EA SPORTS FC 26 Team of the Year Revealed – Official Squad, Big Omissions, and Why EA Got It Slightly Wrong

The EA SPORTS FC 26 Team of the Year (TOTY) has officially landed, and as expected, it’s one of the most talked-about Ultimate Team promos of the year. EA has once again delivered a lineup packed with meta-dominant superstars, outrageous stats, and endgame-level cards designed to completely reshape the FUT power curve. TOTY remains the most prestigious promo in the game, offering players some of the highest-rated and most overpowered items we’ll see all year.

However, while the official TOTY squad is undeniably strong, it hasn’t landed without controversy. Several elite performers were overlooked, despite having exceptional real-world seasons and strong Ballon d’Or rankings. This has reignited the long-running debate: does EA truly reward real-life footballing excellence, or do they prioritize players who simply perform better in-game? In our view, EA got it slightly wrong this year.

Ousmane Dembélé (97 OVR – RW)

Dembélé’s inclusion in TOTY reflects a year where his raw talent finally translated into consistent end product. His blistering pace, elite dribbling, and unpredictable movement made him a nightmare for defenders, especially in one-v-one situations. With near-maxed pace and dribbling stats, EA clearly leaned into his explosive winger profile that fits perfectly into the FC meta.

From an Ultimate Team standpoint, this card is built to dominate. High agility, balance, and elite shooting boosts turn him into a devastating cut-inside attacker. Add PlayStyle+ traits that enhance dribbling and attacking movement, and it’s obvious why EA had no hesitation giving him a TOTY spot.

Kylian Mbappé (96 OVR – ST)

Mbappé’s presence in TOTY almost feels automatic at this point. His real-world season was strong, but not necessarily more impressive than every attacker left out. Still, EA’s history shows a clear pattern: if a player is elite in-game, they are almost guaranteed a TOTY card.

In FC 26, Mbappé remains the most feared attacker. His pace split, finishing, and unique animations make him the most meta striker in Ultimate Team. Regardless of debate, EA knows Mbappé cards drive engagement, and once again, that played a major role in his inclusion.

Erling Haaland (96 OVR – ST)

Haaland’s physical dominance and ridiculous goal output made him an easy pick for EA. His strength, positioning, and lethal finishing were central to his team’s success over the past year. When Haaland is in form, he simply overwhelms defenses, which translates perfectly into Ultimate Team.

In-game, this TOTY Haaland is a bulldozer. Massive strength, elite shooting, and improved agility make him far more usable than previous versions. EA clearly tuned this card to eliminate his traditional weaknesses, making him a true endgame striker.

Pedri (96 OVR – CM)

Pedri’s TOTY selection highlights his technical brilliance and influence in midfield. His close control, vision, and ability to dictate tempo stood out across competitions, making him one of the most aesthetically pleasing midfielders in world football.

Ultimate Team players benefit massively from this version. High dribbling, elite passing, and press resistance make him a perfect central midfielder. Pedri’s TOTY card excels in possession-based systems and thrives in high-level competitive play.

Declan Rice (95 OVR – CM)

Rice’s inclusion is one of the more controversial decisions. While he had a solid year, many argue his overall impact didn’t surpass certain midfielders left out. EA likely valued his defensive presence, leadership, and versatility in midfield.

In FC 26, Rice fits the meta well. Strong physicals, interceptions, and defensive PlayStyles make him reliable in competitive matches. However, compared to other midfielders statistically and stylistically, this selection raises valid questions.

Vitinha (96 OVR – CM)

Vitinha was one of the most influential midfielders of the season, controlling games with intelligence, energy, and technical quality. His ball retention, progressive passing, and tactical awareness were crucial at the highest level.

This makes his TOTY card one of the most balanced midfielders in the game. High stamina, elite passing, and smooth dribbling allow him to dominate both sides of play. Ironically, this also fuels the debate about why others were chosen ahead of similarly deserving players.

Nuno Mendes (94 OVR – LB)

Nuno Mendes earned his spot through elite athleticism and consistent performances down the flank. His speed, recovery ability, and attacking contribution made him one of the standout fullbacks of the year.

In Ultimate Team, this card is pure meta. Lightning pace, strong defending, and excellent dribbling make him ideal for overlapping and recovery runs. EA clearly values fullbacks who can handle elite wingers.

William Saliba (95 OVR – CB)

Saliba’s rise into the elite tier of defenders has been remarkable. His composure, positioning, and physical presence anchored one of the strongest defensive units in Europe.

This TOTY version reflects that dominance. High defensive awareness, strength, and pace make him a top-tier center-back. Saliba fits perfectly into the FC 26 defensive meta.

Virgil van Dijk (96 OVR – CB)

Van Dijk’s inclusion once again shows EA’s trust in established defensive icons. While his season was solid, it wasn’t necessarily his peak—but his reputation and defensive presence remain unmatched.

In-game, Van Dijk is still king. Unique body type, reach, strength, and defensive animations make him one of the most effective defenders every year, regardless of form.

Jules Koundé (94 OVR – RB)

Koundé’s selection at right-back raised eyebrows. While versatile and reliable, many feel other fullbacks had stronger seasons. EA likely favored his defensive consistency and positional flexibility.

From a gameplay perspective, Koundé offers balance rather than dominance. Solid pace and defending make him usable, but his inclusion over certain omitted players is questionable.

Gianluigi Donnarumma (96 OVR – GK)

Donnarumma rounds out the squad with elite shot-stopping and physical presence. His performances in big matches helped justify his selection.

In Ultimate Team, his height and reflexes make him one of the hardest goalkeepers to beat. EA goalkeepers often feel inconsistent, but Donnarumma remains one of the safer elite options.

The “NO TOTY” List: Players Who Deserved Better

The “NO TOTY” image highlights players many believe were unfairly excluded despite outstanding seasons and strong individual recognition. Some of the most controversial omissions, and frankly, it’s hard to argue against many of them. Lamine Yamal, the Ballon d’Or runner-up, missing out is one of the biggest shocks. His impact over the past year, both domestically and internationally, has been extraordinary, especially considering his age. Leaving him out of TOTY feels disconnected from real football reality.

Then there’s Raphinha, who was arguably one of the best-performing players last season across competitions. His consistency, output, and influence simply cannot be ignored, yet he somehow didn’t make the cut. Add names like Vintinha, Pacho, and Hakimi, and the omissions become even harder to justify when you consider their performances, trophies, and individual accolades.

Lamine Yamal (96 OVR – RW)

Yamal’s omission is arguably the biggest shock. As a Ballon d’Or runner-up, his impact, consistency, and maturity at such a young age were extraordinary.

Statistically and visually, he fits TOTY perfectly. Creativity, flair, and output were all there, making his exclusion difficult to justify on any footballing metric.

Mohamed Salah (96 OVR – RW)

Salah once again delivered elite numbers, leadership, and consistency. His output remained among the best attackers in world football.

EA leaving him out suggests a shift away from sustained excellence toward newer meta profiles, which feels harsh given his continued dominance.

Harry Kane (96 OVR – ST)

Kane’s goal-scoring season was exceptional. His finishing, link-up play, and leadership were among the best globally.

Despite slightly weaker pace for FUT standards, his real-world impact alone should have secured a TOTY place.

Raphinha (95 OVR – LW)

Raphinha was arguably one of the best players of the year, delivering decisive performances across competitions.

His omission feels like a major oversight, especially considering his consistency and importance. In our view, this is one of EA’s biggest mistakes.

Achraf Hakimi (95 OVR – RB)

Hakimi’s attacking output from fullback was elite. Goals, assists, and constant threat defined his season.

Seeing Koundé selected ahead of Hakimi raises serious questions. In what universe did Hakimi have a worse year?

Willian Pacho (93 OVR – CB)

Pacho quietly had an exceptional year defensively, anchoring his back line with consistency and intelligence.

While not flashy, his omission highlights how EA often prioritizes reputation over performance.

Real Football vs Ultimate Team Meta

One of the biggest criticisms of EA’s TOTY selections is their clear tendency to favor players who are “good in-game” over those who were actually elite in real football. This is why we often see the same names like Kylian Mbappé appear almost every year, regardless of whether their season truly stands above the rest. Mbappé is phenomenal, but TOTY should be about that specific year, not long-term reputation.

This also explains some of the stranger positional decisions. Declan Rice over Vitinha is a prime example. There is simply no world in which Rice had a better year than Vitinha in terms of influence, consistency, and overall performance. Similarly, Koundé ahead of Hakimi raises serious questions. Hakimi’s attacking output and dominance from fullback last season were on another level entirely.

Why TOTY Controversies Keep Happening

These debates happen every single year because TOTY sits at the intersection of football authenticity and video game design. EA wants TOTY cards to feel special, dominant, and desirable, which often means leaning into pace, animations, body types, and PlayStyles rather than raw footballing merit. As a result, players who fit the FUT meta naturally get an advantage when voting and final selections are made..

Unfortunately, this approach risks undermining the prestige of Team of the Year itself. When Ballon d’Or finalists, record-breaking performers, and season-defining players miss out, it creates a disconnect between the real sport and the virtual one. TOTY should feel like a true celebration of football, not just a showcase of who feels best on the sticks.

A Strong Squad, But Not the Right One

There’s no denying that the official FC 26 TOTY squad is stacked, powerful, and packed with cards that will dominate Ultimate Team for months. From a gameplay standpoint, EA delivered exactly what they wanted: hype, pack sales, and meta-defining items. But from a footballing perspective, this year’s selections feel slightly off.

With players like Yamal, Raphinha, Vitinha, and Hakimi missing out despite outstanding seasons and Ballon d’Or recognition, it’s hard not to feel that EA prioritized familiarity over fairness. TOTY is still the crown jewel of Ultimate Team, but in FC 26, it feels like EA missed the chance to truly reward the best players of the year.

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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