FC 26: Premier League Player Ratings Breakdown and Top 10 Debate
EA FC 26 is finally here, and as always, one of the most hotly debated aspects of launch season is player ratings. The Premier League is the most-watched league in the world, and Ultimate Team players always want to know which stars got the upgrades they deserved, which names were snubbed, and which ratings are just plain wrong.
The Lone 85: Phil Foden
The ratings list begins with a surprise. Phil Foden is the only 85-rated player to crack the top 25 Premier League cards. That doesn't mean he's the only 85 overall in the database, but he's the only one EA considered worthy of this elite list.
Foden is undeniably talented, but many feel his rating doesn't quite reflect his inconsistency at Manchester City. Goldbridge made an interesting comparison: Matheus Cunha of Wolves has been given just an 83 despite strong form last season. If Foden is an 85, Cunha arguably deserves the same treatment.
Other notable players in the low-80s include Rayan Cherki (81) and João Pedro (79), both with potential but still needing to prove themselves in the Premier League spotlight.
The 86-Rated Group: Mixed Opinions
Moving into the 86 bracket, the debates really begin. The players include:
Rúben Dias
Bruno Guimarães
Ibrahima Konaté
Tijjani Reijnders
Sandro Tonali
Goldbridge's main issue here is with Rúben Dias. He sees the Manchester City defender as slightly overrated at 86, arguing that Konaté is the better center-back in both real life and the game.
"Dias has been living off his team-of-the-year reputation," Goldbridge claimed, pointing out that he'd rank Dias closer to 85.
Meanwhile, Bruno Guimarães and Tonali both received fair nods at 86, reflecting Newcastle's strong midfield rebuild. But Goldbridge balked at Reijnders getting the same treatment, especially with names like Ryan Gravenberch left out of the conversation.
The 87s: Strong But With One Snub
The next bracket contains some heavy hitters:
David Raya
Bruno Fernandes
Moisés Caicedo
William Saliba
Cole Palmer
Martin Ødegaard
Alexis Mac Allister
Victor Gyökeres
Declan Rice
Goldbridge praised this group as one of the most balanced in the ratings. Palmer's rise to 87 feels deserved after a breakout season at Chelsea, and Ødegaard, Mac Allister, and Caicedo all look accurate.
The main complaint? Declan Rice. Goldbridge argued Rice belongs in the 88 category alongside the league's very best midfielders. Given his transformative impact at Arsenal and role in England's midfield, many fans agree this rating is a touch low.
The 88s: The Real Difference-Makers
The 88-rated club includes:
Gabriel Magalhães
Bukayo Saka
Alexander Isak
Goldbridge once again circled back to the Rice debate here. If Gabriel can sit at 88, why is Saliba at 87? Statistically and stylistically, many would argue Saliba has surpassed his Arsenal teammate.
That said, Saka absolutely deserves his 88, continuing his upward trajectory as Arsenal's most dangerous attacker. Isak also looks fairly rated after a stellar season leading Newcastle's attack.
The 89s: Controversy Arrives
The 89 group features a fascinating mix:
Alisson Becker
Gianluigi Donnarumma
Florian Wirtz
Alisson is widely accepted as the best goalkeeper in the Premier League, so no debates there. But the inclusion of Donnarumma and Wirtz raised eyebrows.
Neither has played in the Premier League yet, with Donnarumma rated off his Champions League exploits with PSG and Wirtz boosted by a sensational season at Bayer Leverkusen. Their cards look fantastic, but Goldbridge questioned whether it's fair to place them above established Premier League stars like Rice, Saka, or Ødegaard.
The 90s: No Complaints
The 90-rated players in FC 26's Premier League rankings are:
Virgil van Dijk
Erling Haaland
Rodri
Goldbridge had zero issues here, and few fans would either. Rodri is fresh off a Ballon d'Or win, Haaland remains the most lethal striker in the game, and Van Dijk continues to be the league's defensive leader. It's refreshing to see defensive players getting recognition at the very top.
The Best of the Best: Salah at 91
Finally, standing above the rest is Mohamed Salah with a 91 overall. With 89 pace, 88 shooting, and 90 dribbling, Salah remains the Premier League's ultimate attacker in EA FC 26.
Despite competition from Haaland and Rodri, Goldbridge crowned Salah as "the best player in the Premier League," both in real life and in Ultimate Team. Few can argue-his consistency, production, and sheer dominance over the last five years speak for themselves.
Notable Absentees
While the ratings largely capture the league's stars, there are some glaring omissions:
Enzo Fernández-Surprisingly absent, likely sitting around 85 but missing from the top list entirely.
Gravenberch-A player many feel deserves more recognition.
Dominik Szoboszlai-Another midfielder with strong performances but overlooked here.
Cunha-As mentioned, 83 feels harsh considering his Wolves form.
These absences highlight how divisive EA's rating process can be.
Goldbridge's Personal Top 10
Beyond the official ratings, Goldbridge put forward his own top 10 list of Premier League players. Importantly, this isn't based on EA's overall scores, but on his personal rankings of talent and impact:
1.Mohamed Salah
2.Erling Haaland
3.Virgil van Dijk
4.Rodri
5.Declan Rice
6.Bukayo Saka
7.Alexander Isak
8.Alisson Becker
9.Cole Palmer
10.Alexis Mac Allister
This ranking sparked plenty of discussion. For example, having Rice in the top five emphasizes Goldbridge's belief he's underrated by EA. Palmer at ninth also feels bold, but his rapid rise at Chelsea justifies the call.
Final Thoughts: Do the Ratings Hold Up?
The Premier League's top 25 in EA FC 26 delivers plenty of debate fuel. Some choices-like Salah at 91, Haaland at 90, and Alisson at 89-feel spot on. Others, like Rice's "only 87," Dias holding an 86, and Gabriel above Saliba, are bound to frustrate fans.
Ultimately, ratings are always subjective. They reflect both last season's performances and EA's balancing for gameplay. But part of the fun of FC launch season is debating them endlessly, building squads around them, and proving EA wrong once matches kick off. You can get cheap FC 26 Coins from MMOexp, train every player you like, and then integrate them into your formation.
So, what do you think? Does Salah deserve his crown as the Premier League's best? Should Declan Rice have been bumped up? And which omissions-Enzo, Szoboszlai, or Cunha-sting the most?
One thing's for certain: the ratings debate isn't ending any time soon, and the Premier League's stars will once again dominate Ultimate Team squads in FC 26.
MMOexp FC 26 Team