FIFA 23 Thiago Rulebreakers Player Review

Rulebreakers Team 2 entered the fray this past weekend with a few noteworthy additions that could put some squads over the top with the added quality.  Our community poll over on Twitter suggested heavy interest in Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcântara.

It came as no surprise that Thiago was popular choice given the massive +24 Pace and +12 Shooting boosts added to his already solid dribbling and passing statistics.

Truthfully at times this card operated eerily similar to the man himself playing in the Liverpool midfield. One of the few reds whose performances have been of a standard fit to wear the shirt. And thankfully his pixelated version only needs a healing card and is good to go again the next match.

It is worth pointing out that throughout the 15 matches of this review I solely used Thiago as the box to box midfielder in my 4-2-2-2 formation. But since then I have used the Spanish technician as a LAM competing in Div Rivals.

In both cases the need for a SHADOW chemistry style was clear and certainly bolstered his defensive contributions to a noteworthy level.

 

Starting Formation

 

In Game Formation

 

 

Overall 

Rating: 9/10

Pace Rating: 9/10

Dribbling Rating: 10/10

Shooting Rating: 8/10

Passing Rating: 10/10

Physical Rating: 7/10

Defending Rating: 8/10

 

This was an enjoyable experience and about 5 minutes into my first match it was clear we had a serious operator in the middle of the park.

There is something incredibly satisfying about watching players with that little bit of finesse in FIFA 23. I find the slightly slower gameplay offers more intricate dribbling opportunities when you have the right card on the other end of the sticks.

Having not really kept track of my midfielders production in the past I am hesitant to say that 7 goals and 2 assists across 15 matches is a fantastic return. But it did come in handy throughout the weekend to have contributions outside of my front two.

 

 

Main Statistics – Dribbling

Dribbling Rating: 10/10

Skills: ★★★★★

Traits: Flair

Height: 174 cm | 5’9

 

I already mentioned how satisfying it was to watch this card boss the midfield… dancing around opponents as if they were standing still.

The 5 STAR SKILLS will make those of you with the real talent happy… while the 87 AGILITY & 87 BALANCE proved plenty enough to left-stick dribble my way out of most situations.

The 89 BALL CONTROL & 86 DRIBBLING performed way above statistics and it was as if Thiago had the ball permanently glued to this foot.

The EXPLOSIVE AcceleRATE was undoubtedly a key factor in this category as well. Intricate and clever dribbling was always rewarded with a detonation of pace out of the dribble. The 99 ACCELERATION was as perfect as it appears on paper… while the 88 SPRINT SPEED helps him mind the gap before finding key passes or an attempt on goal.

 

 

 

Value/Coins

Value/Coins Rating: 5/5

 

370k is a more than fair price for this card.  Just put his statistic minimums into a FUTBIN search and it becomes immediately clear how well-rounded this card truly is.

Well, did you put them in?  If not, I will save you the trouble.  The results are Thiago and two cards not currently available in the game… 93 Ruud Gullit & 96 Zinedine Zidane. Now these cards obviously blow Thiago away in terms of Shooting… but it is impressive company nonetheless.

The position versatility and easy links are worth a small portion of this fee as well.  FIFA 23 has thrown some hiccups in team building strategies and any time you can alleviate some of this is a bonus. 

 

Good vs. Bad 

Good vs Bad Rating: 5/5

 

There is tremendous upside to this card… and just when you think he has produced it all, a clever pass or brilliant finish makes you take note once more.

+ The 8/10 shooting on a card filled with other specialities still feels like a win. The 3 STAR WEAK FOOT and 79 FINISHING were a frustration at times… but there were some highlight reel finishes in key moments to pull my squad forward.

+ The 90 VISION, 93 SHORT PASSING & 91 LONG PASSING were key to making my squad tic this weekend. The congestion in the middle of the pitch with some of the meta tactics is insane… for the most part Thiago was able to navigate this with ease. The move out to LAM has also highlighted his 80 CROSSING, which performs well beyond the number would suggest.

+ Thiago intercepts a ton of passes in the middle of the pitch. It is staggering how often he is in the right position and then does a sort of split-stretch animation to reach those passes he has no business getting a foot on. Extremely effective in defense… the 85 STANDING TACKLE playing a key role in this success.

Many moons ago there was a category in these reviews that rated Strengths and Weaknesses… and there would have been some puns available for this review.

- Despite his interceptions and quality tackles… the 65 STRENGTH has been a problem in both the middle of the pitch and out on the flank as a LAM. It doesn’t affect direct tackles as much, but any type of 50/50 battle is going the way of your opponents.

- Having already discussed shooting I am not going to dive into detail… but it is too bad that the 3 STAR WEAK FOOT isn’t that little bit better.

- While the dribbling and pace are benefitting from Thiago’s height… in those midfield battles it would be better to have a player with more size. The 89 JUMPING proved more farcical than anything up against the likes of 187cm | 6’2 Tchouaméni.

 

 

Closing Words

It is no wonder that this card was so popular on release and with the majority of conversations singing his praises, it is likely going to be prominent for weeks to come.

I have enjoyed playing Thiago as a LAM especially and again speaks to the versatility of this card. I would love to hear how others are deploying Thiago, as there are certainly options available.

One last point regarding this card would be the 80 STAMINA… which was plenty to get Thiago through 90 minutes as a box to box midfielder, but did start to wane in matches heading to injury time. In Div Rivals I have experienced zero issues, but worth a mention regardless.

For me this card was enough to hold onto for an additional run in the squad. As a player who relies heavily on left-stick dribbling this card has been a godsend and a big factor in moving up in rank.

There is just too much upside for too low of a price to ignore him… a must try!