The ratings in EA Sports FC 26 are meant to capture how players perform in real soccer, but every year, a few names slip through the cracks. These are players who outplay their numbers on the pitch, who make a bigger difference than their cards suggest. They create goals, win key duels, or change games with their playstyle and decision-making, yet their overall ratings do not quite tell the full story.
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Young talents like Arda Güler stepped up for Real Madrid with confidence and skill that don’t match his rating. And Robert Lewandowski, despite being towards the end of his career, still bags goals at a rate that most strikers will envy. Players like these show that soccer isn’t only about headline numbers like goals and assists. Influence, timing, movement, and pressure moments matter too. When all those are considered, it’s clear EA Sports FC 26 has some catching up to do. These players have earned more than what their current ratings show.
Arda Güler
Real Madrid’s Creative Spark Deserves More Recognition
Arda Güler is just 20, but already he’s delivering performances that suggest his FC 26 rating underrates him. His matchup numbers are impressive: shot-creating actions and goal-creating actions put him among the top offensive midfielders over equivalent minutes. There’s no denying that Güler is the primary creative axis for Madrid’s attack in many fixtures.
His Shooting is 77, Vision/Passing scores are high, Dribbling is decent, while Pace is modest. But his real output in goals, assists, and chance creation leans toward what you’d see from many in the mid-80s. Because he does more than just promise, his finishing and composure stats deserve a bump. His positioning (attacking off-ball moves) also deserves more weight. As a creative attacking mid who can also finish, his card should reward both roles.
Robert Lewandowski
Longevity and Output Demand Respect
Robert Lewandowski remains one of the most dependable goal machines in Europe, even as age advances. In recent seasons, he has scored at high volumes across competitions for Barcelona. While some decline is natural, his finishing, positioning, and composure remain top-tier. Many of his peers (forwards rated 89–90) aren't outperforming him in non-penalty goals per 90 in all competitions.
When you look at how often he gets into scoring positions and converts, the stats suggest that his card undervalues that sustained output. His EA FC 26 card gives him strong Shooting and Physical ratings, but his Pace is reduced (unsurprisingly). Yet those weaker pace numbers don’t sufficiently penalize him, given that he still beats defenders via positioning and anticipatory movement. His card would be more accurate if his “finishing under pressure” and perhaps “attacking positioning” attributes were slightly higher.
Claudia Pina
Big Match Performer, Too Often Overlooked
Claudia Pina has already proven she can deliver when the stakes are high. In important cup finals, she’s scored decisive goals. She provides both goals and assists regularly for Barcelona Women and in international games. Her goal contributions per minute are strong compared to many wingers in her class.
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On her EA card, her Shooting, dribbling, and attacking skills are good, but her finishing in tight games, her composure under pressure, and her attack positioning could be stronger. She often times her runs into the box or edges to shoot from distance. Because she not only creates but also finishes and does so reliably in big games, her FC 26 rating should reward that clutch capability. She belongs among wingers in the 88s-89s.
Ademola Lookman
Has The Pace, Dribbling, And Finishing To Be Rated Higher
Lookman has a habit of deciding matches. In Serie A and continental fixtures, he has delivered match-winning goals and assists. He brings direct dribbling, clever movement, and end product. In some matches, he’s as effective as players rated 86–87 or more.
In his EA card, he is good in dribbling and pace, but perhaps undervalued in composure, finishing, and off-ball positioning. In tight moments, he often gets into space and finishes under pressure; something his card should mirror. Given his real influence and consistency across several matches in big leagues, a small upgrade would bring his EA card more in line with what he truly offers.
Salma Paralluelo
Great Finisher, Dribbler, And Runner
Salma Paralluelo, still early in her career, already posts impressive numbers. Her goals and assists per 90 minutes are among the best in her league. She scores in domestic play and in Champions League matches. She blends speed, skill, and finishing ability.
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Her EA card gives her high Pace, decent Shooting, and good physicals. But it probably undercounts her off-ball runs, finishing under pressure, composure, and creative threat. Because she is productive wherever she plays (domestic, European, country), her card should reflect that consistent output.
Alejandro Balde
Speed + Attack + Defense In One
Alejandro Balde combines elite speed, attacking support, and defensive work. On his current EA card, his Pace is often among the top for defenders. But his crossing, defensive awareness, interceptions, and stamina deserve growth. He overlaps, delivers crosses, recovers, and contributes in transitional play.
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Many fullbacks rated higher don’t carry that same balance of threat and solidity. If his card rewarded both attacking influence and defensive reliability more equally, his overall would be more respectful of his real role.
Jean-Philippe Mateta
A Striker Who Knows How To Use His Physique
Mateta brings height, strength, aerial presence, and finishing ability. In recent seasons, he’s scored enough to attract national team attention. Many defenders struggle against him because he’s tall and good with headers, holds the ball, and finishes clinically inside the box. In fact, for someone not playing in the “Big Six” Premier League teams, his goals have consistently matched strikers from those teams.
His EA card gives him good physical and shooting attributes, but his heading, positioning inside the box, and composure under pressure likely lag the real version. Given that he already delivers real goals and strong forward presence, raising those specific traits would better capture his true profile.
Olivia Smith
One Of The Most Promising Young Talents In Women’s Soccer
Olivia Smith made headlines when Arsenal signed her for £1 million, marking a new high in women’s soccer transfers. In her debut for Arsenal, she scored a stunning goal right away in a 4–1 win and was named player of the match. Previously, at Liverpool, she was the top scorer in her team in her first WSL season despite not always being in the dominant club.
Smith’s versatility lets her play both striker and wing roles. That gives her extra value. She doesn’t just finish: she links play, uses pace, and causes defenders to shift. Her EA card is currently modest (79 overall). But given her scoring output at a young age, she should have a card that better reflects her potential and immediate impact.
Jeremy Doku
Elite Dribbler And Speedster
Jeremy Doku stands out in the 2024-25 season for how often he tries to beat defenders with dribbles. He completed 15 take-ons in a single Premier League game against Liverpool. That matched, or was close to matching, some of the highest numbers any winger had in any match. He also led carry distance: “furthest progressive distance carried” among players was 909.7 meters.
Skillful players like Dembélé, Vinícius Jr., and Mbappe often get higher dribbling stats in FC 26. But Doku has more completed take-ons (in specific games and across the season) than many of them. He also generates a high number of chances in open play, especially when using progressive dribbles. Doku should be moved higher than his current rating (somewhere around 80) to maybe 83–84. The attributes to raise include Dribbling, Agility, Ball Control, and Composure. That would better match how often he creates danger by dribbling, not just sprinting.
Marc Cucurella
Fullback Doing More Than Defense
Marc Cucurella’s 2024-25 season shows he’s more than just a defender who stays back. Passing and ball circulation are strong points: He completed about 1,454 passes in the season. His pass completion rate is high: about 88-89% in most matches.
Also, his go-forward runs, overlapping runs, and ability to support attacks make him dangerous. Even though his crossing success might not always be perfect, his attacking awareness and positioning help create chances. Defensively, he also contributes: tackles, interceptions, clearances, and duels won are consistently solid.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 83%
- Released
- September 26, 2025
- ESRB
- Everyone / In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items), Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- EA Vancouver, EA Romania
- Publisher(s)
- EA
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Sports
