summary
FC 27 is reportedly giving Icons a major refresh, with every Icon receiving at least an 88 OVR rating alongside improved stats and more useful PlayStyles+. Players such as Roy Keane, Lampard, Gerrard, Rooney, Gullit, and Essien could become much more competitive. These changes may make Icons more exciting to use and pack, especially early in Ultimate Team, while players looking to strengthen their squads can buy FC 27 Coins to gain more flexibility when building around these upgraded legends. However, EA will still need to preserve Icon rarity and prevent Evolutions from making them obsolete.
Every Icon Will Be at Least 88 OVR
The biggest change is reportedly the new 88 OVR minimum for Icons.
In previous FC titles, several legendary players were rated:
· 85 OVR
· 86 OVR
· 87 OVR
These ratings often made them difficult to use competitively despite their legendary status.
The new rating floor should make lower-rated Icons more appealing, particularly during the early stages of FC 27.
However, EA is not simply increasing their overall ratings. Some Icons are also receiving meaningful improvements to their attributes and PlayStyles.
PlayStyles+ Could Make a Major Difference
One of the most interesting aspects of the Icon refresh is the focus on PlayStyles+.
Rather than only increasing statistics, EA appears to be giving many Icons PlayStyles that better fit the current Ultimate Team meta.
Some reported changes include:
· Ian Wright: Chip Shot+ → Finesse Shot+
· Patrick Vieira: Bruiser+
· Zico: Incisive Pass+
· Pires: Finesse Shot+ → Technical+
· Michael Essien: Jockey+ → Anticipate+
· Carlos Alberto: Intercept+
· Wayne Rooney: Power Shot+ → Low Driven+
· Didier Drogba: Power Shot+
· Gullit: Quick Step+ and additional useful PlayStyles
These changes could be particularly important because PlayStyles can significantly influence how players perform in-game.
Gerrard and Lampard Receive Significant Upgrades
Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard are two midfielders who could benefit heavily from the refresh.
Steven Gerrard
Gerrard reportedly moves from 88 OVR to 89 OVR.
His upgrades reportedly include:
· +2 Pace
· +1 Passing
· +3 Dribbling
· +3 Defending
· +1 Physical
The improvements cover almost every major area, making Gerrard considerably more attractive as a central midfielder.
Frank Lampard
Lampard reportedly receives an even more noticeable transformation.
His rating rises from 87 to 89 OVR, while his attributes receive upgrades across the board:
· Shooting: 88 → 91
· +2 Passing
· +2 Dribbling
· +4 Defending
· +1 Physical
· Power Shot+ replaced by Low Driven+
After remaining an 87-rated Icon for several years, this could finally give Lampard a much more competitive role in Ultimate Team.
Roy Keane Could Become a Surprise Meta Option
Roy Keane is another Icon who could benefit enormously from the changes.
Previously rated around 86 OVR, Keane reportedly rises to 89 OVR.
His reported upgrades include:
· +6 Pace
· +5 Shooting
· +5 Dribbling
· +4 Defending
· +1 Physical
· Improved overall rating
· Retains Pinged Pass+
This is potentially one of the biggest transformations among the lower-rated Icons.
Keane has historically been regarded as an underrated footballer, but his FIFA/FC cards have often struggled to compete with more popular midfielders.
The FC 27 version could finally change that.
More Legendary Icons Are Getting Upgrades
Several other major Icons are also reportedly receiving improvements.
Notable examples include:
· Maldini: Higher rating with additional physical and dribbling improvements.
· Rio Ferdinand: +2 Pace, plus improvements to Dribbling and Physical.
· Kaká: +1 overall with Pace, Shooting, and Passing upgrades.
· Gullit: +1 overall with additional Pace, Passing, Dribbling, and Physical upgrades.
· Beckenbauer: Reportedly rises to 93 OVR.
· Buffon: Reportedly rises to 92 OVR.
· Kenny Dalglish: Reportedly receives an overall upgrade.
· Zambrotta: Expected to receive a significant rating boost.
· Puyol: Receives Pace and Dribbling improvements alongside Slide Tackle+.
· Sol Campbell: Gains Defending and Physical upgrades plus Bruiser+.
These changes could make a much wider selection of Icons viable throughout the early FC 27 cycle.
EA Needs to Protect Icon Rarity
The Icon refresh is promising, but there is still an important issue EA needs to address: rarity.
Icons are supposed to feel special when players pack them.
If Icon packs and Icon-related SBCs appear constantly, their value can quickly decrease.
EA should consider:
· Making major Icon SBCs less frequent.
· Avoiding excessive Icon pack releases.
· Keeping top Icons genuinely difficult to obtain.
· Preventing Evolutions from immediately making Icons obsolete.
· Maintaining Icon relevance throughout the Ultimate Team cycle.
The goal should be to make packing an Icon feel like a genuinely memorable moment.
Final Thoughts
The FC 27 Icon changes could be one of the most positive adjustments for Ultimate Team. The combination of an 88 OVR minimum, improved attributes, and more relevant PlayStyles+ should make many forgotten Icons much more usable. For players looking to build stronger squads around these upgraded legends, cheap FC 27 Coins can provide additional flexibility when improving their Ultimate Team.
The biggest winners could include:
· Roy Keane
· Frank Lampard
· Steven Gerrard
· Ian Wright
· Michael Essien
· Wayne Rooney
· Gullit
· Rio Ferdinand
If EA can maintain their rarity while preventing Evolutions and power creep from making them irrelevant, Icons could once again become some of the most exciting cards to pack in FC 27 Ultimate Team.
