Hello and welcome back, it‘s been a while since my last prediction but we’re starting 2023 with Team of the Year!
The 2022 World Cup is done, Messi finally got his World Cup trophy and domestic football is slowly returning to normal action. In terms of Fifa 22 content EA Sports just recently published the Fifa 22 TOTY shortlists and you can now vote the players you think deserve to pick up a Team of the Season item. While most positions should be locked, we could see other positions being debated a lot, such as centre-backs or central midfielders. Keep in mind that the TOTY is voted by fans and that I have lined up the team the way I think the community will vote, if you have different opinions on players and who to include feel free to let us know in the comments!
Team of the Year XI
GK: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid) - 90 OVR -> 97 OVR:
There are a couple of names among the nominees who deserve a mention and the 2022 World Cup can probably be considered as the most important competition when selecting the goalkeeper but although Belgium once again disappointed, Thibaut Courtois hasn’t. Part of Belgium’s golden generation Courtois may have missed the opportunity to repeat 2018 performance in FIFA World Cup 2022 yet he had a brilliant run in La Liga and in Champions League. No goalkeeper has mode more saves over the course of the 2021/22 Champions League season that Real Madrid’s stopper, with 52 before the final. Would definetly be a deserved winner, Emiliano Martinez could be another option too.
LB: Theo Hernández (Milan) - 89 OVR -> 96 OVR:
Now talking about the potential left-back and it’s for sure a debatable one because there are more than one contenders. Theo Hernandez in his current form can be termed the best left-back in the world right now. Apart from his club success with Milan, the French international had an amazing World Cup tournament in Qatar last year. He was involved in pretty much everything on the pitch, be it scoring or defending or providing assists. He also displayed his talents in club football and was an important part of the Serie A-winning AC Milan side last season. You can also look at Cancelo as the potential winner but from what we saw so far on social media people tend to vote for the Frenchman.
CB: Éder Militão (Real Madrid) - 88 OVR -> 95 OVR:
Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane's exits from Real Madrid meant somebody had big boots to fill in the Spaniard's exit. It was Eder Militao who initially stepped up and the Brazilian went on to form an excellent partnership with fellow new arrival David Alaba as Real did the La Liga and Champions League double in 2021/22. A proactive defender who possesses excellent recovery pace, expect Militao to improve even further at the Bernabeu. I expected Marquinhos to pick up the majority of votes but from what we saw on social media so far people seem to prefer Militao who, of course, would be an insane card!
CB: van Dijk (Liverpool FC) - 92 OVR -> 96 OVR:
Now let’s talk about van Dijk and his potential TOTY item. With a gigantic frame and a pace to match, the Netherlands international was a leading figure in a Liverpool side that became European and domestic champions in 2019 and 2020. A few injuries and some dodgy performances have affected his stock lately around the world, even though we have to mention that Liverpool in general isn’t at their level this season yet. Performance wise other’s like Upamecano, wo played an insane World Cup and also was convincing for Bayern, deserve it over him but I’m sure the fanbase is enough to see him getting in and the votings we saw so far confirming it.
RB: Achraf Hakimi (Paris SG) - 87 OVR -> 95 OVR:
After leaving Real Madrid, Hakimi endured peaks and troughs, but he evolved into a magnificent right-back at Inter before PSG acquired the outstanding right-back. He’s probably the most attacking fullback in world football at the moment with outstanding pace and really good anticipation off the ball and he enjoyed a brilliant 2022 World Cup with Morocco too, finishing fourth.
CM: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) - 92 OVR -> 97 OVR:
It’s going to be difficult to find another attacking midfielder who can rival Kevin De Bruyne at the moment; the Belgium international has been an absolute masterclass for Guardiola in recent times. He combines pace and power with ingenious technical quality to create near unstoppable force. De Bruyne’s game has evolved considerably since he joined Man City and he has modernized the central midfield role and what he does from a playmaking perspective is just incredible.
CM: Luka Modric (Real Madrid) - 90 OVR -> 97 OVR:
Talking about TOTY midfielders, Luka Modric can’t be overlooked. Despite his age of already 37 Years the Croatian playmaker still is at the highest level for club and country. The 2018 Ballon d’Or winner led Croatia to a third place in the 2022 FIFA World Cup and played a vital role in Real Madrid’s 2021/22 Champions League win too.
CM: Federico Valverde (Real Madrid) - 88 OVR -> 95 OVR:
A central midfielder by trade, Federico Valverde has made a name for himself as a winger at Real Madrid. The Uruguayan is far from the archetypal wide man in that he’s a workhorse who tucks infield and hassles opponents relentlessly out of possession. Madrid’s exceptional midfield, which has recently been rejuvenated by French sensations Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelian Tchouameni, thrust Valverde into an unfamiliar role but it’s one that he continues to perform brilliantly. He contributes little by way of goals and assists, but his tactical significance is distinct, and he’s got a knack for showing up on the big occasion. There is a chance he might be RW but should still have CM as his secondary position.
RW: Lionel Messi (Paris SG) - 94 OVR -> 98 OVR:
Some will disagree, of course, but Lionel Messi is the best there is, was, and probably ever will be. The little Argentinian endured a “down” year by his standarts during his debut season in Paris, but business has resumed as normal at the start of 2022/23. Messi finished the calendar year with the most goals and assists in all competitions and, more, importantly, finally won the World Cup with Argentina, scoring 7 goals and providing three assists. He is still at the pinnacle of his profession at the age of 35 and will without a doubt get a TOTY item.
CF: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) - 91 OVR -> 98 OVR:
Ronaldo’s departure from Real Madrid in 2018 thrust Karim Benzema into the spotlight and he has delivered. The Frenchman leads by example on the pitch, and it was his goals that lifted Los Blancos to a pair of league titles in 2019/20 and 2021/22 and the Champions League in the latter. His form over the past 18 months has been nothing short of staggering and the most recent Ballon d’Or winner surely has to be included even though he wasn’t playing for his country in the 2022 World Cup.
ST: Kylian Mbappé (Paris SG) - 94 OVR -> 98 OVR:
Mbappe’s rise to superstardom was inevitable after he broke through at Monaco as a 17-year-old during the 2016/17 season and today he is regarded by many as the most influential person in the French capital. Despite not having won the Champions League, Mbappe has won numerous league titles, and the World Cup, and is already PSG’s second-leading scorer all-time. The energetic Frenchman has accomplished so much in such a short period of time, and he’s on track to rule the sport for the entire decade of 2020. He might has ended up as runners-up at the 2022 World Cup but that shouldn’t mean he won’t get a TOTY because he will.
Potential 12th Player
ST: Erling Haaland (Manchester City) - 90 OVR -> 96 OVR:
Erling Haaland may not be as naturally gifted or as marketable as Mbappe, but he’s currently the best in the world at doing what a striker is employed to do: score goals. He is a freak of nature, an absolute phenomen. Standing at 6’5 and blessed with a demonic turn of pace, the Norwegian superstar is scoring goals for fun. His knack for scoring goals has seen him fall into the welcoming lap of Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, and Haaland has made a mockery of anyone who believed that his frightening form wouldn’t translate over to the mean and nasty Premier League. There’s a simplicity to Haaland’s game and he’s nearly impossible to stop. He’s inevitable and could be the 12th man this year but it all depends on how is nominated or if we even get a 12th player this year.
That concludes this year's Team of the Year predictions! What do you make of these predictions? Who got your vote and who would you love to see in the team? Let us know below!
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