World Football

The highest-rated player in FIFA 23 is Alexia Putellas.

The FC Barcelona star received a rating of 92 overall in the first edition of EA Sports' flagship soccer title to feature women's club teams.

No man received a higher rating than 91 on official rosters previously released.

Putellas is the reigning Ballon d'Or Féminin and Best FIFA Women's Player, emerging on both the international and club levels as the best women's soccer player in the world. The Spaniard narrowly eclipsed Sam Kerr, Wendie Renard and Ada Hegerberg, who each come in rated at 91.

FIFA 23 marks the first time women's club soccer has been included in the game, although Putellas' Barcelona team won't feature as only England and France's top divisions are available so far. Putellas will be available for the Spanish national team, however.

Women's soccer was first available in FIFA 16 but was limited to international teams.

EA Sports' latest iteration of the renowned game releases Sept. 30. It will mark the final release under the FIFA banner before the game is renamed EA Sports FC.

Head coach Gregg Berhalter was the focus of intense criticism as the United States men's national team suffered a 2-0 loss to Japan on Friday in one of its final warm-up matches ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Daichi Kamada and Kaoru Mitoma scored for the Japanese side, as the USMNT struggled mightily to generate any consistent attacking pressure inside Merkur Spiel-Arena in Düsseldorf, Germany.

The United States' use of Aaron Long and Walker Zimmerman as the center-back tandem in the first half failed to pay dividends, as it couldn't to build out of the back against a high press, and Japan continued to control the pace of play throughout a majority of the second 45 minutes.

Here's a look at some reaction to the performance from social media:

The squad fielded by Berhalter on Friday wasn't the one that'll likely take the pitch when the USMNT opens the World Cup in November, including star Christian Pulisic being a late scratch from the matchday squad with an injury picked up in training.

That said, it was still an uninspired performance that raises further questions about whether the Americans are trending in a positive direction with just two months until Qatar.

It also brings the continued international absence of central defender John Brooks, who recently made his debut for Portuguese club Benfica, back into the spotlight as the U.S. works unsuccessfully to find the anchors for its back line.

Berhalter and Co. will get another chance to showcase some semblance of progress Tuesday when they face Saudi Arabia in a friendly at Estadio Nueva Condomina in Murcia, Spain.

Another lackluster outing in the last preparation match before the World Cup would raise serious doubts about the team's outlook as players return to their clubs next week.

Set to release on September 27, 2022, FIFA 23 is fast-approaching. Less fast, however, are the game's top two players: Karim Benzema and Robert Lewandowski.

The first FIFA to release since Real Madrid's UEFA Champions League trophy and the last before the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Benzema's place at No. 1 in the game's player ratings is a fitting one. His club won the most recent Champions League, and his home country, France, won the most recent World Cup.

Each rated at 91, EA Sports give the two strikers the edge atop their rankings despite slower sprint speeds (both at 80 or under) and tied overall ratings with three other superstars: Kylian Mbappé, Kevin De Bruyne and Lionel Messi. Although, if English Premier League play had not paused, perhaps Erling Haaland's relentless goalscoring pace may have pushed him above them all.

While club football is paused for the international break, fans will be able to get their fix virtually. FIFA 23's release means a return to simulated soccer, but with some exciting advancements over the last title.

At the core of the new game, EA has been marketing a new HyperMotion2 technology—which calls upon more motion-captured animations than ever and a machine-learning system to enhance and continually revamp gameplay.

Another exciting core addition is the insistence on full crossplay, which should improve matchmaking and expand the FIFA Ultimate Team marketplace. Interestingly, HyperMotion2 will only be available to players on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Stadia and PC, so it remains unclear how games between those users and gamers on PS4 and Xbox One will shake out.

Regardless, all players will be able to get in the action against each other for the first (and last) time in FIFA history (before the title switch to EA Sports FC).

All players will also be able to enjoy the silliest addition in recent memory: Ted Lasso and his AFC Richmond club. After the hit show won an Emmy and Lasso's actor himself, Jason Sudeikis, won a Golden Globe, he and the club have officially won a place in FIFA 23's talent pool. There is word yet on how highly their fictional stars—Jamie Tartt, Roy Kent and Sam Obisanya—will be rated.

Last but not least, there should be some new features implemented here and there, but the game's roster isn't solely being expanded by television talent. In another FIFA first, FIFA 23 will be the first in the series to feature women's club football as well.

So, when players load in on September 27, they'll be opening the doors to England's Women's Super League and France's Division 1 Féminine—alongside the national teams and clubs that fans have come to expect from the franchise.

The Spain women's national football team saw 15 players resign in protest of head coach Jorge Vilda remaining in his position, via Sean Walsh of 90Min.

The Real Federación Española de Fútbol confirmed it received 15 emails from players, all with the same wording, noting the situation has "significantly" affected their "emotional state." The federation also indicated it will not make a change despite the resignations:

The RFEF is not going to allow the players to question the continuity of the national coach and his coaching staff , since making those decisions does not fall within their powers. The Federation will not admit any type of pressure from any player when adopting sports measures. These types of manoeuvres are far from exemplary and outside the values ​​of football and sport and are harmful.

Vilda has been Spain's head coach since 2015, and his contract was extended through 2024 in June.

The 41-year-old has failed to live up to expectations during this time, however, even with the team currently No. 8 in the world rankings.

Spain lost in the quarterfinals at the last two European championships, including this past summer at Euro 2022 when many considered the squad to be a favorite in the tournament. The team also lost in the round of 16 at the 2019 World Cup and failed to qualify for the last two Olympic tournaments.

Heading into the 2023 World Cup, there are clear questions about the team's leadership.

A report from El Confidencial (h/t GiveMeSport's Nancy Gillen) initially said the team's leaders called for Vilda's removal in August, although Irene Paredes clarified that they simply voiced complaints from the players.

"We are an ambitious team and people want to improve and win," Paredes said. "We believe that there are several internal aspects that need to be improved. We all would have liked the conversation to have stayed inside, but it has been leaked. What it is about is being brave and saying things, even if they are not pleasant and they change. And that’s what we’ve done."

The mass resignation indicates the level of upheaval Spain is currently dealing with.

The team is scheduled to face Sweden and the United States in a pair of friendlies in October.

The United States men's national team has just under two months until its first game at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Manager Gregg Berhalter still has a handful of vital decisions to make when it comes to his roster for the finals in Qatar, which start on Nov. 20.

Most importantly, he needs to find a striker he trusts to find the back of the net.

Berhalter will use Friday's friendly against Japan to further evaluate Josh Sargent, Jesus Ferreira and Ricardo Pepi. The first two come into the USMNT's European camp in good form, and Pepi has hit the ground running since joining FC Groningen on loan from FC Augsburg.

Most of the focus Friday will be centered on the play of the forwards, but other positions are still up for grabs as well.

Berhalter must finalize who will start in goal and which depth players will join the squad in Qatar. He will use Friday's match against Japan and Tuesday's clash with Saudi Arabia to get answers to those questions.

USMNT vs. Japan Info

Date: Friday, September 23

Start Time: 8:25 a.m. ET

TV: ESPN2

Live Stream: ESPN.com and ESPN app

Top Storylines to Watch

Which Player Takes Hold of Starting Striker Spot?

Sargent, Ferreira and Pepi were the three strikers called into the September camp.

There was plenty of deliberation as to whether Jordan Pefok should be a part of that group as well. The 26-year-old is off to a great start at Union Berlin with three goals and three assists that have helped his team to the top of the Bundesliga.

Instead, Berhalter opted to go with three forwards who have been used in his system for most of the last two years.

Ferreira has scored 18 goals with FC Dallas in Major League Soccer and has five for the USMNT this year, though four of them came against Grenada in the CONCACAF Nations League.

Sargent has five international goals, but he has not found the back of the net at this level since 2019. The hope here is that his form at Norwich City turns into a strong camp.

The 22-year-old has scored six goals in 10 league games for the English Championship side.

Pepi made an ill-advised transfer from FC Dallas to Augsburg at the height of his hype nine months ago after scoring three goals in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.

The 19-year-old failed to make an impact at Augsburg, but he did produce a goal and an assist for Groningen in the Netherlands following a loan move.

Ferreira and Sargent are in strong form and Pepi regained some confidence before the international break, but all three are imperfect options at the international level.

Berhalter seems committed to taking those three players to Qatar, so at least one of them needs to step up and turn in a solid showing against Japan to instill more belief in the forward group.

Berhalter Filling Out Roster Depth at Certain Positions

A case could be made that at least half of the USMNT World Cup roster is already set.

Christian Pulisic, Brenden Aaronson, Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie are locks in midfield. Sergino Dest and Walker Zimmerman are going in defense. Matt Turner and Zack Steffen appear to be on the plane at goalkeeper.

Add in the three forwards called in for the September friendlies and a healthy Gio Reyna, and you don't have many more roster spots up for grabs in the coming weeks.

Friday's friendly against Japan should serve as a chance for fringe World Cup players to prove their case to Berhalter and his coaching staff before they lock in on a 23-man squad.

There are opportunities at center back with Miles Robinson still out because of a long-term injury, John Brooks not in the picture and Cameron Carter-Vickers not in this camp.

Mark McKenzie, Aaron Long and Erik Palmer-Brown are the candidates to start next to Zimmerman. Whichever one of those players earns the nod could put himself ahead of others for a ticket to Qatar.

Berhalter should also have a close focus on the midfielders. Luca de la Torre, Johnny Cardoso and Malik Tillman are among those fighting for roster spots.

The USMNT manager has to balance the chemistry of his first-choice team and the selection of fringe players for Friday's match. We could see Adams, McKennie, Pulisic and Aaronson on the field for 60 minutes or so before the reserves get their chance to shine.

The match in Dusseldorf, Germany, should be a good test for the USMNT players, no matter what their status is for Qatar.

Japan is preparing for its seventh consecutive World Cup. The Samurai Blue reached the round of 16 in two of the last three World Cups.

Prediction

USMNT 1, Japan 1

The USMNT will get a good test out of Japan after spending most of the year taking on CONCACAF opposition in various competitions.

The Americans beat Morocco by three goals and played to a scoreless draw against Uruguay in two friendlies in June that were outside of the CONCACAF tournament window.

Ferreira, Sargent and Pepi need to stand out, but their recent international track record suggests goals may be hard to come by.

The best chances could come from Pulisic, Aaronson and McKennie. The former could use a confidence-building performance after being on the bench so much at Chelsea early in the English Premier League season.

Japan should create some chances against an American back line that has been susceptible to mistakes this year.

The final score may not matter to Berhalter as long as he can get the proper evaluations on some players with question marks ahead of the World Cup.

The long march to FIFA 23's September 27 release has been quite a bit more compelling than in past years.

Topping the list of intrigue for the juggernaut football franchise is the upcoming name change. After a 30-year run, FIFA next becomes "EA Sports FC" in its next installment.

Not far behind is the news of the spectacular duo of Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappé and Chelsea's Sam Kerr gracing various covers. The latter's regional covers in Australia and New Zealand that are available globally will be the first time a female footballer stands solo on a cover.

Beyond those rather historical points, the usual annual-installment conversations dominate the scene—and in impressive fashion.

FIFA once again leans more heavily into the power of next-generation consoles with this release. Full motion capture shoots of multiple matches and training drills with pro clubs result in more realistic animations and movements than in past games.

That falls under the umbrella of what EA Sports calls the HyperMotion2. So does the inclusion or more variance in how different footballers accelerate when a player hits the sprint button, resulting in different looks based on speed, anatomy and on-pitch situation.

Transitions from dribbling to actual shots get a big overhaul under the new system too, as the game's official website detailed:

"New animations powered by HyperMotion2 allow for more natural transition between controlling the ball and shooting. Combining precision and fluidity, longer high-quality animation creates one continuous motion as players trap the ball, rotate, and strike the ball towards the target."

The result of a shot has been re-tooled too. Boasting new technology that synchs connected players when logical, goalkeeper-header interactions appear to be more fluid as a result.

Corners get a slight rework as well with new camera angles to make things smoother. A new shot mechanic based on putting additional power into the swing presents a risk-reward gamble too, which is sure to be enticing to players while also letting them better emulate some of those huge moments from the biggest of stars.

As for modes, longtime players know the drill.

FIFA Ultimate Team (FUT) rolls out FUT Moments this year, a new mode that lets players take part in condensed challenges for difficulty-based rewards.

A rework of the chemistry system that removes older-feeling restrictions simply means more versatility in how players can create their dream clubs in the seasons-based ecosystem.

Over in the career modes, a new feature that empowers players to jump into pivotal moments of a match during a full-match simulation is a fresh new way to play.

Otherwise, one of the most notable changes happens in the player-based career mode. There, players must now juggle personality points directly tied to performances on the pitch and—more importantly, and fresher than in the past—off the pitch and away from the club, too.

In an interesting twist, FIFA 23 also moves to bring the game modes Pro Clubs and VOLTA FOOTBALL closer together. The former typically encourages co-op simulation gameplay while the latter is very much an arcade experience.

But in a push to better reward players no matter how they choose to link up with friends in either of these season-based modes, FIFA 23 offers shared progression, as explained by a developer diary:

"Now, whether you play VOLTA FOOTBALL (Arcades, Squads, and Battles) or Pro Clubs (Drop-Ins, League, Cup and Friendly Matches), you’ll earn Seasonal Points (SP) that contribute towards unlocking new gear for your Virtual Pro. Seasonal Points earned will contribute to the same Seasonal Event Progression system shared between the two modes. Seasonal Events will continue to function in the same way and at the same (mostly) six-week cadence that they did in VOLTA FOOTBALL for FIFA 22. This means every Season, there will be new content dropping for you to earn and unlock for both your Pro Clubs, and VOLTA Avatars."

This is a rather critical upgrade for players, as one won't feel compelled to play one game mode or the other during the time crunch of a season in order to unlock goodies for their avatar.

While that is simply a minor-seeming quality-of-life change, those are the sorts of advances a game with a superb foundation can add on in annual releases to welcome an even broader audience.

That's something FIFA 23 and the series as a whole have earned too, given the wealth of upgrades and progression offered in the upcoming release.

Barcelona said in a statement released Wednesday that it is "studying the legal measures that need to be taken" after El Mundo leaked details of contract negotiations that took place between the club and superstar forward Lionel Messi in 2020, per ESPN's Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens.

The full statement read:

In relation to the information published in El Mundo under the title 'Barca Leaks, the club's secret files', Barcelona express indignation at the intentional leaking of information that is part of a legal process.

The club regrets that the media in question boasts of having 'access to a huge number of documents and emails that are part of the Barcagate investigation' when this information is yet to be shared.

In any case, the article in question makes public documents that have nothing to do with the ongoing case and their use is an affront to the reputation and confidentiality of the club. For that reason, and with the aim of protecting Barcelona's rights, the club's legal department are studying the legal measures that need to be taken.

Per El Mundo's report, Messi wanted to reduce his buyout clause to just €10,000 ($9,849), wanted guarantees the club would pay him his deferred wages, desired a three-year deal that included a €10 million signing bonus and a player option for a fourth season in 2024 and other considerations, including private boxes for both his and Luis Suarez's family at Camp Nou.

Messi reportedly would have taken a 20 percent pay cut on his €70 million annual salary but wanted to be paid back that sum with interest in the future.

He ultimately signed with Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer in 2021. Despite agreeing to terms with new club president Joan Laporta, Barcelona's financial woes made them unable to register the agreement with La Liga.

El Mundo became privy to Messi's previous contract requests in negotiations with Barcelona after reportedly obtaining emails that police had gathered during an investigation into the club. Messi himself is not being investigated.

Per ESPN's report, "Barcagate is an ongoing legal case relating to third-party payments, breaching internal protocols and smear campaigns against club legends involving the previous president Josep Maria Bartomeu and his board of directors."

After an executive for KFC France threatened legal action against Kylian Mbappé and the French Football Federation, the company released a statement countering those comments.

"KFC France regrets the words that were spoken yesterday and reported in the media this morning. These are personal opinions, but in no way reflect the position of the company," it said in a statement to Reuters.

Mbappé, one of France's biggest stars, refused to participate in a team photo shoot because he didn't want to endorse some products that had contracts with the national team, including fast food chains and betting companies.

Vice president of KFC France Alain Beral indicated the decision could be considered a breach of contract.

"We have paid for something clear. If necessary, we will assert our rights," Beral said.

The company has since distanced itself from these comments.

"KFC France also wishes to clarify that Alain Beral did not speak on behalf of the company, but in the context of a private conversation during an event related to his functions as president of the National Basketball League," the statement said.

The France Football Federation has also announced it could alter its policy after Mbappé complained about its "refusal to change the image rights agreement with the players."

"The FFF has undertaken to revise, as soon as possible, the agreement on image rights that binds it to its national team players," the organization said in a statement.

France will need Mbappé in order to compete for another FIFA Men's World Cup title this year after he helped bring home the 2018 trophy with four goals in seven matches.

The 23-year-old should be in France's lineup as it hosts Austria on Thursday in Nations League action.

Cristiano Ronaldo plans to continue his international career with Portugal beyond the 2022 World Cup.

"It has been a long road, but I would like to say that my road is not over yet," Ronaldo said Tuesday, per Adriana Garcia of ESPN.

The 37-year-old is the all-time men's leading scorer in international play, tallying 117 goals in 189 appearances. He helped the team win the European championship in 2016 and plans to play again at Euro 2024.

"I hope to be part of the Federation for a few more years," he added. "I still feel motivated; my ambition is high. I'm in a team with young people. I want to be part of this World Cup and the European too; I'm going to assume that right away."

Ronaldo is one of the most accomplished athletes of all time with five Champions League titles and five Ballon d'Or honors, although he has certainly slowed down over the past year.

The veteran now comes off the bench for Manchester United and has no goals or assists through six league matches (one start).

Despite his struggles at the club level, Ronaldo remains invaluable for Portugal. The forward led the squad to the 2019 UEFA Nations League title, and he started nine of 10 matches during World Cup qualifying, scoring a team-high six goals.

The squad now heads to Qatar as part of Group H along with Uruguay, Ghana and Korea Republic.

No matter what happens, Ronaldo plans to be back with the team during the next international break preparing for Euro 2024 qualifying, which is set to begin in March 2023.