Summary: The EA Sports FC 26 endgame has officially arrived with a bang. Following the transition into the highly anticipated FC 26 Ultimate Rewind promo, EA Sports has shocked the community by keeping the absolute crown jewel of the endgame active: the massive 98-rated FUTTIES Icon Zlatan Ibrahimović SBC (Squad Building Challenge).
As players prepare to transition into the next generation with early access rewards, this 98 Ibrahimovic card stands as the ultimate trophy for any Ultimate Team squad. If you want to add this absolute Swedish powerhouse to your team without spending a single coin, here is your definitive, deep-dive guide to conquering his massive SBC grind using the "Infinite Menu Loop."
Why 98 FUTTIES Icon Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a Must-Have
Zlatan Ibrahimović has always been a fan favorite in soccer gaming history, but this 98-rated endgame version scales his stats to completely broken levels. Sporting 5-star skill moves and a 5-star weak foot, this card acts as an absolute cheat code in the box.
Key Stats & Meta PlayStyles Breakdown
Pace & Shooting: A blistering 98 Pace combined with 99 Finishing, 99 Shot Power, and 99 Volleys makes him deadly from any distance.
Physicality: With 97 Strength and 99 Aggression, Zlatan physically bullies the most elite defenders like Virgil van Dijk.
5x PlayStyles+ Slots: The card takes full advantage of the endgame meta, boasting elite traits including Aerial+, Power Header+, and Technical+, making him completely unstoppable during corner kicks and tight-space dribbling.
The Reality of Ibrahimovic's SBC Requirements
Let's be clear: completing the Zlatan Ibrahimović SBC is a marathon, not a sprint. It requires completing a staggering 27 individual squad challenges. While the actual transfer market value to build this entire challenge from scratch exceeds 1.3 Million Coins, you should not be spending real currency at this stage of the game.
Instead of generic standard leagues, EA Sports targets the exact major clubs from Zlatan's iconic career. To clear the highest tiers, here is the corrected breakdown of the most demanding signature squads required within the 27-challenge puzzle.
The most expensive part of the challenge is built around the 92-rated and 91-rated squads. The 92-rated squad requires at least one TOTS or TOTW player and can cost around 130,000 Coins based on the average market value. The 91-rated squad does not have an additional player requirement but can still cost approximately 105,000 Coins.
The PSG Tribute squad requires at least one PSG player and is based around an 89-rated team, while the Milan Derby Legend challenge requires at least one AC Milan or Inter Milan player with an 88-rated squad. The Sweden National challenge requires an 87-rated squad containing at least one Swedish player.
The remaining challenges within the 27-squad puzzle include several additional 88–92-rated squads, alongside standard Bronze and Silver introductory requirements. Players will also encounter teams representing other important clubs from Ibrahimović's career, including Barcelona, Manchester United, and Ajax.
Step-by-Step Guide: The "Infinite Menu Loop" Grind Method
With the transfer market crashing and over 500 top-tier cards re-released into packs via the Ultimate Rewind Database, you can unlock Zlatan for 0 coins by abusing EA's repeatable upgrades.
Step 1: Fuel the Engine with the Repeatable 85+ x10 Upgrade
The highly popular 85+ x10 Upgrade SBC is your best friend right now.
Craft a low-rated gold squad and submit it into the 85+ x10 SBC.
Open the pack. Due to the massive pool of special items currently in packs, you will almost always pull 3 to 6 high-rated promotional items (93–97 ratings).
Separate your pulls carefully. High-rated duplicates should go straight into Ibrahimović's 91 and 92-rated squads. Non-duplicate lower fodder between 85 and 89 can be recycled into the next 85+ x10 loop.
This approach lets you continuously convert lower-rated cards into the high-rated fodder required for the most expensive sections of the SBC. It also means you can keep your FC 26 Coins untouched while gradually building the squads through menu recycling.
Step 2: Tackle the High-Tier Squads First
Do not start with the 85 or 87-rated squads. Use your highest-rated duplicate pulls from the 85+ x10 packs to immediately knock out the intimidating 91 and 92-rated squad requirements.
This is important because high-rated fodder is much harder to replace once your club starts running low. Leaving the low-rated squads for last ensures you won't waste valuable 93–97-rated cards on requirements that can be completed more cheaply.
If you are missing a specific rating or club requirement, buying only the necessary players can be more efficient than purchasing an entire squad. This keeps the overall cost of the Ibrahimović SBC under control while allowing your repeatable upgrade loop to do most of the work.
Step 3: Stock Up on TOTS/TOTW Fodder
Many of Zlatan's 27 challenges require at least one TOTS or TOTW card. If you run out of them from your pack openings, use your low-rated gold duplicates to complete the 83+ TOTW Player Pick SBC or specific TOTS Upgrade SBCs available in the menus to keep your grind moving smoothly.
Do not immediately discard unwanted special cards. Even lower-rated promotional items can become valuable SBC fodder when completing the higher-rated sections of Ibrahimović's challenge.
How to Make the Ibrahimović SBC Grind More Efficient
The biggest mistake players can make is treating the 27 squads as separate challenges rather than one continuous recycling process.
Start by clearing your club of duplicate cards, then convert those cards into upgrade SBCs. Keep high-rated players aside until you reach the 91 and 92-rated requirements, while lower-rated cards should continue feeding the repeatable upgrade cycle.
It is also worth checking your club for players from PSG, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Sweden, Barcelona, Manchester United, and Ajax before purchasing anything. These players can become particularly useful when specific squad requirements appear.
The goal is to minimize unnecessary spending while extracting as much value as possible from every pack. At this stage of FC 26, the combination of repeatable upgrades, promotional fodder, and duplicate recycling can dramatically reduce the effective cost of the Zlatan SBC.
When Does the Grind End?
The current card batch and upgrading loops will remain highly active as a final celebration leading directly into the next generation. Early access and standard transitions for the upcoming season are slated around September 18 to September 26, 2026.
Make sure to finish your menu recycling and secure this legendary striker before player attention completely shifts to the new Web App launch.
For players who decide they want to accelerate the process rather than rely entirely on SBC recycling, cheap FC 26 Coins can also be used to fill specific gaps when your club is missing the required rating or a particular player. However, the most efficient approach remains using your existing club fodder and repeatable upgrade SBCs wherever possible.
