In the time that FIFA 23 has been on the market, players have been getting to grips with the many qualities, attributes, and shortcomings of their favorite squads and players. It may have left many fans disgruntled or disillusioned, but the overall consensus seems to be that FIFA 23 is a marked improvement over its divisive predecessor.
While many FIFA players have traditionally prioritized speed as the most prized attribute for their virtual team members, strength is a hugely underrated and undervalued quality to possess, especially when it comes to winning aerial duels, protecting the ball, or conversely, winning back possession. With the World Cup just days away and with FIFA 23's feet now firmly under the table, it's time to look at who has been hitting the gym before the tournament in Qatar kicks off on November 20th.
Updated April 21, 2023, by Ben Painter: With the seasons coming to an end in real life, teams' players are finalized with their stats firmly locked into place. As clubs look to push for titles, attain European glory, or avoid relegation, these players will be vital in the final remaining fixtures. With players removed and new ones added, there are some new additions to FIFA 23's Strongest Players list. With his retirement from professional football at the end of last season, Adebayo Akinfenwa is missing from FIFA 23. Which player takes his spot as the strongest in the game? Keep a close eye on this list to know which players to avoid in matches.
Ratings shown are taken from the latest FIFA 23 update and pertain to male players only.
15 Paul Ebere Onuachu: 93 Strength
The new Southampton man has transferred from Belgian side Genk to help the Saints in their quest for Premier League survival. He is yet to score a goal on the English south coast in real life, but in FIFA 23, he is an absolute monster with his 93 strength.
The Nigerians are known for their physical prowess and Onuachu is no different. Standing at 6' 7", there is no getting this striker off the ball in the game. Gamers will want an equally strong defender to go against him, or they will concede to this mountain of a man.
14 Sebastian Coates: 93 Strength
The Sporting CP captain has been a stalwart in their defense since his transfer from Sunderland in 2017. He has always been up there when it comes to the strongest that FIFA has to offer.
Coates' 93 strength is key as he marshals his side against some of Europe's top forwards in Portugal but also in Europe. However, he's not the quickest of defenders with 68 pace. This is where gamers can get the edge over him, as quick forwards can leave him in the dust.
13 Virgil van Dijk: 93 Strength
Gamers won't need any introduction to this man. He is one of the best defenders in the game, and he has the strength to back it up. Liverpool man Virgil van Dijk makes attackers quiver with not only his strength, but also his all-around great defensive stats.
Whether with his club or his national team, the Netherlands, van Dijk is an expert at the back and gamers should rush to use him on FIFA 23. With an eye for a pass and unbelievable in the air, he is the perfect defender.
12 Erling Haaland: 93 Strength
Norwegian phenomenon Erling Haaland is, quite simply, an amazement to behold. As tall as a pylon yet remarkably nimble on his feet, not to mention lightning-fast and elusive, Haaland has taken the Premier League by storm.
As if the City striker's pace, height, fitness, durability, and ability in the air weren't enough, he's also impossibly strong. Trying to knock Haaland off the ball when he's in full flight must be like trying to wrestle a freight train. He's a truly exceptional striker.
11 Florian Ballas: 94 Strength
Florian Ballas may not be known to the average FIFA 23 player, as he plays in the 2. Bundesliga for Karlsruher SC. What gamers do need to know is he is a beast with a staggering 94 strength stat.
The German may lack pace, but he makes up for it with his physicality, although he may be unusable in pretty much any game mode. He may be of use in a 2. Bundesliga career mode if managers need some strength at the back, as he would make the perfect signing in that regard.
10 Uche Ikpeazu: 94 Strength
Fans of the English game may remember this man from his time with Middlesbrough and Wycombe Wanderers, partnering Akinfenwa up top in the latter, to make a formidable duo in FIFA 21.
Ikpeazu now applies his trade in Turkey with Konyaspor, the defenders over there will have a handful competing against Ikpeazu with his 94 strength. Still just 28 years old, career-mode players may look at Ikpeazu as a power forward for a lower-rated club.
9 Fejsal Mulic: 94 Strength
Serbian forward Fejsal Mulic has been about the block, but he plays over in South Korea with Suwon Bluewings. He stands at a huge 6' 8", and there is no question as to why he has 94 strength in FIFA 23.
He will tower over defenders as he is nearly 7 feet tall. Though he's built like a basketball player, he's a handy footballer with 73 heading accuracy and 82 sprint speed to go along with his strength. He will a tough opponent to come up against, so it's good that he plays in the little-used league of South Korea.
8 Andy Carroll: 94 Strength
Former Liverpool, Newcastle United, and West Ham United forward is still playing with Reading in the Championship. Known for his aerial ability, the former England international has 94 strength to go along with his 89 heading accuracy. And with 84 jumping, he is a monster in the air.
Injuries got the better of Carroll, leading to a lag in his career, but a resurgence of form in the Championship has been vital for him. It's good to see that his physical stats have not been hampered by his injuries.
7 Niklas Süle: 94 Strength
Center-backs need to be strong, and they don't come much stronger than Germany and Bayern Munich's 6ft 4 inch powerhouse Niklas Süle. His physical power makes him perfect for the position.
Not only is Süle tall, strong, and genetically gifted, but he's also a fearsome competitor and a hugely competent technical player, making the German one of the best defenders at one of the best clubs in world football. Little wonder he's nailed down a starting spot in Der Mannschaft's starting eleven.
6 Armando Méndez: 95 Strength
Not one of the best-known names on this list, Newell's Old Boys defender Armando Méndez boasts a perfectly acceptable overall rating of 70.
It's Méndez's strength stats that catch the eye, however, especially considering the position in which he plays. A stratospheric 95 rating puts the Uruguayan well among the strongest players in the game and easily earns him the title of FIFA 22's most physically fearsome fullback.
5 Romelu Lukaku: 95 Strength
Some of the names on this list may be unknown to even the most ardent FIFA devotees, but there are few soccer fans who aren't familiar with Romelu Lukaku and his extraordinary physical prowess.
An absolute monster of a man who can bully defenders as though they were to him nothing but small children, Lukaku is a nightmare for even the sturdiest of defenders. As far as imposing target men go, the Belgian is very tough to beat.
4 Duván Zapata: 95 Strength
Not only does Duván Zapata boast one of the best names in international football, but he's also one of the world's most predatory goalscorers. He's never quite managed to break into the esteemed realm of Robert Lewandowski, Karim Benzema, or Cristiano Ronaldo, but few strikers are capable of making the net bulge with such regularity as Atalanta's Colombian powerhouse.
Part of what makes Zapata such a menace is his combination of speed and strength, not to mention some exceptional stats for finishing, shot power, and attacking positioning. While he currently plies his trade at Atalanta, licensing regulations with the Italian Serie A mean he's to be found on the roster of their in-game equivalents, Bergamo Calcio.
3 Tomáš Petrášek: 95 Strength
Not a particularly big name in football outside the Czech Republic, Tomáš Petrášek is an absolute unit when it comes to strength and physical stats.
As one of the highest-rating strongmen in the entire game despite his relatively small profile on the world stage, rest assured the Czech defender has truly earned his fearsome reputation for bringing some serious physicality to the beautiful game.
2 Tomáš Chorý: 96 Strength
Even if a quick Google search of Viktoria Plzeň striker Tomáš Chorý brings up images of what seems to be a relatively lanky beanpole of a player, Chorý's strength stats are no anomaly. He is ridiculously strong.
Standing at 6ft 6 inches tall, Chorý is easily one of FIFA 23's tallest athletes, a striker who, when combined with his gargantuan physical heft, provides a remarkable aerial threat in the final third.
1 Daryl Dike: 96 Strength
Track down a picture of Daryl Dike online, and gamers will soon understand why he's crowned as FIFA 23's strongest player. The man is an indisputable specimen.
Dike hasn't quite made waves as a professional in England just yet, plying his trade for Championship side West Bromich Albion, but at 22 years old the American possesses bags of potential. The thought of him getting even bigger and stronger, however, is a terrifying one. A savvy career mode purchase, too.
FIFA 23 is currently available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, and Stadia.