The renownedUltimate Teamgame mode in EA’s acclaimedFIFAfranchise is an eminent one to say the least, giving their devoted fans the ability to create their dream squad from scratch. Amassing a following like no other,FIFA 23’s player market grants sporty gamers the chance to pick up their favorite football stars, from defending legends to attacking icons.
Despite this, the market in which these athletic idols can be purchased from is rather volatile, drastically soaring and declining in price on the daily. With countless expensive players at the fans' disposal, this band of footballers certainly don’t live up to their substantial bill.
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Hailing from the superstar scouse team Liverpool is the center-back champion Van Dijk, a player whose defending capabilities haven’t gone unnoticed. Argued as the backbone for the historic Premier League team, this Dutchman’s position inFIFA 23is also a recognized one, homing in on a96TOTY(Team Of The Year) card with a whopping94Physicalscore.
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Though Van Dijk may be able to outmaneuver, intercept, and win the ball against some ofFIFA 23’smost adept strikers, his weighty price tag doesn’t fit his presence on the field. With other options such as Prime Paolo Maldini at 1.1m, and TOTY Éder Militão at 1.3m up for grabs, gamers may want to stray away from this towering menace in order to pick up a much cheaper, yet sufficient player.
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Active only until the 29th of May is the FUT Birthday SBC (Squad Building Challenge) that awards Chelsea’s very own N’GoloKante. Rated92overall, this French role model’s statistics are certainly feared on the pitch, often securing a firm grasp for fans in the CDM (Central Defensive Midfield) position. Paired with95Interceptionsand a97StandingTackle, Kante’s appearance on away grounds does wonders for gamer’sUltimate Teams.
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While this may sound effective, N’Golo Kante’s FUT Birthday SBC is definitively overpriced, mainly due to him being untradeable. Nevertheless, there are numerous better options that countless professionalFIFA 23players utilize, such as Roy Keane or Xabi Alonso’s SBC at 400k, Prime Patrick Viera at 1.4m, or even TOTY Luka Modrić who is just north of 1m. This FUT Birthday card is undeniably too expensive for his stance in the arena, dubbing him as one of the worst expensive players the title has seen yet.
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Known for his multinational stamp on various football leagues, Robert Pires' TOTY Icon assures fans an authoritative presence on the left wing, homing in on his93Dribblingand90Paceto create chances for his teammates. Leaving a momentous legacy behind at Arsenal, fans of the gunners would be thrilled to have such a talented, agile LM (Left Midfielder) at their home ground.
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Despite havingfive-star skill moves, some argue he feels rather clunky, masquerading his true skill behind a gigantic tariff. Nonetheless, there are plenty of other options to dominate midfield and drive the ball up both wings, such as sporting legend Kylian Mbappé at a much cheaper 400k. Robert Pires may have left a mark on history, but his overpriced market value certainly isn’t worth the hype.
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Posing a formidable threat while playing for Manchester United and Lazio is the legendary CM (Center Midfielder) Juan Sebastián Verón. Rated at anoverall 92, his FUT Birthday Icon card holds some pretty dangerous stats. Combining his93Composure,91Vision, and92Passing, this Argentinianpowerhouseis able to produce some counterintuitive through-balls to those behind the opposition’s back lines.
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Regardless of his five-star weak foot, Verón just simply isn’t worth his price point, underperforming against much cheaper players. With names such as Federico Valverde’s Inform card up for grabs at a mere 35k, the array of low-cost alternatives at the fingertips of gamers outmatches Verón’s fee, brandishing him as one of the worst expensive players inFIFA 23.
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Collaborating withMarvelwas not only a decisive choice tostand out within the series, but a way to pushFIFA 23into a new light of gaming, as seen through theirWorld Cup Herocard collection. Donning an immense group of only the most memorable footy exemplars the world has seen, EA decided it was only fair to include Włodzimierz Smolarek, an idol among the Polish football community.
Coming in at a deserving88overall rating, Smolarek’s speedy94Paceand skillful92Dribblingcements reason as to why gamers like to use this dead-eyed finisher in their Ultimate Team. Despite this, his valuable dribbling stats are virtually a facade, as his three-star skill moves heavily weigh his seeminglyhigh potentialdown. Moreover, Smolarek’s assigned league, Polski Ekstraklasa, makes achieving full chemistry a difficult task, rendering other options such as Harry Kewell at 90k a much more viable choice.
FIFA 23is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox S/X, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
