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FIFA 23 signifies the end of an era as EA Sports and its governing body FIFA finalize their messy divorce. With EA planning to debut an all-new IP EA Sports FC in 2023 and FIFA vowing to fight alongside a new developer, expect the world of simulated soccer to get more crowded than ever in the coming years.

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The final "proper" FIFA hasn't exactly gone out in style, suffering the usual spate of review bombings that have become customary for a sports franchise with a habit of alienating its players more and more each year. Still, there are bound to be loyal fans who cannot imagine going a season without getting their hands on FIFA as soon as it makes its big league debut, desperate to know exactly which sides to go for to gain the upper hand on the hallowed turf.

10 Brazil - Overall Rating: 80

FIFA 23 Brazil National Team Rating Stats Screenshot

There was a time when Brazil was synonymous with soccer, heralded as the greatest footballing country that ever existed and setting the standard to which all nations, be they European, African, or even South American, should aspire.

Brazil’s time in the sun is, for now at least, over. A Seleção has been a sleeping giant as of late, always boasting great players but never quite getting together a generation of players good enough to compete on the world stage. Sadly for FIFA fans, Brazil isn't licensed as an international side for this year's installment, meaning gamers have to make do with fictional stand-ins like Cabrais, Andrao, and Zonta instead. Hardly Ronaldinho, Adriano and Roberto Carlos.

9 Netherlands - Overall: 82

FIFA 23 Netherlands National Team Rating Stats Screenshot

The golden age of Dutch football is over. The Flying Dutchmen saw their most recent peak in 2010 when they faced off against Spain in the World Cup final in South Africa, losing out to Los Rojos and, much like their all-conquering European rivals, sliding into a steady decline. The greats of that age are all but gone, with Wesley Sneijder, Robin Van Persie, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Arjen Robben, and Giovanni van Bronckhorst all passing into legend.

That isn’t to say that the Dutch side in FIFA 23 doesn’t have its own roster of talent to draw upon. Memphis Depay, Matthijs de Ligt, and Frenkie de Jong can lead this new generation of players into a brighter era, providing FIFA players with the talent and spark to make choosing De Oranje worthwhile. A tricky side to master, but potentially an extremely rewarding one.

8 Belgium - Overall: 82

FIFA 23 Belgium National Team Rating Stats Screenshot

Belgium may never have been able to translate the nation’s golden age of talent into much tangible tournament success, but the European nation still boasts, on paper, one of the finest squads in world football.

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It won’t last forever, of course, and many of the brightest Belgian stars are already in decline or enjoying the fruits of international retirement. Vincent Kompany and Mousa Dembélé have both stepped away from the side in one form or another, with the likes of Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen, and Eden Hazard all likely to follow in the coming months and years. Still, Belgium’s squad boasts some extraordinary talent courtesy of Kevin de Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Thibaut Courtois, so now might be the time to capitalize before it’s too late.

7 Argentina - Overall: 83

FIFA 23 Argentina National Team Rating Stats Screenshot

For FIFA players who like to do one thing and one thing only, Argentina has to be the first pick. If defending is a boring chore and possession play of no interest, La Albiceleste has always been the go-to international side for would-be managers with an overriding love of attack, attack, attack.

It’s a problem that’s plagued the real-life Argentinian sides for years. The great South American nation is one of the most successful in the history of world football, but recent campaigns have been defined by an unbelievable plethora of attacking talent hindered by a lack of support sitting behind it. Lionel Messi, Julián Álvarez, Joaquin Correa, Paulo Dybala, Lautaro Martinez, Ángel Correa, the list goes on and on. With Christian Romero and Nicolás Otamendi holding court at the back these days, Argentina is starting to once again seem like a side with no obvious deficiencies.

6 Spain - Overall: 84

FIFA 23 Spain National Team Rating Stats Screenshot

The Spanish side that dominated world football between 2008-2012 was one of the greatest international teams ever assembled. Three major tournament wins in a row is pretty much unprecedented, leading many to dub that mighty golden generation the most formidable international team of the modern era. Digging out a copy of FIFA 12 gives one an idea of the unfathomable talent Vicente del Bosque had to work with.

Even if it isn’t quite the same this time around, Spain’s FIFA 23 team is still packed with absolute gems ranging from the superb Jordi Alba to young guns Gavi, Pedri, and Ansu Fati. La Furia Roja may not be quite ready to challenge the big guns for supremacy right now, but give it a few years and Spain could be the go-to team come FIFA 25.

5 Italy - Overall: 84

Italy FIFA 23 Squad Rating Screenshot Ireland International

The current Euro 2020 champions might not be going to the World Cup in Qatar, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t some serious quality lurking on the Azzurri’s current FIFA roster. Looking at the players that head coach Roberto Mancini has at his disposal, it’s almost unthinkable that the Italians failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.

Between the sticks, Italy has one of the finest keepers in world football courtesy of Gianluigi Donnarumma, whereas some of Serie A’s finest dominate the positions in midfield. Shining stars Andrea Belotti, Ciro Immobile, and Federico Chiesa round out a dominant attacking force, leaving us all to wonder just how such exceptional talents could fail to book their tickets to the biggest competition in international football. Incomprehensible.

4 Portugal - Overall: 84

FIFA 23 Portugal National Team Rating Stats Screenshot

For such a small nation, Portugal does an astonishing job of pumping out world-class footballers with quite startling regularity. There aren’t hundreds of Portuguese players flooding across the leagues like a stream of cleat-clad locusts, but whenever a player from the small Iberian nation does pop up, they usually end up as absolute world-beaters.

It’s this astonishing efficiency that’s reflected in Portugal’s national side. The 2016 European champions are stuffed with world-class talent, from Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes to Man City’s Bernardo Silva, Liverpool’s Diogo Jota, and Atletico's João Félix. Then there’s the small matter of a certain Cristiano Ronaldo and his 117 international goals. So far.

3 England - Overall: 84

England FIFA 23 Rating vs. Denmark Screenshot International

One day, it will come home for the England men’s team. That day has felt closer than ever for the England faithful, strong showings in the 2018 World Cup and 2020 Euros leading many to consider the Three Lions to be one of the most dangerous prospects around. It’s a fair assessment when one looks at the talent Gareth Southgate has at his disposal.

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Harry Kane is easily one of the finest goalscorers at club and international levels, whereas Raheem Sterling, Kyle Walker, Kalvin Phillips, Jordan Pickford, and Harry Maguire all have a habit of turning it on when wearing the iconic white of their home nation. With some of the brightest young stars around in the shape of Tammy Abraham, Phil Foden, and Bukayo Saka, England’s future is bright.

2 Germany - Overall: 85

FIFA 23 Germany National Team Rating Stats Screenshot

There will never be a time when Germany doesn’t offer up some of the finest talent in world football. Der Mannschaft is famous for producing strong, technically proficient players with an unerring ability to perform on the biggest stages around. German footballers and the Bundesliga don’t always demand the headlines but put them together and they form a seriously formidable proposition.

The current men’s national team is no exception. Germany has underperformed since the glory of Der Mannschaft’s 2014 World Cup triumph, meaning that there’s a keen desire to see things rejuvenated under Hansi Flick. Thanks to the prestige talents of Antonio Rüdiger, Leon Goretzka, Joshua Kimmich, Serge Gnabry, and Leroy Sané, the German squad is one of the best in the game.

1 France - Overall: 85

FIFA 23 France National Team Rating Stats Screenshot

The current world champions deserve to find themselves at the top of the international tree. France’s diverse and hugely talented squad came together in 2018 to sweep aside any competition it faced, tearing through Croatia to bring the nation its second-ever World Cup triumph in style.

The scary thing about France’s side is that it simply doesn’t seem to possess any discernible weaknesses, excelling in all areas and across all measurable parameters. It’s not simply a case of having a great defense, midfield, and attack, either, but rather that the French team possesses all the qualities necessary to dominate for years to come. Pace, desire, strength, skill, technical ability, one way or another, France has it covered, while superstar names such as Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann give Les Blues the finest attack in all of international football.

FIFA 23 is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, Nintendo Switch, and PC.