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However, many players have not received a card in FIFA 23, there are some incredibly noticeable absentees that should have been added. On November 9th FIFA released the World Cup update which added some content to Ultimate Team. including some great cards and packs to celebrate the real-life competition this year.
11 Fabian Barthez
France’s iconic goalkeeper, Fabian Barthez deserves a FUT Hero card, with 87 games for his national team. He won the tournament in 1998 and was a runner-up in 2002.
Although he did a lot in the game, he wasn’t quite the level of some of the icon goalkeepers, so a hero card is a great fit for him. Players who have hero cards are just a level below those who received icon cards. He would join Jorge Campos, who is the only MARVEL FUT WC Hero goalkeeper.
10 Gabriel Batistuta
It is a crime that ‘Batigol’ is not in FIFA 23. The Fiorentina legend set the Serie A alight during his time as a professional footballer and he was a massive player for Argentina during their time in the World Cup.
He was the second top goalscorer at World Cup 1998 in France and he made a name for himself at this tournament. Without a doubt, Gabriel Batistuta should be in FIFA 23 Ultimate Team as a FUT WC Hero, and he would have some great links to the likes of Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez.
9 Oliver Kahn
Along with Barthez, Oliver Kahn needs to be included in the roster for FUT WC Heroes for Germany. He was a runner-up in 2002 and third place in 2006 in the World Cup.
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Manuel Neuer is a great goalkeeper in the game, so Oliver Kahn would not be in bad company if he were to be included in FIFA Ultimate Team. Kahn was a great commander of the defense, and he would likely have high aggression to go along with fantastic goalkeeping stats.
8 Paul Gascoigne
One of England’s most technically gifted footballers, it is a real shame his personal problems got in the way of his football career. Nonetheless, ‘Gazza’ was a fantastic player for England at the World Cup, being a member of the FIFA World Cup All-star Team in 1990.
England is not without their hero cards with Peter Crouch and Joe Cole included in the group. Paul Gascoigne deserves his place as he is a true hero of the game. Gazza is not the only amazing player that is not in FIFA’s World Cup mode.
7 Juninho Paulista
Five-time World Cup winners have only one FUT WC Hero in FIFA 23, which is an absolute travesty. Lucio is the sole Brazilian representative. Juninho Paulista is a great pick for Brazil, and he should have been included in the card’s release.
A fantastic attacking midfielder, famous for his spell with Middlesbrough in the Premier League, Juninho would be one of the best players in the English top division, and his dribbling and passing stats would have been immense. A real shame that he missed out.
6 Lillian Thuram
Lillian Thuram was an amazing player during his career, playing for France 142 times and winning the World Cup in 1998. A quick, strong, and dominant defender, Thuram’s abilities would lend to FIFA very nicely and would more than likely be a great card in the game.
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Capable of playing as a right-back or center-back, Thuram would have been a versatile inclusion to the FUT World Cup heroes and it is such a shame he was missed. Other French players such as Frank Leboeuf and Didier Deschamps were also unlucky to miss out on a spot.
5 Zico
FIFA 23 had some great improvements to the game in the World Cup update, including the FUT WC Heroes, which Zico was unfortunate to not be included in. The Brazilian only had two seasons playing in Europe, so he hasn’t done enough to be given an Icon card. A FUT WC Hero is perfect for him as he played in three tournaments for his country.
Zico would have had really good dribbling and shooting stats as he was a fantastic player in the ’70s and ’80s, with his elegant dribbling and superb technique. The card would have had 90+ dribbling and it would be one of the sought-after heroes in FIFA 23.
4 Geoff Hurst
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Sir Geoff Hurst remains the only player to score a hat-trick in the World Cup Final, back in 1966 when England won the tournament for the only time. This stat alone should have warranted his inclusion as FUT WC Hero, but the former West Ham and England striker was missed out.
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Along with Peter Crouch, as a Premier League and England hero, Hurst would be an insane finisher but would lack pace, meaning he would have been a cheaper option and great for casual players of the game.
2 Marco Materazzi
Italy has a plethora of different icons and heroes in the game, including Andrea Pirlo, Paolo Maldini, and Claudio Marchisio, to name a few. So why not have one more? Marco Materazzi is known for being headbutted by Zinedine Zidane in the 2006 World Cup Final.
Antagonizing France’s best player to get him sent off was a great move for him, and it meant his country won the cup, a true definition of a hero. Even without this iconic moment, Materazzi was a great defender, known for his strength, and his ability alone means he should have been included as a FUT WC hero.
1 Roger Milla
The Cameroon striker is an absolute icon of the World Cup, playing in three of them for his African nation. Milla was the third-highest goalscorer in 1990, at age 38, celebrating each goal with a now iconic dance that cemented his place in history.
In the 1994 World Cup, Roger Milla was not done and at 42 played again at the World Cup, becoming the oldest goalscorer in the competition’s history. Age really is just a number. This iconic stat is worthy of inclusion, and it is a real shame that Milla was not added to FIFA 23 as this striker is a true cult icon, and he would have been a fan favorite to use in Ultimate Team.
FIFA 23’s World Cup Update is currently available on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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