The 8 Legendary Icons Tragically Missing from FIFA 23

As a football-gaming fanatic who has eagerly awaited each FIFA release for over a decade, I was shocked to see a wave of iconic players removed from the latest edition of the famous football video game series.

According to recent reports, the following 8 legendary icons will not appear as playable characters in FIFA 23 Ultimate Team:

• Ryan Giggs
• Pep Guardiola
• Deco
• Diego Maradona
• Hidetoshi Nakata
• Jay-Jay Okocha
• Marc Overmars
• Filippo Inzaghi

The removal of these icons, who have graced the virtual pitches of previous FIFA games for years, is a major blow for longtime fans like myself who relish building teams around our heroes of the beautiful game.

In this post, I‘ll analyze why each icon was cut, which new icons might take their place in FIFA 24, and the overall impact on the FUT experience.

Explaining the Controversial Removals

Digging into the specific reasons why each player was excluded clears up the questionable removal of monumental figures like Maradona and Guardiola:

• Giggs – Removed after domestic abuse allegations
• Guardiola & Deco – Licensing issues
• Maradona – Rights disputes between heirs
• Overmars – Cut post sexual misconduct claims

So it seems like most were linked to scandalous actions later in life, threatening their heroic FIFA status. Personally, I think EA should have replaced them with new icons rather than erase them fully.

According to Reddit and Twitter though, hardline fans generally supported the wider purge of controversial icons from the game.

Who Might Become Icons in FIFA 24?

While the loss of those household names is certainly disheartening, fans like myself are already speculating which new icons could emerge in FIFA 24 to take their place.

The three players I predict EA will most likely sign exclusive icon licensing deals for next year are:

Zinedine Zidane

• One of the greatest midfielders ever after leading France to a World Cup & Real Madrid to 3 Champions League titles
• Would fit the playmaker icon mold with his visionary passing
• High commercial appeal as current Real Madrid manager

Franz Beckenbauer

• Germany‘s best sweeper & captain through their early World Cup victories
• Would add defensive icon options beyond attackers/midfielders
• Storied Bayern Munich history makes licensing straightforward

George Best

• Mercurial Manchester United winger renowned for solo skills & showmanship
• United‘s European Cup win gives his icon case more weight
• Would complement fellow club icons like Cantona

As seen in the table below summarizing their credentials, these three would address some of the playstyle and nation gaps left by exiting icons:

Of course, this is purely speculation as a wishful fan. But their eventual addition would redeem the disappointment of losing so many icons this year!

A Devastating Blow to FUT Nostalgia

The mass removal of 8 longtime icons signifies the end of an era for FUT. Their disappearance spells doom for player-traded teams of the past as the chemistry links that weaved together legends old and new are severed.

As an avid FUT founder who always chases icon items, this ruins the nostalgic factor that differentiated FIFA‘s Ultimate Team mode from the pack. Legends like Maradona and Nakata made building your fantasy squad around heroes of days past unique. Their abrupt removal after years as mainstays ruptures the bridge between football history and present.

Sure, their misdeeds later in life needed to be addressed. But completely deleting them outright seems a step too far in sanitizing the game. Why not add disclaimers about their conduct instead? After all, only George Best‘s vintage greatness as a player was being immortalized.

The tragic disappearance of such integral icons indicates EA‘s willingness to erase aspects of football heritage that no longer fit a commercial image. Rest in peace the pure nostalgia of vintage FIFA FUT. You are already sorely missed.

So while the additions of new modern legends like Zidane and Beckenbauer will salvage the ruins somewhat, FIFA 23 signals the end for icons as we once knew them. Each passing year will likely see more controversial greats wiped as corporate interests dominate.

Final Thoughts

In closing, the mass icon removal leaves me mourning how profit motives have corrupted the nostalgic sanctity of FIFA Ultimate Team. Building your fantasy squads packed with generations of legends can never feel quite the same again as EA rids heroes who don‘t suit their brand.

But I still cling to hope that new world-class icons like Zizou might emerge to redeem the mode I‘ve cherished since the early FUT days. And no corporate cleansing can erase the sheer magic Maradona and Okocha brought to virtual pitches past for true football fans.

What do you think about the lost icons? And who would you love to see added in the future? Let me know in the comments!