Kieran Trippier rated Best Magpie on FIFA 23, three-way tie for second

The leaks are starting to pup our timelines, so we had to take proper action and let you know about them. The account by the handle of @HHMHipHopMagnum shared some intel about the upcoming—and last—edition of EA Sport’s series FIFA 23 in which he showed the ratings of every Newcastle United player.

With the screenshots not including Alexander Isak nor Loris Karius and featuring Martin Dubravka still as a Magpie, it is fair to assume that they come from an early version of the game with a pre-deadline roster still to be updated in time for the final release of the game.

The lads building FIFA 23 squads decided that England international and Magpie Legend Kieran Trippier is the best active player on Newcastle United roster, rating him at a smooth 84 OVR. That’s far from the best player in the game—there are five players tied at a game-high 91 OVR—but it’s also nearing the top-23 officially released ratings to date with PSG defender Marquinhos the lowest-rated player at 88 OVR.

Three players from Newcastle are tied at the second-highest rating (81) among lads donning Magpies threads these days: Allan Saint-Maximin, Bruno Guimaraes, and summer-signee Nick Pope. Another player signed this summer, Sven Botman joins those three with the only other 80+ OVR rating ahead of the release of FIFA 23.

Or does he? Turns out, there was a surprise in store for the Geordie folk!

That comes by the way of Alexander Isak’s omission in the leaked screens, with the new no. 14 of Newcastle clocking in second OVR with a rating of 82. Or at least that’s what Twitter user @Bradders4711 leaked himself in the past few days.

As a final note, I must say that it is rather encouraging to find Newcastle getting some love with six players expected to break the 80 OVR barrier. Further updates to the roster before the game gets released and through the season should see that number go up and maybe into double digits. Callum Wilson (79) fell just one point short of that mark, Miguel Almirón’s sitting at 78, Dan Burn’s 77 is close enough, and it makes no sense for Joelinton to have a mediocre 75 rating this season.

Also: fix Elliot Anderson, FIFA. Please, and thank you.