At FUTFC.gg, we believe the current roster needs to better reflect the true scope of “football heritage.” We are calling for a shift away from purely commercial choices towards a holistic mix of tactical pioneers, geopolitical trailblazers, and cult heroes. The following fifteen candidates represent our ideal vision for FC 26: a collection of legends who balance historical gravity with the meta demands of the modern engine.
1. Alfredo Di Stéfano
Di Stéfano is the ultimate “Total Footballer.” A five-time European Cup winner with Real Madrid, he played every position simultaneously with elite proficiency. In FC 26, he would be the premier “Gullit Gang” card, boasting 90+ stats in almost every category and serving as the game’s most complete player.
Realistic Absence: Di Stéfano’s absence is likely due to the complexity of his image rights. Unlike modern players with unified representation, older legends often have rights split between their estate and multiple former clubs (River Plate, Millonarios, Real Madrid), making global licensing a legal minefield.
| OVR | PAC | SHO | PAS | DRI | DEF | PHY | SM / WF | PlayStyle+ | Body Type |
| 95 | 90 | 93 | 92 | 94 | 78 | 88 | 4 / 5 | Relentless | Average |
2. Michel Platini
Before the administrative controversies, “Le Roi” was the undisputed king of football, winning three consecutive Ballon d’Ors. He defines the classic #10 role, dictating play not through pace, but through unrivalled passing and the greatest free-kick ability the game has ever seen.
Realistic Absence: Platini was removed following his involvement in the FIFA corruption scandal and subsequent ban from football. Although later cleared in court, the “brand risk” associated with his name and his adversarial relationship with the sport’s governing bodies likely keeps him off the roster.
| OVR | PAC | SHO | PAS | DRI | DEF | PHY | SM / WF | PlayStyle+ | Body Type |
| 93 | 78 | 91 | 96 | 92 | 55 | 72 | 4 / 5 | Dead Ball | Average |
3. Romário
A goalscoring genius with over 1,000 career goals, Romário was the spearhead of Cruyff’s Dream Team and the 1994 World Cup. He brings the ultimate “fox in the box” profile to the game, combining a low center of gravity with explosive acceleration and statistically perfect finishing.
Realistic Absence: Romário served as a Senator in Brazil for many years. EA has a strict internal policy of excluding active political figures to maintain neutrality, which forced his removal from previous titles.
| OVR | PAC | SHO | PAS | DRI | DEF | PHY | SM / WF | PlayStyle+ | Body Type |
| 93 | 89 | 96 | 75 | 93 | 34 | 70 | 5 / 4 | First Touch | Short & Lean |
4. Elías Figueroa
Known as “Don Elías,” Figueroa is widely considered the greatest Chilean player and arguably the best defender in South American history. A three-time South American Footballer of the Year (beating out Pelé and Zico), he was a “clean” defender who read the game perfectly, rarely needing to foul.
Realistic Absence: Figueroa is a “football hipster” choice who lacks the global marketing machine of European defenders. His exclusion is likely a commercial decision, with EA prioritizing players who are more recognizable to their core European and North American demographic.
| OVR | PAC | SHO | PAS | DRI | DEF | PHY | SM / WF | PlayStyle+ | Body Type |
| 92 | 83 | 68 | 84 | 85 | 94 | 88 | 3 / 4 | Anticipate | High & Average |
5. Dino Zoff
The oldest ever World Cup winner, Zoff was a monument of consistency and positioning for Italy and Juventus. He represents the “Positioning” archetype for goalkeepers, relying on intelligence and reading of the game rather than the acrobatic saves of his peers.
| OVR | DIV | HAN | KIC | REF | SPD | POS | SM / WF | PlayStyle+ | Body Type |
| 92 | 88 | 95 | 72 | 90 | 50 | 97 | 1 / 3 | Cross Claimer | High & Average |
- Realistic Absence: Zoff was previously in the game but was removed, a common occurrence when individual image rights contracts expire. EA often rotates goalkeepers to keep the content fresh, and Zoff was likely cycled out for newer icons like Casillas or Cech.
6. Sir Stanley Matthews
The inaugural Ballon d’Or winner played at the top level until he was 50, earning the nickname “The Wizard of Dribble.” He is a specialist winger who relies on pure evasion rather than physicality, requiring 99 Agility and unique animations to replicate his famous body feints.
| OVR | PAC | SHO | PAS | DRI | DEF | PHY | SM / WF | PlayStyle+ | Body Type |
| 92 | 93 | 74 | 91 | 98 | 45 | 68 | 5 / 4 | Trickster | Lean |
- Realistic Absence: Similar to Zoff, Matthews was a “Legend” in older FIFA titles. His removal coincides with the rebranding to “Icons” on all consoles, suggesting a failure to agree on new licensing terms with his estate.
7. Gordon Banks
England’s World Cup-winning hero is immortalized by his “Save of the Century” against Pelé in 1970. Banks challenges for the title of best Icon keeper as a pure shot-stopper, boasting elite reflexes and diving stats to pull off the impossible.
| OVR | DIV | HAN | KIC | REF | SPD | POS | SM / WF | PlayStyle+ | Body Type |
| 91 | 94 | 89 | 68 | 95 | 55 | 91 | 1 / 3 | Far Reach | Average |
- Realistic Absence: Following his passing in 2019, rights management transferred to his estate. These transition periods often lead to a temporary absence from commercial products while new legal structures are established.
8. Sergio Agüero
The Premier League’s definitive foreign marksman, Agüero is a Manchester City legend known for his low center of gravity and ruthless efficiency. He fits the “agile finisher” meta perfectly, capable of spinning defenders in tight spaces and firing powerful shots with zero backlift.
| OVR | PAC | SHO | PAS | DRI | DEF | PHY | SM / WF | PlayStyle+ | Body Type |
| 91 | 88 | 92 | 82 | 90 | 38 | 79 | 4 / 4 | Technical | Short & Stocky |
- Realistic Absence: Agüero retired abruptly in 2021 due to a heart condition. EA typically requires a “cooling off” period of a few years post-retirement to negotiate individual image rights, separate from the collective FIFPRO license they use for active players.
9. George Weah
The only African Ballon d’Or winner combined Olympic speed with heavyweight strength during his prime at AC Milan. A massive fan favorite, Weah returns as the ultimate “Lengthy” striker, a runaway freight train who is physically impossible to stop once he hits top speed.
Realistic Absence: Weah was removed from the game when he became the President of Liberia in 2018. However, he left office in early 2024, meaning he is no longer an active political leader, clearing the path for his return to the game.
| OVR | PAC | SHO | PAS | DRI | DEF | PHY | SM / WF | PlayStyle+ | Body Type |
| 91 | 95 | 91 | 76 | 88 | 45 | 87 | 4 / 4 | Rapid | High & Average |
10. Gabriel Batistuta
“Batigol” was the most fearsome pure striker of the 90s, renowned for his loyalty to Fiorentina and his thunderous finishing ability. He is a physical “Target Man” whose card must feature maximum Shot Power, allowing him to score from anywhere in the final third.
| OVR | PAC | SHO | PAS | DRI | DEF | PHY | SM / WF | PlayStyle+ | Body Type |
| 90 | 87 | 94 | 72 | 80 | 45 | 89 | 3 / 4 | Power Shot | High & Average |
- Realistic Absence: Batistuta’s data has appeared in leaked databases for previous titles without ever being released. This strongly implies that negotiations were active but collapsed at the final hurdle, likely due to financial disagreements.
11. Arjen Robben
The master of the “cut inside,” Robben defined the inverted winger role for a generation at Bayern Munich. His card is built around his signature move: blistering pace down the right flank, a sharp cut onto his magical left foot, and a finesse shot into the far corner.
| OVR | PAC | SHO | PAS | DRI | DEF | PHY | SM / WF | PlayStyle+ | Body Type |
| 90 | 94 | 88 | 84 | 94 | 45 | 70 | 4 / 3 | Finesse Shot | Unique |
- Realistic Absence: Robben had an “on-again, off-again” retirement (returning to play for Groningen), which complicated his status. Now permanently retired, he is in the standard “waiting period” for negotiations to finalize.
12. John Terry
Chelsea’s “Captain, Leader, Legend” was one of the finest defenders of his generation. Brave, dominant in the air, and an exceptional reader of the game, Terry would function as a pure physical wall in FC 26, compensating for lower pace with maxed-out defensive stats.
| OVR | PAC | SHO | PAS | DRI | DEF | PHY | SM / WF | PlayStyle+ | Body Type |
| 90 | 76 | 60 | 72 | 68 | 93 | 91 | 2 / 3 | Block | High & Average+ |
- Realistic Absence: While purely speculative, Terry’s past controversies (specifically the Wayne Bridge and Anton Ferdinand incidents) may categorize him as a “brand risk” for EA’s family-friendly image, delaying his inclusion despite his undeniable merit.
13. Paul Gascoigne
Gazza was the most naturally gifted English playmaker of his era, blending delicate skill with bulldog aggression. He operates as a powerful CAM who drives through tackles rather than around them, offering a unique mix of creativity and physical combativeness.
| OVR | PAC | SHO | PAS | DRI | DEF | PHY | SM / WF | PlayStyle+ | Body Type |
| 89 | 82 | 84 | 89 | 91 | 60 | 83 | 4 / 5 | Technical | Stocky |
- Realistic Absence: Gascoigne was previously in the game but was removed. This is widely understood to be due to his well-documented personal struggles and legal issues, which EA prefers to distance the brand from.
14. Edgar Davids
Instantly recognizable by his goggles, “The Pitbull” redefined the defensive midfield role with his ferocity and technical skill. Ideally suited for the modern engine, he is the premier interceptor, using high aggression and stamina to harass opponents for the full 90 minutes.
| OVR | PAC | SHO | PAS | DRI | DEF | PHY | SM / WF | PlayStyle+ | Body Type |
| 89 | 86 | 74 | 84 | 88 | 88 | 90 | 4 / 3 | Relentless | Short & Unique |
- Realistic Absence: Davids famously sued Riot Games (League of Legends) for using his likeness in a character skin without permission – and won. This litigious history likely makes EA extremely cautious about approaching him, fearing strict contract terms or potential lawsuits.
15. Ali Daei
The former all-time international top scorer was an aerial dominant force for Iran and German clubs like Bayern Munich. Standing 1.92m tall, he provides a massive tactical option for cross-heavy playstyles, boasting 99 Heading Accuracy and immense strength.
| OVR | PAC | SHO | PAS | DRI | DEF | PHY | SM / WF | PlayStyle+ | Body Type |
| 88 | 81 | 89 | 70 | 76 | 45 | 91 | 3 / 4 | Aerial | High & Average+ |
- Realistic Absence: Daei has been an outspoken activist supporting civil rights in Iran, leading to conflicts with the Iranian regime (including passport confiscation). EA likely views the geopolitical sensitivity of his situation as too complex to navigate for a global video game.
The “Icon” Criteria and Our Chances
When analyzing why certain players are included or excluded, it becomes clear that “footballing merit” is only one piece of the puzzle for EA Sports. The selection process is a triad of Commercial Viability, Legal Simplicity, and Brand Safety.
Historically, EA favors players who are freshly retired (recency bias keeps engagement high) or those whose rights are easily bundled. This explains the glut of recent Premier League icons compared to older South American legends like Elías Figueroa. Furthermore, “Brand Safety” is paramount; players with active political careers (Weah, Romário) or controversial public images (Terry, Gascoigne) are often sidelined to avoid bad PR, regardless of their on-pitch legacy.
However, the FC 26 cycle offers hope. With Weah leaving office and the “Icon” roster needing a refresh to distinguish itself from the FIFA era, the door is open for a more daring selection. By pushing for these fifteen players, we aren’t just asking for better stats – we are asking EA to acknowledge the complex, rich, and sometimes controversial history that makes football the world’s game.
