FIFA 23 has a lot of players available across their modes, and the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe are the best the game has to offer. Although some players are big names in the real world of soccer, they are absent from EA Sports' latest installment.
The players are missing, mainly because their clubs are not in the game. FIFA 23 does not have every single league, and there are a few major absentees. Therefore, the big names that play in these leagues cannot be used in the game. EA Sports is also losing its license to call the game FIFA and the next installment will become EA Sports FC, with this new branding, hopefully, they bring back leagues that gamers have lost.
10 Luis Suarez
The controversial Luis Suarez is loved or hated across the world of soccer, but gamers can't use him in offline modes such as Career Mode or Seasons as his club, Gremio, are not in the game.
The Brazilian league was removed way back in FIFA 15. Long gone are the days of 'Brasilver' teams, due to licensing and image rights. Some Brazilian clubs are still there in the game but feature no real players in their squads, Suarez's team, Gremio don't even have that luxury. Gamers can use Luis Suarez on Ultimate Team as part of the World Cup Update, as he received a special club-less card.
9 Macaulay Langstaff
In real life, Macaulay Langstaff has broken records this season, scoring 41 goals in the fifth tier of English football, the National League. But if players are wanting to sign Langstaff on Career Mode, they will sadly be disappointed.
The English leagues are unique in having the best quality, with the top four divisions being included on FIFA 23. There have been many fan petitions to include the fifth tier, but with no prevail. Gamers were treated to the inclusion of Wrexham, as a 'rest of the world' club, mainly due to their celebrity backing. Notts County, the club of Langstaff, are doing really well and could earn promotion to League Two, so Langstaff may be available in EA Sports FC.
8 Steven Nzonzi
Fans may remember Steven Nzonzi from his days in the English Premier League when he played for Stoke City, as he was a useful midfielder for starter squads back in the day. Nzonzi has been absent since he left Roma in 2021, and he signed for Qatari club Al-Rayyan.
Despite the growth of the Qatari league and, of course, Qatar's hosting of the latest World Cup, the league is still missing from FIFA and therefore so is Nzonzi. He is still just 34 and maybe could be used as an experienced head to sign in career mode, But gamers will have to look elsewhere for this.
7 Endrick
Football Manager 23 fans will recognize this name, as he is one of the best 'wonderkids' to sign on that game, but if gamers want to replicate this in FIFA 23, they will be in for a shock.
Endrick plays for Palmeiras in Brazil, and the club is in the game, but due to licensing issues, they have no real players in their squad. Gamers will not have to wait too long as Endrick has agreed on a transfer to Real Madrid in July 2024 so, in a later edition fo EA Sports FC, he will be a Galactico and be able to use along with Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo.
6 Arturo Vidal
Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal has played for some of the best clubs in the world, such as Bayern Munich, Juventus and Barcelona, but he has left the top five leagues behind and moved to Flamengo in Brazil.
Flamengo is available in FIFA 23, but just like so many other players, he is missing and instead replaced with a faceless name due to the Brazilian League's lack of licensing. Vidal was a great midfielder to use on FIFA as he was fantastic going forward in attack but also solid at defending - the perfect box-to-box midfielder.
5 Marcelo
Marcelo was always one of the best left backs to use across the FIFAs - an amazing attacking fullback, opposition defenders would be left for dead with his crossing and superb dribbling.
When he left Real Madrid in the summer, he originally signed for Olympiacos, a Greek club who are in FIFA as part of the rest of the world section. But, he has since left Greece and signed for Fluminense in his native Brazil. Just like with Flamengo and Palmeiras, they are in FIFA, but with no faces, so Marcelo has been removed from FIFA with his move home.
4 André-Pierre Gignac
Remembered by fans as an absolute goal-scoring machine for Tigres in Mexico, it seemed like Gignac got an inform card every week in FIFA Ultimate Team. But, with this latest edition of the game, the Mexican League, the Liga MX was removed, again due to a loss of licensing.
André-Pierre Gignac and many others in the league are missing. It's a real shame as it just makes the game feel incomplete. Hopefully, in EA Sports FC, there are more leagues available and players like Gignac don't miss out.
3 Miguel Layún
Despite the Liga MX being unavailable, the Mexican National Team are there, and any players who play in Mexico are available through their country. But fan favorite attacking fullback Layun is still missing as the 34-year-old has retired from national duty leaving him absent in FIFA 23.
Although Layun is gone, players such as Jesus Gallardo, Henry Martin and Uriel Antuna are available through the Mexico team. Players who play in Mexico aren't entirely lost.
2 Malcom
Due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, all its clubs and national teams were removed from FIFA 22, and it has remained that way in FIFA 23. This meant that all its players were removed as well, such a former Barcelona winger Malcom.
Malcom plays for Zenit St. Petersburg, even before the full removal of the Russian League, this club was missing, again, due to licensing. EA need to sort it out when it comes to licensing, as massive clubs in Italy such as AS Roma, Atalanta and Lazio are not properly licensed, which is a real shame.
1 Quincy Promes
Dutch winger Quincy Promes was always a useful winger - quick, with an eye for goal. He was remembered on FIFA for his spells with Sevilla and Ajax. Promes now plays for Spartak Moscow, over in Russia, which is completely missing from FIFA 23.
He has not played for the Netherlands national team since 2021, so any hope of using Promes as the Netherlands is squashed too. EA must get their act together from next season and reclaim the unlicensed teams to make their game the best soccer game on the market. FIFA 23 is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.