FC 26 TOTY Nominees Shock: Yamal, Olise, Raphinha, Salah and More Classified as Midfielders

The Team of the Year (TOTY) cycle is always one of the most anticipated periods in Ultimate Team, but FC 26 has already delivered a twist that is sending shockwaves through the community. The announcement that players like Lamine Yamal, Michael Olise, Raphinha, Mohamed Salah, Nico Williams, Riyad Mahrez, Grimaldo, and Luis Díaz are arriving as TOTY Nominee Midfielders rather than attackers fundamentally alters the FUT landscape. Squad building logic, chemistry planning, SBC value, and even pack-opening strategies are all affected by this positional reclassification.

This isn't just a cosmetic change. It reshapes how these cards fit into teams, how valuable they are, and how the meta could evolve during and after TOTY.

Understanding TOTY Nominees in FC 26

TOTY Nominees are special boosted cards released during the Team of the Year promo that recognize elite performers who narrowly missed the final TOTY XI. While they don't receive the same stat ceiling as full TOTY cards, Nominees are still top-tier items, often rivaling Icons and endgame SBC players.

Historically, Nominees have been slotted into obvious positions: wingers as attackers, wide mids as midfielders, and defenders staying put. FC 26 breaks that pattern decisively by classifying several traditionally attacking wide players as midfielders, despite their real-life roles.

This decision is deliberate-and its implications are massive.

Why EA Moving These Players to Midfield Matters

Positional Scarcity in Ultimate Team

In most FUT cycles, elite attackers are oversaturated, while elite wide midfielders are rare. By moving Salah, Yamal, Raphinha, and Olise into midfield slots, EA has instantly increased their value and relevance.

Wide midfield positions:

Are harder to fill with elite pace + dribbling

Offer better defensive contribution in certain formations

Enable hybrid chemistry setups more easily

This change turns already popular players into even more desirable assets.

Key Players Reclassified as Midfielders

Mohamed Salah (RM - 91)

Salah being listed as a Right Midfielder instead of a Right Winger or Right Forward is arguably the biggest bombshell.

Why it's huge:

Elite pace, finishing, and dribbling at RM is rare

Fits perfectly into 4-4-2, 3-5-2, and 4-2-3-1 wide roles

Makes Premier League squads even more dominant

Salah at RM becomes a meta-defining card, especially for players who rely on wide midfielders to cut inside rather than hug the touchline.

Lamine Yamal (RM - 89)

Yamal's inclusion as a midfielder is especially impactful given his age and agility-based playstyle.

Strengths:

Explosive acceleration

Exceptional close control

High attacking AI

As an RM, Yamal can:

Play as a pseudo-winger

Drift centrally without chemistry penalties

Offer flexibility between wide play and CAM-like movement

This positioning massively boosts his FUT viability.

Michael Olise (RM - 86)

Olise has long been a FUT favorite, and his midfielder classification pushes him even further.

Why Olise shines as RM:

Elite passing + dribbling combo

Strong finesse shot potential

Excellent link potential with Premier League and French squads

As a midfielder, Olise becomes a budget-friendly TOTY Nominee option that still performs at a high competitive level.

Raphinha (LM - 89)

Raphinha shifting to Left Midfielder opens up tactical options for LaLiga squads.

Impact:

Perfect LM for 4-4-2 and 4-2-4 hybrids

Enables Barcelona and Brazil chemistry chains

Strong defensive work rates compared to attackers

This makes Raphinha far more flexible than a standard winger card.

Nico Williams (LM - 86)

Nico Williams thrives on space, pace, and direct play.

As an LM:

He becomes a nightmare for fullbacks

Offers tracking back that wingers often lack

Fits perfectly into pressing-based tactics

His classification improves his usability in competitive formations.

Luis Díaz (LM - 85)

Luis Díaz as a midfielder is a sleeper hit.

Why it matters:

Strong defensive stats for a wide player

Excellent stamina

Premier League and Colombia links

He becomes a reliable two-way LM, not just a flair attacker.

Riyad Mahrez (RM - 84)

While lower-rated, Mahrez's technical profile makes him dangerous.

As an RM:

High dribbling compensates for pace loss

Ideal for possession-based squads

Great for creative wide midfield roles

He's a finesse specialist rather than a pace abuser, which suits midfield classification.

Grimaldo (LM - 84)

Grimaldo is the wildcard.

Primarily a fullback in real life, his LM card:

Offers strong defending + crossing

Enables tactical flexibility

Works perfectly as a wing-back in disguise

This is one of the most tactically interesting cards in the Nominee set.

Tactical Implications: Meta Shift Incoming

Midfield-Dominant Formations Get Stronger

Formations like:

4-4-2

3-5-2

4-1-4-1

4-2-3-1 (wide)

become significantly stronger with elite wide midfielders who can attack like wingers and defend like mids.

Increased Defensive Stability

Wide midfielders:

Track back more aggressively

Provide cover against overlapping fullbacks

Reduce exposure on the flanks

This subtly nerfs ultra-attacking wing spam and rewards balanced play.

Chemistry and Squad Building Advantages

Easier Hybrid Builds

Midfielders often:

Require fewer position modifiers

Link more naturally to central players

Fit into multiple formations without chemistry loss

Salah, Yamal, and Raphinha being midfielders allows:

More Icons and Heroes up top

Greater flexibility in striker choices

Cleaner league/nation hybrids

SBC Value Skyrockets

These cards are:

Highly rated

Popular leagues and nations

Perfect fodder or endgame starters

Expect them to be:

Extremely expensive

Highly sought after for SBC requirements

Long-term investments

Market Impact and Player Prices

Expect:

Massive price spikes on release

High pack weight frustration

Increased demand for upgrade SBCs

Wide midfield TOTY Nominees historically:

Hold value longer

Drop slower than attackers

Remain relevant deep into the game cycle

Salah and Yamal, in particular, could remain endgame-viable well beyond TOTY.

Community Reaction: "This Changes Everything"

The FUT community reaction has been explosive-and for good reason.

Players are realizing that:

These aren't downgraded attackers

They're upgraded midfielders

The classification actually improves usability

This isn't EA nerfing cards-it's EA reshaping the meta.

Final Thoughts

FC 26's decision to classify Yamal, Olise, Raphinha, Salah, and others as TOTY Nominee Midfielders is one of the boldest Ultimate Team moves in recent years. It redefines positional value, enhances squad-building creativity, and shifts the meta toward more balanced, tactically flexible football. Many players have already used FC 26 Coins to develop these players, integrate them into their formations, and watch them shine on the field!

Rather than flooding the game with attackers, EA has elevated the midfield-where games are truly won. For competitive players, traders, and casual fans alike, this change doesn't just tweak FUT.

It changes everything.

MMOexp FC 26 Team