's about quality players on the pitch which is why you need to know the best players in FIFA 23. These are the players that can simply overpower and out-run the opposition.
As you would expect, the majority of the best players in FIFA 23 are attackers, but that just makes those high-quality defensive players all the more important. After all, you need someone to stop your opponent when they have the ball.
Kylian Mbappe (OVR 91 - POT 95)
Club: PSG
Age: 23
Position: ST, LW
Nation: France
It's a multi-way tie for the best rating in FIFA 23, but when you take potential into account Kylian Mbappe is clearly the best player in FIFA 23.
The young French forward has already become a global icon, and he starts FIFA 23 with 97 sprint speed, 97 acceleration, 93 dribbling, and 93 finishing. He's a goal machine that can cause chaos on the flank, in counter-attacks, and in the box.
Kevin De Bruyne (OVR 91 - POT 91)
Club: Man City
Age: 31
Position: CM, CAM
Nation: Belgium
Man City's talisman creator is next. Kevin De Bruyne is having yet another stellar season for Man City as they chase down a Treble.
In FIFA 23 he has 94 crossing, 93 short passing, 93 long passing, 92 shot power, and 91 long shots. He can pick a defence apart from anywhere on the pitch and in the right hands score 25-yarders with ease.
Robert Lewandowski (OVR 91 - POT 91)
Club: Barcelona
Age: 33
Position: ST
Nation: Poland
Lewandowski has long been considered the best striker in the world, and has left Bayern after dominating the Bundesliga for a decade to win La Liga with Barcelona.
Lewa isn't just a pure goal-scorer in FIFA 23, but that is obviously his greatest strength. He has 94 finishing, 93 reactions, 91 shot power, and 91 heading accuracy to be an elite in-the-box poacher, but with 89 ball control and 84 short passing, allowing him to be a creator as well.
Karim Benzema (OVR 91 - POT 91)
Club: Real Madrid
Age: 34
Position: ST
Nation: France
Real Madrid's leading man may be getting up there in age, but Karim Benzema is still a brilliant player in FIFA 23.
A clinical goal-scorer, Benzema has 92 reactions, 92 positioning, 91 finishing, and 90 composure, making him an incredible threat to finish off moves.
Lionel Messi (OVR 91 - POT 91)
Club: PSG
Age: 35
Position: RW
Nation: Argentina
The GOAT is no longer the top dog. But only just. Messi is one of five players tied on 91 OVR despite being 35 years old and far from the peak of his powers.
In FIFA 23 Messi is still an incredible player though. He's got 96 composure, 95 dribbling, 93 ball control, and 90 finishing to be a lethal attacker. While his physical attributes aren't what they were, you can still dominate opponents with him.
Earling Haaland (OVR 90 - POT 94)
Club: Man City
Age: 21
Position: ST
Nation: Norway
Somehow, Haaland isn't tied for the top spot in FIFA 23. After 50+ goals for Man City in one year that will likely be corrected in EA Sports FC.
Haaland's an incredible goal-scorer, with 95 positioning, 95 finishing, 94 sprint speed, 94 shot power, and 93 strength. He can run past or through any defender and break the back of the net.
Thibaut Courtois (OVR 90 - POT 90)
Club: Real Madrid
Age: 30
Position: GK
Nation: Belgium
The first highest-rated non-attacker in FIFA 23 is Real Madrid's golden goalie Thibaut Courtois.
Courtois is a brilliant keeper, with 90 reflexes, 89 positioning, 89 handling, and 84 reactions.
What about Ronaldo?
At release, Cristiano Ronaldo's rating, like Messi's, took a hit from FIFA 22. He started this year's game with a 90 OVR, just one behind Messi.
But while his Argentinian rival has retained that strong 91 rating, Ronaldo's rough season with Man United and move to Saudi Arabia has seen him downgraded.
CR7 now sits at 87 OVR, with 95 jumping, 92 shot power, and 90 finishing he is still a quality player, just not quite the all-conquering forward he once was!
Other best players in FIFA 23
Player | Club | Position | Age | OVR | POT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Joshua Kimmich | Bayern Munich | CDM, CM, RB | 27 | 89 | 90 |
Jan Oblak | Atletico Madrid | GK | 29 | 89 | 90 |
Alisson | Liverpool | GK | 29 | 89 | 90 |
Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | RW | 30 | 89 | 89 |
Harry Kane | Spurs | ST | 28 | 89 | 89 |
Casemiro | Real Madrid | CDM | 30 | 89 | 89 |
Neymar Jr | PSG | LW | 30 | 89 | 89 |
Manuel Neuer | Bayern Munich | GK | 36 | 89 | 89 |
Gianluigi Donnarumma | PSG | GK | 23 | 88 | 92 |
Ruben Dias | Man City | CB | 25 | 88 | 91 |
FIFA 23 wonderkids
Looking for the next generation of superstars? We've hunted down the best and brightest wonderkids in FIFA 23 and broken them up by position for you.
Wonderkids are a great way to replenish your team with talent that will develop over time and can replace your current starters.
- FIFA 23 wonderkid goalkeepers
- FIFA 23 wonderkid right backs
- FIFA 23 wonderkid centre backs
- FIFA 23 wonderkid left backs
- FIFA 23 wonderkid defensive midfielders
- FIFA 23 wonderkid central midfielders
- FIFA 23 wonderkid attacking midfielders
- FIFA 23 wonderkid right wingers
- FIFA 23 wonderkid left wingers
- FIFA 23 wonderkid strikers