FIFA 23 ratings: Five players who can replace Lionel Messi as king
By Bryan Nelson
![CARDIFF, WALES - JUNE 11: Kevin De Bruyne of Belgium ahead of the UEFA Nations League League A Group 4 match between Wales and Belgium at Cardiff City Stadium on June 11, 2022 in Cardiff, United Kingdom. (Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images) CARDIFF, WALES - JUNE 11: Kevin De Bruyne of Belgium ahead of the UEFA Nations League League A Group 4 match between Wales and Belgium at Cardiff City Stadium on June 11, 2022 in Cardiff, United Kingdom. (Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/17a75cdfd244f50072dff77aace49fa9107e3b690959323ef30f48265044de40.jpg)
Robert Lewandowski 93 (+1)
Robert Lewandowski was more than deserving of the Ballon D’or Messi had beaten him out for last year, as he continued to smash records in Germany all the while continuing his dominance on the pitch in the Champions League. The greatest Polish footballer of all time and one of the best strikers of all time, it’s Lewandowski’s moment after years of living in the shadow of both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
This past season, Lewandowski scored 35 goals in 34 Bundesliga appearances, and proved decisive in Europe, scoring 13 goals in 10 appearances. His greatness is showing, and he’s not slowing down any time soon. Of all the players on this list deserving to surpass Messi in FIFA 23’s ratings, it’s Robert Lewandowski. Or maybe we can still pretend like Messi is the most important player PSG has and hand him another Ballon D’or for safekeeping.
Lionel Messi is likely to be losing his top spot in FIFA 23 this year, marking a departure from more than ten years of FIFA dominance. It’s incredible that a game we’ve all grown up playing is about to witness the greatest shift of power in its history. As Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo reach the twilight of their careers, we’re witnessing the greatness of other players, such as de Bruyne, Robert Lewandowski, and Mo Salah, who are stepping out of the shadow of the two greatest players to have ever played the game.
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FIFA, however, shouldn’t be quick to so sharply downgrade Messi or Ronaldo, as both are continuing to perform at an extremely high level, even so late in their careers, playing as if they were still in their late twenties or early thirties. Never before have we seen such career longevity at the top level for so long, and FIFA will be sure to rate them accordingly.
That’s all we have on five players that could potentially displace Lionel Messi in the FIFA 23 ratings race. Thank you for reading, and let us know in the comments about who you think should have made the list!