Every FIFA Ultimate Team needs a world-class striker to lead them to glory in both Division Rivals and FUT Champions. If that striker is an Icon, then even better. Having such bolsters both the front line and chemistry. The recent FIFA 23 Team of the Year was announced, and that has players salivating over whom they may bag in a pack. With supercharged cards for World Cup top scorer Kylian Mbappé, Balon D’Or winner Karim Benzema, and World Cup winner, Lionel Messi, all being released onto the market, there are now some bargains to be found. Especially when it comes to attacking icons.
As we all know at this point, opening packs on FUT is akin to playing in an online casino, as you never know what you are going to get. Is your pack luck in, or your pack luck out? For those of us that haven’t had much success when buying packs, then it’s always wise to invest your FIFA 23 coins in players directly, rather than purchasing packs. Here are five attacking icons sure to fire you to glory.
Five Bargain Icons to Bolster Your Attack in FIFA 23
Christian Vieri – 90
Back in his day, Christian Vieri was a powerhouse of a striker. The Italian hitman scored goals for fun for all three of Italy’s biggest clubs, namely Inter Milan, AC Milan, and Juventus. He was extra prolific during his time on the blue side of Milan, netting 123 times in 190 appearances during his time with the club.
And his FIFA Ultimate Team icon card is just impressive. Don’t be put off by his 83 pace, that’s still high enough to get the job done. Plus, who needs to sprint when you have a shooting rating of 91?
Alan Shearer – 91
As anyone English will tell you, Alan Shearer in the 90s meant as much to English football as Harry Kane does today. The Newcastle United legend still holds the record for most goals scored in Premier League history, netting 260 league goals during his 13 years in the world’s most competitive league.
On FIFA, Shearer is an absolute menace. While he lacks in pace, his shooting is rated at 93, and with a physicality rating of 85, he is not getting shoved off the ball easily. The former England number nine is available for under 100,000 coins on both PlayStation and Xbox, and he is the definition of a bargain.
Marco van Basten – 91
How Marco van Basten is being sold for less than 90,000 coins is beyond us. The Dutch sensation is one of the greatest footballers in the history of the Netherlands, on par with the likes of Johan Cruyff and Ruud Gullit.
The former AC Milan stars career at the top was shorter than most, playing for just 11 years due to a number of injury issues, but that didn’t stop him from smashing in 282 goals in 389 appearances. The former Ajax man won the Champions League three times in five years with AC Milan, as well as scoring one of the greatest goals ever scored for the Netherlands during their triumph at Euro 1988.
Van Basten is a three-time Balon d’Or winner, and that translates into FIFA. With 92 shooting and 87 dribbling, the Dutchman is a handful for any defender. We strongly suggest placing a powerhouse striker alongside him up top so that his technical brilliance shines through.
Ruud van Nistelrooy – 90
If we’re talking about pure out-and-out goalscorers, there was nobody finer than Ruud van Nistelrooy. The current PSV Eindhoven manager scored 349 goals in 592 appearances during his playing days. And during a devastating spell with Manchester United in the early 2000s, he netted 150 times in just 219 appearances, helping the club to the Premier League, FA Cup, and League Cup in the process.
Van Nistelrooy was the definition of a poacher, and that is reflected in his well-rounded stats in Ultimate Team. The former Real Madrid star has 82 pace, 88 shooting, 82 dribbling, and 80 physicality, meaning that if you feed him the ball, he will score you goals. And you can pick him up for barely 80,000 coins, what more do we need to say?
Rui Costa – 90
Okay, for this one we cheated a little bit. Portugal icon Manuel Rui Costa isn’t an out-and-out striker. He’s more of a number ten, which is reflected by his position being CAM on FIFA 23. But with some tinkering in your team’s custom tactics, you can fit the former AC Milan star into the false nine role defined by Lionel Messi.
Slipping him into the false nine role will ensure you make the most out of his 88 dribbling, 88 passing, and 86 pace. And if you’re given the chance to let fly from a distance, Rui Costa’s devastating 85 long shots and 87 shot power means that you could be rifling in thunderbolts at will. Put two pacey wingers on either side of him cutting in from the touchline, and your front line will be revitalized.
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