In Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappé, the French league is able to boast three of the best attacking players in FIFA 23. As one might expect though, the terrific trio are also some of the most expensive players in the game's Ultimate Team mode, with their regular versions clocking in at a combined 2.6 million coins. As a result, they'll likely remain a pipe dream for all but the most dedicated of players, though that's not to say that those hoping to build a strong Ligue 1 FUT team should give up hope just yet.
There are actually some great bargains to be found for those willing to look for them, particularly when it comes to putting together a budget Ligue 1 team. FIFA 23 players who enjoy attacking with pace and power should be thrilled with what the league has to offer, even if its greatest players remain forever out of reach. In the right hands, these Ligue 1 FUT teams can compete with the very best and offer decent value for many when compared to other leagues.
Updated January 21, 2023, by Tom Bowen: With the 2022-23 season edging ever closer to its conclusion, the number of promotional cards in FIFA 23's Ultimate Team game mode is increasing day by day. This has led to some rather drastic changes when it comes to the best Ligue 1 players in FIFA 23, not to mention the prices of some of the best team builds. What's more, with many months having now passed since the release of the game, some players find themselves in a position where money is no longer an object. For those with coins burning a hole in their pocket, the likes of Messi, Neymar, and Mbappé are no longer just a pipe dream, allowing them to build the very best Ligue 1 team imaginable.
All of the teams below have full chemistry in-game, though as FIFA 23 doesn't allow players to alter the positions of concept cards, the images below may not reflect this. Players might need to use consumable items to change certain players' positions, while the prices provided are all subject to change. All three squad suggestions will use the 4-3-3 formation as this is one of the more popular formations in the FUT game mode.
The Best Budget Ligue 1 Team for FUT 23 (10,000 Coins)
Position | Name | Price |
|---|---|---|
GK | Kasper Schmeichel | 1,500 |
RB | Malo Gusto | 1,400 |
LB | Przemysław Frankowski | 1,000 |
CB | Tiago Djaló | 950 |
CB | Kevin Danso | 1,000 |
CM | Fabian Ruiz Pena | 1,500 |
CM | Carlos Soler | 1,700 |
CM | Seko Fofana | 950 |
RW | Jérémy Doku | 1,200 |
LW | Kamaldeen Sulemana | 1,200 |
ST | Loïs Openda | 1,100 |
The French League may not have too many good options for late-game forwards besides PSG's horrendously expensive trio, but Ligue 1 might just be the best league in the game when it comes to creating a sweaty starter team. Kamaldeen Sulemana, Loïs Openda, and Jérémy Doku can be snapped up for around 1,000 coins despite all boasting 90+ pace. There are a few speedy fullbacks too, most notably Przemysław Frankowski and Malo Gusto, who have 92 and 86 pace respectively.
When it comes to the midfield, Fabian Ruiz Pena and Carlos Soler are solid picks, with the PSG players both sitting on an 83 overall rating, which places them among the best central midfielders in the entire division. As a result, players will be able to build their teams around the pair, allowing them to save their hard-earned coins for strengthening other areas of the pitch.
The Best Mid-Range Ligue 1 Team for FUT 23 (50,000 Coins)
Position | Name | Price |
|---|---|---|
GK | Kasper Schmeichel | 1,500 |
RB | Hamari Traoré | 22,000 |
LB | Przemysław Frankowski | 1,000 |
CB | Tiago Djaló | 950 |
CB | Kevin Danso | 1,000 |
CM | Fabian Ruiz Pena | 1,500 |
CM | Carlos Soler | 1,700 |
CM | Marco Verratti | 24,000 |
RW | Jérémy Doku | 1,200 |
LW | Kamaldeen Sulemana | 1,200 |
ST | Loïs Openda | 1,100 |
Sadly, there's not too much scope for improvement as players' budgets begin to blossom, at least not until they're pushing toward the quarter million mark. That said, Marco Verratti is well worth signing due to his high rating in FIFA 23 and his excellent passing and dribbling skills. That he also happens to play for PSG works well for chemistry, though players should already be at the maximum amount even before adding the talented Italian.
The only other player worth considering around this price range is Rennes' Malian right backHamari Traoré, providing, that is, that players can find his in-form card for around the 20,000 coin mark. Assuming they can, they should still have a few thousand coins left over at this point, but it's best to just save them for later rather than blowing them on a player who's only going to marginally improve the squad.
The Best High-End Ligue 1 Team for FUT 23 (250,000 Coins)
Position | Name | Price |
|---|---|---|
GK | Gianluigi Donnarumma | 27,500 |
RB | Hamari Traoré | 22,000 |
LB | Nuno Mendes | 2,100 |
CB | Presnel Kimpembe | 4,700 |
CB | Marquinhos | 27,250 |
CM | Fabian Ruiz Pena | 1,500 |
CM | Carlos Soler | 1,700 |
CM | Marco Verratti | 69,500 |
RW | Lionel Messi | 70,000 |
LW | Kamaldeen Sulemana | 1,200 |
ST | Wissam Ben Yedder | 5,000 |
For top-tier players, the only wingers worth buying in Ligue 1 are Messi and Neymar, the former of whom is available for a very reasonable 70k. Players may want to think about replacing Openda with Wissam Ben Yedder too, as although the Monaco man is a little slower, his superior dribbling and shooting skills will likely make him a much better fit for most playing styles. The rest of the budget can then be spent on improving the team's defense and the overall rating.
As one of the best goalkeepers in FIFA 23, Gianluigi Donnarumma is something of a no-brainer, as too are his PSG teammates Marquinhos and Presnel Kimpembe. As players should still have around coins left over, they can continue the PSG theme by replacing Frankowski with Nuno Mendes. As with Ben Yedder earlier, players will lose a little bit of pace by doing so, but the massive improvements that Mendes offers in the defense department should more than make up for this.
The Best Value Ligue 1 Promo Cards in FUT 23
Position | Name | Price |
|---|---|---|
RW | Krépin Diatta (86) | 22,250 |
LW | Martin Terrier (87) | 20,400 |
ST | Jean-Pierre Papin (89) | 37,000 |
While there are plenty of great Ligue 1 promo cards all over the pitch, it's in the attacking third where players will from them benefit from these additions. With this in mind, Jean-Pierre Papin is an easy pick up top, with his 89-rated Hero card available for as little as 37k and his 90-rated World Cup Hero card clocking in at just 30k more. On either side of him, Martin Terrier's 87-rated POTM card is great value at just over 20k, while Krépin Diatta's 86-rated in-form card is a solid pick for the opposite flank, thanks in large to the player's 96 pace and solid dribbling stats.
The Best Ligue 1 Team in FUT 23 (Unlimited Budget)
Position | Name | Price |
|---|---|---|
GK | Gianluigi Donnarumma (IF) | 129,000 |
RB | Achraf Hakimi (WCP) | 347,000 |
LB | Fábio Pereira da Silva (WW) | 43,500 |
CB | Sergio Ramos (RB) | 168,000 |
CB | Marquinhos (RtWC) | 511,000 |
CM | Marco Verratti (FUTC) | 524,000 |
CM | Youssouf Fofana (WCSS) | 70,600 |
CM | Corentin Tolisso (OtW) | 47,000 |
RW | Lionel Messi (CL) | 919,000 |
LW | Neymar Jr (FUTC) | 1,750,000 |
ST | Kylian Mbappé (RtWC) | 2,750,000 |
If money really is no object then players can put together an incredibly competitive Ligue 1 team. Again, it's in those attacking positions where this team really shines and there are quite a few options when it comes to the positioning of the front three. Each has plenty of great promotional cards to their name, and although some of them are obscenely expensive, this has had a huge impact on the price of the trio's non-promo cards. Messi is particularly affordable, with his 91-rated base card now available for around 70,000 coins.
FIFA 23 is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, Nintendo Switch, and PC.