A new Max 89 Icon SBC is expected to arrive in EA Sports FC 26 this Sunday, replacing the current 88 Max Icon SBC that expires the same day. The new challenge will likely cost around 220 to 230K coins, a fair step up from the 189K coins required for the 88-rated version. The reward, however, comes with higher stakes. With the rating limit raised to 89, more elite Icons join the pool, including some of the game’s most desirable attackers and defenders. But the list is still full of outdated cards that could turn the SBC into a risky coin sink. Below is a complete overview of the best, good, medium, and worst possible pulls, sorted by their current market value.
Best pulls (1M+ value or elite usability)
These are the Icons that make this SBC worth doing. Their market value far exceeds the SBC price, and most of them are top-tier meta cards that can fit into any lineup.
🇧🇷 Jairzinho (RW, 1.92M)
🇬🇧 Bale (RW, 1.82M)
🇨🇲 Eto’o (ST, 1.82M)
🇫🇷 Thuram (RB, 1.82M)
🇫🇷 Vieira (CM/CDM, 1.32M)
🇬🇧 Dalglish (ST, 1.3M)
🇬🇧 Ferdinand (CB, 1.3M)
🇮🇹 Totti (ST/CAM, 1.26M)
🇧🇬 Stoichkov (ST/LW, 1.03M)
🇪🇸 Butragueño (ST, 998K)
🇧🇷 Kaká (CAM, 926K)
🇫🇷 Ribéry (LW, 859K)
🇮🇹 Chiellini (CB, 810K)
🇧🇷 Marcelo (LB, 702K)
Jairzinho and Eto’o headline the list as elite attackers, while Vieira, Ferdinand, and Thuram bring dominance to the defensive side. Cards like Totti, Ribéry, and Kaká add flair and creativity to any team and are still some of the most fun Icons in the game.
Good pulls (450K–700K range)
These Icons are still strong results. Even if they do not bring huge profit, they hold their value well and perform at a competitive level in the current meta.
🇫🇷 Cantona (ST, 680K)
🇫🇷 Desailly (CB/CDM, 628K)
🇮🇹 Cannavaro (CB, 580K)
🇪🇸 Fernando Torres (ST, 577K)
🇫🇷 Blanc (CB/CAM, 571K)
🇬🇧 Rooney (ST/CAM, 550K)
🇨🇮 Drogba (ST, 517K)
Cannavaro and Desailly remain top-tier defensive Icons, while Cantona and Drogba are powerful and physical forwards. Rooney and Blanc offer versatility, making them reliable hybrid options in almost any formation.
Medium pulls (200K–400K range)
These cards hover around the SBC cost. While not huge wins, they can still provide usable options depending on your team and chemistry setup.
🇧🇷 Sócrates (CAM, 370K)
🇷🇸 Vidić (CB, 367K)
🇫🇷 Makélélé (CDM, 340K)
🇬🇧 Smith (ST, 333K)
🇬🇧 Campbell (CB, 325K)
🇰🇷 Cha Bum-kun (ST, 317K)
🇬🇭 Essien (CDM, 303K)
🇳🇱 van der Sar (GK, 295K)
🇨🇴 Sánchez (ST, 285K)
🇮🇹 Zambrotta (RB/LB, 283K)
🇵🇹 Luís Figo (RW, 275K)
🇳🇱 van Persie (ST, 273K)
🇩🇰 Schmeichel (GK, 258K)
🇫🇷 Petit (CDM, 250K)
🇬🇧 Gerrard (CM, 248K)
🇨🇿 Nedvěd (LM, 115K)
Zambrotta, Figo, and Sánchez are still very playable, and midfielders like Makélélé, Essien, and Petit give balance and work rate. These cards usually sit around break-even value and are far from disastrous pulls.
Worst pulls (below 200K or poor meta fit)
These are the Icons you hope to avoid. They are outdated, slow, or simply not competitive in the FC 26 meta.
🇪🇸 Puyol (CB, 216K)
🇮🇹 Nesta (CB, 209K)
🇬🇧 Lampard (CM, 150K)
🇩🇪 Schweinsteiger (CM, 142K)
🇪🇸 Hierro (CB, 130K)
🇨🇿 Nedvěd (LM, 115K)
🇳🇱 van Nistelrooy (ST, 93K)
🇩🇰 Laudrup (CAM, 85K)
🇩🇪 Klose (ST, 88K)
🇮🇹 Gattuso (CDM, 84K)
🇬🇧 Shearer (ST, 77K)
🇦🇷 Riquelme (CAM, 77K)
🇬🇧 Wright (ST, 80K)
🇸🇪 Larsson (ST, 73K)
🇳🇱 Kluivert (ST, 72K)
🇦🇷 Crespo (ST, 72K)
🇭🇷 Šuker (ST, 69K)
🇦🇷 Verón (CM, 69K)
🇬🇧 Lineker (ST, 81K)
🇮🇪 Keane (CM, 77K)
🇬🇧 Rush (ST, 69K)
While a few names have nostalgic appeal, none of these cards justify the cost of the SBC. Most are slow, limited by weak skill moves or work rates, and have been completely outclassed by modern promo cards.
Should you do the Icon SBC?
The Max 89 Icon SBC will raise the ceiling from its 88-rated predecessor and could offer some of the most valuable pulls seen so far in FC 26. Icons like Jairzinho, Eto’o, and Vieira make it tempting, while others such as Marcelo or Chiellini still provide elite performance in competitive squads. Yet, the pool remains crowded with slow strikers and outdated midfielders that can easily turn this gamble into a loss. For players chasing glory or willing to risk their coins for a shot at greatness, this SBC might be worth it. But as always, luck will decide whether you hit a legend or a letdown. We recommend not doing it and save your fodder for better SBCs that are expected to land soon, when Black Friday arrives.
