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0A New Elite Evolution Has Arrived in FC 26 Ultimate Team - Marcus Rashford, Marmoush
Ryan Holding
- Marcus Rashford — Evolved Attacker Review
- David Neres — Evolved Playmaker-Finisher Hybrid
- Which Player Fits Your Playstyle?
- Claudia Pina's Replacement?
EA Sports has just dropped a brand-new evolution in FC 26 Ultimate Team, and the community is already calling it one of the most impactful upgrades released so far this year. Unlike older evolutions that offered a minor boost, this new upgrade changes everything from skill moves and weak foot all the way to positional flexibility and high-value playstyles. The fact that this evolution turns wingers into viable strikers means the meta could shift dramatically, as players now have more options to customize their attacking structure based on pace, movement, and preferred finishing style.
What makes this evolution truly exciting is how well it aligns with the current gameplay environment. The increase in responsiveness, tighter control mechanics, and newly improved finishing animations heavily favor attackers who are both fast and technically gifted. With upgrades including Low Driven Shot+, Finesse Shot, Technical, Winger++, and Tiki Taka, this evolution doesn’t just raise numbers; it transforms animation quality and consistency. The addition of weak foot and skill move improvements also means these evolved cards become unpredictable threats, capable of scoring and creating from any angle.
Marcus Rashford — Evolved Attacker Review
Marcus Rashford has always been a dangerous forward in FC cycles, but with this evolution applied, he becomes a high-impact finisher with elite movement and explosive speed. His upgraded 87 pace makes him terrifying on counters and through-ball scenarios, giving him the ability to stretch defenses and break away from even top-tier center-backs. The 89 shooting is the most important part of the upgrade, transforming him from a streaky goal-scorer into a consistent finisher capable of converting both high-pressure chances and low-angle opportunities. His 77 passing means he can link play well enough for combo attacks, while 86 dribbling ensures he feels smooth and responsive when turning or bursting forward in tight gaps.
Where Rashford becomes truly meta is the combination of his physical frame and upgraded attributes. With 80 physical, defenders cannot bully him off the ball easily, especially when using sprint-cancel mechanics or shielding during build-up. His upgraded 5★ skill moves and 4★ weak foot allow him to vary his attack patterns, making him unpredictable in 1v1 scenarios. Most importantly, the inclusion of Low Driven Shot+ means he now has one of the most reliable finishing options in FC 26, especially in tight angles inside the penalty box. In a meta where goalkeepers are reading timed finesse and power strikes better than ever, having a striker who can fire clinical low finishes into the corners is game-changing. Rashford in this evolution becomes a true pace-powered finisher that fits perfectly into counter-attack, direct passing, and fast build-up systems.
David Neres — Evolved Playmaker-Finisher Hybrid
David Neres is the complete opposite archetype of Rashford, yet just as exciting depending on your playstyle. With this evolution, he becomes a silky, elegant attacker capable of controlling tempo, manipulating defensive lines, and creating high-quality scoring chances through dribbling and close-control patterns. His 89 pace ensures he is explosive enough to break through high lines, while the 87 shooting boost now gives him reliable finishing ability from both power strikes and placed attempts. The 78 passing upgrade improves his contribution as a connector, especially during triangle combinations and tiki-taka sequences. His 88 dribbling is the standout attribute, and with Technical and Winger++ playstyles active, he becomes one of the smoothest attackers to use in tight spaces.
What elevates Neres is how well the upgraded playstyles complement his base animations. The evolution’s Low Driven Shot+ gives him lethal finishing inside the box, especially after beating a defender with a step-over, ball-roll, or explosive directional sprint. His 50 defending doesn’t matter given his role, but the 66 physical indicates he’s more agile than strong, a dribbler’s profile rather than a power runner. With 5★ skill moves and 4★ weak foot, he becomes unpredictable on the ball, and defenders cannot simply show him to one side. This version of Neres becomes an ideal card for players who rely on possession football, skill-based chance creation, and controlled buildup rather than pure straight-line pace. If you enjoy expressive attacking football and value movement variety over raw force, Neres becomes a top-tier evo choice.
Omar Marmoush — The Unexpected Sleeper Evolution
While Rashford and Neres steal attention early, one of the biggest surprises of this evolution batch is Omar Marmoush. His evolved 89 pace immediately makes him relevant in the meta, and the responsiveness he gains makes him feel faster than the number suggests. He accelerates sharply through defensive gaps and maintains control while sprinting thanks to his upgraded 87 dribbling, which gives him fluid animations and smooth transitions during movement.
Where Marmoush stands out is the evolution of his finishing profile. With 88 shooting, he finally feels dangerous inside the box, converting power strikes, rebounds, and quick-trigger finishes with far better consistency. His 76 passing gives him enough quality to operate in linkup play without disrupting attacking rhythm, while the physical upgrade to 73 helps him withstand shoulder-to-shoulder contact better than expected. His upgraded animations, combined with Low Driven Shot+, give him a reliable finishing route even against well-positioned goalkeepers.
Marmoush may not be the biggest name in this evolution group, but he plays far better than his rating suggests. He works perfectly for aggressive press systems, counterattacks, and fast attacking patterns making him one of the most underrated rewards from this upgrade path.
Which Player Fits Your Playstyle?
Choosing between Rashford, Marmoush, and Neres largely comes down to how you play. Rashford is built for players who love pace, physicality, and fast transitions, someone who wants their attacker to outrun and overpower defenders while scoring consistently with low-driven finishes. Neres caters to players who value flair, finesse, and unpredictable attack patterns, someone who wants a winger-style striker who can dribble, create, and beat defenders with movement rather than speed alone. Marmoush becomes the balanced wildcard, with good pace, good finishing, and a surprisingly strong all-round striker option for hybrid squads.
All 3 players benefit massively from the evolution’s playstyle upgrades, making them competitive even against promo cards. The fact that either one can become a viable striker means this evolution will likely shape weekend league squads for weeks to come. You can also evolve any player of your choosing that fits that criteria.
Claudia Pina's Replacement?
This new evolution feels like one of the most exciting additions to FC 26 Ultimate Team so far. By combining key attribute boosts with animation-changing playstyles and positional upgrades, EA has created a system that rewards smart squad building and long-term planning. Rashford, Marmoush, and Neres are just the beginning, and if this is the evolution standard moving forward, the meta is about to get extremely interesting.
More evolution reviews, meta squad builds, and early game optimizations are coming, so stay tuned.
We will share more updates on FC 26 in separate articles. If you found this information helpful or would like to learn more, please explore the other articles on our site.
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