FIFA 23 icons - full list and rumoured new icons

Image of a full stadium in FIFA 22.

Image of a full stadium in FIFA 22.

Before dynamic cards were all the rage, getting an icon in FIFA Ultimate Team was a game-changing prospect. Being able to play matches with legendary figures like Maradona or Ronaldinho changed the game, and as such players are now looking ahead to FIFA 23 icons. There's no doubt that more legends will appear in the roster this year, so we've got all the details you need.

In this FIFA 23 guide, we'll break down everything you need to know about icons this year. That includes which players we expect to appear, as well as some newcomers, which tends to happen every year. FIFA 22 saw the introduction of Robin Van Persie, so expect similar levels this time around.

Elsewhere, our FIFA 23 beta guide dishes out the details on when you should be able to try the game out for the first time. We've also got a look at FIFA 23 ratings for this year, as well as details on when the FIFA 23 web app should launch.

All confirmed FIFA 23 icons

As of right now, EA Sports has confirmed three new FIFA 23 icons. These are Xabi Alonso, Gerd Müller, and Jairzinho.

However, most icons from FIFA 22 will return for the latest entry. As a reminder, the table below has the lot, as confirmed by EA Sports.

Player name
Nation
Position
Pelé
Brazil
CAM
Ronaldo
Brazil
ST
Zinedine Zidane
France
CAM
Garrincha
Brazil
RW
Eusébio
Portugal
CF
Ferenc Puskás
Hungary
ST
Johan Cruyff
Netherlands
CF
Lev Yashin
Russia
GK
Marco van Basten
Netherlands
ST
Roberto Baggio
Italy
CF
Ronaldinho
Brazil
CAM
Alessandro Nesta
Italy
CB
Andrea Pirlo
Italy
CM
Eric Cantona
France
CF
Franco Baresi
Italy
CB
George Best
Northern Ireland
RW
Lothar Matthäus
Germany
CB
Luís Figo
Portugal
CAM
Paolo Maldini
Italy
LB
Xavier Hernández
Spain
CM
Marcos Cafú
Brazil
RB
Alan Shearer
England
ST
Alessandro Del Piero
Italy
CF
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Germany
LM
Bobby Moore
England
CB
Carlos Alberto Torres
Brazil
CB
David Beckham
England
CM
Dennis Bergkamp
Netherlands
CF
Didier Drogba
Ivory Coast
ST
Edwin van der Sar
Netherlands
GK
Emilio Butragueño
Spain
ST
Fabio Cannavaro
Italy
CB
Gary Lineker
England
ST
Hristo Stoichkov
Hungary
ST
Hugo Sánchez
Mexico
ST
Ian Rush
Wales
ST
Javier Zanetti
Argentina
LB
Riquelme
Argentina
CAM
Kenny Dalglish
Scotland
ST
Marcel Desailly
France
CB
Miroslav Klose
Germany
ST
Paul Scholes
England
CM
Philipp Lahm
Germany
LB
Kaká
Brazil
CAM
Rivaldo
Brazil
CAM
Ryan Giggs
Wales
LM
Samuel Eto'o
Cameroon
ST
Sócrates
Brazil
CAM
Thierry Henry
France
LW
Robin van Persie
Netherlands
ST
Iker Casillas
Spain
GK
Andriy Shevchenko
Ukraine
ST
Carles Puyon Saforcada
Spain
RB
Christian Vieri
Italy
ST
David Trezeguet
France
ST
Fernando Hierro Ruiz
Spain
CB
Frank Lampard
England
CM
Frank Rijkaard
Netherlands
CDM
Gianluca Zambrotta
Italy
RWB
Henrik Larsson
Sweden
ST
John Barnes
England
CAM
Juan Sebastián Verón
Argentina
CM
Michael Ballack
Germany
CM
Michael Owen
England
ST
Patrick Kluivert
Netherlands
ST
Patrick Vieira
France
CM
Pavel Nedvêd
Czech Republic
LM
Peter Schmeichel
Denmark
GK
Petr Cech
Czech Republic
GK
Raúl González Blanco
Spain
CF
Roberto Carlos
Brazil
LB
Roy Keane
Republic of Ireland
CM
Ruud Gullit
Netherlands
CM
Ruud van Nistelrooy
Netherlands
ST
Steven Gerrard
England
CM
Wayne Rooney
England
ST
Anderson Luís de Souza
Portugal
CAM
Ashley Cole
England
LB
Clarence Seedorf
Netherlands
CM
Claude Makélélé
France
RM
Davor Šuker
Croatia
ST
Emmanuel Petit
France
LB
Fernando Torres
Spain
ST
Filippo Inzaghi
Italy
ST
Gennaro Gattuso
Italy
ST
Gheorghe Hagi
Romania
CAM
Gianfranco Zola
Italy
CF
Hernán Crespo
Argentina
ST
Hidetoshi Nakata
Japan
CAM
Ian Wright
England
ST
Jari Litmanen
Finland
CF
Jay-Jay Okocha
Nigeria
RM
Pep Guardiola
Spain
CDM
Laurent Blanc
France
CAM
Luis Hernández
MExico
ST
Michael Essien
Ghana
CDM
Michael Laudrup
Denmark
CF
Nemanja Vidić
Serbia
CB
Rio Ferdinand
England
CB
Robert Pirès
France
CAM
Ronald Koeman
Netherlands
CB
Rui Manuel César Costa
Portugal
CAM
Sol Campbell
England
CB

Those are all the icons in FIFA 23. Notably, Diego Maradona was removed from the game in March due to image rights problems, and Marc Overmars due to his departure from Ajax after misconduct allegations. Equally, some icons with legal problems such as Ryan Giggs may be removed by EA Sports in the future.

Image of various icons in FIFA 22.
expand image

Which icons may join FIFA 23?

As we look to the next game, it's worth considering which new icons may join the game. We already know of a few new Heroes cards, including Park Ji-Sung and Yaya Touré. However, upcoming icons are much more secretive.

A few players who are present within the FIFA 22 game files but never emerged as icons include Spanish striker David Villa and German attacker Gerd Müller. Equally, renowned FUT source FutSherrif believes Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso will also arrive as an icon this year. As it turns out, these leaks were true!.

How do I get icons in FIFA 23?

Getting an icon card in FIFA 23 is just the same as getting all other players. Your two options are either to purchase them from the transfer market using coins, or hoping to get lucky in a pack.

In the early stages of the game, however, getting an icon is all down to blind luck. If you manage to grab one in a pack, the chances are the feverish market will ensure you get several million coins for your troubles. Alternatively, you can save up and trade wisely to bank that many coins, then go out and purchase one from another player.

Icons are rarely added as objective rewards, though the Icon Swaps SBC challenge which appears later into each game's cycle is another way to get your hands on one. That'll require a lot of SBC grinding and matches under your belt, so strap in for a tough time.

That's it for our look at FIFA 23 icons! As the game approaches its release, we should learn more about which new footballing legends to expect. Until then, feel free to check out a deeper breakdown of this year's FIFA 23 career mode to bide your time.