The idea behind Team of the Season is simple. In terms of sporting achievements, the best players of the season receive a special card in FIFA Ultimate Team – usually with a very high overall rating. As uncomplicated as the project appears, there is one factor that makes it more difficult. After all, the cards should be popular and traded accordingly. It is not uncommon for players to be missing who would have deserved a TOTS item in sport, but who may not be attractive enough in FIFA to encourage players to buy packs.
Wrong image of game time
The fact that Messi has now been honored with the highest rated card paints a debatable picture of the sporting achievements. The Argentinean is having a strong season, sharing second place in Ligue 1's top scorers with Alexandre Lacazette with 32 points. First is teammate Kylian Mbappé (34). Looking across Europe's top leagues, however, that is topped by one: Erling Haaland, whose TOTS card has an overall rating of 97.
FIFA 23: Premier League TOTS – Haaland shares the top – Arsenal with the lion's share
The Manchester City striker has struck 36 times in 35 Premier League games, setting a league record. The Norwegian scored his 35th goal of the season in a 3-0 win over West Ham United – a historic one. Haaland thus surpassed Andy Cole and Alan Shearer, who set the previous record of 34 goals. In addition, the former Dortmund player has eight assists.
There is no general answer to who is actually better. A better solution would therefore have been not to put Messi on the throne alone. Since the Serie A TOTS is still appearing, this is still possible, but stronger cards for Victor Osimhen or Khvicha Kvaratskhelia compared to Haaland seem unrealistic. Messi should therefore remain the sole Primus.
Lots of question marks behind some Moments cards
The problem with the TOTS Moments items, which replace the "Honourable Mentions", becomes even clearer. Through this, players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Sadio Mané or Renato Sanches are also part of the game.
Positive examples are CR7 and Neymar, who look back on a difficult season. The Portuguese switched to Al-Nasr after a lot of quarrels in winter, Neymar injured his ankle and underwent surgery. Nevertheless, both showed good performances: the Brazilian scored 13 goals in 20 games. Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 14 times in 16 games. Not enough for the Team of the Season due to the low number of missions, but worth a mention.
However, the situation is different for Renato Sanches and Sadio Mané – representative of several other players who received a Moments card. The new signing from Bayern did not impress this season: they scored seven goals after 25 games. He was probably violent towards a teammate. However, it fits very well into the meta of the game, which is why it is one of the most expensive and coveted items in the Bundesliga.
The former Munich Sanches can not look back on a particularly strong season. He suffered some minor injuries. And when he was fit, he hardly played. There are only six starting eleven appearances. However, the possible alternatives, Benjamin Bourigeaud or Branco van den Boomen, do not seem to have been attractive enough for EA SPORTS.
Conclusion: Messi together with Haaland at the top, more comprehensible moment cards – and the tightrope act between the sport and the game could have succeeded. In particular, the nominations of some players for the TOTS moments leave the aftertaste that EA SPORTS has its own profit in mind in addition to the services actually provided.
