The last Monday of the year is here, and it looks like a busy one, with leaks regarding the first 2026 FC promo, Time Warp, revealing it to be much more than a simple blast of nostalgia.
The start of a new wave of Winter Wildcards SBCs also marks the final stretch of the promo. But can the market find some stability following it? To tackle all that, let’s step onto the pitch.
Promo & Event Updates
Time Warp Leaks
Following days of speculation and some early reveals, the first substantial leaks for FC 26’s upcoming Time Warp promo surfaced, confirming the presence of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo among its biggest highlights. According to known leaker FutSheriff, Messi will arrive with the first team, while Cristiano will join the second. You can check out the official face stats of both players below, according to the values shown by the leaker:
Lionel Messi (90 OVR / RW): 90 PAC, 90 SHO, 89 PAS, 94 DRI, 37 DEF, and 70 PHY. Finesse Shot+
Cristiano Ronaldo (90 OVR / ST): 90 PAC, 93 SHO, 81 PAS, 87 DRI, 40 DEF, and 83 PHY. Finesse Shot+
According to leakers ASY FUT, FutScoreboard, and WetDesign, we can also expect the arrival of at least 10 SBC/OBJ-exclusive players during the promo’s runtime, including a 92-rated Roberto Baggio and an 89-rated Alexis Sánchez. They also revealed that an 89-rated Luis Suárez and an 88-rated Paul Pogba are expected to debut during the promo as well, although as team members. Here’s an overview of the official stats of all players, as revealed by the leakers:
Roberto Baggio (92 OVR / RW): 90 PAC, 85 SHO, 91 PAS, 92 DRI, 39 DEF, and 63 PHY. Finesse Shot+
Alexis Sánchez (89 OVR / LW): 89 PAC, 88 SHO, 88 PAS, 91 DRI, 60 DEF, and 76 PHY. Rapid+
Luis Suárez (89 OVR / ST): 86 PAC, 92 SHO, 84 PAS, 89 DRI, 50 DEF, and 85 PHY. Low Driven Shot+
Paul Pogba (89 OVR / CM): 84 PAC, 87 SHO, 89 PAS, 90 DRI, 78 DEF, and 89 PHY. Long Ball Pass+
SBC Spotlight
A few SBCs arrived within the last three days, with Tottenham legend Ledley King taking the spotlight. Here’s an overview of both the newest arrivals and our biggest highlights:
Winter Wildcards Hero Red Ledley King (87 OVR / CB / ~280K): — Elite, But Overpriced. Having the hero status, Defender and Ball Playing Defender++, as well as the Intercept+, Jockey, Block, Anticipate, and Aerial Fortress combo, King is a more than worthy addition to any Premier League team. His price tag, however, demands a lot of commitment.
Winter Wildcards Red Temwa Chawinga (87 OVR / LW / ~80K): — Pass. Featuring poor links when compared to other wingers within her price range, I consider this card to be situational at best.
Winter Wildcards Red Galeno (86 OVR / LM / ~60K) — Pass. Although having a good selection of PlayStyles when looking to dribble through the wings, his price makes him a hard pass.
Winter Wildcards Red Ella Toone (87 OVR / CAM / ~60K) — Great Value. Unlike Galeno, her 99 Reactions value, and pairing of Technical, Finesse Shot, and Tiki Taka+ make Toone a great investment for all looking to go outside of the meta.
Cheapest Solution For The Winter Wildcards Hero Red Ledley King SBC
Task | Requirements | How To Complete |
Top Form | - Team Rating: Min 85 - Min 1x TOTW | 4x 82’s, 6x 84’s, and 1x 86 TOTW |
England | - Min 1x Player From England - Team Rating: Min 86 | 3x 87’s, 3x 86’s, and 5x 84’s |
86-Rated Squad | - Min 1x TOTW - Team Rating: Min 86 | 3x 87’s, 3x 86’s, and 5x 84’s (Use an 86+ TOTW) |
Premier League | - Min 1x Premier League Player - Team Rating: Min 87 | 3x 88’s, 4x 87’s, and 4x 84’s |
87-Rated Squad | - Team Rating: Min 87 | 3x 88’s, 4x 87’s, and 4x 84’s |
88-Rated Squad | - Team Rating: Min 88 | 3x 88’s, 4x 87’s, and 4x 84’s |
Market Watch
Current Status: Due to the large influx of high-end cards, the price of 85+ Gold Rares continues to slightly drop as we wait for the end of Winter Wildcards and its daily Upgrade Packs. Lower-rated picks have gained value, however, with index 85 being up by almost 8% (7.8%).
Takeaway: Now might be your last chance to buy cheap 88/89 fodder, so don’t waste it. If looking to make a profit, hold on for a little longer.
Evolutions:
Glacial Creator (40,000 Coins / 400 FC Points)
Requirements: RM Exclusive. Must be under 86 OVR and have less than 88 PAC. Cannot have more than one PS+ and 10 Regular PlayStyles. Can’t be a World Tour Silver Stars Icon.
Overview: Offers a welcome boost to PAC and DRI stats while also offering a +1 boost to WF/SM and the following PlayStyles: Incisive Pass, Tiki Taka, Press Proven, and Incisive Pass+.
Is it Worth It? If you don’t mind overpaying a little, yes, as the evo can allow you to turn players like Ratings Reload Arda Güler into competitive options again. Can also be a perfect fit for those looking to either add passing Playstyles to an elite winger or give the final touches to a long evolution chain.
Frosty Dribbler (25,000 Coins / 250 FC Points)
Requirements: Max 86 OVR. Must not have over 10 PlayStyles or one PS+.
Overview: A PlayStyle-focused evo that only demands three matches. Rewards players with Technical+/+5 DRI (max 88) at Level 1 and with Rapid, First Touch, Press Proven, and Trickster at Level 2. You will also get Technical if your chosen player already has a PS+.
Is It Worth It: Yes, as it can be a great pick for those looking to turn Bronze or Silver players into meta-slayers through evo chains. Can also pair well with Glacial Creator if you just want to have fun, no matter the price.
Quick Hits
If you want Messi, save those Objective packs. But don’t forget, he is almost guaranteed to get an improved version during TOTY.
Take advantage of the market state to get a few more 88+ cards. If you have yet to complete any WW SBCs, try to get them done while the promo is live.
That’s all for today. As always, good luck with the grinding.
Franklin Borges