Hello all, welcome back. As the game cycle of FIFA 23 draws to a close, seeing the end of the FIFA franchise and the beginning of EA FC, it’s time to reminisce on the legends of the game cycle. The players who made your ultimate team experience. We all have them, and today, we’ll go over mine. Without further ado, let’s begin.
Goalkeeper
Honorable Mentions
89 FUT Birthday Lafont
87 World Cup Base Maignan
GK: TOTY Edwin Van der Sar
Rating: 92
Date Acquired: July 21
Games: 122
There’s nothing that sums up Edwin van der Sar better than “Best GK in the game”. From when he was released in January, to perhaps even now, he’s been the best GK in the game. I’d say, having used both, it’s arguable between him and 99 Donnarumma for the title. He was a faraway dream for me between January and July, but he was well worth the hype when I finally got him. I was also going through a goalkeeper crisis when I got him, having to use the super loan of Winter Wildcards Jack Butland, which made him even more worth it.
Defenders
Honorable Mentions
90 FUT Birthday Hummels
92 Futties Ferrari
93 Futties St. Juste
85 World Cup Base Theo
95 Shapeshifters Klostermann
RB: TOTY Achraf Hakimi
Rating: 94
Date Acquired: February 3
Games: 249
At the absolute last time I could get Hakimi, I got him. After a frustrating TOTY period where the best I got was Courtois and Modric on alternate accounts, I finally got one on my main account. The funny part is, when I saw Hakimi’s official card and dynamic image, I just had a feeling it would be him who I would pack. He was in my team until Futties, when I would start experimenting with 93 Zaha, 95 Frimpong, and 97 Cordoba at the position. Hakimi was just so versatile, I played him at CM using custom tactics for a while, before just using him as the go-to for counter-attacks and chance creation. Hakimi would end up getting the 3rd-most games for me of any player in FIFA 23.
CB: OTW Nico Schlotterbeck
Rating: 86
Date Acquired: December 31
Games: 231
Taking the cake for the 4th-most games, It would surprise many to learn that Nico Schlotterbeck isn’t someone I got during the first week of the game and stayed in my team until February-March, but someone I got from the Draft Objective that featured him and whom I used until Shapeshifters. I bet you forgot a draft objective had him back in December. He was someone who really outplayed his rating for me. He had just the right pace for everything. He seemed to me someone who plays just above the level of his opponents, which came especially in handy during TOTS season. 95 Harry Kane was still unstoppable though.
CB: RTTK Niklas Sule
Rating: 88
Date Acquired: December 25
Games: 362
As good as Schlotterbeck was, Niklas Sule was even better. Forget Shapeshifters, I used Sule until Futties, until I got St. Juste and Ferrari. He is also has the most games of anyone in the team, although he’s still only the 2nd-biggest legend for me. Sule was a unit, a brick wall with aura for the ball. I also got him well after the RTTK promo ended, getting him in a Christmas day pack opening when he was included in “best of”. He always went under the radar. He wasn’t a jump up and down type of pull when I packed him, although he was pretty good, I never talked about him much, but he always stayed in the team. He was an amazing center back.
LB: TOTYHM Alphonso Davies
Rating: 88
Date Acquired: February 3
Games: 154
In my team until Shapeshifters, Alphonso Davies was packed in a store pack 2 hours before I packed Hakimi. I needed a Canadian this year to get behind, and Davies takes it the second straight year after his FIFA 22 Shapeshifters did bits for me. He was like Hakimi lite in his ability to bring the ball up the wing in the blink of an eye. This back line was my actual back line for quite a long time.
Midfielders
Honorable mentions
89 Showdown Carlos Soler
89 Mid Icon David Beckham
88 WC Hero Harry Kewell
CM: TOTS Moments Leon Goretzka
Rating: 95
Date Acquired: July 5
Games Played: 135
One of my favourite players throughout the year, part of the reason Goretzka is in this list is his Champions League RTTF card, which I got 50-60 games on before packing his 95 rated version. Goretzka is always a very nice card to have, he doesn’t often gain headlines, but being Nainggolan gang (just), he was a rock and very good transitional piece for the team this year. I hope to pack his base 85 version at the very start of EA FC, because I think he is just that good.
CM: TOTY Icon Xabi Alonso
Rating: 92
Date Acquired: January 30
Games Played: 137
A true cult hero for me and an icon of what this game was truly about. He had insane passion, especially when he played as a defensive minded midfielder, but he even scored 17 goals, as he was a great goalscoring threat. He was one of my favourite players throughout the whole year and he gives me great memories.
CAM: WC Hero Hidetoshi Nakata
Rating: 88
Date Acquired: December 17
Games Played: 176
I cannot believe how long Hidetoshi Nakata was in my team. He was an ever present for a long time, and at the start he even scored like nobody’s business. He was one of my go-to midfielders along with David Beckham, and for a long time he was my top appearance maker. He made such a load of difference.
Forwards
Honorable Mentions
94 Prime Ronaldinho
96 Level Up Timo Werner
89 Base Roberto Baggio
93 Flashback Sadio Mane
93 TOTY Icon Hugo Sanchez
94 Shapeshifter Icon Petr Cech
87 OTW Darwin Nunez
RW: World Cup Hero Saeed Al-Owairan
Rating: 88
Date Acquired: December 27
Games Played: 229
The only true rat king to be in my team, Saeed Al-Owairan was a true legend. I wish I played more online during his peak because he was an absolute monster. Like van der Sar, this guy was one of my dream cards before I got him. Like van der Sar, he was also worth the hype. Not only was his pace obviously electric, but he scored some absolute belters for me. His volleys were the most underrated thing about him, and I loved using his card for 4-5 months.
LW: RTTF Moussa Diaby
Rating: 91 (originally 88)
Date Acquired: February 17
Games Played: 146
I take pride in the fact that unlike some of the fake Diaby users, I completed Moussa Diaby’s SBC within an hour of it coming out, rather than waiting to see if he qualified from the Playoff round. Leverkusen’s run under fellow club legend Xabi Alonso to the semifinals of the tournament made Diaby such a good card, but even before then he was insane. Like Al-Owairan, he was OP in creating chances due to his pace, although he wasn’t as good at finishing off chances as the Saudi Arabian winger. Diaby was a legend, and for the short time he and Al Owairan shared the wings, it was scary.
ST: World Cup Hero Diego Forlán
Rating: 91
Date Acquired: November 13
Games Played: 358
The GOAT of FIFA 23 for me. Getting him out of an unassuming 100k pack from objectives, I knew instantly that Diego Forlán would be one of the best players for me in FIFA 23. However, he was THE best player for me in FIFA 23. In what you can consider late early game or early middle game, Diego Forlán was a cut above everybody else. He played like a March/April card, which is how long he stayed as a starter, however up until around mid-May, he was still a substitute getting occasional game time, that’s how long he stayed around. He will be the first player I think of when thinking of Fifa 23.
Well, there you have it, my club legends of FIFA 23 Ultimate team. With 5 days to go until the end of the FIFA franchise, it’s been one great ride. However, I’m even more eager to write a new story in EA FC 24. Until next time.