FIFA 23 World Cup Hero Wishlist
David Villa
It is absolutely criminal how this man has not been given an Icon card yet.
One of the mainstays of Spain's Golden generation and scoring in the Quarter Finals of the 2010 World Cup.
There are, however, rumours that he will be given an Icon card for FIFA 23, if not he should at least get a hero card!
Carlos Valderrama
Carlos Valderrama is one of Colombia's most well known players and will go down in history due to his perm.
He will never be a World Cup hero due to his performances but will be regarded more as a World Cup 'cult' hero.
Colombia never progressed from their group at Italia '90 but the fact he had an Icon card in the past means he's always got a chance!
Lilian Thuram
Thuram will go down in French history for his performance in the semi-finals of World Cup '98.
Early on in the second half, Thuram was caught out of position letting Davor Šuker in on goal to make it 1-0.
A minute later Thuram atoned for his error with an equaliser.
He then went on to seal his place in the history books by scoring a screamer and putting Fran 2-1 up, they went on to lift the trophy beating Brazil in the final.
Saeed Al-Owairan
Al-Owairan won 75 Caps for his country and 588 appearances for Al-Shabab.
He achieved international fame at the World Cup of 1994, in which he scored a stunning individual goal against Belgium, The goal sent Saudi Arabia through to the second round of the World Cup. The same year he was named as Asian Footballer of the Year.
Despite interest from European clubs, he was unable to leave the country due to a national law preventing Saudi footballers from playing abroad.
Gordon Banks
Gordon Banks will fondly be remembered in England for his part in the 1966 World Cup.
It was during the 1970 World Cup against Brazil that he would go down in folklore.
A cross came in and Pelé rose higher than any other player to head home what seemed a certain goal. Banks made a save referred to by many as 'the greatest ever'.
Despite his heroics, Brazil would go on to win the match 1-0.
Gabriel Batistuta
Batistuta was nicknamed Batigol and is regarded as one of the most deadly strikers of all time, in 1999, Batistuta placed third for the FIFA World Player of the Year award.
During World Cup '98 the game against Jamaica, he recorded the second hat-trick of his World Cup career, becoming the fourth player to achieve this and the first to score a hat-trick in two different World Cups.
Roger Milla
At the age of 36, Milla celebrated his international retirement.
In 1990, he received a phone call from the President of Cameroon, who pleaded with him to come out of international retirement and rejoin the national team. He agreed, and went to Italy for the 1990 World Cup.
He scored four goals. Two against Romania and two more in extra time against Colombia in the last 16 to carry Cameroon to the quarter-finals, the furthest an African team had ever advanced at the World Cup. In the quarter-final match against England, Milla confirmed his legend being subbed on in the second half, Cameroon trailing 1–0 he won a penalty and then set up a goal for Ekeke to give Cameroon a 2–1 lead, England later scored two penalties, to win 3–2 after extra time.
Jose Nasazzi
Nasazzi is regarded by many as Urugauys greatest ever player. Affectionately known as "El Gran Mariscal" (The Great Marshal). He won the gold medal at the 1924 and 1928 Olympic Games, as well as the South American Championship in 1923, 1924 and 1926.
After defeating Peru and Romania in the first round, Uruguay defeated the Yugoslavia 6-1 in the semi-finals to set up a final against Argentina. Although his team were 2-1 behind at half-time, José Nasazzi rallied his teammates in the second half, leading them to a famous
4-2 victory and making himself the first captain to lift the Jules Rimet Trophy.
Bobby Charlton
Bobby Charlton is touted as one of the greatest players of all time, he was a member of the England team that won the 1966 FIFA World Cup, the year he also won the Ballon d'Or.
England defeated Argentina 1–0. The game was the only international match in which Charlton received a caution. They faced Portugal in the semi-finals. This turned out to be one of Charlton's most important games for England.
Charlton opened the scoring with a side-footed finish after a run by Roger Hunt had forced the Portuguese goalkeeper off his goal line, his second was a sweetly struck shot after a run and pull-back from Geoff Hurst.
A final against West Germany beckoned, the rest is history.
Jairzinho
Jairzinho was known for his eye for goal, a quick and nimble winger.
Nicknamed 'The Hurricane'
At the 1970 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, Jairzinho was one of stars of the tournament. He made history by scoring in every game Brazil played. His second goal vs Czechoslovakia was one of the goals of the tournament, completing an incredible solo run, beating 3 or 4 players, which goes down as one of the most memorable goals in World Cup history.
He scored his seventh goal of the tournament in Brazil's 4–1 world cup win over Italy in the final.
Oliver Kahn
He is regarded as one of the greatest and most successful goalkeepers of all-time. His commanding presence in goal and aggressive style earned him nicknames such as Der Titan.
Kahn was Germany's number 1 for the majority of the time between 1994-2006.
In the 2002 World Cup, Germany were not among the tournament favourites but Kahn's performances in goal were key to reaching the final, where Germany lost 0–2 to Brazil.
Even though Kahn made a mistake for Brazil's first goal, he still received the Golden Ball as player of the tournament.
Diego Forlan
Regarded as one of the best forwards of his generation, Forlán is a two-time winner of both the Pichichi Trophy and the European Golden Shoe at club level.
With the Uruguay national team, he had huge individual success at the 2010 World Cup, finishing as joint top scorer with five goals, including the goal of the tournament, team of the tournament and winning the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player.
