EA FC 26 Top 26 Player Ratings: Who Got Overrated and Who Deserved More?

With FC 26 just days away, EA has finally unveiled the official ratings for the Top 26 active players in the game. As always, the community is buzzing with heated debates, arguing over who was overrated, who was undervalued, and who landed exactly where they deserved. Ratings are never perfect, but they do set the tone for the game’s meta and shape how millions of players will build their squads in the early stages of Ultimate Team.

Let’s dive into the highlights, looking at which ratings feel justified and which ones seem questionable based on last season’s performances.

Starting at the top, Kylian Mbapp received a 91 rating. While his personal accolades continue to shine, his lack of major team honors both at Paris Saint-Germain and with the French national team makes this rating feel slightly inflated. A 90 would have been more balanced. In contrast, Mohamed Salah also received a 91, which feels entirely deserved after an exceptional season. Salah’s consistency and impact for Liverpool make this upgrade from FC 25 perfectly reasonable. His teammate Virgil van Dijk remains one of the most dominant defenders on the planet, and his rating feels fair despite occasional lapses in pace or positioning.

Rodri, last year’s Ballon d’Or winner, saw his rating dip slightly. This aligns with EA’s usual approach of small year-to-year adjustments and feels justified given his somewhat quieter performances. Jude Bellingham, on the other hand, seems to have been slightly overvalued. While his 23/24 season was outstanding, his 24/25 campaign lacked both team trophies and standout stats, making his 91 rating feel a touch too generous.

Moving down the list, Thibaut Courtois remains one of the top three goalkeepers in the world. An 89 rating feels fair, especially after years of consistency at Real Madrid. Achraf Hakimi, widely regarded as the best right-back last season, also earned an 89, which reflects his exceptional two-way play and relentless energy on the flank. Pedri’s 89 is equally reasonable, cementing his status as one of the premier midfielders of his generation.

One of the more controversial inclusions is Lamine Yamal. While immensely talented and already showing flashes of brilliance, his output of 16 goals and 21 assists doesn’t quite justify an 89 just yet. A rating of 88 would have been more in line with his current standing, though his ceiling remains sky-high. By contrast, Erling Haaland’s 90 is spot on. His goal-scoring dominance in the Premier League speaks for itself, even if his technical skills outside the box are sometimes questioned.

Players like Bukayo Saka and Alexander Isak also feel fairly rated. Saka continues to be Arsenal’s attacking heartbeat, while Isak, now at Liverpool, looks set to establish himself as one of the best strikers outside of Haaland in the Premier League. On the flip side, Jamal Musiala and Raphinha both seem to have been rated a little too highly. While undoubtedly talented, neither delivered the kind of numbers that usually warrant such significant boosts.

Vinicius Junior’s rating is another talking point. With just 11 goals and 8 assists in 30 appearances last season, his inflated score feels hard to justify. Dropping him to the 86–87 range would better reflect his actual production. In contrast, Harry Kane’s 89 seems completely fair. Though his goal tally dipped slightly, his leadership and trophy haul at Bayern Munich helped balance things out.

Among the goalkeepers, Alisson and Gianluigi Donnarumma remain solid inclusions in the high 80s, with both maintaining their reputation as world-class shot stoppers. Vitinha’s rise to an 89, however, feels a bit too steep. While his performances were impressive, EA’s rapid rating boost bypasses their usual incremental approach. Florian Wirtz falls into the same category—talented, creative, and exciting to watch, but still lacking the accolades and consistency that typically justify such high numbers.

Perhaps the most surprising case of all is Robert Lewandowski. Despite helping Barcelona secure the La Liga title in 24/25 and improving his scoring output to 27 goals, he was stuck at an 88. Many fans argue that he deserved at least a 90, especially considering his consistency at the highest level. Instead, EA not only kept him lower but also gave him a weak “chip shot” trait, which feels like a slap in the face for one of the best strikers of the last decade.

Ultimately, EA’s Top 26 ratings for FC 26 strike a familiar balance between accuracy and controversy. Some players, like Salah and Haaland, are right where they belong, while others, like Yamal and Raphinha, may have been slightly inflated. Lewandowski, meanwhile, looks to be the biggest victim of undervaluation this year. As always, these numbers will spark endless debates among fans, fueling discussion forums and social media until kickoff day.

Were EA’s ratings fair this year, or did certain stars get too much love while others were overlooked? Share your thoughts—you might just find you’re not the only one questioning EA’s choices.