Back-to-back domestic glory set the tone. Sporting finished 24/25 as league champions and lifted the Taça de Portugal, with Viktor Gyökeres smashing the scoring charts. The 25/26 campaign has opened with a statement 6–0 at Alvalade against Arouca, a gritty 2–1 at Famalicão sealed by new striker Luis Suárez, and one narrow setback against Porto. Those beats are written all over EA’s ratings update: midfield authority, pace out wide, a refreshed strike force, and a couple of small trims at fullback and center back. Gyökeres’ sale to Arsenal explains his absence, while Pedro Gonçalves and Morten Hjulmand now headline the squad at 83.
The biggest risers that change your XI
- Geovany Quenda 67 → 76 (+9) RM/LM/LW/RW. Now a gold with 85 pace, 79 dribbling and 4★ skills and 4★ weak foot. Instant bench weapon or starter in club builds.
- Giorgi Kochorashvili 68 → 74 (+6) CM/CDM/LM. A true two-way card with 72 pace, 72 passing, 75 dribbling, 75 physical.
- Francisco Trincão 78 → 82 (+4) CAM/RM/RW/ST. Cleaner shooting and close control, still elegant on the half-turn.
- Georgios Vagiannidis 71 → 75 (+4) RB/RM. 81 pace with balanced defending and stamina makes him viable right away.
- Morten Hjulmand 80 → 83 (+3) CDM/CM. Elite screen with 80 defending and 84 physical, tidy 78 passing.
- Also up: Ousmane Diomande 78 → 80 (+2), Geny Catamo 76 → 78 (+2), Zeno Debast 76 → 78 (+2), Luis Javier Suárez 75 → 77 (+2), Gonçalo Inácio 80 → 81 (+1), Daniel Bragança 77 → 78 (+1), Eduardo Quaresma 76 → 77 (+1), Maximiliano Araújo 76 → 77 (+1), Iván Fresneda 73 → 74 (+1), Ricardo Mangas 71 → 72 (+1).
Teenage winger to gold in one year: Quenda’s leap is the story
From prospect to problem. Quenda’s +9 to 76 reflects how much verticality and 1v1 threat he adds on the right. The 4★/4★ combo and 85 pace make him the change-of-tempo card Sporting lacked late in games last cycle. Expect him to overplay his OVR in early Weekend League.
The downgrades to know
- Nuno Santos 80 → 79 (−1) LM/LB/LW. Still quality service and work rate, just a small overall trim.
- Matheus Reis 78 → 77 (−1) CB/LB/LM. Remains a flexible left-sider with sturdy physicals.
- Jeremiah St. Juste 77 → 76 (−1) CB/RB. Keeps the outrageous 92 pace at center back, but falls out of the premium gold bracket.
- Rodrigo Ribeiro 69 → 68 (−1) ST and Diego Calai 69 → 68 (−1) GK also dip slightly.
Why Nuno’s −1 will be debated
Santos is central to Sporting’s build up and chance creation from the left. His OVR drops by one, yet the on-ball profile remains strong, with 81 shooting and 79 pace plus those trademark back-post runs. For club-only squads he still starts.
New faces in FC 26 and how EA graded them
- Fotis Ioannidis 77 ST. A penalty-box reference with 77 dribbling and 77 physical, signed to keep the rotation fresh up front.
- João Simões 69 CM/CAM. Academy midfielder with balanced 60s and room to grow.
- Alisson 66 LW/RW/LM. Pure runner at 83 pace for late-game width.
- Francisco Silva 64 GK. Third keeper depth for objectives and grind squads.
- And although listed last year, Luis Javier Suárez now sits at 77 after arriving as a headline striker and has already decided a league match.
Ratings that will surprise fans
- Hjulmand at 83 alongside Pedro Gonçalves at 83 makes midfield the squad’s new “elite” line.
- Trincão at 82 rewards his end product and chemistry with Pote.
- St. Juste at 76 but with 92 pace is still a meta safety net against through balls.
- Debast at 78 listed as CDM/CB/CM adds unusual flexibility for squad building.
- Gyökeres missing is purely a transfer reality, replaced in the squad by Suárez and Ioannidis.
Full FC 26 list
- Hjulmand 83 CDM/CM
- Pedro Gonçalves 83 CAM/LM/CM
- Trincão 82 CAM/RM/RW/ST
- Rui Silva 81 GK
- Gonçalo Inácio 81 CB
- Diomande 80 CB
- Nuno Santos 79 LM/LB/LW
- Morita 79 CM/CDM
- Geny Catamo 78 RM/LM/CAM/RW
- Daniel Bragança 78 CM/CDM/CAM
- Debast 78 CDM/CB/CM
- Araújo 77 LM/LB/LW
- Matheus Reis 77 CB/LB/LM
- Eduardo Quaresma 77 CB/RB/RM
- Suárez 77 ST
- Ioannidis 77 ST
- St. Juste 76 CB/RB
- Geovany Quenda 76 RM/LM/LW/RW
- Vagiannidis 75 RB/RM
- Kochorashvili 74 CM/CDM/LM
- Fresneda 74 RB/RM/LB
- Ricardo Mangas 72 LM/LB/RM/LW
- João Virgínia 71 GK
- João Simões 69 CM/CAM
- Diego Calai 68 GK
- Rodrigo Ribeiro 68 ST/CAM/LW/CM
- Alisson 66 LW/RW/LM
- Francisco Silva 64 GK
FAQ About Sporting’s FC 26 Ratings
Who is Sporting’s highest rated card now?
Morten Hjulmand and Pedro Gonçalves are joint top at 83, reflecting Sporting’s midfield-first identity.
What is the single biggest upgrade?
Geovany Quenda rose from 67 to 76, a nine-point leap that turns him into a usable gold with 4★ skills and 4★ weak foot.
Which defenders are the most FUT-ready?
Tommy Araújo and Gonçalo Inácio for balance, with St. Juste as the pace merchant and Debast offering a CDM or CB switch to solve chemistry.
Did Trincão earn his jump to 82?
Yes. His shooting and ball carry are up, and early league games have already showcased that end product.
Who replaces Gyökeres up front in club builds?
Luis Javier Suárez and Fotis Ioannidis both sit at 77. Suárez brings power running and has already scored a league winner, while Ioannidis profiles as a classic penalty-area option.
Any sneaky silvers or bronzes to grind?
João Simões 69 is a balanced CM for objectives, Alisson 66 is pure pace for late counters, and Francisco Silva 64 lets you complete club-only GK requirements.
