The red reset is here. After a turbulent 24/25 that forced a rethink of balance and depth, Benfica’s FC 26 list leans into intensity, ball-winning and versatility. The market headline is clear for FUT managers: midfield steel and academy defenders are the big winners, a couple of star defenders take gentle trims, and there is fresh firepower on the wings and up front to change how club-themed squads play from day one of the cycle.
Upgrades that move the needle for your first XI
- Enzo Barrenechea 71 → 77 (+6) CM/CDM. A huge bump that makes him the anchor in club builds. Better positioning, stronger duels, cleaner short passing.
- Tomás Araújo 73 → 78 (+5) CB with 82 pace, 77 defending, 79 physical. One of the most usable defender upgrades in the league.
- Rafael Obrador 65 → 69 (+4) LB/LM. Quick silver fullback who now feels nimble in transition.
- Samuel Dahl 69 → 73 (+4) LB/LM. Pace-first profile with improved defending.
- Gianluca Prestianni 68 → 71 (+3) RM/CAM/RW. Retains elite acceleration, gains end product.
- Pavlidis 80 → 82 (+2) ST. Sharper link play and area finishing without losing strength.
- Trubin 78 → 80 (+2) GK. Shot-stopping and handling tuned up for weekend league reliability.
- Schjelderup 72 → 74 (+2) LW. Dribbling boost that makes him far smoother on the ball.
- Manu Silva 70 → 72 (+2) CDM/CB. Utility destroyer for early-cycle squads.
- Samuel Soares 68 → 70 (+2) GK depth with upgraded kicking and reactions.
- Plus tidy +1s across the core: Otamendi 82, Aursnes 80 (steady), Barreiro 77, Bruma 78.
From rotation to heartbeat: Barrenechea’s rise changes the midfield picture
A +6 is rare and it fits what FUT managers crave in club squads. Barrenechea’s blend of 75 dribbling, 72 defending and 71 physical reads like a true two-way pivot. The passing upgrade lets him progress play rather than just recycle it, which pairs perfectly with Aursnes as a high-activity partner.
The tough calls: the most notable downgrades
- António Silva 79 → 78 (−1) CB. Still quick enough and strong in duels, just short of the elite gold tier.
- Bah 79 → 78 (−1) RB. Keeps 90 pace and 81 physical, but a small trim nudges him from premium to just-very-good at right back.
There are no catastrophic drops, which says a lot about how balanced the squad profile now looks in-game.
Spotlight on the dip: António Silva’s one-point slide raises eyebrows
Seeing the defensive lynchpin move from 79 to 78 will get fans talking. The card remains absolutely viable with 80 pace and a sturdy 80 physical. In practice you still get a fast, front-foot center back, but managers chasing every marginal stat may now pivot to Tomás Araújo’s refreshed card for chemistry or meta reasons.
New faces and how EA graded them
- Dodi Lukébakio 82 RM/RW/ST. 87 pace and 83 dribbling with real end product. Direct outlet for counters.
- Georgiy Sudakov 80 CAM/CM/CDM. 81 dribbling, 78 passing and a crisp first touch for chance creation.
- Richard Ríos 79 CM/CDM. Box-to-box engine with 82 physical and 72 defending to steady the middle.
- Franjo Ivanović 75 ST/CAM. Finishing-first forward for rotation or late winners.
- Academy and depth adds that matter for SBCs and club-only builds: Leandro Santos 67 RB, João Rêgo 67 CAM, Diogo Prioste 66 CM, João Veloso 64 CM, Nuno Félix 64 CDM, Diogo Ferreira 64 GK, Gonçalo Oliveira 63 CB, Wynder 66 CB.
Verdict: Benfica enter FC 26 with more ball carriers between the lines and better legs in the second phase of build-up, plus a deeper defensive unit that can actually run.
Surprise ratings fans will debate
- Tomás Araújo at 78 with 82 pace feels like a meta sleeper and might end up outperforming his OVR.
- António Silva at 78 will split opinions given his reputation. Expect plenty of managers to argue he’s still an 80.
- Prestianni only 71 despite elite burst will fuel “underrated” shouts once he starts racking up moments.
- Bah down to 78 even with 90 pace is a talking point. The card still looks outstanding.
Full list of FC 26 ratings
- Pavlidis 82 ST/CAM
- Lukébakio 82 RM/RW/ST
- Otamendi 82 CB
- Aursnes 80 CM/RB/RM/CAM
- Sudakov 80 CAM/CM/CDM
- Trubin 80 GK
- Ríos 79 CM/CDM
- Bah 78 RB/RM
- Bruma 78 LW/LM/CAM
- Tomás Araújo 78 CB/RB/RM
- António Silva 78 CB
- Barreiro 77 CM/CDM/CAM
- Barrenechea 77 CM/CDM
- Ivanović 75 ST/CAM
- Schjelderup 74 LW/CAM/RW/LM
- Dedić 73 RB/LB/RM
- Dahl 73 LB/LM
- Manu Silva 72 CDM/CB
- Prestianni 71 RM/CAM/RW
- Henrique Araújo 70 ST
- Samuel Soares 70 GK
- Obrador 69 LB/LM
- Leandro Santos 67 RB/RM
- João Rêgo 67 CAM/RM/CM
- Diogo Prioste 66 CM
- Wynder 66 CB
- João Veloso 64 CM
- Nuno Félix 64 CDM/CM
- Diogo Ferreira 64 GK
- Gonçalo Oliveira 63 CB
FAQ
Who got the biggest upgrade compared to FC 25?
Barrenechea climbed from 71 to 77 (+6) and Tomás Araújo from 73 to 78 (+5), with Obrador and Dahl both up four.
What’s the most surprising downgrade?
António Silva dropping to 78 will be the headline debate, with Bah also down one despite elite pace.
Which new signing changes the attack the most?
Lukébakio at 82 gives instant verticality and finishing on the right, while Pavlidis at 82 is the penalty-box reference who links play.
Is the midfield better for FUT club squads?
Yes. Barrenechea, Ríos and Aursnes provide a balanced mix of pressing, screens and short progression, making chemistry builds far easier.
Who is the meta center back for early Weekend League?
Tomás Araújo at 78 with 82 pace and 79 physical is the plug-and-play option. Pair him with Otamendi for leadership or with António Silva for all-Benfica chemistry.
Which youngsters look undervalued for their potential?
Prestianni at 71 and Schjelderup at 74 both have dribbling and pace splits that play well above the OVR once you add the right chemistry style.
Are Benfica stronger or weaker than last year in-game?
Stronger in depth and transitions. The attack adds pace and off-ball runs, and the defensive unit has more usable cards for competitive play.
