Even though they competed against one another in the World Cup final in Qatar, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi are both included in FIFA 23’s Team of the Year.
It was Messi’s Argentina who won the World Cup for a third time with a penalty shootout victory following a 3-3 tie after extra time, despite Mbappe’s hat-trick in the championship game.
The FIFA 23 Team of the Year, which was chosen from more than 10 million fan votes, includes both of the Paris Saint-Germain teammates.
Despite Argentina’s World Cup win, Messi is the only player from Lionel Scaloni’s team to be included, with Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema completing the front three after scoring 44 goals in 46 matches in the 2021-22 season to help Real Madrid to a LaLiga title and Champions League win.
Jude Bellingham of Borussia Dortmund and Kevin De Bruyne, who placed third in the Ballon d’Or rankings, are also in the midfield. Bellingham, who is just 19 years old, was instrumental in helping England win the World Cup.
At the back, the Madrid motif that permeates the lineup is continued with Thibaut Courtois between the posts and Eder Militao at the center of the defense.
While Theo Hernandez and Achraf Hakimi, who had outstanding World Cups with France and Morocco, respectively, fill the full-back positions, Virgil van Dijk joins Militao.