Ten players in the latest edition of EA Sports' wildly popular football video game, FIFA 23 have been awarded a rating of 90 or above.

You won't be surprised to see any of the names here, although it's arguably controversial that a couple of the old guard have made it into the top 10 after relatively underwhelming seasons last year.

Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland, who has looked unstoppable so far in 2022-23, is a surprise omission with a rating of just 88.

We've taken a look through the FIFA 23 Ratings Hub to put together this list of the game's highest-rated footballers.

Manuel Neuer – 90

The Bayern Munich veteran remains one of the highest-rated 'keepers in the game, with his rating staying at a steady 90 as it was last year.

It's difficult to argue with that, really. The 36-year-old looked as solid as ever as he lifted a tenth successive Bundesliga title with Bayern in 2021-22 and doesn't appear to be slowing down.

Thibaut Courtois – 90

Stop it, Thibaut Courtois! 🥵

Joke of a save! #UCLfinal pic.twitter.com/3KunsBBN9G

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 28, 2022

"There was a magazine in March that didn't put me in the best 10 goalkeepers," Courtois said after his show-stopping turn in the Champions League final last season.

"I don't know. That I think is a lack of respect. I don't say they have to put me No.1, really, I don't mind. Alisson is a great goalkeeper, Mendy is a great goalkeeper, Oblak, Ederson. There are really a lot of great goalkeepers, I don't say you have to put me No.1.

"But after a season like this they don't put you in the first 10, it is strange. Secondly, yesterday, I saw plenty of funny stuff coming out of England."

FourFourTwo might not be on the goalkeeper's Christmas card list, but EA Sports will be.

Cristiano Ronaldo – 90

Ronaldo's critics would suggest that his lack of pressing and mobility was a major reason that Manchester United suffered such a dire campaign last year, ending 2021-22 with their lowest points tally of the Premier League era.

His many acolytes would argue that the 37-year-old still scored a respectable 24 goals last term, which was a minor miracle in such a dysfunctional team.

EA Sports evidently come down on the latter side of that debate. They still class him as one of the 10 best players in world football and the best finisher in the game with a shooting rating of 92.

Virgil van Dijk – 90

The Dutch colossus certainly hasn't looked the best centre-back in world football with some uncharacteristically shaky performances in 2022-23 so far.

But it's difficult to find too many faults with how he performed last season after coming back from such a long injury lay-off. Van Dijk looked imperious as ever as Liverpool chased the quadruple last season. We're fairly sure his current form is just a blip and he'll be back to his 90-rated best once again soon.

Mohamed Salah – 90

Liverpool's Egyptian King kicked off 2022 looking arguably the best player in the world. He was on fire in the first half of last season, the Reds' outstanding individual as they competed on four fronts.

Despite Salah slowing down somewhat over the course of this calendar year, that period of form is still fresh in EA Sports' memory. He's rated one higher point than he was in last year's edition of FIFA.

Lionel Messi – 91

"Inevitably, Lionel Messi, with his 15 appearances in a row since 2006, his seven Ballon d'Or victories, his title holder status, weighs very heavily when it comes to the final choice," France Football's deputy editor-in-chief Emmanuel Bojan explained regarding Messi's absence from this year's 30-man Ballon d'Or shortlist.

"The Argentinian was part of the discussions to integrate the 30, but the new criteria for the Ballon d'Or were unfavourable to him: disappearance of the criterion of a player's entire career, and new periodicity, modelled on a season of football and no longer over a calendar year, which does not make it possible to integrate the Copa America of July 11, 2021.

Read More: https://sportzpoint.com/football/lionel-messi-seven-ballon-dor-winning-years-a-comparison/

"And then, it must be admitted that his first season in Paris was very disappointing both in terms of the visual impression and the statistics."

Messi registered a comparatively paltry six goals and 14 assists during his debut Ligue 1 campaign, so you can see where France Football are coming from.

EA Sports see things differently, however, and continue to see the Argentinian icon as one of the five best players in the world. To be fair, on current form he looks it once again.

Kevin De Bruyne – 91

The Belgian was named the Premier League Player of the Season last term and FIFA concurs that he's English football's MVP.

His passing rating of 93 is equalled only by his Manchester City team-mate Ederson but not bettered by anyone else in the game. There's every chance that number increases in the future, given he's now got Haaland on the end of his world-class crosses and through balls.

Kylian Mbappe – 91

Just when it looked like we were set for a 0-0 draw, up pops Kylian Mbappe with a bit of absolute magic 😍

Big player. Big moment. Advantage PSG.#UCL pic.twitter.com/lqBjnAEPMJ

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 15, 2022

With a pace rating of 97 – seven more than anyone else in FIFA's top 20 players – Mbappe is an absolute monster on the new edition of FIFA.

His rating remains as it was in last year's FIFA. Fair enough.

Robert Lewandowski – 91

Unlucky to miss out on the Ballon d'Or last season, while frankly it was a scandal he didn't lift it when they cancelled it the year before, Lewandowski has arguably been the best and most consistent No.9 in world football in recent seasons.

Now at Barcelona, he's gunning to win a third successive European Golden Shoe. The only other player to have managed that was Messi. His rating is actually down a point on FIFA 22, which seems a little harsh after he notched 50 goals in 46 appearances last term.

Karim Benzema – 91

The Real Madrid striker has jumped up a couple of points after his astonishingly good 2021-22 campaign, in which he scored 44 goals in 46 appearances and was Los Blancos' outstanding individual as they won La Liga and the Champions League.

Benzema, the overwhelming favourite to win the 2022 Ballon d'Or, is deservedly among FIFA 23 most highly-rated players.

For more FIFA 23 News, follow Sportz Point.

Karim Benzema has become the official ambassador for Saudi Arabia's official bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. Benzema expressed his confidence in the competence of Saudi Arabia to host the FIFA World Cup in 2034 during a recent meeting with young footballers in Jeddah.

Looking to the future with the @Saudi2034bid 🇸🇦🏆 pic.twitter.com/Z8ZsUDaFUr

— Karim Benzema (@Benzema) December 8, 2024

Saudi Arabia strengthens its position through the collaboration

Karim Benzema signed for Al-Ittihad in 2023 as one of the most prominent faces of world football to feature in the Saudi Pro League. Many promising footballers have joined the Saudi Pro League in recent years to elevate their footballing careers. Saudi Arabian Football Federation has shown greater aspirations by submitting an official bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. Following Australia's withdrawal, which was Saudi's only contender in the bidding process, Saudi Arabia is now in the pole position to win the hosting rights for the biggest event of football in 2034.  Saudi Arabian Football Federation has tied knots with the French icon to strengthen their position in the premises of world football.  

The 36-year-old forward announced his appointment as the ambassador during a visit to Al-Balad. He stated:

I believe Saudi football is changing. I think that in 10 years, Saudi Arabia will be ready. I believe that visitors will be surprised by the passion of Saudi fans at every match,

Recent controversies regarding human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia have struck the football environment, as human rights activists have also expressed their concern about FIFA's decision. However, Benzema conveyed his personal views regarding the criticisms.

People who have preconceived notions about Saudi Arabia should come and see for themselves. There are incredible things and iconic places. The people are welcoming. You feel good here. It's a country worth exploring. There is so much to do. It's not just about the desert, even though there are incredible experiences to be had in the desert as well. You must come and visit Saudi Arabia.

Read Also | Saudi Arabia's 2034 World Cup bid: FIFA is reportedly overlooking reports on human rights abuses

Benzema addressed the importance of grassroots developments in football

The French icon recently met the trainees from the Saudi Football Federation’s regional training centers in Jeddah and offered his understanding to develop a better environment for football in the region. Benzema said:

Saudi football is developing, and I am confident that after 10 years Saudi Arabia will be fully prepared (for the World Cup).

Training and development begin with the young players, and this is the most important thing — creating a generation that can reach the highest level.

An official statement by FIFA to confirm Saudi Arabia as the host nation for the 2034 FIFA World Cup may arrive this month after the FIFA Congress on 11 December 2024.  

FIFA has rejected Morocco's claims to consider the status of Western Sahara as part of the Moroccan kingdom in its bid assessment report for the 2030 FIFA World Cup. The highest governing body of world football has significantly overlooked a map submitted by Morocco during the evaluation process as the presented Western Sahara as Morocco's territory.

The 2030 FIFA World Cup will reportedly be hosted in six countries across three continents to celebrate the centenary year of the World Cup. The FIFA Council adopted a key decision in October 2023 regarding the 2030 FIFA World Cup to finalize Portugal, Spain, and Morocco's combined bid to host the grand event.  The council unanimously agreed to award Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay the hosting rights for some of the matches. 

The geopolitical tension

The Western Sahara conflict is a long-standing territorial dispute in North Africa. When Spain surrendered control of the region in 1975, Morocco solidified its claim through a mass civilian movement known as the 'Green March'. This led to an extensive war with the Polisario Front, a Sahrawi independence movement. The Polisario Front declared the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) and established a government-in-exile in Algeria. The conflict has resulted in a divided territory, with Morocco controlling the western portion and the SADR holding the eastern region. Morocco illegally annexed Western Sahara twice in the past, in 1976 and 1979. The United Nations offered its mediation efforts, but a lasting solution remains elusive, leaving the future of Western Sahara and its people uncertain.

However, Morocco submitted a map alongside their bid assessment that included Western Sahara in its territory. This move aimed at legitimizing the Makhzen regime's expansionist ideas. In a turnaround of events, FIFA has recognized the distinct and internationally acknowledged borders between Morocco and Western Sahara. FIFA effectively avoided the Moroccan government's territorial ambitions by rejecting the map. This sensitive political situation is still profoundly worrying for the governing body of world football. 

🔴HM King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, has the great pleasure of announcing to the Moroccan people that the FIFA Executive Committee has unanimously selected the Morocco-Spain-Portugal bid as the sole candidate to organize the 2030 Football World Cup. pic.twitter.com/wCUFXBmL2c

— Moroccan Diplomacy 🇲🇦 (@Marocdiplo_EN) October 4, 2023

Some other issues also may lead FIFA to go through various talks with respective authorities and its sub-committees. Amnesty International, an organization that works on human rights and the concerning instances, submitted a report on human rights abuses in the said territory of Morocco and Western Sahara. The report was named 'The States of the World's Human Rights 2024' and it included human rights abuses allegations such as torture and ill-treatment, women's rights, impunity, and many others. 

FIFA's evaluation report

El Independiente, the renowned Spanish news outlet, has unveiled the Moroccan government's attempt to manipulate FIFA's evaluation report. The report, which assessed Morocco's bid for the 2030 World Cup, omitted a map showcasing Morocco's territorial claims over Western Sahara. This omission was deliberate, as the inclusion of such a map would have directly contradicted international law and UN resolutions. The UN firmly recognizes Western Sahara as a non-self-governing territory awaiting decolonization. Morocco's efforts to assert its sovereignty over Western Sahara appear to be aimed at exploiting the region's natural resources. However, This initiative has no legal basis and is countered by FIFA's recent technical report.

El Independiente also indicated in a recent report that the controversy surrounding Morocco's falsified map, alongside other candidate-related issues, was a key topic of discussion within FIFA's committee, which includes representatives from Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. This pivotal decision by FIFA has evidently angered the Moroccan government, whose strategic plans have been significantly disrupted.

The first-ever FIFAe World Cup featuring Rocket League concluded with Saudi Arabia being crowned world champions after four days of intense competition from December 5 to 8.

As players represented their national teams for the first time on the Rocket League scene, Saudi Arabia triumphed over France in a fiercely contested final to claim the prestigious FIFAe World Cup title and lift the trophy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The winning team, consisting of Rw9, Kiileerrz, trk511 and d7oom-24, demonstrated incredible skill, teamwork and resilience throughout this historic tournament. Their journey to the top saw them overcome some of the world’s best players and national teams, representing Saudi Arabia with pride on the global stage.

With 16 nations competing in this inaugural edition, Rocket League fans were treated to some electrifying matches across the group stage and through to the final at the spectacular Saudi Esports Federation Arena at Boulevard City. The event was live-streamed across a variety of channels, including by co-streamers from around the globe. All detailed results and more information are available on FIFA.GG.

Read Also | What are the biggest e-sports events yet to come in 2024?

The FIFAe Finals 2024 are a milestone event for football esports, with multiple titles featuring under the FIFAe banner for the first time. As one of the most popular esports titles globally, Rocket League’s inclusion in FIFAe marked a new chapter in the convergence of traditional sports and esports. During the course of the event, a total of USD 450,000 will be distributed in prize money across the three FIFAe World Cup tournaments.

Read Also | Rushindra Sinha Explains How to give a boost to Global Esports

As the champions of the first competition celebrate, fans can look forward to more exciting action at the FIFAe World Cups featuring eFootball on mobile and console from 9 to 12 December.

Note: This content has been created from a press release by FIFA Media.

FIFA has revealed the seedings for the Group Stage Draw for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. The 32 qualified clubs will know their fate on 5 December 2024, as the groups and the opponents will be decided for each participating team. However, According to DailyMail, FIFA has revealed the pots according to the seedings ahead of the draw on Thursday.

The expanded FIFA Club World Cup is scheduled to take place from June 15 to July 13, 2025, and will be held in various stadiums in the United States. 

FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Group Stage Draw details

Date: 5 December 2024

Time: 11:30 PM IST

Streaming: FIFA.com, FIFA+ App and Supporting Channels

Pots and Group Stage Draw

32 clubs have been divided into 4 pots comprising 8 clubs in each pot. Each group at the Club World Cup will consist of one team from Pot 1, a team from Pot 2, one from Pot 3, and one from Pot 4. This is how the Group Stage Draw will decide the potential opponent for the clubs on Thursday.

The Group Stage will have eight groups, consisting of 4 teams in each group playing a single game in a round-robin format. The top two teams from each group will earn qualification for the Round of 16 and after the quarter-finals and semi-finals are over, two teams will meet each other in the final set to be played on 13th July 2025. 

Read Also | Qualified teams for Club World Cup 2025

FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Pots 

Pot 1

Manchester City (England)

Real Madrid (Spain)

Bayern Munich (Germany)

Paris Saint-Germain (France)

Flamengo (Brazil)

Palmeiras (Brazil)

River Plate (Argentina)

Fluminense (Brazil)

Pot 2

Chelsea (England)

Borussia Dortmund (Germany)

Inter Milan (Italy)

FC Porto (Portugal)

Atletico Madrid (Spain)

SL Benfica (Portugal)

Juventus (Italy)

FC Salzburg (Austria)

Pot 3

Al-Hilal SFC (Saudi Arabia)

Ulsan HD FC (South Korea)

Al Ahly FC (Egypt)

Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)

CF Monterrey (Mexico)

Club Leon (Mexico)

Boca Juniors (Argentina)

Botafogo (Brazil)

Pot 4

Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan)

Al-Ain FC (UAE)

Esperance (Tunisia)

Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

Pachuca (Mexico)

Seattle Sounders (USA)

Auckland City (NZL)

Inter Miami (USA)

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin responded to recent criticism of footballers playing an excessive number of matches and warned that reducing the number of matches can result in less revenue and lower wages for the players.

According to The Sun, the UEFA President stated:

Ceferin sparked controversy after the General Assembly of the European Clubs Association, held in October 2024, where he stated that only the high-paid players expressed dissatisfaction, while those who earn less did not make any public statement regarding the issue. 

The European calendar of football and its unbalance were discussed in the assembly though Ceferin admitted that the schedule in congested and reached the maximum limit. 

The long-growing displeasure

UEFA and FIFA had already been slammed by footballers and coaches about the increasing number of games per season.

UEFA faced severe criticism after introducing the UEFA Nations League, back in 2018 with a new format including promotion and relegation. Controversies started hovering as various theories suggested this tournament to be a series of friendlies branded into a tournament to generate more revenue for UEFA. 

The Nations League matches are played during the international breaks when European teams used to feature in friendlies or take part in the qualifiers matches. 

However, many prominent footballers and managers did not welcome the idea of this new tournament. Following the 2021 UEFA Nations League third-place play-off match between Italy and Belgium on 10 October 2021, Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois publicly criticized FIFA and UEFA in the post-match interview with Sky Sports:

"This game is just a money game and we have to be honest about it,"

"We just play it because for UEFA it's extra money.

"They can be angry about other teams wanting a Super League but they don't care about the players, they just care about their pockets.

"It's a bad thing that players are not spoken about. And now you hear about a European Championship and a World Cup every year, when will we get a rest? Never."

"So in the end top players will get injured and injured and injured. It's something that should be much better and much more taken care of,

"We are not robots! It's just more and more games and less rest for us and nobody cares about us."

Former Germany coach Hansi Flick addressed his concern about the increasing number of matches in a press conference on 10 June 2022. Flick responded to a question:

"This should be looked at and we need to ask ourselves how we can offer players a break because that is important,"

"UEFA or FIFA should look into these things and take some measures."

In a very recent interview ahead of Belgium's clash against Israel in the Nations League in September 2024, Courtois' national team-mate Kevin De Bruyne addressed the same issue along with the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, which is set to be played in 2025.

🚨⚠️ De Bruyne: “The PFA and other player associations have tried to find solutions…”.

“The issue is UEFA and FIFA keep adding extra matches”.

“We can raise concerns, but no solutions have been found”.

“It seems money speaks louder than players' voices!”, says via @Reuters. pic.twitter.com/8PzTIogMlQ

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 7, 2024

"The real problem will emerge after the Club World Cup...We know there will be only three weeks between the Club World Cup final and the first Premier League match. So, we have three weeks to rest and prepare for another 80 matches,"

"The issue is that UEFA and Fifa keep adding extra matches, and we can raise concerns, but no solutions have been found. It seems that money speaks louder than the players' voices"

via Reuters

Criticism and legal actions regarding the expanded FIFA Club World Cup 2025

The FIFA Club World 2025 will introduce an expanded format that will feature 32 participating teams competing for the glory. This new tournament has further increased the number of matches in a season and resulted in grievances from prominent players and managers.

2024 Ballon d'Or winner and Manchester City's midfielder Rodri expressed his concern about the excessive number of games and said that every player should have an optimum number of matches to play every season.

"From my experience I can tell you that 60-70 [is no good]. Between 40 and 50 is the amount of games in which a player can perform in the highest level. After that you drop because it is impossible to sustain the physical level."

"This year we can go to 70, maybe 80, I don’t know. It depends how far you go in the competitions. It is too much. We have to take care of ourselves. Someone has to take care of ourselves because we are the main characters of this sport or business or whatever you want to call it."

via The Guardian

However, this long-growing cold war between the players or officials and the governing bodies has now turned into a legal battle. 

The tension emerged when FIFPro, the worldwide players' union, and the European Leagues, which represents 37 domestic leagues submitted a legal claim against FIFA on 13 June 2024, "challenging the legality of FIFA's decisions to unilaterally set the International Match Calendar and, in particular, the decision to create and schedule the FIFA Club World Cup 2025."

Here is the official legal claim.

"We don't have enough dates anymore in the calendar."

The Premier League's director of international relations, Mathieu Moreuil, states that legal action is the 'only option' as they allege that FIFA have failed to consult properly regarding football fixtures 😬 pic.twitter.com/GHqgwY8rgF

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 14, 2024

At the European Commission in Brussels On 14 October 2024, the protesting bodies jointly filed a legal complaint against FIFA over FIFA's imposition on match calendars. 

Check the official legal complaint here.

The third international break of the year has already started and the players are on their national duties. But the question remains, will there be any change regarding this distressing issue?