FIFA 23 predictions: Who can knock Messi from top spot?
There is still plenty to look forward to for players of FIFA 22, with upgrades in the pipeline that will deliver rich rewards to Ultimate Team and Career Mode gamers. It is, however, fun to throw things forward every once in a while.
It came as little surprise when Lionel Messi was handed a
top-rated 93 card by EA Sports in 2021, with said standing justified when the
Argentinian superstar collected the record-breaking seventh Ballon d’Or of
his remarkable career. He may not be shining as brightly at Paris Saint-Germain
as he did back in Barcelona, but the South American still remains one of the
finest talents to have ever laced up a pair of boots.
A spot at the summit has been reserved for Messi for
as long as many of us care to remember, alongside a certain Cristiano
Ronaldo, at times. There will, however, come a time when Messi has to move on
and that day could be fast approaching. A new generation of superstar
performers is making some serious noise in virtual and real-life realms, with
collective sights being locked on becoming the next number one.
Many of those individuals eyeing up ascension are
currently chasing down major honors at their respective clubs. Domestic titles
are very much up for grabs, while the likes of Manchester City (11/4), Bayern
Munich (7/2), Liverpool (5/1), and PSG (10/1) figure prominently in the
outright football
betting markets for prospective Champions League winners.
Anyone playing a starring role on that stage can expect to
see their numbers boosted when the finer details of FIFA 23 are ironed out in
the weeks and months to come. Messi will be casting anxious glances over his
shoulder as the chasing pack starts to close in, but who even has what it takes
to potentially topple Messi?
Robert
Lewandowski
The closest challenger to Messi in a Golden Ball hunt and
the man most likely to claim his crown in an online world. The prolific Polish
striker remains a goal machine for Bayern Munich and with there being
no signs of him slowing down, we can expect his 92 base card in FIFA 21 to
be improved as remarkable
standards are maintained.
Kylian
Mbappe
The World Cup-winning frontman has already graced
back-to-back FIFA covers and now has another notable hat-trick in his sights.
He may be on the move by the time more artwork is drawn up, as Real Madrid continues
to circle, and is already a 91-rated star with time still very much on his
side.
FIFA 22 😍😍😍 @EASPORTSFIFA pic.twitter.com/VoQLlVEWk6
— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) September 17, 2021
Kevin De
Bruyne
A model of consistency in the Premier League for Manchester
City with PFA Player of the Year awards landed in successive seasons.
The Belgian playmaker has dipped slightly in form during 2021/2022, with his
end product not what it used to be. Nonetheless, he remains a classy operator
and is seeing Messi and Ronaldo move towards him in the latter stages of their
respective careers.
Mohamed
Salah
It is safe to assume that the Egyptian king will be boosted
from his current 89-rated card when rankings are revised, with the Liverpool
forward continuing to break records in England. It would be a big leap for him
to hit the top of the world, but few arguments could be offered if he were to
make that jump – potentially as part of an elite group of leaders, rather than
an individual chart-topper.
