The Biggest Player Absences in FIFA 23

ByJames Dorn Last Update on

As a lifelong football fanatic and FIFA gamer, I couldn‘t wait for the latest installment of the iconic football video game series. However, I was shocked to find some of the world‘s biggest football superstars noticeably absent from FIFA 23.

Right off the bat, the exclusion that hurts the most is Argentine legend Diego Maradona – arguably one of the greatest to ever play the beautiful game. According to reports, [1] licensing disagreements between Maradona‘s family/agents and EA Sports led to his likeness being dropped. Losing such an iconic, larger-than-life figure like Maradona definitely dulls the nostalgic joy of playing with historic greats in FIFA Ultimate Team.

But the painful omissions don‘t end there. Despite featuring on the FIFA 23 cover, Neymar Jr and his Brazilian national squad are nowhere to be found due to licensing issues. [2] This is an insane loss considering Neymar‘s 5-star skill rating and Brazil‘s unparalleled World Cup record. Their stars playing under generic club pseudonyms just lacks authenticity.

Rounding out the biggest individual name missing is Egyptian phenom Mohamed Salah. As the Premier League‘s golden boot winner and global phenomenon, fans were eager to lead Liverpool to glory with Salah. But contract talks stalling led to his shocking exclusion this year. [3]

These are just some of the most stunning individual omissions. Let‘s dive deeper across the major missing categories:

Icons Removed

NameOverall Rating in FIFA 22
Diego Maradona95
Jay-Jay Okocha91
Marc Overmars89

Losing Maradona is a huge blow, while fan favorites like Okocha and Overmars will also be missed.

National Teams Excluded

In total 12 national teams are left out of FIFA 23 [4], including the aforementioned Brazil, plus:

  • Belgium (2nd FIFA ranking)
  • Colombia
  • Chile

This amounts to over 50 top players missing their national teams due to various licensing disputes.

Clubs Not Featured

Popular Serie A side clubs like Lazio, Roma, and Atalanta are all exclusives for eFootball now under aliases like "Latium" and "Bergamo Calcio" .

For superfans of these specific clubs, not having the real names, kits and players is detrimental to the FIFA experience.

The Headache of Expiring Licensing Deals

The broader context is that as image rights, sponsor contracts and commercial agreements expire across various leagues, national teams and individual stars, it becomes a monumental task for EA Sports to continually re-negotiate them all for each annual game release. [5]

For FIFA 23, unfortunate casualties emerged in the form of several icons, popular club teams, and even soccer powerhouse Brazil‘s national squad sitting out due to various licensing issues.

As an avid player, I keenly feel the absences of Maradona and Neymar in particular. But I remain optimistic that for FIFA 24, EA revives the World Cup hype by restoring tournament showstoppers like Brazil. After all, the FIFA franchise still provides an unparalleled football gaming experience with its cutting edge graphics and super realistic gameplay.

What do you think about FIFA 23‘s biggest player omissions? Who will you miss the most? Share your thoughts below!

References:

[1] Diego Maradona dropped after row over use of likeness
[2] Brazil National Team Missing from FIFA 23
[3] Salah‘s FIFA 23 exclusion raises concerns
[4] All National Teams and Leagues Missing from FIFA 23
[5] Challenges of Annual FIFA Licensing Deals and Renewals

James K. Dorn, a passionate gamer deeply immersed in the world of video gaming. My journey in gaming is not just about playing; it's about exploring every facet of the games I love. I am particularly fascinated by the intricate worlds of role-playing games like "The Witcher" series and "Elder Scrolls: Skyrim," where every decision shapes the story.

As a strategy game enthusiast, I spend hours devising tactics in games like "Civilization VI" and "StarCraft II," always eager to share my strategies with fellow gamers. I'm also an ardent follower of the ever-evolving landscape of indie games, finding gems like "Hollow Knight" and "Celeste" that offer unique, compelling experiences.

My content isn't just reviews; it's about deep dives into game mechanics, storytelling, and the art of game design. I love dissecting the narratives of games like "The Last of Us" and discussing the innovative gameplay of titles like "Death Stranding."

Being at the forefront of gaming news, I eagerly anticipate and share insights on upcoming releases like the next big open-world adventure or the latest in the "Final Fantasy" series. My goal is to build a community where we not only play games but also appreciate the artistry and effort behind them. Join me in this gaming journey, where every session is an adventure, and every game is a story waiting to be told.

Similar Posts