EA Sports is already turning heads with the early FC 26 ratings, showcasing clear trends, powerful new playstyles, and some wild stat anomalies that could shape the game’s launch meta. With details emerging from leaked sources and beta impressions, there are six major takeaways that players should know as they prepare their Ultimate Team strategy. Here’s everything we’ve learned so far about the FC 26 ratings, including the controversial enforcer playstyle plus, downgraded pace stats, and the return of a legendary Roma trio as Heroes.
New playstyle plus system is set to change the FC 26 meta
One of the biggest changes coming to FC 26 is EA’s expansion of the playstyle plus system, a feature designed to add more personality to how players perform on the pitch. Early impressions from the beta and recent leaks suggest that Enforcer Plus might be the most broken of them all.
According to leaked info shared by ExoFIFA on Twitter, only six players in FC 26 will start with the Enforcer playstyle plus. EA clearly understands how overpowered it is. The Enforcer playstyle plus emphasizes physicality, letting attacking players bully defenders with strong shoulder challenges and body shielding.
This means the FC 26 meta could see a shift from pure pace to hold-up play, especially if players like Didier Drogba, Ruud Gullit, Viktor Gyökeres, or Mario Gómez get usable cards with the Enforcer tag. EA has kept the Enforcer distribution limited, hinting that it will be an elite attribute.
On the other hand, Game Changer and Inventive are two new playstyles that split off from the previous Travella mechanic. Game Changer is now focused on spectacular finishes, while Inventive handles creative passing. There are more players with these traits, but the community has reported that they felt less impactful in the beta.
Confirmed players with Game Changer include Paulo Dybala, Rasmus Højlund, and Martin Terrier (not “Embuo” as mentioned in the original transcript; likely confusion with Højlund). Inventive is more aligned with midfield creativity, refining elements of Flair and Travella into one focused passing trait.
Pace has been nerfed across the board in FC 26
If you’ve browsed the leaked FC 26 ratings, one trend stands out immediately — pace is taking a hit.
Players like Thiago Silva lost 5 points in pace with no drop in overall rating. Even rising talents like Lamine Yamal, despite an 8-point boost in overall, only got a 3-point pace increase. That tells us EA is de-emphasizing pace growth, likely to slow the power curve of the game.
This shift makes already fast players like Vinícius Júnior, Loïs Openda, and Kylian Mbappé even more valuable at launch. If most cards lack acceleration or top-end speed, the few that do will dominate early game tactics.
FC 26 stat upgrades are unusually low for most players
Another major trend is that stat boosts across the board are underwhelming even for players with large overall rating upgrades.
A great example is Jamal Musiala, who jumped to an 88 overall but saw his pace drop by 4 and his shooting stuck at 82. Many players received minimal stat upgrades despite rating increases. This suggests EA is trying to stretch out the power progression across the game cycle.
This also adds more weight to the evolution system. Cards that start average may become strong with the right evolution path, especially those with good base physicality or key playstyles.
Hidden gems and anomalies are still in the game
Despite the slower stat progression, some cards in FC 26 break the pattern and look incredibly strong compared to their rating. These “cheap beasts” still exist.
Davinson Sánchez, now at Galatasaray, went from 80 to 82 overall and received a massive boost: +5 pace, +11 shooting, +8 dribbling, +8 passing, +3 defending, and +6 physical. Similarly, Roger Ibañez in the Saudi Pro League and Jorrel Hato (who moved to Arsenal) look like low-rated cards with elite starter stats.
One standout is Christian Pulisic, who at 84 rated actually looks better than Rodrygo, rated 85. Pulisic has more in-game stats and better dribbling for his rating, making him one of the most exciting early value cards.
New Heroes in FC 26 bring back the Roma trio
EA is reviving nostalgia by bringing three legendary AS Roma players back as Heroes: Gervinho, Juan Iturbe, and Seydou Doumbia. This trio was one of the most overpowered combinations in early Ultimate Team history back in FC 14 and FC 15.
While the rest of the new Hero class hasn’t generated much excitement, the return of these players gives a spark of hype for veteran FUT players. Their stats haven’t been officially confirmed yet, but their inclusion alone is already drawing positive reactions from the community.
More Hero leaks are being tracked by creators like FUT Scoreboard and Twitter insiders, so keep an eye there for updates.
EA is focusing more on club-level success for upgrades
Another noticeable trend is that club performance seems to have influenced player ratings more than usual. Many Barcelona and PSG players received significant upgrades, which lines up with their real-world dominance during the 2024 season.
Upgrades to players like Lamine Yamal, Ousmane Dembélé, and Achraf Hakimi show EA is factoring in club success more consistently. That might mean if your favorite club had a strong season, its players could be rated higher than expected even if their individual stats don’t show huge improvement.
Upgrades for players like Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo, Marcus Thuram, and Ibrahima Konaté further reflect this trend. It’s not always based on stats, but on big moments and club performances.
For more rating leaks and visual comparisons, check ExoFIFA’s rating thread which tracks playstyle plus assignments and stat changes.
Where is the FC 26 database?
One of the biggest frustrations for FUT fans right now is the lack of an official FC 26 player database. All rating leaks so far have been shared on Twitter or YouTube with no centralized place to browse and compare cards.
Websites like FUTBIN and FUT.GG don’t yet have access to official FC 26 data. This is likely because the cards are still unconfirmed and being leaked unofficially. These sites typically wait for EA’s green light before publishing card data.
Some in the community are hoping leakers like FUT Scoreboard will build a searchable database, which they’ve done in past seasons. Until then, fans are relying on social threads and YouTube compilations to plan their starter squads and evolutions.
FAQ about FC 26 ratings
What is Enforcer Plus in FC 26?
It’s a physical playstyle that helps players dominate duels using strength and shoulder-to-shoulder tackles.
Why is pace getting downgraded in FC 26?
EA wants to slow progression. Only a few players are getting big pace upgrades.
Are there any OP budget cards in FC 26?
Yes. Davinson Sánchez and Christian Pulisic look very strong for their price and rating.
Is the FC 26 database available yet?
No. Only leaked ratings are available now, mostly on Twitter and YouTube.
The FC 26 rating cycle has officially begun, and it’s already giving us insight into how EA is shifting the gameplay balance. Make sure you stay up to date with the latest leaks and player reveals on trusted sources like futbin.com and community accounts like ExoFIFA.
