A five-time Ballon d'Or winner, the Argentinian's attacking stats are somewhat mad with this hottest FIFA offering. His pace could have fallen down to 87 for FIFA 23, but Messi's 97 dribbling stat is your dribbling rating on the match. Throw in 93 agility, 95 balance FIFA 23 coins, 95 responses, 96 ball controller, 96 composure, and four-star skill moves, and you can see why Messi will be clipping through defences such as a hot knife through butter. Not only that, but an overall score of 94 sees Messi nab the place of the highest rated player on this year's FIFA -- edging out long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo to take this top spot.

There might be a great deal of stats make up the gamers, but speed is king at FIFA. Always has been, always will be. No matter how much each new chapter of soccer's biggest gambling company evolved, it comes down to a player having the ability to show their opponent their heels. Unfortunately - or perhaps fortunately, depending on what sort of player you are - rate has often trumped ability as less skilled, but lightning quick players may be picked up for relatively affordable expenses and can be used to advance play against even far higher-rated teams.

Once more, the spread of ability is not directly correlated to overall skill and plumping for certain pacy players means carrying a compromise in their death, finishing or other technical skills. A few of the picks here will be evident from the outset, but as ever there are also some pretty big surprises too. With the game on the verge of being widely accessible, now's the perfect time to start making your lists of players you will need to keep your eye on. Behold, the rate demons you need to look out for in FIFA 23 ranked in order of rapidness.

Whether it's Ultimate Team success, Career Mode domination or fantasy fun you are after, this list has you covered by revealing the absolute best player for every place in FIFA 23. If you are the type of gamer who's happy to throw private preference off in favour of EA's own stat sheets, and then you'll end up with one of the most powerful squads going. The group of players have been hand-picked from EA's Top 100 players from the game, and they are in a position to play a number of formations.

Straight up 4-4-2 is possible, therefore is 4-5-1, and there's even a cheeky chance to shuffle the package (thanks to the flexibility of the top experts on offer when it comes to filling different positions) and utilize a wackier 4-1-2-1-2 setup. What's catered for; you will find midfield destroyers, creative types, wide men, fast attackers, strikers who crush opposition in the atmosphere, flying wing backs, staunch centre backs and also the best goalie available. Bear in mind that just one participant per position was chosen cheap FUT 23 coins. The rules are fairly strict also, which means that you won't be visiting any CBs playing on the flank or anybody who's technically a winger leading the line up front. Who made the cut and which big names miss out?