FIFA 23 best players guide sees Messi and Ronaldo dethroned

It's all change on top of your FIFA 23 best players guide, as long-time top dogs Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo see a new king crowned. Take a bow, Karim Benzema. Real Madrid's super striker fronts the FIFA 23 ratings, with Robert Lewandowski unlucky to have missed out on prime position. Below we profile the seven best players in the game, as well as cataloguing the top female pros, in your FIFA 23 ratings guide.

FIFA 23 best male players

1. Karim Benzema (CF, Real Madrid) - 91

Real clocked up their first Champions League win in four years last season, and record-shattering 14th overall – twice as many as second-placed AC Milan. Benzema’s goals were the driving force, as he found the net a staggering 15 times in 12 European games. His reward: the highest-rated card in Ultimate Team, with 88 Shooting, 87 Dribbling, and 83 Passing. Expect a 99-rated special item before the season is out.

2. Robert Lewandowski (ST, Barcelona) - 91

Yet again top spot evades the perfect Pole who eats goals faster that you and I munch corn flakes. 238 goals in 255 appearances – and eight years – saw Barcelona finally come calling in the summer, where he’ll compete with Benzema for both individual and team honours. Even so, he has to settle for the runners-up spot in FIFA 23. 71 Pace is going to put many online players off, but those who like a more patient approach can enjoy 94 Positioning, 94 Finishing, and 89 Physicality.

3. Kylian Mbappé (ST, Paris SG) - 91

While the PSG wonderkid is ranked third, his 97 Pace rating ensures there’ll be no more expensive player in this year’s game – at least among active players. (Icons are always a law unto themselves.) Unlike Benzema and Lewa, the great new hope of French football is yet to claim a Champions League winners medal, but PSG’s bottomless finances suggest that will change soon enough. Other hot ratings include 93 Finishing, 92 Positioning and 93 Agility.

4. Kevin De Bruyne (CM, Manchester City) - 91

The ballet-toed Belgian is yet again as great in FIFA 23 as in FPL. And, er, real life. A Defending rating of 64 means you’ll likely want to switch him to his secondary CAM position, from where he’s potent at tearing opponents open with scores such as 94 Vision, 93 Short Passing, and 93 Long Passing. And when foes sit deep in the hope cutting off those passing lanes, enjoy winging efforts at goal with 92 Shot Power and 91 Long Shots.

5. Lionel Messi (RW, Paris SG) - 91

Is this a fall from grace or a late-career cling to glory? Truthfully, a little bit of both. Messi may not be the world’s greatest any longer, but he’s still a terror to match up against in both Ligue 1 and FIFA 23. The standout numbers: 96 Composure, 95, Dribbling, 95 Balance, and 93 Ball Control. Yeah, told you he was pretty good.

6. Mohamed Salah (WR, Liverpool) - 90

Salah joins de Bruyne in completing a double sickener for Chelsea fans – both moved away from Stamford Bridge, only to return to the Premier League and steer their new sides to league titles. Sadio Mane’s departure has made him slightly easier to defend in real life, but the same can’t be said on the digital turf. Meet him in Division Rivals and you’re up against 93 Finishing, 93 Reactions, and 90 Pace.

7. Virgil van Dijk (CB, Liverpool - 90)

More reason to celebrate on Merseyside, as the Reds’ imperious defender edges Cristiano Ronaldo out of the top seven for the first time in a decade. Van Dijk usually makes each year’s meta line-up despite an always-astronomical price tag, and numbers such as 91 Sprint Speed, 92 Defensive Awareness and 93 Strength ensure this year will be no different.

The FIFA 23 best players list

• 1. Karim Benzema (CF Real Madrid) - 91
• 2. Robert Lewandowski (ST, Barcelona) - 91
• 3. Kylian Mbappé (ST, Paris SG) - 91
• 4. Kevin De Bruyne (CM, Manchester City) - 91
• 5. Lionel Messi (RW, Paris SG) - 91
• 6. Mohamed Salah (RW, Liverpool - 90
• 7. Virgil van Dijk (CB, Liverpool - 90)
• 8. Cristiano Ronaldo (ST, Manchester United) - 90
• 9. Thibaut Courtois (GK, Real Madrid) - 90
• 10. Manuel Neuer (GK, FC Bayern) - 90
• 11. Neymar Jr (LW, Paris SG) - 89
• 12. Son Heung-Min (LW, Tottenham) - 89
• 13. Sadio Mané (LM, FC Bayern) - 89
• 14. Joshua Kimmich (LM, FC Bayern) - 89
• 15. Casemiro, (CDM, Manchester United) - 89
• 16. Alisson (GK, Liverpool) - 89
• 17. Harry Kane (ST, Tottenham) - 89
• 18. Ederson, (GK, Manchester City) - 89
• 19. N’golo Kante (CDM, Chelsea) - 89
• 20. Jan Oblak (GK, Atlético Madrid) - 89
• 21. Erling Haaland (ST, Manchester City) - 88
• 22. Toni Kroos (CM, Real Madrid) - 88
• 23. Marquinhos (CB, Paris SG) - 88

FIFA 23 best female players

With the English and French women's leagues added to the series for the first time, FIFA 23 sees the most comprehensive set of female ratings ever – and a complete shake-up in the rankings as a result. Spanish wonder-woman Alexia Putellas didn't even make the top 20 last year, but is now the best player in the game. Cover athlete Sam Kerr runs her a close second, and there are also spots for Euro 2022 winners Lucy Bronze, Beth Mead and Lauren Hemp. These 23 stars make up the FIFA 23 best female players list.

• 1. Alexia Putellas (CM, Spain) - 92
• 2. Samantha Kerr (ST, Australia) - 91
• 3. Wendie Renard (CB, France) - 91
• 4. Ada Hegerberg (ST, Norway) - 91
• 5. Marie Katoto (ST, France) - 90
• 6. Lucy Bronze (RB, England) - 90
• 7. Alex Morgan (ST, USA) - 90
• 8. Caroline Graham Hansen (RW, Norway) - 90
• 9. Christiane Endler (GK, Chile) - 89
• 10. Vivianne Miedema (ST, Netherlands) - 89
• 11. Beth Mead (RW, England) - 88
• 12. Kadidiatou Diani (RW, France) - 88
• 13. Mapi Leon (CB, Spain) - 88
• 14. Irene Paredes (CB, Spain) - 88
• 15. Jenni Hermoso (ST, Spain) - 88
• 16. Alexandra Popp (ST, Germany) - 88
• 17. Sandra Panos (GK, Spain) - 88
• 18. Amandine Henry (CDM, France) - 88
• 19. Kim Little (CM, Scotland) - 88
• 20. Lina Magull (CM, Germany) - 87
• 21. Lauren Hemp (LW, England) - 87
• 22. Grace Geyoro (CM, France) - 87
• 23. Ashley Lawrence (RB, Canada) - 87