FIFA 23 Ultimate Team: Best cheap players for a starter team
By Tom Gott
The early days of Ultimate Team can be rough. Coins are sparse and you're a long way from tearing defences apart with Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.
You can try and save up early on, but you'll need a competitive squad to start winning games and push yourself towards the big money.
Here are some bargains to look at for your FIFA 23 starter team.
1. Adama Traore
An obvious place to begin, Adama Traore is an eternally terrifying card.
96 pace and 86 dribbling on a player who can play on either wing should make Traore a candidate for any team, and that's before you factor in his 89 strength.
His shooting and passing leave a little to be desired, so if you do include him, make sure you surround him with the right players.
2. Beto
Erling Haaland will be a popular striker a little futher down the line, but for now, why not take a look at Beto?
Playing in Serie A with Udinese, the 6'4 striker is only 79 overall and obviously can't match up to Haaland's stats, but he comes incredibly close - 87 pace, 81 physical and 79 shooting - and will be great practice for anyone looking to prepare themselves for a run at the Manchester City man.
Beto's card is non-rare, so you know he is going to be dirt cheap. Don't underestimate how good he could be early on.
3. Karim Adeyemi
Now playing with Borussia Dortmund, Karim Adeyemi is in one of the most useable leagues on the game.
The 75-rated striker excels in everything you want from your starter striker, with 93 pace and 76 shooting, and there are so many players you can link him to with ease.
For example...
4. Sheraldo Becker
A base-card striker who can be changed to a right midfielder, Sheraldo Becker is a must-have for any Bundesliga side.
With 95 pace, 77 dribbling and 75 shooting, the Union Berlin forward looks capable of being a real menace anywhere on the pitch.
Linking with him isn't the easiest, given he is the only gold player from his nation of Suriname, but he will slot into a Bundesliga attack without any problems.
5. Kim Min-jae
At the back, new Napoli centre-back Kim Min-jae looks like a perfect centre-back.
While his South Korean nationality makes building a hybrid pretty tough, the 79-overall, 6'3 mountain can be part of an elite Serie A defence early on in the game's cycle.
With medium/high work rates, 80 pace, 84 physical and 79 defending, Kim looks like the definition of a cheap best.
6. Lucas Paqueta
Now in the Premier League, Lucas Paqueta is a well-rounded CAM who looks like a major threat.
He's an excellent passer, shooter and dribbler, and his combination of 5* skills and 4* weak foot will make Paqueta a whole lot of fun to play with.
In the English top flight and with Brazilian nationality, Paqueta should be easy to link into any squad, whether you want to keep it simple in the Premier League or spread across into a different league.
7. Ryan Gravenberch
Ryan Gravenberch swapped Ajax for Bayern Munich in the summer, opening up a whole new world of Ultimate Team possibilities.
Having been compared to Paul Pogba for a long time, Gravenberch's stats should come as no surprise. He's well-rounded and surprisingly agile for a 6'3 structure, so you can play him anywhere in midfield.
Add to the fun his 4* skills and 4* weak foot, and there's not a whole lot Gravenberch won't be able to do.
8. Inaki Williams
Another long-time favourite on Ultimate Team, Inaki Williams can cause problems for any defender.
His 94 pace is unmatchable, but even if somebody catches him, Williams' 83 strength should be enough to keep him on the ball and steer him through on goal.
If you prefer a crossing game, Williams stands at 6'1 and boasts 89 jumping, so he's someone you'll want on your team.
9. Gregor Kobel
Finding the right goalkeeper is one of the toughest parts of building any team, but Dortmund's Gregor Kobel looks like as safe a bet as they come.
At 6'5 and with 88 reflexes, he's likely to be an absolute nightmare to get past, bringing back flashbacks of Jack Butland and Ralf Fahrmann from years gone by.
As a bonus, Newcastle's Nick Pope has similar stats and should be your go-to if you're building a Premier League defence.
10. Ronald Araujo
Finishing off, we have Barcelona centre-back Ronald Araujo.
His 77 pace is a little slower than many expected but still more than good enough for a centre-back, and he also has 83 defending and 83 physical to go along with his 6'4 frame.
Importantly, Araujo's medium/high work rates mean he'll be focused solely on defending, so he doesn't need that lightning quick pace to get back, but the right chemistry style can give you a boost there if you need one.