FC 26 just dropped the first big ratings dump and the pecking order looks different this year. Mohamed Salah shares the top spot at 91 OVR with Kylian Mbappé, but the headline is the broader shake-up: several long-time greats are gone from the top lists, while a new wave is pushing in. If you build FUT squads or min-max Career Mode, here’s what actually matters, with receipts.
The 91 club (and why each one is scary)
Mohamed Salah (91) leads after a monster year; he’s graded elite across Dribbling, Pace and Shooting, which keeps him lethal on either wing or as an inverted forward. Kylian Mbappé (91) remains the game’s fastest player at 97 Pace, so any backline not set for recovery is toast. On the women’s side, Alexia Putellas (91) and Aitana Bonmatí (91) headline again, delivering on-ball control and chance creation that fit both possession and hybrid presses. Expect all four to collect 99-OVR specials by season’s end.
Big risers you’ll notice in week one
Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Raphinha earned meaningful boosts, pushing Barça stacks back into early meta talk. These aren’t vanity bumps: they translate to first-touch quality and lane-switching pace that open cutback goals. Across leagues, PSG’s spine is stacked, Dembélé (90), Hakimi (89), Vitinha (89), giving Paris squads a disgusting mix of ball-progression and recovery speed out wide. If you’re planning Ligue 1 hybrids, start there.
The awkward part: who’s missing or down?
ESPN’s breakdown notes that 11 of last year’s top 26 didn’t make the cut this time, a real signal that the game is moving on from certain veterans. That includes names like Lionel Messi and other big reputations who’ve slipped from the initial elite pool. If you relied on “legacy comfort picks,” adjust now: the early ladder favours fresher legs and multi-role profiles.
League snapshots that affect how you build
- Premier League: Liverpool is a problem. The top-26 list for the league features eight Reds, with Salah at 91, plus Van Dijk, Rodri, Haaland, Alisson and more clustered at the top. Facing Liverpool stacks online will be common, prepare for aerials + counter threat.
- Ligue 1: PSG domination is comical. The first 11 names lean Parisian before another club appears, which tells you how painful wide channels vs PSG will be in Competitive gameplay.
- Serie A: Inter (Lombardia FC in-game) floods the list; Lautaro (88), Bastoni, Çalhanoğlu, Sommer, Barella, sturdy, balanced, and perfect for Authentic gameplay’s slower tempo.
When in doubt, check EA’s live FC 26 Ratings database to confirm PlayStyles and OVR shifts as updates roll in.
New ICONs you’ll actually run into
EA’s new ICON class is loaded with usable names: Zlatan Ibrahimović, Andrés Iniesta, Oliver Kahn, Marcelo, Toni Kroos, Francesco Totti, Alex Morgan, Caroline Seger, Sissi, Steffi Jones, Giorgio Chiellini, Cha Bum-Kun. These aren’t just nostalgia picks, they’re role anchors. Zlatan’s target play unlocks wide spam; Iniesta upgrades any 4-3-3 that needs press resistance; Marcelo gives license to overlap without neutering transitions.
Tip: If you pre-ordered the Ultimate Edition, the Debut ICON (upgrades in November) is more than a card art flex, it’s a chemistry and PlayStyle cheat code for early gauntlets. Prioritise roles you can’t fill yet (elite GK like Kahn, or a ball-secure CM like Iniesta).
FUT vs Career: how to use these ratings differently
- FUT (Competitive gameplay): Prioritise pace + first-touch on your wide pair and a press-resistant CM who can turn under pressure. Salah/Mbappé are obvious, but mid-tier wins come from a balanced trio that survives the counter cycle. Use PSG fullbacks (Hakimi) to buy yourself recovery frames.
- Career (Authentic gameplay): Think shape and build-up. Inter/Serie-A cores (Barella, Bastoni) thrive in slower tempo with smarter runs and headed duels. Icons like Kroos or Iniesta transform your rest-defence because they rarely force bad turnovers. Pair them with a destroyer.
Early buying and scouting rules
- Don’t overspend on the badge. FC 26’s top list is flatter at the summit; you’ll gain more by plugging team weaknesses (left-back recovery, a calm #6) than by chasing one 91-OVR vanity piece.
- Track live updates. EA’s ratings hub refreshes; a modest PlayStyle tweak can flip a fringe player into meta. Bookmark it and re-check before weekend runs.
- ICONs = stability. One durable ICON in the right slot stabilises chemistry and frees coins/transfer budget elsewhere. Zlatan for target play, Marcelo for overlapping lanes, Kahn for mistake prevention.
What all this means for you
The early ladder won’t be decided by one superstar; it’ll be won by coherent trios built around reliable first touches, recovery pace, and midfield control. Salah and Mbappé headline for a reason, but the smarter move is building around a role spine, press-resistant 8, switch-threat winger, recovery fullback, and letting specials layer in over time. Keep an eye on PSG’s depth, Inter’s balance, and Barça’s risers, and you’ll be ahead of the curve when promos start pushing the market around.
Release reminder: FC 26 launches September 26, 2025, with Ultimate Edition early access on September 19 across PlayStation, Xbox, PC, Amazon Luna, Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. Plan your grind accordingly.