Welcome back, legends.
We are deep in the trenches of December. The market is weird, the gameplay is sweaty, and we are just 48 hours away from what could be the most chaotic promo of the year: Winter Wildcards.
Today’s content drop is a mixed bag. We’ve got a top-heavy TOTW 14, a few meh player SBCs that are clearly designed to drain your club before Friday, and a gamble pack that might actually be worth the risk.
Let’s cut through the noise. Here is your Wednesday briefing.
Promo & Event Updates
Team Of the Week 14
The black-and-gold cards are in packs. Honestly? It’s a one-card team at the top, but the budget options are surprisingly usable.
Raphinha (90 CAM): The headliner. Elite dribbling and pace make him a menace in the central areas. He’s finally got a card that matches his real-life form.
Hugo Ekitiké (86 ST): Don't let the rating fool you. He’s tall, fast, and has that glitchy body type that lets him bundle through defenders. A cheap meta king.
Vangelis Pavlidis (86 ST): A physical finisher. Not the fastest, but if you need a target man who can hold up play, he's a solid budget option.
Ibrahim Sangaré (86 CDM): High physicals and defending make him a brick wall in midfield. A nightmare to get past, even if his passing isn't elite.
...and the fillers: Orban, Levels, Lawrence, Andrich, Zubkov, etc.
Promo Takeaways
Best Cards: Raphinha is the only elite pull here. He walks into most LaLiga teams.
Value: Ekitiké (86 ST) is a rapid striker who outperforms his price tag. Sangaré (86 CDM) is a solid destroyer for budget squads.
Trash: Wilson (83 RM) and the lower-rated defenders are purely fodder.
Promo Leaks: Winter Wildcards
The Shapeshifters of Winter Are Coming.
The leaks for Friday’s Winter Wildcards are flooding in, and EA is getting creative. If the rumors are true, we aren't just getting stat boosts — we're getting position changes that will break the market.
Zinedine Zidane (95 CAM): The highest-rated leak. An Icon card that will likely cost millions and dominate the midfield for months.
Ronaldinho (94 LW): The skiller’s dream. Expect 5-star skills and unique animations that make him impossible to defend.
Zlatan Ibrahimović (92 ST): He’s back. A massive physical boost combined with his unique body type will make him a bully in the box.
Ousmane Dembélé (91 ST): One of two versions. The striker card will be the most sought-after due to his 5-star weak foot and electric pace.
Federico Valverde (90 RB): A position change that unlocks so many squad building options. Arguably the best RB in the game on day one.
Other notables: Gabriel Magalhães (89 CB), Alexis Mac Allister (89 CM), and Clàudia Pina (88 CAM/ST).
Heroes/Icons: Julie Foudy (92 CM), Luis Figo (90 RW), Jürgen Kohler (88 CM), and Iván Córdoba (88 CB/RB).
SBC Spotlight
We have three new player SBCs and a gamble pack. Here is where your fodder should go:
Florian Thauvin (87 CAM, ~45K) — Pass. His previous card was decent, but this one is fake stats territory. 85 Pace is borderline too slow for a winger/CAM at this stage, and 56 Defending means he can't play CM. It's an average card priced slightly too high.
87+ Campaign Mix Upgrade (~44K) — Gamble. It’s a little expensive for what it offers. Unless you're feeling incredibly lucky, you're likely to pull something behind the curve. However, at 44k, it's a cheap enough scratch card if you have duplicate fodder.
Matthieu Udol (86 CB, ~20K) — Pass. Just okay stats and poor links. He doesn't start for any serious team. Unless you're a Metz fan or need a specific link, ignore this.
Santos (86 CAM, ~21K) — Trash. Absolutely useless. Poor links, average stats, and zero longevity. This is an IQ test — don't fail it.
Cheapest Solution For Florian Thauvin
Task | Requirements | Recommended players (rating) |
Task 1: Ligue 1 | Ligue 1 players: Minimum one in your starting eleven Team overall rating: Minimum 84 Number of players in the starting squad: 11 | Romelu Lukaku: 84 Alexander Sorloth: 84 Greggi: 84 Nusken: 84 Sergej Milinkovic-Savic: 84 Alex Greenwood: 84 Damaris Egurrola: 84 Fox: 84 Hampton: 84 van de Donk: 83 Chevalier: 83 |
Task 2: France | France players: Minimum one in your starting eleven Team overall rating: Minimum 86 Number of players in the starting squad: 11 | Marie Katoto: 88 Irene Paredes: 88 Ada Hegerberg: 87 Millie Bright: 87 Ruben Neves: 84 Maanum: 84 Jordan Pickford: 84 Sergej Milinkovic-Savic: 84 Manuel Locatelli: 84 Pedro Goncalves: 83 Gimenez: 83 |
Market Watch
Status: The Market is Crashing Hard
Market Summary: The market is bleeding red. The Index 100 (high-end meta cards) has tanked by over 10% today. People are panic selling their teams to get liquid for Friday’s Winter Wildcards.
Risers: While the meta crashes, fodder is flying. Index 85 is up nearly 10%, Index 81 is up 7%, and Index 84 is up almost 6%. The community is rinsing their clubs into the new 87+ Campaign Mix Upgrade, driving demand for these ratings sky-high.
SELL Fodder: If you have 84s, 85s, or even 86s in your club, list them now. You are selling into peak demand.
WATCH Meta: The top-tier market is dropping fast. Keep an eye on prices; we might see a rebound once the panic settles, but for now, stay liquid.
Evolutions
We have a new free EVO today.
Package Delivery (Free)
Requirements: Max 84 OVR, Max 87 Pace, Max 10 PlayStyles.
Rewards: +1 Overall, +4 Dribbling/Defending, and massive +10 boosts to Crossing, Curve, Long Passing, and Vision. Plus the Whipped Pass PlayStyle.
Best Options: Theo Hernández (85 LB after upgrades) becomes a monster with that crossing boost. Alphonso Davies and Joško Gvardiol also fit and look incredible.
Verdict: Do It. It’s free, so there is literally no downside. This is perfect for fullbacks who need better distribution.
Quick Hits
TOTW 14: Raphinha is the clear winner. Ekitiké is the budget beast.
SBCs: Skip Thauvin and Santos. Take a punt on the 87+ Mix if you have dupe fodder.
Friday: Winter Wildcards drops with Zidane, Dinho, and Zlatan. Prepare your club.
Objective: Don't forget to grind your daily logins; you'll need the fodder for Friday.
Stay Sweaty,
Shahmeer