The Icons & Heroes of FIFA 23 Ultimate Team

EA Sports is getting ready for the release of FIFA 23 and that means the return of popular game mode Ultimate Team (FUT).

It also means new FUT Icons and Heroes.

Icons are some of the best players in the history of football and every player has four versions released over the course of the FIFA calendar.

Meanwhile, FUT Heroes made their debut in FIFA 22 but this time, EA Sports and Marvel will collaborate to transform FUT Heroes into Super Heroes.

For the first time in the 14-year history of FUT, each item will have unique illustrated designs instead of real-world player photos.

The men’s World Cup takes place at the end of 2022 and to celebrate it, each new FUT Hero will have two versions – a base version and a World Cup version.

The base version will recognise a memorable moment from their club career, while the World Cup version will be higher rated and will celebrate their memorable international moment.

With FIFA 23 releasing on September 30, 2022, we look at the new FUT Icons and Heroes in more detail.

Icons

Three new Icons have been confirmed for FIFA 23 but EA Sports may surprise gamers and add a few more before the release.

But several Icons will be removed from the upcoming game due to various reasons such as legal issues, controversies and licensing problems.

The likes of Cafu, Iker Casillas and Deco are just a few of the Icons that will not be returning for FIFA 23.

We will see if they have been permanently removed or can be reinserted into the game.

But let’s take a look at the three confirmed additions.

Gerd Müller

Gerd Müller was one of the most prolific strikers.

The German broke many Bundesliga records such as most career goals, most hat tricks, most top scorer crowns, and most goals in a season.

He did it on the international stage too, scoring 68 goals in just 62 games for West Germany.

This included the Golden Boot after 10 goals at the 1970 World Cup. Four years later, Müller scored the winning goal in the final and it saw him become the highest World Cup scorer of all time.

His record stood for 32 years until it was beaten by Brazil’s Ronaldo in 2006.

Müller is an all-time great and for many years, gamers have been calling for him to become an Icon. He will be in FIFA 23, with his Prime card rated 94.

Xabi Alonso

Xabi Alonso was an elegant midfielder, known for his technique and passing ability.

These were talents he used on multiple occasions when playing for some of Europe’s biggest teams. This netted him many trophies.

At Liverpool, he scored the equalising goal in the 2005 Champions League Final, which the Reds went on to win.

He won another at Real Madrid.

Alonso has also won an FA Cup, two Copa del Reys, a LaLiga title, three Bundesligas, and a World Cup.

Jairzinho

Jairzinhzo was part of Brazil’s legendary 1970 World Cup squad that featured the likes of Pelé and Carlos Alberto.

At that tournament, Jairzinho did something no player had ever done before and has never done since – scoring in every match from the group stage to the final, helping Brazil win their third World Cup.

Nicknamed The Hurricane, Jairzinho was a proven goalscorer from the wing.

A mix of strength and dribbling meant he could go past defenders with ease, followed by accurate finishing that goalkeepers could not do much to stop.

In a nation known for its skilful wingers, Jairzinho is undoubtedly one of Brazil’s finest.

In FIFA 23, his Prime card will be 92 rated and he may be a cheaper alternative to Garrincha should you want to add a Brazilian right-winger to your Ultimate Team.

Heroes

Heroes celebrate some of football’s most memorable players.

They were first introduced in FIFA 22 and in FIFA 23, 21 new players will be added.

Each Hero will have their base version as well as a World Cup version with boosted stats.

The World Cup Heroes will be introduced on November 11, 2022, just in time for the World Cup which starts on November 20.

Landon Donovan

Landon Donovan made his mark at the 2002 World Cup and headed in the goal to defeat rivals Mexico and send the USA into the quarter-finals.

Eight years later, Donovan stepped up and scored the winner against Algeria, giving his nation their first top-of-the-group finish since 1930.

Donovan continued to add to his legacy, including winning his fifth MLS Cup with LA Galaxy.

Even after retirement, his legacy lives on through the MLS MVP award, named in honour of the most natural leader the league has ever seen.

Donovan was a hero from start to finish and now, he will be in FIFA 23 as an all-new FUT Hero.

Ricardo Carvalho

Ricardo Carvalho enjoyed a legendary career and was known for his sense of anticipation.

At Porto, he went from a lowly loanee to the league’s best player, leading Porto to a 3-0 win over AS Monaco – the perfect finish to one of the most iconic UEFA Champions League runs of all time.

Carvalho would go on to another iconic run at Chelsea, winning three Premier League titles.

He will now be in FIFA 23 as an 89-rated centre-back.

Claudio Marchisio

Part of a legendary Juventus midfield, Claudio Marchisio was known for adapting to different situations and for creating opportunities on the pitch.

The Italian won seven Serie A titles as well as four Coppa Italia trophies.

He wasn’t called Il Principino merely for his heroic deeds, but for the way he always accomplished them with perfect poise and dignity, like the stunner he scored at the 2014 World Cup.

His incredible skill, impeccable class, and connection to his hometown team make him the ideal addition to the pool of FUT Heroes.

Yaya Touré

Yaya Touré was a presence on the pitch and he helped Manchester City to win their first Premier League title since 1968.

That season may be remembered for Sergio Aguero’s historic last-minute goal, but Touré scored both goals in the game prior to keep their title hopes alive.

Combine a dominant club career with over 100 caps and appearances at three World Cup tournaments for the Ivory Coast, and Touré proved that when his teams needed him most he could summon the strength to put them on his back and keep their hopes alive.

Touré was an influential midfielder and will now return in FIFA 23 as a FUT Hero.

Park Ji-Sung

In a Manchester United team full of superstars, Park Ji-Sung was underrated but his constant pressure and merciless marking did not go unnoticed.

His assist just 36 seconds into a title-deciding match against Chelsea made him a Premier League champion.

Meanwhile, his goal for South Korea at the 2010 World Cup made him the first Asian player to score in three consecutive tournaments.

A cult star among Manchester United fans, Park Ji-Sung is a deserved FUT Hero.

Diego Forlán

When facing the biggest challenges, Diego Forlán would always rise to the occasion.

In 2010, he scored two goals for Atletico Madrid in a Man of The Match display to win the UEFA Europa League.

Forlán followed it up at the 2010 World Cup, ending as joint top scorer, Golden Ball winner and Goal of the Tournament.

Diego Forlán has proved he is no ordinary hero, which is why he is now a FUT Hero.

Lúcio

Lúcio was fast, physical and known for his tough-tackling style and endless energy.

He played every minute of Brazil’s 2002 World Cup triumph.

In addition to winning 105 caps for his country, Lúcio played for some of Europe’s biggest teams.

He helped Inter Milan win a historic treble that included a long-awaited UEFA Champions League title that added even more weight to an already stacked trophy cabinet

Wherever he struck, fear entered into his opponents and success came to his team.

Rafael Márquez

Rafael Márquez is a Mexican legend, having played in five World Cup tournaments.

His leadership skills were on display from a young age, being named national team captain at just 23.

Always a star, Márquez could also share the spotlight, teaming up with fellow defender Carles Puyol to form a powerful partnership that in 2006 saw him become the first Mexican player to win the UEFA Champions League.

His incredible play and inspiring leadership earned him the title El Kaiser of Michoacan, and also earned him his status as a FUT Hero.

Javier Mascherano

Javier Mascherano may have been small in stature but he was a big character on the pitch.

His energy, commitment and tough tackling made him an attacker’s nightmare.

The Argentine was a leader, captaining his country to the quarter-final of the 2010 World Cup.

Mascherano also showed his amazing adaptability by taking on a new role in the heart of the defence and winning his first UEFA Champions League.

Even when he didn’t have the armband, Mascherano led by example on the pitch with his style of play.

Peter Crouch

Peter Crouch had a career that took him all over English football.

The six-foot-seven striker holds the Premier League record for headed goals.

His critical contributions in Liverpool’s 2006 FA Cup Final comeback win, including a vital assist for Steven Gerrard, combined with a crucial header in the 2006 World Cup for England against Trinidad and Tobago were emblematic of his ability as a true target man.

It was also the legendary robot celebration that became his signature.

Crouch was a true fan favourite and a great FUT Hero addition in FIFA 23.

Dirk Kuyt

Dirk Kuyt played football with a full-throttle commitment.

The Dutchman channelled a seemingly infinite amount of energy and excitement that energised teammates and fans alike.

His important assists in the quarter and semi-final played a major role in the Netherlands’ route to the 2010 World Cup final.

But Kuyt was more than just a provider for his teammates, scoring many important goals for the likes of Liverpool and Feyenoord.

He won the 2016/2017 Eredivisie title before retiring from the sport.

Harry Kewell

Harry Kewell burst onto the scene as a 15-year-old, having been offered a trial by Leeds.

In 2000 he earned the PFA Young Player of the Year award.

This was followed by mesmerising displays in 2000/01 that helped his club reach the semi-final of the UEFA Champions League.

Kewell later moved to Liverpool and won the UEFA Champions League.

His heroics were also shown whenever he played for Australia.

Jean-Pierre Papin

Jean-Pierre Papin converted ordinary opportunities like the most ruthless of strikers but was a specialist in the impossible.

The harder the ball was to reach, the more he effortlessly twisted and turned his body like an acrobat to not only meet it but then somehow drive it powerfully into the back of the net.

Two goals at the World Cup helped France to third place but it was his hat trick with Olympique Marseille in the 1989 Coupe de France final where he clinched his super status.

The Ballon d’Or that followed later just went to prove that he is perfectly positioned as a FUT Hero.

Sidney Govou

Sidney Govou led Olympique Lyonnais (OL) to every one of the club’s seven Ligue 1 titles.

He roared onto the European stage in 2001 with two ferocious strikes in the UEFA Champions League, then again on the world stage with a spark of inspiration in the 2006 World Cup knockouts against Spain.

The winger was known for his skill, style and loyalty.

It was Govou’s decade at OL that cemented his legacy as a hero dedicated to his home city.

Tomas Brolin

Tomas Brolin’s speed and agility left defenders in his wake.

It was his goal that helped Parma to win their first ever trophy.

But his most famous goal came at the 1994 World Cup when a clever free-kick routine ended in Brolin blowing past defenders to blast the ball into the net as Sweden went on to finish an impressive third place in the tournament.

The goal was just as iconic as Brolin’s celebration. He would raise his right fist into the air and do a full 360 pirouette letting friends, fans, and foes alike know the Swedish storm had struck.

Rudi Völler

Rudi Völler was a clinical striker with a record to match.

He picked up the Bundesliga top goalscorer and Footballer of the Year award in 1982/83.

His impressive 47 goals in 90 caps for Germany included him lifting the World Cup trophy in 1990, with three goals in the tournament.

Völler was a one-of-a-kind striker and a new addition to FIFA 23.

Hidetoshi Nakata

Formerly a FUT Icon, Hidetoshi Nakata returns to FIFA 23 as a FUT Hero.

The attacking midfielder was talented and it convinced Parma to make him the most expensive Asian footballer ever.

At the 2002 World Cup, Nakata scored in a 2-0 win against Tunisia to confirm Japan’s place in the knockout stages.

This established his hero status and in FIFA 23, he will be one in Ultimate Team.

Jay-Jay Okocha

Jay-Jay Okocha is another former Icon.

One of African football’s best-ever players, he was a true entertainer on the pitch.

The most expensive African footballer ever when he joined Paris Saint-Germain in 1998, Okocha was mesmerising in Nigeria’s impressive opening win against Spain in the 1998 World Cup when he grabbed the spotlight on the world’s biggest stage and revealed his incredible talent to the world.

He unexpectedly ended up at Bolton Wanderers, only to put on a spectacular show in the Premier League.

It’s the way he always had you watching carefully for his next fantastic trick that makes him a showstopping FUT Hero.

Joan Capdevilla

Joan Capdevilla was a marauding fullback who charged down attackers and bounded forward to support his teammates.

This was demonstrated during the 2010 World Cup where he played every minute for Spain on their way to glory.

The former Villarreal player is appreciated by fans, especially for his two goals against Getafe CF in 2009.

For Capdevilla, being the kind of hero you could always count on is what makes him a FUT Hero.

Wlodzimierz Smolarek

The Polish hero brought a feisty, never give up attitude that drove opponents crazy.

Wlodzimierz Smolarek frustrated defenders as his style of play meant they could not touch him.

This was key in Eintracht Frankfurt’s 1988 DFP-Pokal title.

He also made substantial contributions to Poland’s 1982 World Cup run as they achieved an unforgettable third-place finish.

Saeed Al Owairan

Saeed Al Owairan was known for his soaring speed and eagle eye for goal.

In 1994, he scored one of the greatest World Cup goals. Spotting his target while still inside his own half, he flew past five defenders and smashed the ball past the keeper.

He won 75 caps for Saudi Arabia.

Al Owairan stayed loyal to Al-Shabab, playing for the side for his whole career.

These new Heroes will change the way you play Ultimate Team and along with the existing Heroes and Icons, there will be more opportunities to create unique teams.

It will also provide more chances to use players you grew up watching.

Some will be better than others, therefore they will be more expensive.

FIFA 23 is just around the corner but expect even more surprises when the new batch of Icons are announced.