Latest FIFA 23 news revealed as EA Sports confirms the top 23 highest-rated players in FIFA 23 Ultimate Team, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi both suffering downgrades
Lionel Messi had been given the highest rating by EA Sports since their 2018 edition of the game, but this time around the Paris St-Germain superstar has to settle for fifth place behind Benzema, Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich), Kylian Mbappe (PSG) and Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City).
While all five of those players have received ratings of 91 on the game, it is Benzema's overall statistics which leave him at the summit.
The Frenchman enjoyed a sensational 2021-22 campaign, scoring 10 goals in the knockout stages of the Champions League to help Madrid claim their 14th European crown.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who last beat Messi to top spot four years ago, has dropped from third to eighth with a rating of 90 despite scoring 24 goals in 38 games for Manchester United last season.
Liverpool duo Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, who are also rated 90, sit ahead of the United forward in the rankings, although Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid) and Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich) are placed behind the Premier League trio with the same score.
Tottenham's Son Heung-min and Harry Kane, United's Casemiro, Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson, Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson and Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante also feature in the top 23 with ratings of 89, while Erling Haaland makes it in on 88.
PSG's Neymar (89) and Marquinhos (88), Bayern Munich's Sadio Mane (89) and Joshua Kimmich (89), Atletico Madrid's Jan Oblak (89) and Real Madrid's Toni Kroos (88) make up the rest of the top 23.
There are some notable omissions from the list, including Real trio Vinicius Jr, Antonio Rudiger and Eder Militao, United's Bruno Fernandes, PSG's Gianluigi Donnarumma and Man City's Bernardo Silva.
FIFA 23, the latest instalment of EA Sports' popular franchise, will be available worldwide from September 30, with the game set to be released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Stadia, PS4, and Xbox One.
The new game will include HyperMotion2 animation, kinetic goalkeeper vs header battles and more gameplay features.