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Banned pro Kurt hints at FIFA 21 return 14 months after “lifetime ban” Kurt0411 / EAKurt ‘Kurt0411’ Fenech has dropped the biggest hint yet that a FIFA 21 return is on the cards, 14 months after he was handed an indefinite ban on all EA games. The controversial professional player was at one time one of the best in the world, but has been unable to work his way up the rankings of late, for obvious reasons. In the past, he has been accused of multiple Code of Conduct violations and threatening behavior, and in one instance could be seen spitting on the EA logo. On a few occasions, he has tried to return to FIFA and even streamed a full session on the game with another Twitch account, only to be banned again. In 2021, though, over a year later, he may be ready to return – at least that’s what he is teasing. Kurt returning in FIFA 21? On April 8, he posted a picture of him smiling in the corner of the screen. In the very middle of that image, seen below, was the FIFA 21 loading screen. Th cryptic message could just be his way of showing everybody that he still plays the game quietly, without streaming. Though, it could also indicate his intention of returning as well. Players react Since this screenshot was posted online, a number of players have been reacting to the news. Here are a few of the best tweets. Is Kurt0411 banned from playing FIFA 21? The statement below, posted back in February 2020, confirmed Kurt would be banned from all EA games for the foreseeable future. It said: “Today Kurt0411’s EA account will be banned from playing our games, and accessing our services, due to these serious and repeated violations. “We build games and communities for players to have fun [and] creating a safe experience for everyone without fear of harassment or abuse is a vital part of that…when feedback crosses the line to threatening, personal attacks, we will take action to move it out of our communities.” An Important message regarding FIFA player Kurt0411. pic.twitter.com/RcHu1hMCup — Electronic Arts (@EA) February 24, 2020 Following that news, he has slammed the developers as “incompetent” and even called it a “tyranny”. As of April 2021, as far as public information goes, Kurt is still banned and unable to officially compete in FIFA 21. There has been no indication that this will change from an EA standpoint, though his latest teaser does raise questions about his future. For all we know, it could be him trolling again – only time will tell.

Banned FIFA pro Kurt slams EA “tyranny” following copy-strike attempts Kurt / EABanned FIFA pro Kurt ‘Kurt0411’ Fenech has launched yet another scathing attack at EA SPORTS, slamming their actions towards content creators and calling the publisher a “tyranny.” Kurt has never been one to keep his opinions to himself – it is one of the reasons he has been suspended and, ultimately, banned from competing in FIFA 20, following a string of offenses which finally prompted EA to stop him appearing at their events. Of course, this hasn’t stopped Kurt from being honest with his followers, and he has now spoken out against the company once again, calling them a tyranny and sending a warning “to anyone that intends to call out EA on their bullshit.” Alongside a series of screenshots, each depicting notifications of copyright strikes or warnings from both Twitch and YouTube, Kurt struggled to contain his fury at EA. Kurt tweeted: “Warning to anyone that intends to call out EA on their bulls**t. They will now copy-strike your content and try to get your channels deleted. This is a tyranny that will stop at nothing.” He then conceded defeat, adding: “I surrender.” The screenshots show multiple instances of his content being targeted, including at least eight clips from a single stream on February 13. Warning to anyone that intends to call out EA on their bullshit….they will now copy-strike your content and try to get your channels deleted. This is a tyranny that will stop at nothing. I surrender pic.twitter.com/TW7i30Gf4E — Kurt (@Kurt0411Fifa) February 15, 2020 What exactly Kurt claims to be surrendering from is unclear. It seems unlikely that he’ll stop creating content altogether, nor that he is willing to stop giving his truthful opinions on EA or FIFA in general. Many of the replies to his tweet were in full support of him voicing his opinion on the matter. One follower tweeted: “The entire community must support Kurt including the YouTubers and streamers. We need to fight this tyranny of EA. That is no longer acceptable.” The entire community must support Kurt including the youtubers and streamers. We need to fight this tyranny of EA. That is no longer acceptable. — Fayaman (@el_fayaman) February 15, 2020 The next day, Kurt followed up with a tweet saying that they’re “too busy finding ways to copy-strike me and, meanwhile, there’s a no loss glitch well and truly alive on FUT champs.” It seems that regardless of what action EA takes, Kurt isn’t willing to ignore his morals and will keep calling them out until he’s happy with the product.

Banned FIFA star Kurt reveals future plans after “personal witch hunt” EA SportsThe ongoing war of words between FIFA creator Kurt ‘Kurt0411’ Fenech and publishers EA Sports has taken another turn, after the fallen pro star took to YouTube “explain everything” and reveal what’s next for his career. On February 24, fallen FIFA star Kurt was banned from the football video game, as well as all other EA Sports titles, for allegedly leading “threatening personal attacks” against members of the development team over the past few months. After initially slamming the publishers as “incompetent” — an assessment fellow FIFA creator RunTheFUTMarket all but agreed with days later — the former pro player has taken to YouTube to “explain everything.” Kurt slams “ridiculous” EA ban as “personal witch hunt” According to the 25-year-old streaming personality, EA’s “personal witch hunt” against him has reached “ridiculous” levels, and after the permanent ban was revealed earlier this week, he “needs some time off” to cope with it all. “The reason I am annoyed about these lies EA have released is I have to sit here and explain to my friends and family what happened,” he said in his Feb 26 video. “They make me sound like I murdered someone. This statement is absolutely not okay.” The problem, Kurt continued, was the statement made it seem like there is no question over his guilt. While EA may have already passed sentence, he believes he has never directed personal attacks towards the company’s employees. He had called one community manager “a bum” and a “waste of sp*rm” about a week and a half ago, he admitted — an opinion he also said he “still stands by completely” — but he added he would never condone what EA had accused him of. “How many more of these do I have to do? Ban, ban, ban, the second one this year, one last year… seriously it’s getting ridiculous,” the FIFA star said in the opening moments of his 22-minute response video. “Funny thing, in the end, is they’ve made more statements about me than the state the game is actually in at the moment. I should be honored, but really that’s just sad. “For the first time since beginning to make videos though, I will hold my hands up… I have grown exponentially on YouTube and Twitch, more than I could have ever imagined, and that means there’s a difference when I release a video like that. “As I found out, me saying things like this, unfortunately, resulted in his Twitter account being slammed, attacked, whatever you want to call it, and that’s stuff I absolutely do not want to see, and do not condone.” What’s next for Kurt after the permanent ban? Whether he’s guilty or not, however, he’s still banned. Without FIFA, he can’t create stream new content on Twitch, or make YouTube videos. His only option, he said, is time out of the limelight to figure out his next steps. “I’ll be honest, I need some time off. Not a lot, but it’s not easy, not today. I just need some time,” he said. “I’ll be back. We’ve created something very, very special, something I don’t take for granted. We’ll beat them. We will, but I need some time.” He also added a heartfelt plea to his fans, after admitted he had realized just how powerful his words and reach could really be: “do not fight my battles for me.” “I only just realized the effect that I’ve started having on people, and it was a bit of an ‘oh my god’ moment. I don’t want anyone going out of their way defending me, or making videos saying they should unban me,” he said. According to him, doing that would only be fruitless. “Either they don’t unban me, and nothing happens and they ignore you, or they start banning you guys too, so, thank you, but don’t fight my battles for me. Leave it up to me.” For mobile readers, the related segment begins at 16:45 in the video below. Why Kurt will always return to FIFA, if he’s allowed Kurt may be taking some time away from his fanbase, video content creation, and of course a non-optional break from the FIFA franchise, but the long-term player and self-confessed fan also admitted he will “never stop playing.” “People ask, why don’t you stop playing the game if you don’t like it so much… Fortnite sh*ts the bed, you get Apex or PUBG. With sports games, this is the sport we love, so we want to play the game that represents that,” he explained. The banned star likened it to telling a Manchester United supporter to simply “stop watching” the twenty-time English top-flight champions because they “aren’t a fan of the Glazers,” and added that would be “stupid.” “That’s their passion. That’s what they love, so why should they stop watching? FIFA gave their license to EA, therefore EA holds the responsibility to give us football fans a good game. Unfortunately, there is no competition.” At this stage, however, whether FIFA is his passion and career or not, he has no way back into the football simulation title, or any EA release for that matter, and that doesn’t look like it will change for the foreseeable future. There’s always hope for Kurt though. League of Legends’ most notorious streamer, Tyler ‘Tyler1’ Steinkamp, was permanently banned from Riot’s franchise. On January 3 2018, 613 days later, he returned to the MOBA title. However, Steinkamp’s suspension in the fantasy title was due to repeated in-game toxicity, rather than a personal feud with the publishers themselves so, unfortunately, there’s no telling if the same redemption arc will eventually play out for Kurt.

Banned FIFA pro Kurt breaks silence and accuses EA of creating “toxic community” YouTube: Kurt0411Kurt Fenech is one of the most well-known names in FIFA, despite his ban from the EA SPORTS franchise putting him completely out of action in FIFA 21. The Maltese star was, at the peak of his career, one of the greatest FIFA players in the world. Not only that, but he always had his fair share of fanfare following him, as one of the most outspoken critics of the title on top of his insane skill. During the FIFA 20 season, tensions started to heat up between Kurt and EA, before he was finally banned in February 2020 for breaking their Code of Conduct. As a consequence of his ban, he is not allowed to play any EA games at all. After trying out FIFA competitor PES for a short while, Kurt went almost radio-silent on the YouTube front, not uploading for months and barely addressing his ban — until now. In a February 23 YouTube upload, Kurt revealed that he is still completely banned from FIFA and has not been able to play this entire time. In the video, he also says that the handling of his ban has been “ridiculous” and questioned their stated commitment to mental health awareness. Kurt goes on to specify that his ban came as a result of EA saying that he fostered a “toxic community” around the game — but suggests that it’s got even worse since. He also passes the blame on to EA themselves, saying that they are the reason for toxicity within the community, having failed to take action against users who actually violate terms of service. “This is where I do take issue,” he said. “They told me I created an unhealthy community. Over the past year without me, what changed? It’s more toxic than it’s ever been! I know who is [responsible]. It’s not me… It’s they themselves.” Kurt goes on to explain that he won’t make excuses for the things he has said and done in the past leading up to his ban, but tells EA that they need to take some responsibility too. Read More: FIFA 21 Premier League POTM predictions – Finally, he commends 14-year-old Anders Vejrgang, the FIFA star who went on an insane 536 match unbeaten run in FUT Champs as one of his favorite sources of entertainment, but now his streak is gone Kurt “doesn’t know what’s left.” Though Kurt says he would love to come back, there’s no word yet on if or when that could ever happen. He did try to a few times on Twitch immediately following his initial ban, though we’ll just have to wait and see what the future holds.

How to complete Gareth Bale FIFA 21 Flashback TOTS SBC: solutions & cost Gareth Bale is next in line for a FIFA 21 Flashback SBC, timed perfectly with the TOTS promotion and the Premier League team launch. Here’s what we know about the Tottenham star’s new card, and how you can complete the SBC. Bale might have been left out from the initial Premier League TOTS squad, but that didn’t stop the Tottenham star from showing up in an SBC during the end-of-season promotion. It’s his biggest upgrade to date in FIFA 21, and a card many FIFA players would be used to seeing in years gone by after his dominant spells at White Hart Lane before he moved to Madrid. He hasn’t featured in a TOTS promotion in some time — not since FIFA 14 — so it’s been a long time coming for Spurs fans. Here’s what we know about Bale FIFA 21 Flashback TOTS card that’s now live. Bale FIFA 21 Flashback TOTS in-game stats It might not be the 99 Pace of yesteryear, but Bale’s Flashback TOTS still packs a pretty punch. The 90-rated card — equal with his UCL RTTF card in FIFA 20 — features a good balance across the board including 91 Shooting (with 98 Shot Power), 88 Passing, and 88 Dribbling. Read More: FIFA 21 Premier League TOTS cards revealed – Tie that up with the 82 Physical on the end, and you’ve got a super versatile RM, RW, or RF that can slide easily into any Premier League squad (unless you land the 96-rated Salah TOTS card, of course). Bale FIFA 21 Flashback TOTS SBC requirements Number of players from Spurs: Min 1 – Squad Rating: Min 83 – Team Chemistry: Min 80 – Number of players in the Squad: 11 – Reward: 1 Premium Electrum Players Pack – Number of players from Premier League: Min 1 – In Form Players: Min 1 – Squad Rating: Min 84 – Team Chemistry: Min 75 – Number of players in the Squad: 11 – Reward: 1 Small Prime Gold Players Pack – Number of players from Real Madrid: Min 1 – IF Players: Min 1 – Squad Rating: Min 85 – Team Chemistry: Min 70 – Number of players in the Squad: 11 – Reward: 1 Prime Electrum Players Pack – Number of players from LaLiga Santander: Min 1 – In Form Players: Min 1 – Squad Rating: Min 86 – Team Chemistry: Min 65 – Number of players in the Squad: 11 – Reward: 1 Premium Gold Players Pack – Bale FIFA 21 Flashback TOTS SBC cost In total, it looks like Bale’s SBC will run you 308,000 t0 385,000 FUT Coins, not exactly a bargain, but not ridiculously overpriced for a 90 OVR Premier League card either with such strong offensive stats. Xbox: 308,000 – PlayStation: 309,000 – Origin: 385,000 – Bale FIFA 21 Flashback TOTS SBC solutions Below are some of the cheapest solutions to each set of requirements for Bale’s Flashback SBC, and as always, none of the ones posted below will require any loyalty or position change cards to complete. Rising Star solution Premier League solution Los Blancos solution League Finesse solution Now we know exactly what squads you’ll need to forge to pick up the Welshman, and if you don’t want to miss out on the 90-rated Premier League card, it will be available until Friday, May 7. For more FIFA 21 news, leaks, and coverage of the current TOTS promo, be sure to follow us on Twitter @UltimateTeamUK and @FUTWatch.

Aubameyang’s FIFA 21 Ultimate Team revealed featuring Drogba & Ronaldo EA SPORTSPierre-Emerick Aubameyang is one of the biggest stars at Arsenal FC right now, as their top scorer in the 2020/21 season. And he’s looking for success in FIFA 21 Ultimate Team now, too. FIFA is a favourite pastime for many top players, especially now with youngsters coming through who have grown up with the game. The likes of Neymar and Erling Haaland clearly like to play in their downtime and have had their teams revealed, too. Aubameyang has become a very occasional Twitch streamer too, and booted up the stream to play some Division Rivals and Pro Clubs on March 3. This gave fans the perfect look at his team and, more importantly, his ability on the virtual pitch. Aubameyang FIFA 21 Ultimate Team XI revealed As with most pro players, Auba has surrounded himself with legends of the game in the form of the very rare and expensive ICONs. This includes Pele and Ruud Gullit. Read More: FIFA “scipting” claims debunked – He also lines himself up alongside some current greats — though he does have a pretty questionable selection of players on the bench. Here’s how his starting XI looks: GK: Marc-Andre ter Stegen (90) – RB: Kyle Walker (85) – CB: Virgil Van Dijk (90) – CB: Raphael Varane (86) – LB: Ferland Mendy (83) – CDM: Ruud Gullit (90) – CDM: Kylian Mbappe (90) – CAM: Ronaldo (94) – CAM: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (99) – CAM: Pele (95) – ST: Drogba (91) – Of course, while the team itself looks pretty insane, there is at least one glaring issue… Mbappe at CDM. We can only imagine he changes up the formation or makes some moves after kick-off. The bench is clearly a problem too, filled with a bunch of bronze players, but that’s definitely something that can be easily fixed. Overall, it’s not the best team we’ve seen from a top player, but it definitely looks like it could hold its own in Weekend League.

Athletic Bilbao’s Iñigo Córdoba has his FIFA 20 Ultimate Team revealed EA SPORTSAthletic Bilbao young star Iñigo Córdoba has had his FIFA 20 Ultimate Team starting lineup revealed and his midfield is one of the most unique collections of cards that you may have ever seen. As a team that is built on the foundations of youth, especially from the Basque region of Spain, every few years Athletic Bilbao has a handful of new stars on the rise – destined to take the club towards the top of La Liga. Years ago it was Iker Muniain, more recently it was Inaki Williams, and now many will point to Iñigo Córdoba. The 23-year-old left-winger has made 67 appearances for Athletic Club, with his form even helping him break into the Spanish youth ranks – though he hasn’t made the step up to the senior national team yet. While we won’t see the diminutive winger on the San Mames pitch anytime soon due to the ongoing global health crisis, he’s got plenty of time to play FIFA. As a result, Córdoba has had his FIFA 20 Ultimate Team Starting XI revealed following the April 10-13 round of FUT Champs Weekend League games. Redditor PauloWanchope came across the young forward in a game as he has a 99-rated custom pro player card to prove that he is the real deal. Though, unlike so many of his fellow professionals, Córdoba doesn’t have a team littered with icon cards. Instead, he’s got base cards and even FUT Champs player picks, though there is a slot for an 88-rated Michael Owen icon. Inigo Cordoba’s FIFA 20 Ultimate Team: GK: Thibaut Courtois – 88 – LB: Ferland Mendy – 80 – RB: Kyle Walker – 86 – CB: Raphael Varane – 85 – CB: Eder Militao – 81 – CM: Tiemoue Bakayoko – 88 – CM: Fabian Delph – 81 – CAM: Christian Eriksen – 91 – LW: Iñigo Córdoba – 99 – RW: Xherdan Shaqiri – 87 – ST: Michael Owen – 88 – The most interesting part about Córdoba’s team, however, is the fact that his midfield isn’t like anything you’ll see elsewhere. Everton’s Fabian Delph is used to provide a link to Kyle Walker and Xherdan Shaqiri, but Christian Eriksen’s Inter Milan card is pretty much all on his own. There is plenty of room to upgrade his team, especially with the base cards in defence. Though, they do provide good chemistry so the 23-year-old might be on to something with his unusual lineup.

Atletico Madrid’s Joao Felix has his FIFA 20 Ultimate Team revealed EA SPORTSAtletico Madrid’s young star Joao Felix has revealed his own FIFA 20 Ultimate Team starting lineup – showing off his star-studded squad live on YouTube. After making waves for Benfica during the 2018/19 season, Joao Felix was the talk of the footballing world – linked with a wide range of clubs in the transfer market. The 20-year-old eventually joined Atletico Madrid for an eye-watering €126 million – the fourth-most expensive fee ever for a player. Since joining Atleti, the Portuguese has had a fine start to life in the Spanish capital, helping Diego Simeone’s side to sixth place in La Liga and a quarter-finals spot in the Champions League – defeating holders Liverpool in the process. Like many other footballing stars, Felix is a fan of FIFA, occasionally live streaming EA SPORTS’ game on YouTube. During his March 27 broadcast, the Atletico Madrid star took some time to show off his incredibly high-powered starting lineup that includes legends like Pele, Maradona, Ronaldo, and Maldini. Like plenty of other professional stars, the youngster even has his own 99-rated custom card that proves you’re actually playing against Joao Felix – should you have the chance to drop in to a game against him. Joao Felix’s FIFA 20 Ultimate Team Starting XI GK: Jan Oblak – 92 – LB: Alex Telles – 89 – RB: Nelson Semedo – 87 – CB: Paolo Maldini – 94 – CB: Eder Militao – 86 – CM: Juan Roman Riquelme – 92 – CM: Ruud Gullit – 93 – CAM: Pele – 98 – CAM: Joao Felix – 99 – CAM: Maradona – 97 – ST: Ronaldo – 96 – Unlike some of his other fellow professionals, there aren’t many spots for current day players in Felix’s squad. He has, though, made room for teammate Jan Oblak and fellow Portuguese international Nelson Semedo. Some fans might also point to the fact that he could upgrade his team by dropping Militao and Alex Telles, for other icons, but they are still pretty useful cards in their own right.

Aston Villa’s John McGinn has ICON & TOTY stacked FIFA 21 Ultimate Team revealed EA/FIFA RostersAston Villa and Scotland star John McGinn has had his FIFA 21 Ultimate Team revealed, and it’s stacked with ICONs and recently released Team of the Year cards. There’s no room for his Villa teammate Jack Grealish, though. Following their narrow escape from relegation last season, Aston Villa have captivated many Premier League neutrals with their attacking – and often successful – brand of football. The memorable 7-2 win over Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool has been the pick of the bunch, but their massively improved form has impressed many. Central to the improved form (quite literally) is John McGinn, one of Villa’s players who has made the transition from the Championship to the Premier League look seamless. The Scot can be found in midfield alongside Ross Barkley and Douglas Luiz, churning out the kind of consistent performances the Villains were crying out for last season. It seems that McGinn is spending some of his downtime playing FIFA 21, and he came up against one Redditor in FUT Champions Weekend League. The Reddit user – ‘andy1717‘ – joked that they were already struggling on Weekend League, and the sight of McGinn’s team would not be welcome. Read More: How to complete CR7 Flashback SBC in FIFA 21 – There are 7 ICONs in the Scot’s team, including 95 OVR Pele. He’s joined by fellow Brazilians R9 Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos. If that wasn’t enough, McGinn’s own 99-rated pro player card is partnered with Ruud Gullit, with TOTY Van Dijk and Kylian Mbappe also in the mix. It’s one of the best teams we’ve seen from any pro player, with very few areas genuinely open to improvement. His full FIFA 21 Ultimate Team is as follows: GK: Edwin van der Sar – 89 – RB: Carlos Alberto – 90 – CB: Kyle Walker – 86 – CB: Virgil Van Dijk – 96 – LB: Roberto Carlos – 91 – CDM: John McGinn – 99 – CDM: Ruud Gullit – 90 – CAM: Pele – 95 – CAM: Kylian Mbappe – 97 – ST: Ronaldo – 94 – ST: Emilio Butragueño – 92 – The Redditor joked that EA weren’t helping them through their already tough Weekend League, and confirmed that McGinn ran riot with his legends. “How it went: about 3-0 down within 20 minutes, nearly scored myself with Owen 1-on-1 with the keeper but my player selection wouldn’t let me get off Danny Ings,” he said. “Very downhill from there, 6-0 within 45 mins so he paused. Determined to score so I carried on but then he stopped playing to let me score with Danny Ings and then I left. GG.” As the saying goes, you can’t win them all.

Argentina’s Eduardo Salvio has insane FIFA 20 Ultimate Team revealed EA SportsEduardo Salvio, winger for Boca Juniors and Argentina, has had his Ultimate Team revealed after coming up against a Redditor in FIFA 20’s most recent FUT Champions Weekend League competition. Argentina’s Eduardo Salvio has played for a number of Europe’s most prestigious clubs. He went from Atletico Madrid to Benfica, spending just shy of 9 years at the Portuguese giants. His time in Portugal came to an end in 2019, when he secured himself a move back to his home country and Boca Juniors. Boca do not actually feature in FIFA 20; playing under the name Buenos Aires as a result of licensing disputes. However, Salvio himself has got some pretty insane cards in FIFA 20, including a 91 OVR Libertadores card. It seems like Salvio is spending his time in isolation the same as most of us – playing video games. He has even been playing some FIFA 20 with Argentina teammate Sergio Agüero, who recently hit out at EA over their handling of the title. On April 29, one FIFA 20 fan shared Salvio’s Ultimate Team after coming up against the Argentine in an online match. Salvio’s starting XI, managed by Pep Guardiola, is led by his 99 OVR personalized pro player card, which sits at RW in a 4-3-3 formation. He is joined up-front by Ronaldo and Neymar, with Leroy Sane, Kevin De-Bruyne, and Michael Essien making up the midfield three. The Argentine’s back five consists of Ricardo Pereira, Virgil Van-Dijk, Nicolas Otamendi, Kyle Walker, and Alisson. It is a seriously impressive squad, coming in at 91 OVR. GK: Alisson – 97 – RB: Kyle Walker – 88 – CB: Virgil Van Dijk – 90 – CB: Nicolas Otamendi – 85 – LB: Ricardo Pereira – 88 – CDM: Kevin De Bruyne – 94 – CM: Leroy Sane – 91 – CM: Michael Essien – 90 – LW: Neymar – 92 – ST: Ronaldo – 94 – RW: Eduardo Salvio – 99 – In terms of areas to improve in Salvio’s squad, there really aren’t that many. We’d probably recommend swapping to a version of 4-3-3 with 3 CMs, so KDB doesn’t have to play in such a defensive role. That’s about it. As pro player line ups go, this is up there with the best we’ve seen.

Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe has an incredible FIFA 21 Ultimate Team EA SPORTSEmile Smith Rowe is a rising star in North London, assisting his way into becoming a first-team regular. But he’s not just a promising young footballer: his FIFA 21 Ultimate Team squad is pretty impressive, too. The 20-year-old England international has won over fans and critics of Arsenal alike, going from an under 23 rotational player while coming back from injury, to a key component of Arsenal’s attacking force. The team looks markedly better with him in it, and he might be able to attribute that to getting in some serious game time on FIFA 21, putting in the reps against his opponents. Emile isn’t the only player that likes to turn to FIFA in his downtime. Earlier in February, Liverpool’s Diogo Jota hit Rank 1 in FUT Champs, cementing his status as the Premier League’s greatest FIFA player. No doubt, though, that Smith Rowe will be gunning for that title, and he’s put together a solid team to try and compete in Ultimate Team. Sitting himself alongside some legends of the sport and some of the top current stars across the Premier League and La Liga, here’s Smith Rowe’s squad, as found by ScottSteer on Reddit. Emile Smith Rowe’s FIFA 21 Ultimate Team squad GK: Alisson (90) – RB: Kyle Walker (85) – CB: Virgil Van Dijk (90) – CB: Raphael Varane (86) – LB: Ferland Mendy (83) – CDM: N’Golo Kante (88) – CM: Kevin De Bruyne (91) – CM: Michael Essien (87) – CAM: Emile Smith Rowe (99) – ST: Ronaldo (94) – ST: Pele (95) – While this squad isn’t the insanely expensive work of art we’ve come to expect from top players, who will often have squads full of ICONs and Team of the Year players, it’s still certainly a respectable team. It definitely conforms to the preferred meta picks, so Smith Rowe knows what he’s doing when it comes to Ultimate Team. It does beg the question though… Why no Arsenal players? Maybe Emile has his sights set on Liverpool, Manchester City or Real Madrid, based on who he’s playing himself next to.

Anthony Gordon’s FIFA 21 Ultimate Team lineup is filled with football legends EA SPORTSA player has gone up against Everton’s Anthony Gordon in FIFA 21 and it’s fair to say he’s a fan of the ICON cards. It’s no surprise that certain professional footballers enjoy playing FIFA 21 and building up their squad on ultimate team. It must be such a surreal experience to be able to play yourself in a squad that you’ve customized and created. Both Mason Mount and Erling Haaland have had their FIFA squads leaked in recent weeks. Needless to say, both their lineups didn’t disappoint and revealed football players take FIFA’s FUT mode fairly seriously. For Gordon, it’s all about the ICON’s paired with the deadly attacking duo from PSG. Anthony Gordon FIFA 21 Ultimate Team revealed In a thread posted to the FIFA subreddit, DanngODB revealed Anthony Gordon’s full FUT lineup after he went up against him online. Gordon has opted to utilize PSG’s attacking force of Neymar and Mbappe in his squad. On top of this, he’s included a number ICON cards, including English football legends Rio Ferdinand and Ashley Cole. Here’s Anthony Gordon’s complete FIFA 21 starting XI: GK: Schmeichel – 90 – CB: Ferdinand – 88 – CB: Varane – 86 – RB: Walker – 85 – LB: Cole – 85 – CM: Gullit – 90 – RM: Gordon – 99 – LM: Neymar – 91 – CAM: Pele – 95 – CAM: Ronaldo – 94 – ST: Mbappe – 90 – There’s no doubt Gordon is a fan of the ICON cards, but then again, who wouldn’t be when you get to play alongside so many legends. It’s fair to say Gordan’s lineup is pretty solid. With the likes of Cole, Ferdinand, and Varane in the backline, he’s created an extremely tough defense to get through. Gullit takes up the center-mid position with Neymar and Gordon alongside him. Read More: FIFA 21 Headliners promo countdown LIVE – Finally, the front three is not lacking in firepower or creativity. Mbappe, Ronaldo, and Pele make up a dangerous attacking force that any FIFA player would fear to go up against. Whether it’s Mount, Gordon, or Haaland, it’s always exciting to see professional footballer’s ultimate team lineups. Keep your fingers crossed and you may run into one of them the next time you jump onto FIFA 21.

April Fool’s Day SBCs revealed in FIFA 20 with surprising rewards EA SPORTSEA SPORTS have rolled out two brand new Squad Building Challenges in FIFA 20 Ultimate Team to celebrate April Fool’s Day, but would it take a fool to complete them? Let’s answer that question. April 1 will always be a day for jokes, both convincing and terrible. However, after seeing that the game developers have added two new challenges to the game, you might be wondering whether or not they are worth the hassle. Unlike previous SBCs, where FUT players can pick up high rated upgrade cards in exchange for teams, these challenges allow you to grab a pack and unlock a new kit. So, let’s run through the deadline, requirements, rewards, cost and solutions. FIFA 20 April Fool’s Kit & April 1st SBCs How long will they be around for? Players will have until April 4 to complete both the April Fool’s Kit and April 1st SBCs, which are both non-repeatable. We would like to call it a once in a lifetime opportunity, but we’ll let you make your own mind up about that one after seeing the rewards – which it could be argued look like a joke. FIFA 20 April Fool’s Kit requirements Same league count: Max 5 – Leagues: Min 3 – Gold players: Min 3 – Squad rating: Min 70 – Team chemistry: Min 75 – Number of players in the Squad: 11 – Reward: New April Fool’s Kit – FIFA 20 April 1st SBC requirements Leagues: Min 3 – Nationalities: Min 3 – Clubs: Min 3 – Squad rating: Max 60 – Team chemistry: Exactly 33 – Number of players in the Squad: 11 – Reward: Special Bronze Pack – April Fool’s Day SBC cost and solutions Like we told you, not the best rewards. If you would like to continue and complete the SBC, however, the FUTBIN database estimates the April Fool’s Day Kit will cost between 3,000 to 5,000 coins depending on which platform you play on. On the other hand, the April 1st SBC – with that all important Bronze reward – will set you back around 4,000 on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC. Prices will fluctuate as always, though, so expect to pay slightly higher or lower that figure. FIFA 20 SBC solutions April Fool’s Kit April 1st So, there you have it! Now you know how to complete both of the Squad Building Challenges for April Fool’s Day in FIFA 20. Based on them rewards, do you want to complete them? Let us know on Twitter @UltimateTeamUK.

Another FIFA 21 Squad Battles glitch discovered for ICON Swaps EA SPORTSEA SPORTS have tried to stamp out FIFA 21 Squad Battles glitches and exploits in the past, though it appears the community have found another way to get free wins during the ICON Swaps 3 promo. Players grind through Squad Battles every week, on the hunt of rewards which can be collected every seven days. These prizes will be good or bad, depending on the games played and performances. Though, what makes Squad Battle glitches so popular is that scoring just one goal in-game and putting your pad down can actually seal you easy victories. In the past, fans have found a number of ways to stop the AI from pressing the ball in the single-player game mode within Ultimate Team. After those were patched, a new one has emerged and people are using it already. New Squad Battles glitch found On May 11, DutchLionFUT posted a video about how it works in FIFA 21. Read More: FIFA 21 Team of the Week 33 – Just like previous exploits, all players need to do is follow a few simple steps to get it working. Walk the player into the opposition box. – Keep holding L2/LT. – Leave the box with your back to goal. – Hold L2/LT, and then release it. – https://twitter.com/DutchLionFUT/status/1392065456350113798 The game’s developers have moved swiftly in the past to make sure these FIFA 21 Squad Battles exploits don’t have the desired effect in-game. However, without the rollout of a quick patch, its existence does mean easy wins will be given out across the board – even on higher difficulties.

Anderlecht’s Samir Nasri has his FIFA 20 Ultimate Team revealed DexertoRSC Anderlecht midfielder Samir Nasri has had his FIFA 20 Ultimate Team revealed, and and to say it’s full to the brim with TOTS So Far cards would be underselling it. Samir Nasri has, like many real life footballers, been known to dip his toes into the world of FIFA. Away from taking issue with EA’s servers – like most of us! – it seems he is a keen FUT Champions Weekend League player. The former Arsenal and Manchester City midfielder is currently on the books at Anderlecht and, despite struggling for appearances since signing in July on a free transfer, he’s got a pretty powerful Ultimate Team line-up in his back pocket. A FIFA fan by the name ‘u/Abdulrahman-Barzanji‘ shared Nasri’s FIFA Ultimate Team, and it’s significantly different to the one we showed you in January. Like the majority of professional players who play FUT, the Premier League winner has got his own custom 99-rated card pulling the strings. While his 99 OVR card was previously in midfield, it seems Nasri wanted to get his own name on the scoresheet more often, as it now plays up top. Samir Nasri’s FIFA 20 Ultimate Team – May 18, 2020 As you can see, there are huge changes to Nasri’s UT. Nearly all of the icons have been done away with, replaced by a host of TOTSSF cards. Mbappe, Ter Stegen and Varane all come in, replacing Maldini, van der Sar and Maradona. We’re not sure what the motivation for Neymar at CDM is, but each to their own. We’ve put all the players from the two XIs into a table below, so you can compare the changes more easily. To make things simpler, the 4-2-3-1 central formation remains in place. While the overall of the squad may have fallen slightly, we’re not sure it will be impacting Nasri too much given the ridiculous strength of his XI. What his bench looks like is a different story, but we’re guessing that Nasri’s club is filled with some pretty powerful cards. Though, not many of them are probably going to cracking his insane starting XI.

How to complete Andy Delort Ligue 1 POTM FIFA 21 SBC: solutions & cost EA SPORTSAndy Delort is celebrating Christmas in style in FIFA 21, picking up the Ligue 1 POTM for November and getting his own special SBC for it too. Here’s how you can complete it to add a bit of Algerian flair to your French attack. It was down to Kevin Volland, Irvin Carona, and Andy Delort for the FIFA 21 Ligue 1 POTM in November, and the latter managed to walk away with the honors. Delort’s efforts helped Montpellier stabilize in the middle of the table, getting four wins on the trot across the month. The striker scored three goals and two assists in November to get the nod, including a brace against Strasbourg that helped Montpellier triumph 4-3. That effort also netted him an 82-rated IF, but his 86-rated POTM card is a lot more appealing. Here’s what you need to know. Bravo, Andy Delort! The @UNFP November #POTM 👏 Another top striker option for your @Ligue1UberEats FUT squad 🔥 pic.twitter.com/f0AsxiAqfj— EA SPORTS FC (@EASPORTSFC) December 24, 2020 Andy Delort Ligue 1 POTM card stats Delort’s 86-rated POTM card is a raw upgrade of +7 from his base card (79), as well as an extra +4 from his Inform (82). With a base upgrade that hefty, you know his POTM stats are going to be good. The POTM card increases the Algerian striker’s Pace from 84 to 91 compared to his base card, as well as huge +10 upgrades to Passing (80) and Dribbling (85). Also, in honor of his many headed efforts, he’s getting a handy increase to Jumping (+7) and Strength (+7) in the box to help rise above the defense. Read More: How to complete FIFA 21 Firmino Freeze SBC – Shooting wise, the +8 to 88 is also very handy. With an incredible 98 Shot Power and 88 Finishing, Delort’s POTM card is expected to be lethal in front of goal. Delort FIFA 21 POTM SBC requirements: total cost The Delort SBC comes in at a respectable 80,000 to 90,000 coins, depending on your platform, which is at a more convenient price range to casual players. However, he can be a solid upgrade to any Ligue 1 squad — although he lacks some flexibility due to being Algerian. Andy Delort # of players from Ligue 1: Min 1 – IF players: Min 2 – Squad Rating: Min 84 – Team Chemistry: Min 80 – # of players in the Squad: 11 – You’ll have until January 25, 2021 to pick up Delort, so if you want to wait on doing the SBC, you are more than able to do so. If you do pick up the Montpellier striker though, let us know on @UltimateTeamUK, especially if you score an absolute worldie!

How to complete Alonso & Mariano FIFA 21 Showdown SBC: solution & cost EA SPORTSEA SPORTS are getting ready for the UCL semi-final between Chelsea and Real Madrid on May 5 with a FIFA 21 Showdown SBC featuring Marcos Alonso and Mariano Diaz. Here are all the details, including stats, requirements, cost, and solutions. Chelsea and Real Madrid will be duking it out in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final following a 1-1 draw in the first leg at Santiago Bernabéu. It’s set to be a cracking match with pride and silverware on the line, and to celebrate the occasion, EA SPORTS has released an exciting FIFA 21 Showdown SBC that pits Chelsea midfielder Marcos Alonso against Real Madrid attacker Mariano Diaz. The cards already have excellent stats. However, the winner will also receive a +2 upgrade. So, follow your gut feeling and pick the player from the team you think will win. FIFA 21 Showdown Alonso & Mariano SBC: in-game stats Showdown Alonso stats Showdown Mariano stats FIFA 21 Showdown Alonso & Mariano SBC: requirements & cost Showdown Alonso SBC requirements & cost Chelsea Number of players from Chelsea: Min 1 – Squad Rating: Min 84 – Team Chemistry: Min 70 – Number of players in the Squad: 11 – Reward: 1 Premium Mixed Players Pack – Premier League Number of players from Premier League: Min 1 – IF Players: Min 1 – Squad Rating: Min 85 – Team Chemistry: Min 60 – Number of players in the Squad: 11 – Reward: 1 Prime Mixed Players Pack – Marcos Alonso’s Showdown SBC card isn’t too expensive. It comes in at around 130,000 to 150,000 FUT Coins depending on the platform, which is excellent value for the 89-rated card. Playstation: 125,000 – Xbox 130,000 – PC: 150,000 – Showdown Mariano SBC requirements & cost Real Madrid Number of players from Real Madrid: Min 1 – Squad Rating: Min 84 – Team Chemistry: Min 70 – Number of players in the Squad: 11 – Reward: 1 Small Rare Mixed Players Pack – La Liga Number of players from LaLiga Santander: Min 1 – IF Players: Min 1 – Squad Rating: Min 85 – Team Chemistry: Min 60 – Number of players in the Squad: 11 – Reward: 1 Prime Mixed Players Pack – Similarly, Mariano Diaz’s Showdown SBC card is also quite cheap. It will set you back around 130,000 to 160,000 FUT Coins depending on the platform. Playstation: 135,000 – Xbox: 130,000 – PC: 160,000 – FIFA 21 Showdown Alonso & Mariano SBC: cheapest solutions Below you’ll find some of the cheapest solutions to each of the required squads for Alonso and Mariano’s Showdown SBCs. And the best part is, none of them require any loyalty or position change cards to complete. Showdown Alonso SBC solutions Chelsea solution Premier League solution Showdown Mariano SBC solutions Real Madrid solution La Liga solution It will be interesting to see who comes out on top in the fateful UEFA Champions League clash at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. Our pick? Real Madrid should be able to beat Chelsea on their hallowed turf. You can make your choice up until kick-off on May 5. So, what are you waiting for? You better get stuck into it while the cards are still available.

How to complete Amiri and Roussillon FIFA 21 Bundesliga objectives EA SPORTSEA SPORTS released two Bundesliga TOTS objective challenges, and if you finish them, you can get your hands on Nadiem Amiri and Jerome Roussillon’s new and improved cards. Here are all the details. FIFA 21’s Team of the Season (TOTS) promotion has been running rampant in recent weeks. In addition to all the TOTS cards appearing in packs, FIFA Ultimate Team players have been spoilt with countless SBCs and objectives challenges. Now, following the announcement of the Bundesliga TOTS, two more objectives challenges have popped up, and they’re all about Bayer Leverkusen’s Nadiem Amiri and Wolfburg’s Jerome Roussillon. Here’s everything you need to know FIFA 21 Amiri TOTS Objectives FIFA 21 Amiri TOTS in-game stats FIFA 21 Amiri TOTS objectives & rewards Far Out Finishing Score five Outside of the Box goals on min. Professional difficulty (or Rivals) – Rewards: Gold Pack and 300 XP – 4 Step Setup Assist in three separate Squad Battles matches on min. World Class difficulty (or Rivals) using a player with minimum 4-star Skill Moves – Rewards: 75+ Rated Rare Player and 300 XP – Bundesliga Class Score using Bundesliga players in seven separate Squad Battles win on min. World Class difficulty (or Rivals) – Rewards: Premium Gold Pack and 300 XP – German Gifts Assist with a Through Ball using German players in 10 separate Squad Battles matches on min. Professional difficulty (or Rivals) – Rewards: Electrum Players Pack and 300 XP – FIFA 21 Roussillon TOTS Objectives FIFA 21 Roussillon TOTS in-game stats FIFA 21 Roussillon TOTS objectives & rewards Defensive Delivery Assist five goals using Defenders in the Live FUT Friendly: Bundesliga Best – Reward: Gold Pack and 300 XP – Crossing Lane Assist two goals with Crosses in the Live FUT Friendly: Bundesliga Best – Rewards: Small Electrum Players Pack and 300 XP – Eye for Goal Score 15 goals in the Live FUT Friendly: Bundesliga Best – Rewards: 75+ Rated Rare Player and 300 XP – Wolfsburg Winner Win eight matches in the Live FUT Friendly: Bundesliga Best – Rewards: Premium Gold Pack and 300 XP – Fine Finishing Score a Finesse goal in 12 separate matches in the Live FUT Friendly: Bundesliga Best – Rewards: Electrum Players Pack and 300 XP – Nadiem Amiri and Jerome Roussillon’s Bundesliga TOTS objectives cards are available until Thursday, May 20. That should be plenty of time for even the most casual FIFA 21 player. However, if you don’t want to miss out on them, you better start soon!

All Premier League FIFA 22 TOTS nominees: Salah, Van Dijk, De Bruyne EA SportsEA SPORTS has officially revealed the full list of players nominated for the Premier League Team of the Season in FIFA 22. We have the full list here, as well as how you can vote for your favorites. Team of the Season (TOTS) brings together the best players from individual leagues to receive special items in Ultimate Team. On April 22 EA revealed the full list of nominees from the Premier League for FIFA 22. It’s a laundry list of the best of the best from the English top flight, headlined by the likes of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Kevin De Bruyne, and many more. Here’s the full list of Premier League TOTS nominees, as well as how you can vote. FIFA 22 Premier League TOTS players Below is every single nominee for the Premier League Team of the Season, broken up by position: Goalkeepers Alisson — Liverpool – David De Gea — Manchester United – Ederson — Manchester City – Jose Sa — Wolves – Aaron Ramsdale — Arsenal – Defenders Trent Alexander-Arnold — Liverpool – João Cancelo — Manchester City – Joel Matip — Liverpool – Andrew Robertson — Liverpool – Cristian Romero — Spurs – Rúben Dias — Manchester City – Virgil Van Dijk — Liverpool – Kyle Walker — Manchester City – Kyle Walker-Peters — Southampton – Midfielders Saïd Benrahma — West Ham – Bernardo Silva — Manchester City – Jarrod Bowen — West Ham – Bruno Fernandes — Manchester United – Kevin De Bruyne — Manchester City – Fabinho — Liverpool – Conor Gallagher — Crystal Palace – Ilkay Gündogan — Manchester City – Martin Ødegaard — Arsenal – Raphinha — Leeds – Declan Rice — West Ham – Rodri — Manchester City – Rúben Neves — Wolves – Bukayo Saka — Arsenal – James Ward-Prowse — Southampton – Attackers Michail Antonio — West Ham – Cristiano Ronaldo — Manchester United – Diogo Jota — Liverpool – Phil Foden — Manchester City – Harry Kane — Spurs – Riyad Mahrez — Manchester City – Sadio Mané — Liverpool – Mohamed Salah — Liverpool – Son Heung-Min — Spurs – Raheem Sterling — Manchester City – Ivan Toney — Brentford – How to vote for FIFA 22 Premier League Team of the Season To submit your picks for the Premier League TOTS in FIFA 22, all you need to do is head over to the official EA site right here, and build your preferred starting XI. Once you’ve made your picks, all you have to do is wait until May 6 when the Premier League TOTS squad will be revealed and included in packs. Those special TOTS cards will only be available until May 13, so if your favorite makes the cut, don’t wait around too long to pick them up.

Newcastle’s Allan Saint-Maximin’s FIFA 21 Ultimate Team revealed EA SPORTSA FIFA 21 player came up against Newcastle superstar Allan Saint-Maximin in FIFA Ultimate Team, and revealed his star-studded FUT squad — though it is a little different to other pro’s lineups. Allan Saint-Maximin has been an excellent acquisition since joining Newcastle back in 2019. The Frenchman has already made 45 appearances and scored five goals for The Magpies, which is decent given their struggles. He often shows flashes of brilliance, which has convinced many he has world-class potential and could play for a powerhouse team like Real Madrid someday. But in the meantime, he’s faithful to The Toon, much to their delight. However, like many other younger footballers, it seems like Allan Saint-Maximin likes to dabble in FIFA Ultimate Team from time to time. A player came up against him on FIFA 21 and shared all the details about his squad. Allan Saint-Maximin’s FIFA 21 Ultimate Team squad Allan Saint-Maximin’s FIFA 21 Ultimate squad isn’t very stacked compared to others we’ve seen. It pales compared to Neymar’s insane line-up, probably because he’s only included one icon in the team. However, it still packs a punch with an exciting mix of talented modern footballers, including himself. ST: Zaha (87) – LM: Allan Saint-Maximin (99) – CAM: Jay-Jay Okocha (90) – RM: Mohamad Salah (90) – CDM: Moussa Sissoko (79) – CDM: Reece James (87) – LB: Andrew Robertson (91) – CB: John Stones (85) – CB: Rúben Dias (88) RB: João Cancelo (86) – GK: Nick Pope (84) – Allan Saint-Maximin is a smart footballer, and it shows in his FIFA Ultimate Team formation, too. He runs the 4-2-3-1 meta formation with one ST, one CAM, and two CDMs. It’s a balanced formation that helps create a rock-solid defense without taking away too much from the attack. It might not be the best squad we’ve seen, but it’s a decent one nonetheless.

All FIFA 23 January transfer cards released: Ronaldo, Gakpo, more Graphics: EA SPORTSNew FIFA 23 Ultimate Team cards for the January transfer window have started to be released. Here’s everything you need to know. For football clubs across the globe, the January transfer window offers them the chance to add some much-needed reinforcements for the second half of the season. Well, that is unless you’re Everton. When it comes to FIFA Ultimate Team, the January window lands in an awkward spot. While fans want to add some shiny new cards to their teams, Team of the Year takes priority. Meaning newly transferred players typically have to wait a few weeks before they’re updated. Well, as the calendar has now turned over to February, EA SPORTS have acted a little quickly and released the first batch of January transfer cards. All January transfer cards in FIFA 23 Ultimate Team That’s right, if you’re looking to get your hands on an Al Nassr version of Cristiano Ronaldo or a Liverpool Cody Gakpo, you’re in luck. The attackers are a part of the first batch. The newly released cards have started arriving in packs as of February 1, meaning that if you need their previous versions, you better be prepared to pay a premium on the market. In total, there are 18 transferred players with new cards, and many of the moves made late in the window haven’t been reflected in-game just yet. So, you’ll have to wait for that Chelsea Enzo Fernandez and Bayern Munich Joao Cancelo. Though, there is an Arsenal version of Jorginho available via a Flashback SBC. Cristiano Ronaldo – Al Nassr – Cody Gakpo – Liverpool – Daley Blind – Bayern Munich – Geronimo Rulli – Ajax – Ruslan Malinovskyi – Marseille – Matheus Cunha – Wolves – Maximilian Wöber – Leeds United – Benoît Badiashile – Chelsea – Kasper Dolberg – Hoffenheim – Mislav Oršic – Southampton – Martin Dúbravka – Newcastle United – Bram Nuytinck – Sampdoria – Francesco Caputo – Empoli – Djordje Mihailovic – AZ Alkmaar – Evander – Portland Timbers – Luis Javier Suárez – UD Almeria – Martín Ojeda – Orlando City – Ruud Vormer – Zulte Waregem – As noted, many of the other January transfers will be reflected in card changes that come at a later date. We’ll update this list when they happen. Previous versions of the cards will no longer be in packs, but you’ll obviously still be able to use them if they’re in your club. Just be wary about trading them in for SBCs.

All FIFA 22 FUT Hero cards in Ultimate Team, from Gomez to Solskjaer: Ratings, SBC, chemistry EA SPORTSFIFA 22 has introduced a new type of Ultimate Team item to the game in the form of FUT Hero Cards — but which players were selected, and how can you get your hands on the fancy new ICON-style players? Although there’s a lot of excitement around FIFA 22‘s Career Mode, the majority of players are looking forward to, as per usual, building their very own starting XI in Ultimate Team, FIFA’s flagship mode since the early 2010s. One of the most exciting aspects of the mode is the collectible cards that players can obtain via packs, challenges, or through the marketplace. With every annual FIFA title, EA introduces brand new card types, and this year’s addition is FUT Heroes. Although these cards are lower-rated than standard ICONS, they have some unique bonuses that may make them worth picking up. Contents What are FUT Hero cards in FIFA 22? – FUT Hero card list FIFA 22 – How chemistry works for FUT Hero cards – Every FUT Hero player card in FIFA 22 – FIFA 22 FUT Hero card art – How to get free FUT Hero cards FIFA 22 – What are FUT Heroes in FIFA 22? FUT Heroes are a new card-type in FIFA 22 that represents a player and their hero moment in a specific league. Although the cards aren’t as highly rated as standard ICONS, they offer a unique chemistry bonus to any players from the same league. These new items are meant to represent unforgettable moments from football’s past and highlight which league they took place in. Every FUT Hero player in FIFA 22 EA SPORTS has confirmed nearly twenty players that eventually received a FUT Hero card. Keep in mind, there could be a lot more legendary players to come too, with EA revealing they have plans for more in the future. You can check out the full list of confirmed players below: How chemistry works for FUT Hero cards FUT Hero cards aren’t just high-rated items, they come with a unique chemistry bonus. Instead of connecting with players based on their club, these represent a nationality and an entire league. This means they automatically provide a green club link with any player from the same league, whether it’s the Premier League for Keane or the Bundesliga for Gomez. Here’s how EA described the latest card type in a recent blog post: “FUT Heroes have unique league-specific chemistry which is tied to their specific hero moment, providing a green Club link to any player within the same league as well as the usual nation link, giving you new ways to build your dream squad and recreate some of football’s most famous moments in FUT 22.” FIFA 22 FUT Hero cards Mario Gomez Tim Cahill Diego Milito Jorge Campos Fernando Morientes Sami Al-Jaber Robbie Keane Abedi Pele Clint Dempsey Lars Ricken Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Antonio Di Natale Ivan Cordoba Freddie Ljungberg Jurgen Kohler Jerzey Dudek Aleksandr Mostovoi Joe Cole David Ginola How to get free FUT Hero cards FIFA 22 Ultimate Edition pre-order As these cards offer a valuable and unique chemistry feature, it’s likely they’ll be incredibly expensive to buy on the marketplace after launch. Luckily, players who pre-ordered the Ultimate Edition of FIFA 22 will be rewarded with a random FUT Hereos untradable card after December 1. The original edition cost $99.99 USD for eager players, though it was only available ahead of the game’s launch. FIFA 22 Heroes Upgrade SBC More recently, EA SPORTS unveiled another way to unlock these cards for cheap: Heroes Upgrade SBCs. A Player Pick SBC dropped in January, giving FUT users the chance to select one of three Heroes to add to their club. We’re expecting more and more of these challenges to come throughout the year. We’ll be sure to update this list as soon as EA reveals more. Let’s keep our fingers crossed they give us a peek at the player’s stats in the future too.

All FIFA 23 Career Mode changes: Transfers overhaul, real managers, new traits & more Graphics: EA SPORTSFIFA 23 will ring in some of the biggest changes we’ve seen to Career Mode in years, with both Manager and Player careers being updated. Here’s what you need to know. With the FIFA 22 year slowly trundling to its end, we’re hitting that point where we start talking about a FIFA 23 beta and possible demo ahead of the game’s full release on September 30. As such, EA SPORTS have started revealing a few details about the upcoming game, including the fact Kylian Mbappe and Sam Kerr will be on the cover, chemistry will be undergoing an overhaul in Ultimate Team, and there will be a raft of gameplay changes with HyperMotion 2. The updates coming to Career Mode – both in terms of Manager and Player Career – are the next to be revealed, so here’s everything you need to know about them. Transfer Evalutations If you’ve played Manager Mode for long enough, you know there can be a few difficulties when getting a transfer completed – especially if you’ve not scouted a player for a considerable amount of time. Well, in FIFA 23, things will be changing a little on that front. Now, when you’re trying to get a deal over the line, you’ll get an evaluation from a few parties about how successful your offer might be. This is something EA SPORTS have used in their Madden NFL franchise for a few years, and it makes the negotiation stages a bit smoother and you shouldn’t see opposition managers storming out of tense talks all that often anymore. Authentic Managers On the topic of opposition managers, a whole host of new authentic managers will be available to use in Career Mode. That means you won’t have to dig out a YouTube tutorial to perfectly copy Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp’s face, and you’ll just be able to step right into their considerably sized shoes. And yes, you will be able to take over rival clubs while playing as an authentic manager. FIFA 23 Player Career Mode changes Aside from Manager Mode, Player Career will also be getting a bit of spruce up with some changes coming both on and off the field. Sticking with the on-field changes first, there will be new traits for your player’s personality that will affect how they develop over their career. For example, the ‘Maverick’ trait will suit more aggressive and attacking players, in turn making your development on the goalscoring front a bit easier. Off the pitch, players will be able to purchase items with the wages they’ve earned from their contract which will also affect their development. However, it’s not like the PES career of old where your boots would affect speed and shooting power, it’s items for your home instead. Additionally, there is also a new ‘Playable Highlights’ option that will bridge the gap between playing a game and using the simulation mode. So, you’ll be able to jump through seasons even quicker. So, that’s everything that has been confirmed to be changing in FIFA 23 Career Modes. If anything else is uncovered, we’ll be sure to update this post with the information. So, be sure to keep checking back for more.

FIFA 21 ICONs list: Beckham, Torres, Lahm, Vidic, Eto’o, Cech & More EA SPORTSEA SPORTS have finally dropped a 100 player strong FIFA 21 ICONs list, including stars from around the world. World Cup winners Fernando Torres, Phillip Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Xavi and others are set to feature. This year, the list has expanded even further than the last, taking the tally up to a staggering 100 names. Legends from the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, and other leagues enjoyed by fans across the planet are included. ICONs are prized assets. If you have one, you can bet your bottom dollar that it will sell for big money. So, let’s run through all of them we now know could be walking out of your FUT packs real soon. Contents FIFA 21 new ICONs Eric Cantona The Manchester United star was the first new ICON announced for FIFA 21. With a total of 143 appearances for the Red Devils during his storied career, he was even named by Pele in the FIFA 100 list of the world’s greatest living players. With such an impressive pedigree, we definitely expect Cantona’s cards to come with the stats to match, whether you just get the Base, or are lucky enough to grab his Prime Moments one, which has plenty of material to choose from. Petr Cech Next up is storied keeper Petr Cech, who was officially revealed as the second FIFA 21 ICON on August 9. Cech, who retired at the end of the 2019 season and returned to Chelsea as a technical and performance advisor, joins the legendary goalkeepers like Lev Yashin, Peter Schmeichel, Edwin van der Sar, and former rival Jens Lehman as a new ICON. While there is no telling just yet what his ratings might be. They will, surely, come as EA reveals further details prior to the game’s full release in October. Xavi Revealed shortly after Petr Cech’s ICON card, Xavi will also be joining the upper echelons of Ultimate Team in FIFA 21. One of Barcelona’s most-capped players at 505 total appearances for the club, he now manages Qatari club Al Sadd in the Qatar Stars League. As with the other ICONs Xavi’s official stats aren’t known just yet, but didn’t take long for FIFA fans to start poking fun at the midfielder, with some jokingly suggesting his Pace would only in the 70s at best, even as one of Ultimate Team’s most valuable cards. Nemanja Vidic A Man United legend, Nemanja Vidic was part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s side that won so many Premier League titles, and other tournaments. Long time fans of the series will remember some truly exceptional cards. While his pace may not be the highest, expect exemplary defending stats. He’s one of the very best the PL has ever seen. Ferenc Puskás The next confirmed ICON for FIFA 21 is Ferenc Puskas, the Hungarian legend who is considered one of the best forwards in the history of football. You’ll probably have heard of him thanks to the Puskas award, given out alongside the Ballon D’Or for the best goal scored annually. He’s going to be an incredible card. Ashley Cole Ashley Cole was a Premier League winner with two London clubs, both Arsenal and Chelsea, scooping the famed Champions League prize with the latter. He changed the game at left back in the English top flight. In FIFA 21, if you’re lucky, you can play with him too in Ultimate Team. Phillip Lahm World Cup winners are aplenty in the ICONs list this year, and Lahm has finally been added. The German captain played an integral role in their 2014 World Cup win, where they beat Argentina in the final 1-0. In his career, trophies were just a routine as he scooped Bundesliga’s left, right, and center for Bayern Munich. Bastian Schweinsteiger Speaking of great Germans, Bastian Schweinsteiger was right up there with the very best at his peak. Just like Lahm, he was known as a serial winner for Bayern Munich before making an entrance in the Premier League towards the end, where he signed with Louis Van Gaal’s Manchester United. His famed career will always be remembered by Germany fans in the stands, but now in their favorite video game as well. Samuel Eto’o A pace master. Samuel Eto’o would be in behind your defence before you could even see him. Lightning fast. To boot, he was an expert finisher and proved that during his time at Barcelona. At the Catalan giants, he picked up silverware for sport alongside the likes of Ronaldinho and Xavi, hitting top scorer in the division with 26 goals in the 05/06 season. At Barcelona, he was crowned Champions League winner twice, and even picked up the medal at fierce rivals Real Madrid earlier in his career. Fernando Torres El Niño was his nickname. The kid. Fernando Torres absolutely tore it up on the world stage for Liverpool, after arriving from Atletico Madrid. His successful periods came in chunks during his career, at those two clubs he was famed, but at Chelsea was where he racked up many of his medals – including the Premier League and Champions League. He won everything in the game and soon enough we’ll be able to play with the Spaniard once again. Davor Suker There are plenty of Real Madrid fan favorites in the ICONs list, and Suker is just the latest to be confirmed. The Croatian forward who dominated the Spanish top-tier in the 1990s for Sevilla and Madrid, earning his spot in this famed 100 club. David Beckham Unlike the other new Legend cards, David Beckham was added late – in December 2020. He has three ICON cards, as you might expect, as well as a special untradeable version players could redeem in-game for a limited time near its release. Full ICONs list for FIFA 21 Here is every single ICON that will feature in FIFA 21. Soon enough, ratings will be coming soon too. Now that we know a handful of the FIFA 21 confirmed ICONs, we can add them to the original list of legends included in the game. Here they are, below. Baggio CAM – Ballack CM – Baresi CB – Barnes LW – Bergkamp CF – Best LW – Blanc CB – Butragueno ST – Cantona ST – Campbell CB – Cannavaro CB – Carlos Alberto RB – Cech GK – Cole LB – Crespo ST – Cruyff CF – Dalglish ST – Deco CM – Del Piero CF – Desailly CB – Drogba ST – Essien CDM – Eusébio CF – Eto’o ST – Ferdinand CB – Figo RW – Garrincha RW – Gattuso CDM – Gerrard CM – Giggs LM – Guardiola CDM – Gullit CF – Hagi LM – Henry ST – Hernandez ST – Hierro CB – Inzaghi ST – Kaka CAM – Keane CM – Klose ST – Kluivert ST – Koeman CB – Lahm RB – Lampard CM – Larsson ST – Laudrup CAM – Lehmann GK – Lineker ST – Litmanen CAM – Makélélé CDM – Maldini CB – Maradona CAM – Matthaus CM – Moore CB – Nakata CAM – Nedved LM – Nesta CB – Okocha CAM – Overmars LM – Owen ST – Pelé CAM – Petit CDM – Pires LM – Pirlo CM – Puskas CF – Puyol CB – Raul CF – Rijkaard CDM – Riquelme CAM – Rivaldo LW – Roberto Carlos LB – Ronaldinho LW – Ronaldo ST – Rui Costa CAM – Rush ST – Sanchez ST – Schmeichel GK – Scholes CM – Schweinsteiger CM – Seedorf CM – Shearer ST – Shevchenko ST – Socrates CAM – Stoichkov ST – Suker ST – Trezeguet ST – Torres ST – Van Basten ST – Van Der Sar GK – Van Nistelrooy ST – Veron CM – Vidic CB – Vieira CM – Vieri ST – Wright ST – Xavi CM – Yashin GK – Zambrotta RB – Zanetti RB – Zidane CAM – Zola CF – Stick with us @UltimateTeamUK for all of the breaking news, guides, and leaks for FIFA 21 as we approach its release.

All FIFA 22 Black Friday SBCs & Objectives: How to complete EA SPORTS has released new Objectives and SBC to earn FIFA 22 items on Black Friday. We’ve got the full list of requirements and solutions you’ll need to know to complete them. FIFA 22 released its own Black Friday deals on November 26, which includes SBCs and Objectives for players and pack items. Not to mention new Signature Signings cards. We’ll start with the SBCs, which are all only available on Black Friday except for Karim Benzema’s Flashback, before looking at the Objectives, which will be available until December 3. FIFA 22 Black Friday SBCs 85+ Upgrade Black Friday SBC Reward 85+ Rated Rare Player Pack – Requirements & Cost Black Friday’s 85+ Upgrade SBC in FIFA 22 will cost around 23,000 FUT Coins on Playstation, 25,000 on Xbox, and 23,000 on Origin PC. The full set of requirements, followed by a cheap solution, is down below: IF Players: Min 1 – Squad Rating: Min 83 – Team Chemistry: Min 55 – Number of players in the Squad: 11 – Solution Daily Login Challenge 1 Completing this challenge won’t unlock an individual reward, but it will progress you towards earning the Black Friday Daily Login Plus objective reward. It will cost roughly 2,000 FUT Coins on Playstation, 3,000 on Xbox, and 2,000 on Origin PC. The full requirements are down below: Nationalities: Min 2 – Clubs: Min 3 – Same League Count: Max 5 – Rare: Min 2 – Team Chemistry: Min 45 – Number of players in the Squad: 8 – Solution: FIFA 22 Karim Benzema Black Friday Flashback SBC There’s a new Karim Benzema card celebrating his debut season with Real Madrid in the La Liga during the 2009/10 season. The Striker is an 86 OVR for this item, with four star ratings for skills and weak foot. FIFA 22 Karim Benzema Flashback SBC stats Karim Benzema Flashback SBC requirements & cost There are two squads you’ll need to turn in to unlock Benzema’s new card: Real Madrid and La Liga. In total these should only cost you around 88,000 FUT Coins on Playstation, 99,000 on Xbox, and 83,000 Origin PC. Real Madrid Number of players from Real Madrid: Min 1 – Rare Players: Min 1 – Squad Rating: Min 83 – Team Chemistry: Min 75 – Number of players in the Squad: 11 – Reward: Small Gold Players Pack – Solution La Liga Number of players from LaLiga Santander: Min 1 – IF Players: Min 1 – Squad Rating: Min 85 – Team Chemistry: Min 70 – Number of players in the Squad: 11 – Reward: Small Rare Gold Players Pack – Solution Troy Deeney Moments Player #BlackFriday Flash SBC? Yes, please. 💪 Available for the next 24 hours in #FUT. #FIFA22 pic.twitter.com/gUs86AJCG0 — EA SPORTS FC (@EASPORTSFC) November 26, 2021 Along with Squad Building Challenges, there’s also a new set of objectives available, which we’ll cover below. FIFA 22 Black Friday Objectives The only requirement for the Black Friday Objectives is that you win matches in any FUT game mode. Rewards are given out after 5, 10, 15, and 25 matches won, along with another item after your last win. Each tier gives its own unique rewards, listed right here: 5 Wins: Draft Token Pack, 300 XP – 10 Wins: Premium Gold Players Pack, 300 XP – 15 Wins: Mega Pack, 300 XP – 25 Wins: Mega Pack, 300 XP – Black Friday Objectives Reward: Premium Gold Players Pack, 300 XP – Signature Signings Baku Objectives A new Signature Signings Objectives set came out on Black Friday was well for Wolfsburg midfielder Ridle Baku. This card is an 85 OVR, with 90 Pace, and you can see the full stat sheet down below: Baku Signature Signings Objectives There are four different sets of objectives to complete before you’ll unlock Baku’s Signature Signings card. Each gives its own smaller reward as well, all of which you can find below: Attacking Intent Score 15 goals using Bundesliga players in Squad Battles on min. Professional (or Rivals) – Reward: 75+ Rated Rare Player, 300 XP – Consistent Form Score using German players in 11 separate Squad Battles matches on min. Professional (or Rivals) – Reward: Two Players Pack, 300 XP – Brilliant Bundesliga Win 7 matches with Min. 6 players from the Bundesliga within your Starting Squad in Squad Battles on min. Professional (or Rivals) – Reward: Gold Pack, 300 XP – Link Up Play Assist 7 goals using Defenders in Squad Battles matches on min. Professional (or Rivals) – Reward: Small Electrum Players Pack, 300 XP – Objectives like these are always nice because they don’t require any FUT Coins to knock out. Plus, you might end up getting some players to use in SBCs later on as well. If you’re fast, you could even use these rewards on the Black Friday SBCs.

All FIFA 20 OTW cards that won’t get TOTW Moments in-forms EA SPORTSIn Team of the Week 27, EA SPORTS replaced the standard TOTW format in FIFA 20 with TOTW Moments, bringing back in-form cards from previous games with an upgrade in FUT 20. The change was made due to the ongoing global crisis, which put a halt to all major sports leagues worldwide, so it became impossible to grant players in-form cards if there was no way to note which players were in good form. Of course, bringing back old TOTW cards means certain One to Watch cards this season will be further eligible for upgrades if they had an in-form in FIFA 18 or 19. But, unfortunately, certain OTWs won’t be able to get upgrades as the corresponding week they joined TOTW has passed. From TOTW 28, there are apparently nine OTW players that aren’t eligible to get a Moments upgrade for the remainder of the season – so don’t get your hopes up if you’re holding on to one of the following players: Aaron Wan-Bissaka – Luka Jovic – Hirving Lozano – Mauro Icardi – Christian Pulisic – João Félix Sequeira – Joelinton – Frenkie de Jong – Lucas Hernández – This list was collated by 7FOOT7 on Reddit, who has created a handy spreadsheet that lists the weeks in previous titles that all OTW players entered the Team of the Week. This will no doubt be a disappointment to players who own the aforementioned OTW cards, especially given the fact that many of them could definitely have put in TOTW performances if matches had resumed. The likes of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Christian Pulisic, and Frenkie de Jong would have been likely contenders to get in-form upgrades during the remainder of the season, and their OTW cards might start losing value thanks to this. However, there are certain players such as Eden Hazard and Antoine Griezmann that could still be getting upgrades, so don’t lose hope just yet.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s FIFA 20 Ultimate Team starting XI revealed Instagram: alexoxchamberlain / EA SportsAlex Oxlade-Chamberlain is currently on a Liverpool team that looks as close to unstoppable as we’ve ever seen – and it looks like he’s trying to replicate that form in FIFA 20 Ultimate Team with this stacked squad. Liverpool hasn’t touched a top-division trophy in almost 30 years, since the 1989/90 season. Trent Alexander-Arnold was still eight years away from being born and Kenny Dalglish was managing the team for the first time. Now, though, they’re a force to be reckoned with, and this is replicated in the players’ online recreations, with some Liverpool assets essential to being at the top of your FUT game. And this isn’t a fact that’s lost on the Ox. His side features four current Liverpool players, including his special 99-rated card that FIFA bestows only upon professional players, as noted by Reddit user doherty_96 when he came up against the center-midfielder. Ox doesn’t show too much of a bias to his Liverpool or England national teammates, though, clearly opting for a solid squad over team allegiances, as he picks to play with some of the world’s best instead. Oxlade-Chamberlain opts to play in a 4-3-2-1 formation and has stayed loyal to Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who he currently has leading his squad both in and out of the game. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s FIFA 20 Ultimate Team GK: Marc-Andre ter Stegen (91) – RB: Nélson Semedo (86) – CB: Marcel Desailly (87) – CB: Virgil Van Dijk (99) – LB: Andrew Robertson (86) – CM: Kevin de Bruyne (93) – CM: N’Golo Kante (97) – CM: Patrick Vieira (88) – RF: Lionel Messi (99) – ST: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (99) – LF: Sadio Mane (90) – There are definitely some interesting omissions from Ox’s squad – most glaringly, you would expect him to get teammates Allison Becker and Trent Alexander-Arnold in there somewhere, especially as both are more than usable in the current meta. You would also think he might try to get certain Team of the Year cards in there alongside the van Dijk, Robertson, Messi and Kante he already has. A Mane upgrade would make sense, and both Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt could be expensive yet worthy upgrades to the squad. That said, given Liverpool’s endeavors to conquer all tournaments they’re currently playing in, Ox might not be focusing too much on improving his Ultimate Team.

All changes to skill moves coming to FIFA 21 – full list EA SportsSome of the most anticipated new features when a new FIFA game comes out are the updates to skill moves, and EA has finally revealed all the changes coming for FIFA 21. Skill moves are beloved by FIFA players, as they allow you to score some fantastic goals and make opponents look like fools. They also present a nice challenge to time and execute just right for more experienced players. The big news, of course, is that there are three new ones we’ll be seeing added to FIFA 21 alongside all of the ones we already know and love. Besides the fresh options, EA has also increased the number of certain types you can chain without penalty, All-Access improvements, and the ability to cancel certain ones as well. New skill moves in FIFA 21 As we mentioned there are three brand new skill moves coming with the new game this fall, giving us new ways to show off our skills and embarrass opponents on the pitch. These are all listed below, along with the required button combinations, though you can’t start practicing the timing just yet. Feint Forward and Turn (RS back + RS back) – Drag to Heel (L1/LB + RS back then RS left/right) – Ball Roll Fake Turn (hold L2/LT + RS forward then RS left/right) – Along with the new options, EA has also reduced the penalty and error for chaining Skill Moves. Easy ones will still carry no risk of penalty if you fail to do them in quick succession. But, you can now safely try up to 6 normal moves in a row, much more than the limit of 3 in FIFA 20. The number of complex skill moves, like , and that you can chain without the ball getting away has also gone up to three instead of just two. This does change if you mix up the difficulty levels of the moves you’re pulling off, so you can chain up to six normals, but if you throw a complex one in there that will no longer apply. All-Access Skill Moves More “easy-mode” skill moves can now be pulled off with the right joystick as well, but their effectiveness depends directly on their Skill Move Rating and Attributes. This means lower-rated players will perform slower and more error-prone versions of them. These include: Low-Skill Roulette – Low-Skill Heel to Heel – Low-Skill Feint and Exit – Low-Skill Stop and Turn – Low-Skill Drag Back Spin – Low-Skill Simple Rainbow – Finally, some skill moves can now be canceled entirely, whether things aren’t going your way, or you want to play some 4D chess with your opponent. Either way, hitting (L2/LT + R2/RT) will halt fake shots, three touch roulettes, turns, spins and scoops. While it’s good to see one of our favorite mechanics getting a good look from EA ahead of FIFA 21’s October 6 release date later this fall, there are still plenty of details we’re waiting to get news on. To keep up to date on all things FIFA, including the latest updates on the new game as they happen, be sure to follow us on Twitter @UltimateTeamUK.

Ajax’s Hakim Ziyech has his FIFA 20 Ultimate Team revealed Graphics: EA SPORTSAjax’s Chelsea-bound star Hakim Ziyech has had his FIFA 20 Ultimate Team revealed, but do any of his current or future teammates warrant a spot in the starting lineup? After a stunning 2018/19 campaign, many football fans expected to see Ajax’s Ziyech make the move away from Amsterdam. The Moroccan midfielder had helped the Dutch giants to another league title and Champions League semi-final, firing in 21 goals and 24 assists. He stuck with Ajax through the summer window but it was confirmed in February that the 27-year-old would be joining Chelsea for the start of the 2020/21 season. Like many other footballers, Ziyech appears to be an avid Ultimate Team player – having a strong outfit that many fans will probably envy. The Moroccan’s lineup was posted on the FIFA subreddit after Reddit user veedubburns came across him in a game – noting that Ziyech did what all good players do, skipped the replays. Like plenty of other professionals who play FIFA, the 27-year-old has his own 99-rated custom card that takes pride of place as the spearhead of his 4-5-1 formation. Of course, there are a few legends dotted around the team too with names like Zidane, Hierro, Ronaldo, and Gullit showing off their skills. Hakim Ziyech’s FIFA 20 Ultimate Team Starting XI GK: Edwin Van Der Sar – 91 – LB: Renan Lodi – 87 – RB: Nelson Semedo – 87 – CB: Fernando Hierro – 91 – CB: Virgil Van Dijk – 90 – CM: Zinedine Zidane – 94 – CAM: Ruud Gullit – 90 – CAM: Ronaldo – 94 – RM: Lionel Messi – 94 – LM: Neymar – 92 – ST: Hakim Ziyech – 99 – Unlike some other of his fellow pros, the Ajax star isn’t all about the icon cards – though he does have a few. The Future Stars Lodi and Headerliners Semedo stand out from the pack, but they are cards he could improve on. As he’s set to join Chelsea, Ziyech could very well pick up a few of his new teammates moving forward, or even find a slot for future manager Frank Lampard. The possibilities are pretty much endless.

How to complete Ake & Lo Celso FIFA 21 Showdown SBCs: solutions & cost EA SPORTS / DexertoEA SPORTS are getting ready for the EFL Cup 2021 Final between Manchester City and Tottenham on April 25 with a huge Showdown SBC featuring Nathan Ake and Giovani Lo Celso. Both cards are stellar, so here’s how you can pick them up for yourself. It’s the biggest game of the weekend coming up. Manchester City and Tottenham are fighting for the first big bit of English silverware in 2021 in the EFL Cup Final. To celebrate the occasion, EA SPORTS are putting on a FIFA 21 Showdown SBC featuring City defender Nathan Ake and Spurs midfielder Giovani Lo Celso. The winner of the EFL Cup Final will get a +2 upgrade in-game, so choose wisely. If you’re torn, we’ve got you covered with a breakdown of both cards, and a cheeky prediction for Sunday’s game. FIFA 21 Showdown Ake & Lo Celso SBC: in-game stats Showdown Nathan Ake stats Showdown Giovani Lo Celso stats FIFA 21 Showdown Ake & Lo Celso SBC: requirements & cost Showdown Ake SBC requirements & cost Manchester City # of players from Manchester City: Min 1 – In-Form Players: Min 1 – Squad Rating: Min 84 – Team Chemistry: Min 75 – # of players in the Squad: 11 – Reward: Prime Mixed Players Pack – Premier League # of players from Premier League: Min 1 – In-Form Players: Min 1 – Squad Rating: Min 85 – Team Chemistry: Min 70 – # of players in the Squad: 11 – Reward: Rare Mixed Players Pack – The 87-rated Ake card is going to cost a pretty penny — around 250,000 coins depending on platform. However, the CB card will most certainly be meta for most Premier League teams, so it could be worth the cost. Xbox: 244,000 – Playstation: 257,000 – PC: 296,000 – Showdown Lo Celso SBC requirements & cost Spurs # of players from Spurs: Min 1 – In-Form Players: Min 1 – Squad Rating: Min 83 – Team Chemistry: Min 75 – # of players in the Squad: 11 – Reward: Small Rare Mixed Players Pack – Premier League # of players from Premier League: Min 1 – In-Form Players: Min 1 – Squad Rating: Min 85 – Team Chemistry: Min 70 – # of players in the Squad: 11 – Reward: Small Rare Gold Players Pack – Despite being the higher rated card at 88, Lo Celso’s SBC comes in a bit cheaper at a smidge above 200,000 coins depending on platform. Xbox: 201,000 – Playstation: 201,000 – PC: 238,000 – FIFA 21 Showdown Ake & Lo Celso SBC: cheapest solutions Below you’ll find some of the cheapest solutions to each of the required squads for both Ake’s & Lo Celso’s Showdown SBCs. These don’t require any loyalty or position change cards, so they’re as straightforward (and cheap) as possible. Showdown Ake SBC solutions Manchester City solution Premier League solution Showdown Lo Celso solutions Spurs solution Premier League solution We did say at the top there’d be a cheeky prediction for this weekend’s action: Our pick is on Manchester City to take home the EFL Cup title with their current run of form. Read More: FIFA 21 TOTW 30 revealed – If that comes true, the Ake Showdown card will be boosted to a whopping 89-rated beast. You have until April 25 — just before kick-off — to make your mind up. Tell us on @UltimateTeamUK who you chose and why, and best of luck!

Ajax’s Dusan Tadic has his FIFA 20 Ultimate Team revealed EA SPORTSAjax’s Dusan Tadic has had his FIFA 20 Ultimate Team revealed after a game – and it appears as if there is a certain Dutch flavor to his starting lineup. As an up-and-coming star, Tadic made his name in the Eredivisie for both Groningen and FC Twente, before hopping across the English channel and joining Southampton. The Serbian midfielder made 162 appearances for the Saints before returning back to the Netherlands and joining Ajax. Since linking up with the Dutch giants, the 31-year-old has seemingly been reinvigorated – firing the Amsterdam club to a Champions League semi-finals appearance during the 2018/19, as well as playing an integral role in their most recent domestic double. Though, with football on pause, it seems as he’s been diving into FIFA. Reddit user Kombic pointed out that they’d come across a team with a 99-rated Tadic pro player card during a recent Division 1 rivals match – where their opponent had come out on top as 4-3 victors. Like many other pro player card centric teams, the Tadic based lineup is on a different level to what many FIFA fans are used to coming up against. Aside from the 99-rated card, there is a tonne of icons – including former Ajax legends Edwin Van Der Sar, Ruud Gullit, Ronald Koeman, and Johan Cruyff. Dusan Tadic’s FIFA 20 Ultimate Team GK: Edwin Van Der Sar – 89 – LB: Paolo Maldini – 88 – RB: Sergio Ramos – 93 – CB: Ronald Koeman – 93 – CB: Virgil Van Dijk – 99 – CDM: Ruud Gullit- 90 – CM: Dusan Tadic – 99 – CM: Feland Mendy – 86 – CAM: Johan Cruyff – 91 – ST: Kylian Mbappe – 98 – ST: Ronaldo – 94 – Of course, the Ajax star has a pretty deadly frontline with Cruyff supporting Mbappe and Ronaldo, but the player who might raise a few eyebrows is Ferland Mendy. The Frenchman’s CDM Shapeshifter card looks to be a pretty perfect link between teammate Sergio Ramos and Mbappe but surely another legend wouldn’t go amiss instead.

AC Milan’s Samu Castillejo has insane FIFA 20 Ultimate Team XI revealed Dexerto/EA SportsAC Milan and Spain winger Samuel Castillejo has had his FIFA 20 Ultimate Team revealed, and it’s a very strong line-up. But does it have room for any of his teammates or compatriots? Samuel Castillejo is perhaps best known for his time in the Spanish top flight with Villareal, where he accumulated 91 appearances across a three year period. However, a 2018 transfer saw him move to AC Milan, where he has been since. 47 appearances in a couple of years is not a bad record, particularly given he was just 23 when he joined the Italian giants. Serie A is firing up for a return in the coming weeks, but that hasn’t stopped Castillejo from getting in some FIFA in his breaks from training. On May 23, Redditor ‘theladdd’ shared the Spaniard’s Ultimate Team after coming up against him in a FIFA 20 match. His starting XI is seriously impressive, boasting a host of the game’s strongest cards and, of course, his own 99 rated pro player card. Arguably the strongest area of the team is its forwards, seeing R9 Ronaldo paired with Cristiano Ronaldo to form a dual strike force. The midfield is made up of Zinedine Zidane, Ruud Gullit, Sadio Mane and his own 99 OVR card. TOTSSF Reguilon and Carlos form a Sevilla defensive pair, complemented by a Premier League GK, CB, and RB. Samuel Castillejo’s full FIFA Ultimate Team is detailed below: GK: Allison Becker – 97 – RB: Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 90 – CB: Virgil Van-Dijk – 90 – CB: Diego Carlos – 91 – LB: Sergio Reguilon – 92 – LM: Sadio Mane – 88 – CM: Zinedine Zidane – 94 – CM: Ruud Gullit – 90 – RM: Samu Castillejo – 99 – ST: Ronaldo – 94 – ST: Cristiano Ronaldo – 93 – The Redditor commented that Castillejo “didn’t sit back and skipped replay so I’ll be supporting him when football returns!” In terms of areas to improve, the side’s base gold cards seem obvious choices. All of Virgil Van-Dijk, Sadio Mane, and Cristiano Ronaldo now have TOTSSF cards, but they obviously come at eye watering prices. Hence, unless Castillejo is willing to invest some of his weekly wages into FIFA Ultimate Team, it might take him some time to upgrade these areas.

AFC Bournemouth’s Philip Billing has his FIFA 20 Ultimate Team revealed Graphics: EA SPORTSAFC Bournemouth midfielder Philip Billing has had FIFA 20 Ultimate Team revealed but is there a spot for a 99-rated pro player card in the starting lineup? While football leagues across the globe are put on a temporary pause, professional players have had plenty of time to keep themselves fit and even mix in a little bit of FIFA 20 – especially Ultimate Team. We’ve already seen teams from players like Younes Belhanda, Chelsea-bound Hakim Ziyech, and Brighton and Hove Albion’s Neal Maupay but just along the coast from Maupay, Bournemouth’s Philip Billing has got an equally good Ultimate Team – though, there appears to be pretty important one card missing. The majority of FIFA-playing professional footballers have their own 99-rated pro player card from EA SPORTS that lets opponents know when they are playing against the real deal. For Billing, though, that card is absent – but he has had one in previous titles. Like plenty of other professionals, he still has a pretty nice Ultimate Team that is full of icon cards like Ronaldo Nazario, Ronaldinho, and even Eusebio, but that custom 99-rated card is a big miss. Philip Billing’s FIFA 20 Ultimate Team Starting XI GK: Marc-Andre Ter Stegen – 91 – LB: Andy Robertson – 94 – RB: Nelson Semedo – 87 – CB: Raphael Varane – 89 – CB: Virgil Van Dijk – 99 – CM: Ronaldinho – 91 – CM: Ruud Gullit – 90 – CAM: N’Golo Kante – 91 – CAM: Eusebio – 93 – ST: Ronaldo – 94 – ST: Kylian Mbappe – 98 – Even without his own 99-rated card, the Danish midfielder still has a team that plenty of players will be envious – especially as his bench and reserves are also filled with special cards like Team of The Week, Headliners, and even a few Player Moments. Though, having his own pro player card will allow him to play someone else on the left-hand side inside of an out-of-position N’Golo Kante. But, who knows, that might just the work for the Bournemouth star.

8 new FIFA 22 players coming to Ultimate Team: Dani Alves, Falcao, more EA SPORTSEA SPORTS is adding a star-studded list of new players to the Ultimate Team database in FIFA 22, including Barcelona’s Dani Alves and a record signing from yesteryear for Liverpool. Not all footballers available in offline modes are also added to FUT, meaning that there are often differences between the online and offline rosters at certain clubs. This can sometimes happen depending on the leagues they play in. On top of that, those players who decided to let their contracts run down or were a free agent when FIFA 22 was first released in October 2021 are often latecomers to Ultimate Team. However, many of these are added in a post-launch patch, especially if they have been transferred to a club available in the mode. Well, in the case of eight players, their time has finally come. New players added to FIFA 22 after update 6.1 The latest update for FIFA 22, which did make some minor changes to the Ultimate Team mode (full patch notes here), was released on March 1. Read More: EA removes Russia from FIFA 22 – Since then, a number of players that would be perfect for Flashback Squad Building Challenges in the future have been added to the game’s code. According to a popular FIFA 22 news page, these include the following: Dani Alves – Barcelona – Daniel Sturridge – Perth Glory – Jerome Boateng – Lyon – Frank Ribery – Salernitana – Andy Carroll – West Brom – Serge Aurier – Villarreal – André Onana – Ajax – Radamel Falcao – Rayo Vallecano – EA SPORTS has been faced with a number of big decisions in early 2022. This hasn’t just included adding new items to the FUT market, but also price locking the late Ahmet Calik after his death in January, and most recently the decision to remove Russian clubs and players from the game following the country’s invasion of Ukraine. The studio behind NHL 22 has also made a move to phase out Belarus content too, so further changes may await the online game in due course.

A new potentially game-breaking glitch has been found in FIFA 19 Pro Clubs A new game-breaking glitch has been discovered in FIFA 19’s Pro Clubs mode. The goal kick mechanics have changed a lot this year with the new camera angle, but this exploit just seems unfair. When the ball is kicked, the fullbacks from the defending team don’t go with the opposing strikers and the kicking team ends up with a free shot on net. Because there are no offsides calls on goal kicks, the AI defenders should shade the striker all over the pitch, but they seem lost around midfield. The glitch was posted by Gfinity Community Manager and Commentator Chris Trout on his Twitter. #FIFA19 Public Service Announcement: There’s a goal kick glitch where your players do not drop along with the forward. Not sure if it’s all modes, these guys did it to us 3 times in Pro Clubs last night. Spreading the word so you don’t have it done to you! pic.twitter.com/RsJGZsPZYL — Chris Trout (@TheTrout91) September 28, 2018 It wasn’t just an isolated incident, in the same game that team was able to do it at least one more time. Retweet to spread awareness, it is not a one off fluke. Also I have no idea why I couldn’t score that sitter pic.twitter.com/Z9vHqE4NaT — Chris Trout (@TheTrout91) September 28, 2018 It is not immediately clear how to do the glitch and tutorials for it aren’t readily available, but people in Trout’s replies say they have been using and abusing the glitch. This glitch may also be part of a larger issue with AI defenders pulling forward and giving up easy goals on counter attacks. While Trout only said he is aware of the glitch working in the Pro Clubs mode, this glitch may be able to be exploited in other FIFA 19 modes as well.

7 players that deserve Icon cards in FIFA 21 EA SPORTSFIFA Ultimate Team is not only about the current generation of players, but there’s also a sprinkling of legendary figures that have their own Icon cards. With FIFA 21 approaching, we look at seven players who deserve an Icon card. For many retired football stars, they’re all about reminiscing about the trophies they won, records they broke, or vital goals they scored. Grabbing an Icon card in FIFA probably doesn’t break into their top five personal accomplishments, but they do mean a lot for FIFA fans. The Icon cards are, usually, pretty expensive but it’s quite something to be able to select a midfield of Kevin De Bruyne, Frank Lampard, and Patrick Vieira. Though, there are plenty of recognizable players that have never ascended to Icon status. So, we’ve picked out seven who we think should get one next time around. Goalkeeper: Gordon Banks For many in the 1950s and ’60s, Gordon Banks was one of, if not , best goalkeepers around. England’s all-time leading appearance maker was a part of the only Three Lions squad to ever win a World Cup, in 1966. His heroics at the domestic level for both Leicester and Stoke City made him a legendary figure with both clubs. Banks would easily fit in well with the current setup for Icons – having a base card, a mid Icon, and his prime moment. He may not be as recognizable a name for some younger fans, but he could realistically fit into the current crop of FIFA Icons like Lev Yashin. Perhaps, even replacing the Russian if he’s cycled out. Defenders: Phillip Lahm and Lucio While Banks might be a classic pick, Lahm and Lucio are much more modern stars. The pair of these World Cup winners lined up beside each other plenty of times for Bayern Munich before the Brazilian departed for Inter Milan. Lahm’s introduction would help bolster the current crop of Icon right-backs, while Lucio would no doubt become a desirable center-half. Again, it’s easy to pick out their three different cards. Lucio could have an early 2000’s base, his 2006-07 self as the middle Icon, and one from his Inter Milan days as the prime version. Lahm, on the other hand, could easily have two right-back cards as well as a CDM to fill out his three variants. Midfielders: Edgar Davids and Tim Cahill Our midfield choices are also two pretty modern players, in the form of Edgar Davids and Tim Cahill. Both of them have featured on FIFA covers in the past and after storied careers, are well deserving of Icon cards. Who could ever forget Davids gliding across Serie A pitches with those trademark goggles or Cahill’s corner flag celebration whenever he scored for Everton or Australia. They’re also two players that FIFA fans have wanted to see in Ultimate Team for a number years, especially Cahill, giving Australia some much-needed representation – something he’s pushed for. Much like the others, their three cards are pretty easy to pick out. Cahill could have one from his Millwall days when they reached the FA Cup final, pretty much any of his Everton campaigns, and a World Cup 2006 version where he sprung Australia onto the world stage. For Davids, he could have his 1994, 1998, and 2003 seasons commemorated in Icon card form. Forwards: Arjen Robben and Ferenc Puskas Robben may not technically be a forward in the sense of being a striker, but we’re including him here for his wing wizardry. He would be a winger in-game, after all – and we all know how 4-3-3 sets up. As for Puskas, the man whose name dons the goal of the year award for world football is another player who FIFA fans have demanded for many years. He just never seems to make the cut. Read More: Will FIFA 21 be delayed? – The legendary Hungarian forward would add another country for fans to work with, potentially creating some interesting forward lines. His three Icon cards could come from the pre-1956 World Cup run, one from said tournament, as well as one from his Real Madrid days. As for Robben, he’s a little more modern and fresh in the memory. The Dutchman could boast one from his Chelsea days, another with his 2010 World Cup run, and Bayern’s 2012/13 Champions League-winning season – where he scored that famous winning goal. Now, of course, these players are solely who we think deserves an Icon card and EA SPORTS could have others up their sleeve. They could even have some of these seven in mind, who knows. If you agree, disagree, or have a strong opinion about our picks, be sure to let us know on Twitter @UltimateTeamUK.

6 new features FIFA 23 needs to add YouTube: unfalso9 faces fifa 22EA SPORTS always has a big job on its hands impressing football fans around the world with new features and FIFA 23 will be no different. When FIFA 22 launched last year, there were a number of changes made to the game, from women’s players coming to Pro Clubs to a complete restructure of Ultimate Team’s FUT Champions Weekend League rewards system. A number of FIFA 23 leaks have surfaced already, hinting at the likes of free-to-play and World Cup content coming in the next installment. However, at the time of writing, Electronic Arts are still yet to confirm anything and have rejected the opportunity to comment on speculation. So, with a penciled-in release date of October 2022, there’s no better time to put together a shopping list of new features for FIFA 23. Online Career Mode At this point, an Online Career Mode is the stuff of myth and legend. It’s strange, too, as Madden introduced Connected Careers back in 2012 – allowing players to progress through their stories together, similarly to an Online Football Manager save. Picture it… You and a friend manage teams in the same league, buying players from each other, and competing for trophies. In FIFA 23, there’s a high chance this will finally come to the football video game series, and so it should. EA posted a job listing in June 2021, which reads: “As an Online Software Engineer, you will help build our networked play development team – whether that be in our online career mode, ultimate team, or core online systems and protocols.” While that doesn’t confirm anything for the next installment, fans have waited long enough. It’s time to give us the option. Cross-platform play & FUT market If you look around the industry and the top games, they are all moving to cross-platform play. Apex Legends, Call of Duty, Fortnite… The list goes on. FIFA, however, is still lagging behind and it needs to change. A cross-platform feature would allow PlayStation, Xbox, and PC players to join Pro Clubs together, compete in Ultimate Team, and play Co-Op. It would be a huge boost for friends groups around the world, currently divided not just by console manufacturers but also console generations. On top of that, a struggling FUT market – which has been in a terrible state since FIFA 22 was released – could do with a stimulus. By creating a market that was consistent across all platforms, more cards would be available, there would be more accounts to create demand, and prices for mid-range cards may start to increase again. In the current game, there has been a serious issue with card values plummeting, meaning the grind for high-rated cards was so much worse than years gone by. A mixed market could go some way to resolving that. Its inclusion has been leaked, so fingers crossed. Create-A-Club storylines With the rise of Ted Lasso on Apple TV+, featuring a fictional football team called AFC Richmond, Create-A-Club was a very timely addition in FIFA 22. Now, while the idea itself is something fans have wanted to see for years, it was very much a simple foundation that needs building on. In short, Create-A-Club was just Career Mode where you create your own kits, stadium, and choose a league to be added to. In FIFA 23, it could differentiate itself with the addition of storylines. There are so many trials and tribulations that come with building a new football team, from securing branding deals to building a fanbase. There’s something about rocking up to your first fixture with no custom commentary lines and a full house that doesn’t make it feel real. This could include regular interaction with the owner, a forced start in lower divisions, or decisions that directly impact season ticket holders. But one thing is for certain, the current iteration does not go far enough to be immersive. Contract Expiry list This one is a really simple change: A contract expiry list needs to be added to Career Mode. For free agents, whose contracts have already run out or been terminated, there is a special menu that collects the names of everybody you can sign. Though, the key is to negotiate with the player before everybody starts sniffing around for their signature. Currently, it is possible to sign players to a free contract during the season if their current deal is ending at the end of the season. However, the process to actually find these hidden gems is quite lengthy – as you have to scroll through, club by club, until you find one. To make things easier, a menu feature (or regional scouting option) that brings together a list of people you could sign to contract expiry deals would be perfect. Ultimate Team online tournaments The focus of Ultimate Team is chiefly steered towards FUT Champions Weekend League these days, as that’s where the biggest prizes can be won and you get to compete against top players. In fact, Division Rivals, Squad Battles, and FUT Draft have become sideshows in recent years. This has created a grind for players to get the best possible team together through the week, to then compete on the weekends. FUT offers a number of ways to strengthen your team, from completing SBCs to playing matches for coins (which can be spent on upgrades). With that said, rolling back the years and reintroducing online tournaments would give people additional competitive content to engage with. Plus, now that EA owns a number of major competition licenses, from Champions League to the World Cup and Copa Libertadores, the possibilities are endless in terms of integrating those into Ultimate Team. Bring back the days of bulk buying Irish players for a competition… It’s not much to ask. Full-time International Management The Qatar World Cup is among us, starting in November 2022, and now would be the perfect time to put increased focus on international football. At the moment, the World Cup and EUROs are featured in Career Mode, but they’re very much a sidequest in the grand scheme of things. With no options to be a full-time international manager, but instead, balance club football with a national side, it’s time for that to change. After all, does that really happen? How many managers at the Qatar World Cup will be picking a team for Aston Villa (A) and then rock up at a major tournament. In FIFA 23, the developers should add a full-time international manager feature to Career Mode, allowing you to compete in the Nations League, WC Qualifiers, and gather club football data to pick your best team. This would be a great option after a few years at club level, or even to start your journey.

6 FIFA 21 secrets EA SPORTS left out of Pitch Notes EA SPORTSBig questions have been asked of EA SPORTS after releasing pitch notes for FIFA 21 Ultimate Team, Gameplay, Career Mode, Pro Clubs, and other game modes. However, we now know a lot of key details weren’t actually answered in those deep dives. Each of these deep dive articles were comprehensive, there’s no doubt about that. Some of them reached word counts in the thousands, covering a wide range of changes coming to the series soon. Not all questions were exactly answered, though, so EA took initiative and rolled out a few question and answer (Q&A) sessions on social media. Here, they have since opened up on some new features and the things that never made the cut. Naturally, not all of these will be positive for players, but let’s run through six things the pitch notes didn’t uncover. FIFA 21 details you might have missed Co-Op not supported in FUT Draft If you’re one of those players that likes to play a FUT Draft every so often, you may be sad to know the new Co-Op feature will not be supported. This was confirmed on August 10, where a dev claimed other popular ways of playing had been favored this time around. It is available, however, for both Squad Battles and Division Rivals. Draft is in FUT 21, although Co-Op won’t be supported. We’ve prioritized adding Co-Op to the most popular ways to play FUT. https://t.co/hjx6ArD0Sa — EA SPORTS FC Direct Communication (@EASFCDirect) August 10, 2020 Player Career isn’t changing One of the things PES has had over FIFA in the last few years is Become A Legend. Konami’s series really is the home for the Player Career experience, and that doesn’t look set to change any time soon. The managerial side of things has been prioritized this year, again. This means new Visual Sim and Player Development features will not be in Player Career, though feedback is being taken on board – EA have confirmed. These features are designed to enhance the managerial experience and are not available in Player Career. We are aware of current feedback regarding Player Career. https://t.co/ZU0ZwZ3gp9 — EA SPORTS FC Direct Communication (@EASFCDirect) August 13, 2020 Interactive Sim time in Career Mode We’ve been shown how Interactive Simulation will work in Career via the pitch notes, but the amount of time it will take per match was omitted. This is handy to know as well because the reason people skip Career Mode matches is to save time. Well, now we’ve got an answer. On August 13, FIFA Direct Communication posted: “An Interactive Sim Match clocks somewhere between 4-5 minutes depending on how many match events happen and how many times the ball goes out of play. Keep in mind we’re talking about regular 90-minute matches with no extra time. You can also quick sim to the end at any point.” No Co-Op Friendlies in Ultimate Team Playing online Friendlies with a few of your mates might be standard procedure for multiplayer Ultimate Team. The Co-Op feature will not be supported, though, and that might be a big blow for friends looking to take on others that they know. In FIFA 21, you won’t be able to send game invites to other players, just your Co-Op partner. We’ve seen your feedback, but for FUT 21 we do not have support for game invites from Co-Op sessions, this includes FUT Friendlies. https://t.co/6Fh61qfCAG — EA SPORTS FC Direct Communication (@EASFCDirect) August 10, 2020 Cross-platform play is not included in FIFA 21 One of the most surprising developments since the pitch notes were unveiled has been the confirmation of no cross-play. It doesn’t matter if you have two consoles made by the same developer, i.e. Xbox One and Xbox Series X, no cross-platform play will be supported. In a previous FAQs article, EA said: “Allowing our players to play against each other on whichever platform they play EA SPORTS FIFA is a long-term goal of ours.” But, that won’t happen this year. On the contrary, the Ultimate Team market will be. So if you place a card up for sale, that can be purchased by Club Owners on both current and next-gen systems. You won’t be able to play across console generations or cross-play in #FIFA21. However, you will be able to carry over your FUT progression from PS4 to PS5 and Xbox 1 to Xbox Series X. https://t.co/mUqU3zcAud — EA SPORTS FC Direct Communication (@EASFCDirect) August 10, 2020 FIFA 21 club growth in Career Mode New transfer strategies have been incorporated in FIFA 21, making players pickier about the clubs they want to play for. Just like previous games, some people will declare themselves a ‘one-club man’ making it difficult to sign them, while others will be quite the journeymen. Those worried about big-name players turning down the opportunity to play for promoted sides, due to their lack of history, have had their questions answered – though. Responding to a player that used Macclesfield as an example, EA said: “The average Star Ratings of the teams in the league dictate the quality of the league. So top rated players could potentially join a side like Macclesfield if they’re playing in a highly competitive league.” This is an encouraging move and should reassure players that their initial club pick isn’t going to impact their transfers down the road. That brings our list to an end. If you spotted something interesting in the Q&A that never featured here, send us the details @UltimateTeamUK on Twitter! We might add it later down the line.

6 big changes that need to happen in FIFA 21 DexertoWith FIFA 20’s life cycle approaching its end, these are our picks for the 6 changes we want to see in the next instalment of EA Sports’ immensely popular football series. Many would argue FIFA 20 has been a mixed bag since its September 2019 release. While the view of critics was fairly positive at first, the FIFA community appears to have grown increasingly frustrated with the game’s developers over recurrent issues and a lack of tangible updates. It goes without saying that this list is subjective, and you might disagree with some elements. That’s fine. Without further ado, let’s get into the list of major changes that need to happen in FIFA 21. Make heading great again Okay, not exactly FIFA 14 great. Many players will still have nightmares about Zlatan Ibrahimovic whirling away from the net having scored a hat-trick of headers. But, let’s be honest, crossing and heading in FIFA 20 isn’t up to scratch. EA’s reasoning for the nerf to heading was so players are less reliant on RNG, and more on player skill. While that’s understandable, it somewhat contradicts their commitment to make FIFA the most realistic football game there is. Read More: Bernd Leno’s FIFA 20 Ultimate Team revealed – Crossing is weak too, with even the game’s best wingers regularly under or overhitting their balls into the box. If it’s not wayward of its target, chances are the opposition keeper has come and claimed it. On the off chance the ball actually makes it to your unmarked striker, regardless of who it is, they’re probably going to mess up the header and put the ball miles over the bar. The biggest problem with the nerf to heading is that everyone is forced to play the same way. Any player who’s got more than a few FIFA 2o matches under his belt will know that there’s no point crossing the ball into the box. This forces everyone to play centrally with through balls or work wide play into a cut-back. Passing FIFA 20 saw a number of changes to passing. Most notably, there’s a weird reluctance from your players to weight passes correctly, almost as if they don’t trust their teammates to adequately control the ball. Wingers are often left stranded because central players roll the ball out to them leisurely, rather than putting their foot through it. It opens up nearly every offensive pass to interception and, when compared to faster games like FIFA 13, it’s clear how much the game’s passing has been slowed down over the last few years. The lack of fluidity with FIFA 20’s passing is one reason people have accused the FIFA series of going backwards. It was never perfect, but efforts to improve it have just made it considerably slow and tiresome. Free kicks and penalties need simplifying Free kicks in FIFA 20 currently constitute some combination of luck and wiggling the right joystick. There weren’t many complaints about the old system of taking free kicks, so the change certainly came out of the blue. But now, after aiming vaguely wide of the target, players are charged with whipping the right joystick in a weird semi-circular motion in the hopes it pushes the ball towards the net. Read More: 7 players that deserve Icon cards in FIFA 21 – It’s the same with penalties. What was wrong with the sliding mechanic featured in FIFA 13 and 14, where players had to time their penalties in the green area and then aim? That was done away with years ago, replaced by a luminescent arrow that behaved on its own accord. If that wasn’t inconsistent enough, it’s now been replaced by a shaking circle that look likes its trying to keep itself warm. Free kicks and penalties have become big issues, truly emblematic of developers tampering with gameplay that should have been left alone. Just simplify them both for FIFA 21. Career mode and Pro Clubs are still amateur The majority of EA’s focus in the past few FIFAs has, quite understandably, been on Ultimate Team. As the most popular mode, it stands to reason that it receives the largest share of attention. However, career mode and pro clubs have been left on the back-burner, free of meaningful changes for years. In terms of Pro Clubs, there could be way more customization than there currently is. Why are subs not a thing? Why can players not mess around with player size, names and everything in between? It feels like EA found something that worked and have stuck to it for too long. Similarly, career mode is outdated. When you compare it with a game like Football Manager 20, which provides nearly countless opportunities for tactics, training, contracts, staff and players, it seems bizarre that the furthest FIFA has gone is having a player sassily email you because he’s been dropped for a cup tie away at Torquay. Different play-styles should be different One of the biggest issues with FIFA 20 – and any sports game – is that players all being forced to play the same way causes the game to get stale, fast. In FIFA 20, players have no choice but to play centrally and avoid crossing at all costs. Pace still rules going forward, with slower strikers picked by absolutely nobody. Read More: FIFA 20 Update #16 patch notes – Tony Pulis or Neil Warnock tactics should definitely not be dominant, but forcing everyone to pass to a striker, who then looks for a through ball to another player can get tiresome, fast. Players should be able to edit tactics (in all modes) to a point where it meaningfully affects how your team plays. No, the ‘overload ball side’ defensive tactic doesn’t count. Defending and attacking are not pendulums What I mean by this, is that games feel too inconsistent. The amount of times games end 7-7, 4-6, or 5-4. The balance between attack and defence feels off. EA deliberately nerfed defending in FIFA 20 in order to force players to do more than hold down the A/X button and successfully dispossess opponents. Players are now entirely responsible for their defensive movement, in a change many can get behind. The problem is that players haven’t quite adjusted yet, and it’s still way too easy to dribble back and forth and find space to shoot. Top dribblers like Kylian Mbappe or Ryan Kent are able to turn back and forth on the spot in the box, before a defender backs off and they slot the ball into the corner. It’s a manipulation that should have been patched, and needs to be avoided in next year’s title. If such a drastic change is made to defending, it needs to be matched in some way on the offensive end. That just about rounds off our list of the 6 big changes we want to see in FIFA 21! What did we miss? Tweet us @UltimateTeamUK to let us know your thoughts.

6 features FIFA 21 Ultimate Team needs to add DexertoWith the release of FIFA 21 fast-approaching, we start to question: how can EA sports innovate its most popular game mode, Ultimate Team? The mode’s reveal is now on the horizon, and we’ve listed here 6 major features that we want to see added (or re-added) in next year’s game. One of the biggest complaints FIFA players have, year to year, is that the game feels like a re-skinned version of the previous year’s. Here, we take a look at six features we want to see added to FIFA 21’s Ultimate Team, that would make it feel discernibly different from FIFA 20 and, hopefully, restore it to its former glory. 1 – Bring tournaments back Why were tournaments ever removed from FIFA Ultimate Team? They featured in a host of the older Ultimate Teams, in both Single Player and Online variants. The tournaments would come with team limitations and requirements, similar to the SBCs we see in recent FIFA titles. However, players would then pit their team against opponents in a knock-out tournament – like the current Draft mode. Winning the tournament would earn players awesome rewards, but the tournaments have not featured in UT for some years now. One of the major appeals of tournaments was that they encouraged teams you wouldn’t normally see in online play. Running an all-silver team? You were guaranteed to come up against another all-silver outfit. Now, using anything but the most highly rated team possible sees you consistently outclassed online, whether it’s in FUT Champions or Division Rivals. 2 – Wager Matches This has been on the radar of FIFA fans for some time, now. As long ago as FIFA 13, prominent creators like KSI were calling for EA to add wagers. In a mode where in-game currency is so prevalent, it’s quite remarkable that EA have never added such a feature. This could easily be a tiered edition – with players able to invest as many or as few coins as they want. The thought of a match with 1,000, 10,000 or even 100,000 coins riding on it sounds incredibly exciting, and would constitute a more than worthwhile change. An argument against this change is that it would be wrong to implement such a feature in a game aimed at younger audiences. However, it seems disingenuous to argue such a feature would be inappropriate when so much of Ultimate Team is geared around micro-transactions, and players are so frequently encouraged to use real-money to purchase packs. 3 – Custom Badge & Kit Creators The whole raison d’etre of Ultimate Team is to create your own XI and club, in whatever way you choose to. It seems bizarre then, that even in FIFA 20, the option to design your own badge or kits is not yet a feature. What seems even more strange, at least to FIFA players, is that the freedom to create your own badges/kits is already in a host of EA titles, like the company’s NHL games. This is a must-add in FIFA 21 but, to be honest, it’s been a must-add for a few years now. 4 – Challenge Matches/Scenarios These would, in theory, work like Ultimate Team tournaments. Players would be tasked with using their squad to recreate a match scenario, and pull off a real-life comeback or challenge. Down 3-0 to AC Milan in the final of the Champions League? Come back and win 4-3 and earn all kinds of UCL rewards. This is just one example of countless scenarios that could be added, with decades worth of amazing football moments to pick from. Similar to SBCs, unique and powerful rewards could be on offer upon completion. 5 – Scrap FUT Champions, introduce a new comp mode The introduction of FUT Champs back in FIFA 17 was met with universal praise, and rightly so. FIFA had long been calling out for a competitive mode, on top of the Seasons (now Rivals) mode. However, Champs has remained largely untouched in the years that followed. The reduction from 40 matches to 30 made it more accessible to casual players, but it’s still a slug to get through the games for anyone who doesn’t dedicate their entire weekends to FIFA. The idea of a competitive game mode is good, but FUT Champs needs reworking or replacing going forwards. A league-based ranked mode would seem a pragmatic alternative. 6 – Bring back Trade Deals The move to introduce price ranges to FIFA Ultimate Team was massively unpopular, but so was the removal of trade deals. As it sounds, this allowed players to offer multiple cards in return for one, more valuable one. It allowed freedom in the market, and led to a host of ‘Pink Slips’ between creators. The problem is that, with FIFA Points at such a premium, players would always look for alternative ways to get ahead. Regardless, it’s a market feature that would reduce reliance on SBCs, and allow some of the better cards in the game to be accessed without having to drop millions of coins. Not to mention, this feature is already in other EA titles, such as Madden NFL – meaning it’s definitely something they’re capable of implementing. That rounds up the features we want to see in FIFA 21 Ultimate Team! What did we miss? Be sure to tweet us @UltimateTeamUK to let us know what you want to see added in next year’s game.

5 new formations FIFA 21 needs to add EA SportsWe’ve picked five new formations that, while certainly unorthodox, would spice up FIFA 21’s gameplay in a way we’ve not seen from the series for some time. What do you make of the formations we’ve chosen? When it comes to new FIFA games and anticipated features, the inclusion of new formations is not particularly high on the list. Some fans have long been asking for completely customizable formations, but this still seems some way off. The list of formations, too, has not changed for some time in FIFA. Formations arguably became less important as formation-specific cards were removed from Ultimate Team, but fans still place a lot of stock in how their team lines up in game. We’ve chosen five formations that we think would make worthy additions to FIFA’s list of formations. Some have been inspired by real life coaches, while others are inspired by the desperation we’ve felt while trailing 2-1 in the 90th minute of an Elite III decider. 1: 4-3-2-1 (3 CMs, 2 CAMs and 1 ST) The first formation on our list is inspired by Everton’s Carlo Ancelotti and his apparent affinity for Christmas trees. All jokes aside, we’ve seen Ancelotti bring in three impressive midfielders and not a single wide player yet this season. This formation would see a conventional back four, with 3 CMs in front of them. In front of them would be two central CAMs, and then a ST in front of them. Attacking centrality would be key for this formation, as well as pacey midfielders to overlap and compensate for the lack of out and out wide men. Whether FIFA 21’s crossing and heading will be as poor as FIFA 20’s remains to be seen, but this pyramid formation is one we want regardless. 2: 3-5-1-1 (flat midfield five, 1 CF, 1 ST) It’s quite a surprise that a 3-5-1-1 formation is not available in all of FIFA. It’s of course similar to the existing 3-5-2, but would feature a flat midfield five rather than 2 CDMs and a CAM. Players can use it in some game modes but, for whatever reason, not in Ultimate Team. On either side would be a LM and RM, with a CF and ST just in front. This would, in many ways, be a more conservative three-at-the-back formation. A lot of FIFA’s existing three-at-the-back formations leave players exposed defensively, but the tightly packed midfield would make playing through this XI much more difficult for opponents. 3: 3-3-1-3 (3 CBs, RWB, LWB, CM, CAM, RW, LW, CF) Another formation taken from real life, this confusing amalgamation of positions stems from Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa. It is similar to some five-at-the-back formations that currently feature in FIFA, but anyone who’s watched a Bielsa side play knows about his chaotic and attacking style. Three CBs are protected by a CM, while wide areas are marshalled by a LWB and RWB. Tradition would dictate this being classed as 5-1-1-3, but the wing-backs in a Bielsa system spend more time up the pitch than they do in their own half. In front of this second line of three is one CAM, who bridges the gap to the front three, made up of a RW, LW, and CF. It sounds complex, and that’s because it is. But Marcelo Bielsa’s trademark formation has had more than enough success to warrant an inclusion in FIFA 21. 4: 3-2-3-2 (2 CDMs, 3 CAMs, 2 ST) We’ve noted previously how a lot of three-at-the-back formations leave players a bit short at the back. Well, this formation accepts that and steers into it. Similar to the 4-2-3-1 narrow formation that FIFA already features, this simply swaps out a defender for a ST, forming a back three in the process. It would make users undoubtedly vulnerable to wide attacks, but would give oppositions an absolute nightmare when defending centrally. One for the more competent defenders, we’d wager. Either that, or get ready to concede 5 goals per game. Although, if you’re scoring 6, who really cares? 5: 1-1-8 (CB, CM, RW, LW, RF, LF, CAM, CF, 2 STs) Down in the final minutes of a must-win FUT Champs match? Already thrown caution to the wind and tried Ryan Kent and Wissam Ben Yedder? Then this is the formation for you. Read More: How to complete Rodrigo Moreno FIFA 20 SBC – Needless to say, it’s a bit like football suicide, but if it gets you that last-minute equalizer then it’s all been worth it. We’d love to see this formation as a last-minute roll of the dice, but we’d warn all against starting a match with it. If you’ve got the ball then your front 8 has every chance of scoring, but if you don’t then you’re probably going to ship more goals than Chelsea did last season. Needless to say, that’s a lot. What do you make of our proposed formations for FIFA 21? What formation have we missed? Be sure to tweet us @UltimateTeamUK on Twitter to let us know, and to keep up with all the latest news, leaks and rumors from the world of FIFA.

5 football legends that should be FIFA 23 Icons RollsThere are over 100 ICONs in Ultimate Team but EA still has plenty of great options for new legends to add for FIFA 23. Here, we’re going to pick five. ICONs are Ultimate Team player items that honor the greatest names in football history. These cards come In four different tiers for every player; Base, Mid, Prime, and Prime Moments. Each tier represents a different stage of the legend’s career, and the player’s overall increases each tier. Prime and Prime Moments Icons are usually some of the rarest FIFA items. FIFA 22 added Cafu, Iker Casillas, Robin Van Persie, and Wayne Rooney as Icons. Hero cards were also introduced in FIFA 22. The new card type represents a player and their hero moment in a specific league. Here, though, we’re going to pick five ICONs we would like to see in FIFA 23. Note: All stats and images below are only concept cards and not confirmed. Oliver Kahn Oliver Kahn is widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time. The firey goalie won eight Bundesliga titles, six DFB-Pokals, the EUFA Cup in 1996, and the UEFA Champions League in 2001. Kahn won a record four consecutive UEFA Best European Goalkeeper awards. At the 2002 World Cup, The German became the first Golden Ball winner in the tournament’s history. The legend currently serves as CEO of Bayern Munich, where he spent 14 years as a player. Francesco Totti Francesco Totti lives and breathes Roma football. Totti spent his entire career at Roma, spanning 28 illustrious years. Totti is considered one of the greatest Italian players of all time and Roma’s greatest player ever. The Italian scored 307 goals in 786 appearances. The creative offensive playmaker won the 2006 World Cup and a Serie A title in 2001. He is the second-highest scorer of all time in Italian league history with 250, and he holds every major Roma record. Diego Maradona claimed that, “Francesco Totti is the greatest player I have ever seen.” Wesley Sneijder Wesley Sneijder said he could have reached the same levels as Lionel Messi and Christiano Ronaldo if he had been more committed, and his skill level backs up that claim. During his prime, Sneijder’s free-kick and playmaking abilities were unmatched. After winning four trophies with Ajax, Sneijder joined Real Madrid and won La Liga in his first season. At Inter, the Dutch phenom reached his pinnacle, winning a treble in 2009 and was named the UEFA midfielder of the season in 2010. With 134 caps, Sneijder has the most Dutch appearances of all time. The dynamic midfielder scored 156 goals in 405 career games. Sneijder never reached the same heights in the latter half of his career, but he is more than deserving of an Icon card. Edgar Davids Edgar Davids’ iconic goggles and relentless work ethic made him hard to miss on the field in his prime. David would be the perfect midfield addition to any FIFA Ultimate Team squad. The Dutch midfielder was a jack of all trades, possessing phenomenal defensive and playmaking capabilities. The Dutchman won three Eredivisie titles with Ajax and the 1994 Champions League. David captured three Serie A titles with Juventus and a Coppa Italia with Inter Milian. Davids was held back from injuries towards the end of his playing career, but he is widely regarded as one of the best all-around midfielders of his generation. The midfield workhorse was nicknamed “The Pitbull” by Louis Van Gaal because of his marking ability and aggressive play styley. David now coaches alongside Louis Van Gaal on the Dutch national team. Giorgos Karagounis Who could ever forget Greece’s magical 2004 UEFA European Championship run? The cinderella story still stands as one of the greatest underdog stories in sports. Giorgos Karagounis opened Euro 2004 with a thunderbolt long-distance goal against Portugal and was a key player in their championship run. The midfield maestro represented Greece at Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup, Euro 2012, and the 2014 World Cup. Karagounis’ 139 appearances are the most in Greek football history. The midfielder doesn’t have the same goal and assists tallies as other FIFA Icons, but his long-range scoring ability and playmaking talent make him one of the world’s most unique legends.

5 new FIFA 21 Freeze cards leaked by EA: Dembele, Saint-Maximin & more Graphics: EA SPORTSEA SPORTS have, bizarrely, released a set of new Freeze cards into Ultimate Team before they were supposed to go live – and they might just be some of the best ones yet. With the holiday season in full swing, FIFA fans had been waiting for EA to kickstart their annual FUTMAS promo – with free gifts, new cards, and objectives being released on a daily basis. However, the devs threw a spanner in the works, and opted against going with FUTMAS this year. Instead, they launched Freeze. It’s a similar type of promo, with new cards, packs, and daily content to mess around with. The new cards have quickly become some of the most interesting in-game, too. Not only because of the stats boost that some players have received, but also because of the position changes. Players who’ve longed been played out of position, and on low chemistry as a result, have been given unique cards. As EA SPORTS have been releasing these new cards on a daily basis, some hints have surfaced beforehand. However, in the case of five new cards, they didn’t even bother with teasers. Instead, they just released Freeze versions of Allan Saint-Maximin, Ousmane Dembélé, Giorgio Chiellini, Robin Gosens, and Álex Moreno early – and then dropped the loading screen showing that they’d be arriving soon. Even though, some players had already found them in packs. As already noted, these five cards are incredibly intriguing purely because both Saint-Maximin and Dembélé have been given striker variants. So, they’ll get plenty of use in FUT Champs Weekend League. EA have accidentally set five more Freeze cards live in #FIFA21 Ultimate Team packs, a full day before release. 🇮🇹 Giorgio Chiellini 🇫🇷 Allan Saint-Maximin 🇫🇷 Ousmane Dembélé 🇩🇪 Robin Gosens 🇪🇸 Álex MorenoHave you packed any yet? pic.twitter.com/NkvHGe7I2y — Dexerto Sports (@DexertoFC) December 22, 2020 As for the other three, Chiellini is a CDM, so expect to see even more defensively solid Italian lineups. Gosens and Moreno have been moved to CB and RB, respectively, each getting a nice little stats boost. It’s not incredibly unusual for EA to drop cards early – its happened plenty of times with Champions League cards – but, it is strange to see these cards added before the loading screen tease went live. Either way, if you pack one before their official release, you shouldn’t really worry about having it taken away or anything. So, enjoy it if you get one early.

FIFA 20 giving away retro kits for Liverpool, Man City, PSG & Chelsea EA SPORTSA brand new selection of retro kits have been added to FIFA 20, just hours after being leaked by a data miner, and EA SPORTS are giving them away for free! EA have been known to add kits from yesteryear to Ultimate Team in recent times, usually available to purchase in the online catalog, and once again they have been added to the popular game mode. The latest set of classic strips were revealed by data miner FUT Watch on May 7 and were added to the game soon after by developers. These new kits are for three Premier League teams – Chelsea, Manchester City, and Liverpool – with Paris Saint Germain also getting one as well. This information was first revealed by leaker FUT Watch on Twitter, who posted a snap of the four different jerseys onto their timeline, and they have since been rolling out in-game as free rewards in Ultimate Team. All you have to do is log in, then low and behold, one will be waiting for you to start playing in it. All four kits can be seen below. Liverpool FIFA 20 retro kit While Liverpool fans have been obsessing over concept designs related to the club’s upcoming reported Nike deal, this classic from the 1989-91 seasons, a period where they won the title with manager Kenny Dalglish, will certainly put smiles on faces. Our retro 1989-91 home kit is now available to all our fans in @EASPORTSFIFA #FIFA20 😎 🔴 #ThrowbackThursday ⚽ pic.twitter.com/HZ21FX29cc — Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 7, 2020 Man City FIFA 20 retro kit Away from the Anfield club, Manchester City fans will be delighted to see their leaked kit design, with the brother sponsor printed right across the front, and just look at the other two! They both look like perfect additions to the game. Throwing it back to 1994 👀🔥 The retro ‘94 kit is available to all City fans in #FIFA20 today! 🙌 ⚽️ @EASPORTSFIFA 🔵 #ManCity #ThrowbackThursday pic.twitter.com/HbzPeBneYC— Manchester City (@ManCity) May 7, 2020 PSG FIFA 20 retro kit 👕🔴🔵 #RetroKit Notre superbe maillot rétro 1989-90 est désormais disponible pour tous les supporters du @PSG_inside dans le mode #FUT de #FIFA20 @EASPORTSFIFA et via les objectifs pour tous les autres joueurs ! 😉🎮 🔙 #ThrowbackThursday ⚽️ #FUT20 pic.twitter.com/h94Pj9WZMe— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) May 7, 2020 Chelsea FIFA 20 retro kit So, there you have it! Those are the four new retro kits in FIFA 20 – exactly the same that we reported as leaked previously – and they all look amazing! Which one do you prefer from this set? Let us know @UltimateTeamUK.

5 FIFA 21 players you need for FUT Champions this weekend EA SportsIf you want to win in FUT Champions, you need a good squad, and if you want a good squad, you need these five players. [jwplayer S0RLWo1s] The weekend’s coming up, which means that FIFA 21 players need to start preparing their squads if they hope to compete in FUT Champions. This week’s Team of the Week (TOTW) includes some great options. Here are the five best players to get for your squad: 5. TOTW Ederson If you want a Goalkeeper with great reflexes and kicking, TOTW Ederson is almost a must. Manchester City’s Keeper boasts an impressive 89 Reflexes stat along with an incredible 94 Kicking. This helps him make accurate Goal Kicks that don’t get intercepted. He’s slightly more agile than the 90-rated Alisson, and a little cheaper too. 4. Kevin De Bruyne De Bruyne is still a staple for any FUT Champions team. He is the best central midfielder in the game at 91 overall. His passing skills are unrivaled. He has an overall 94 in crossing, 94 in short passing, and 93 in long passing. This helps De Bruyne find teammates and get the ball to them in great positions to score. It doesn’t hurt that he’s also a great shot himself. 3. Neymar If you’re playing a formation with wingers, Neymar is your man. His 94 Acceleration, along with his 96 agility and 95 in Dribbling, helps him outrun and get by his opponents. He has excellent chemistry with Kylian Mbappe (if you have him) as well as other Ligue One Uber Eats or Brazilian players. If you can afford him, he’s well worth the investment. 2. Virgil van Dijk Van Dijk is the best defender in the game. It’s a lot easier to score in FIFA 21 than it was in 20, and FUT Champions players know how to abuse the mechanics of the game. This makes having great CBs extremely important, and none do the job better than Van Dijk. Make sure to give him the Shadow Chemistry Style and watch him shut down the opposing strikers. 1. TOTW Rashford Rashford’s TOTW card is going for over 600,000 on the transfer market, and for good reason. His 92 Pace stat and his 85 Shooting stat make him one of the most lethal strikers on the market. Combine that with his 5-star skill moves and 86 dribbling and he’s an absolute menace. He pairs great with midfielders like De Bruyne who can get the ball to him while he’s making a run.

5 best Ultimate Team squads to dominate FIFA 21’s first Weekend League EA SPORTSFIFA 21 is officially out, and fans have had their hands all over the Ultimate Team grind for a weekend so far… now Weekend League is on the horizon, and you need a killer FUT squad; here’s five FIFA teams ready for the big leagues. The early FIFA Ultimate Team grind is always tricky. Do you drop all your coins straight into a beast starter squad and dominate Division Rivals, or do you play it slow and steady and build up for that team with Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr? Well, a key to that is placing high in the Weekend League — the first of which will kick-off on Friday, Oct. 16 — and to do that you do need a killer FUT squad. Here’s five FUT teams, ranging from 25k to 500k, that could be the difference between winning and losing in one of the toughest challenges FIFA has to offer: the Ultimate Team Weekend League. Without further ado, let’s get underway. Last time out, we allowed a minimum bar of 90 for chemistry in Dexerto’s best starter squads article. That isn’t going to cut it in the Weekend League, unfortunately, meaning we’ll need 100 for league squads and hybrids alike. As always, all prices are courtesy of FUTBIN. Keep in mind too, the FUT market is volatile; the listed prices may fluctuate slightly at stages in the opening weeks. Hybrid Weekend League squad: 25k This is the cheapest Weekend League squad we’re going to show you, and it proves that you can head into the top-level competition armed with some pretty lethal stars, all for a cheaper price that doesn’t knock around your coin stash. Anderson Talisca and Quincy Promes are the keys to unlocking this WL team’s potential in the thick of the action. Alex Teixeira and Donyell Malen may be fast-paced threats at the top of the 4-4-2 formation, but the midfield duo create the game. Use David Neres and new Leeds signing Raphinha to poke and prod at your opponent’s defence, before Promes and Talisca either play a killer through ball, a whipped over wide cross, or simply run at the goals themselves — they can do it all. Read more: Best wingers to buy in FIFA 21 Ultimate Team – Stefan De Vrij lies in the heart of the defence too, key to defending the backline. Bruno Peres and Ridgeciano Haps should get forward, so be ready to switch to your Dutch defender and do a little last-ditch defending; it’s worth it for all the goals. Total Cost PS4: 28k – Xbox One: 26k – Origin PC: 27k – La Liga squad: 50k We’ve had a hybrid squad, yes, but now let’s keep it simple. La Liga has plenty of top talents available for quite cheap, meaning we can eke a solid Weekend League out for 50k. This Spanish squad shines in the midfield. French playmaker Nabil Fekir has been back to his best in FIFA 21, playing well above his 83 rating, while Marcos Llorente has been another shock star among La Liga’s midfield stock. Cover star João Félix joins them on the left. Gerard Moreno plays as a target man between fast-paced Ansu Fati and Rodrygo. There are two clear upgrade paths for this squad. The first is swapping out Felipe for defensive titan Eder Militao. The Real Madrid defender costs around 25k, but this FIFA he’s worth every single cent — he plays far above his 80 rating. Read more: How to complete FIFA 21’s Ansu Fati POTM SBC – The second is Ansu Fati’s new in-form card from Team of the Week 2. The red-hot Barcelona youngster has a cracking upgrade; well worth the 20k price jump. Total Cost PS4: 54k – Xbox One: 48k – Origin PC: 63k – Premier League squad: 100k Just like we said in our Starter Squad article, everyone loves the Premier League — some of the world’s biggest footballing names have moved there in recent years, and it’s televised around the world too — here’s a 100k squad for the league. The team itself is based around a balanced midfield, with pacey wide wingers and fullbacks to stretch opponent’s thin and take advantage of FIFA 21’s speed hike. Richarlson is the big money signing (around 23k) while United’s midfield marshall Donny van de Beek should work overtime as the center of the spine. There’s also a few surprise wonder-picks in the Premier League squad too. Steven Bergwijn has shone above his price tag (15k) so far this year, and Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic is a steal at just a cheap 6k on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. If you want to splash 10k more, add Leeds’ Rodrigo up top; he’s a beast this year. Total Cost PS4: 101k – Xbox One: 97k – Origin PC: 106k – Hybrid Weekend League squad 2: 250k The Serie A finally gets some love in our squads articles in this 250k team, which splashes some of the best cards from the Premier League and La Liga to boot. The Italian competition boasts some of the strongest attackers in FIFA 21, including Douglas Costa, Ciro Immobile, and Paulo Dybala. Radja Naingollan also rounds out the Serie A attack, in a personal favourite of mine so far in the new FUT campaign. The backline is built around this year’s meta FUT defender Eder Militao, with rock-solid Manchester City star Fernandinho partnering him. Bruno Peres and Alex Telles (who you may have to snipe early if you want to grab him) spread out on the wings. We’ve also splashed in a One to Watch card, released in the latest OTW team. Achraf Hakimi is a stellar speedster in FIFA 21 so far, and his OTW card goes for just 25k. A proper bargain. Total Cost PS4: 263k – Xbox One: 266k – Origin PC: 244k – Big Spender Weekend League squad: 500k Here’s where things get really exciting. If you’ve managed to trade or pack your way to 500k, then you’re set for a while. You can slap together a nasty looking Weekend League team, and get to work climbing for Gold or Elite. For this final team, we’ve gone with the Prem again. There’s plenty of meta cards to pick from here, and they’re all relatively expensive; but totally worth it. Where do we start? Well, Gareth Bale out on the wing is a delicacy not many Weekend League teams can afford at the moment. He slices into the budget — the Welshman costs around 100k — but he’s very much a focal point of the Premier League squad’s attack. Gabriel Jesus and Wilfred Zaha are obvious picks; in FIFA 21, pace is king all over again, and these two come loaded with deadly speed. The same goes for Georginio Wijnaldum, who will be attacking down the left for the team. Liverpool’s new man Thiago Alcantara will play a deeper role on the right, while Merseyside rival Allan is the pivot to bring it all together. Allan has been the pick of the litter in FIFA 21 so far — the Brazilian Everton star won’t disappoint for 90k. Total Cost PS4: 501k – Xbox One: 475k – Origin PC: 500k – So there you have it; the five best Weekend League squads to get you off on the right foot (pun very much intended) in FIFA 21 Ultimate Team’s biggest challenge mode, the FUT Champions competition. If you aren’t quite up to this level just yet, make sure you check out our FUT Starter Squad suggestions — they’ll take your game to the next level early on in FIFA 21.

2K Sports talk buying FIFA license as EA prepare to walk away EA / 2K GamesAs FIFA opens up its doors to offers for the licensing of its brand name, a massive video game developer has teased their interest after seeing EA SPORTS potentially planning for a future without it. That developer is 2K Sports. Both EA and FIFA have released statements suggesting they are at a stalemate in negotiations for the renewal, with the latter reportedly demanding $1 billion every four years to keep their partnership going. At the same time, the global football body also noted they would be looking to expand their video game division, which suggests EA could lose the exclusivity they have enjoyed for over two decades. They said in a previous statement: “The future of gaming and esports for football stakeholders must involve more than one party controlling and exploiting all rights.” “Technology and mobile companies are now actively competing to be associated with FIFA, its platforms, and global tournaments.” EA SPORTS FC is a trademark that’s been filed as a potential replacement in the future, though no confirmation arrived as a follow-up. Since then, it appears that other candidates are now rearing their heads. 2K Games is known for its involvement in various sports and entertainment franchises, from NBA to WWE. While some elements of their portfolio, like MyCareer, will undoubtedly appeal to a section of FIFA’s current audience, it would be a tremendous shift in power within the space. 2K chief on buying the FIFA license On November 3, VGC posted transcribed notes from a 2K Sports earnings call. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick was probed on the idea of purchasing the FIFA license in the future, should EA leave them hanging. With Take-Two owning Top Eleven, which it bought alongside Nordeus this summer, many believe that they have laid the groundwork to make a giant leap. But, what did Zelnick make of it? He replied: “We are so thrilled to have Nordeus in the Take-Two family. They’re just crushing it and Top Eleven is a great, beloved title. I just couldn’t be happier to be in the soccer manager business through Top Eleven with the Nordeus team. “That’s a big step forward for us… we haven’t been in that sport before. And erm, I think I’ll leave it at that today.” Whether or not this is a deal 2K Sports will pursue in the future remains to be seen, but he didn’t exactly rule out the possibility.

3 high-rated players teased for FIFA 20 ShapeShifters Team 2 EA SportsEA Sports have released a new teaser for ShapeShifters Team 2 in FIFA 20 Ultimate Team (FUT), and it hints at three players with some serious in-game potential. ShapeShifters has been one of the more popular promos in FIFA 20 Ultimate Team, featuring players in positions that you normally could not shift them to with regular position-change consumable cards. Much like many of the recent promos, this one has been split into two separate teams. Team 1, released back on February 21, featured 17 players in total, including 96 CF Messi, 91 CAM Marcelo, and 91 CDM David Luiz. On February 27, EA Sports released the first teaser for Team 2 – an image that showed three hidden players with some clues and hints as to who they could be. Read More: Banned FIFA star Kurt reveals future plans – The highest-rated card is a 95 RW, which, according to the faint lettering on the card itself, ships as an ST as its default card. There’s also a 92-rated French CB card that defaults as a CDM and an 88-rated CM card that normally ships as an RB. The CM card offers some additional clues, including 91 passing and 86 dribbling. Who these ShapeShifters players could be 95-rated RW There are not many gold striker cards in FIFA 20 that, even with an upgrade, can reach a 95 rating. Thus, the most likely and most obvious candidate for this card is Cristiano Ronaldo. Not only does his default card ship as a ST, he also doesn’t have any RW cards in this year’s FUT, so a ShapeShifters version would be perfect. Also, the first team included Messi, who got a +2 rating from his gold card, so a similar boost to CR7 would put him right at 95. Read More: FIFA 20 TOTW 24 – Fernandes, Auba, more – If this is indeed Ronaldo, then it’s definitely going to be interesting to see what other changes EA make to his card. For example, him shifting to the right-wing could see him get 5-star weak foot for the first time in FUT history, or the devs could even make his left foot be the stronger one instead of the usual right. 92-rated French CB Seeing as how the original, gold version of this card is a CDM, there are only two French central defensive midfielders rated high enough to qualify – 89-rated N’Golo Kante and 85-rated Blaise Matuidi. As much as a 92-rated CB Matuidi would be a nice card, it’s pretty clear that this is going to be Kante, since his default card is much closer to that rating and he’s definitely more marketable. Plus, if the 95-rated RW is Ronaldo, then it’s highly unlikely EA would give two Juventus (or Piemonte Calcio) players ShapeShifters cards. Read More: RunTheFUTMarket questions EA’s Kurt bans – The question then becomes: How viable would Kante be at CDM? The answer is probably not very; his 5’6″ is way too short for a CB, even with his endgame-level defensive stats. That said, with how FIFA’s in-game formation changes work, starting with a five-at-the-back squad then moving Kante to the midfield could end up being a very clever way to use this card. 88-rated CM This is easily the most difficult card to try and figure out from the set, even with the teaser revealing that has 91 passing and 86 dribbling and defaults as a right back. If we’re to assume that the most recent version of this card will be an RB with a rating around 84-86, the likeliest candidates are Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ricardo Pereira, and Danny Carvajal. We’ll just have to wait and see with this one. When does FIFA 20 ShapeShifters Team 2 release? According to the in-game teaser screen, Team 2 will be going live on Friday, February 28 at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET / 6 PM GMT. It will likely include 15 cards in packs, like Team 1, with another two untradeable cards – one via SBC and the other through objectives.

15 underrated players that deserve FIFA 20 TOTW cards EA SPORTSEA SPORTS have been left without live football to base their FIFA 20 Team of the Week selections on and it’s about time a few of the most consistent performers were rewarded with special Ultimate Team cards. Here’s 15 upgrades we would like to see in the future. Picking up TOTW cards in FUT packs can be a fantastic thing in two senses, either the card is one that you would like to add to your lineup, or it has a greater value than many standard cards and you can sell it for profit. Selected on a weekly basis, these promo teams are released by EA SPORTS, on Wednesdays, and usually reflect the live performances of real footballers – as many will know by now. However, there are some players who might not be seen as complete game changers, but make a real difference to teams right across Europe’s top leagues. Regular FUT players will know there’s usually a team picked out towards the end of each season to reward this type of player, who haven’t yet been given special cards. Whether or not that will happen this year remains to be seen, but we’re sure at least a handful of these names will be in contention. We have spread our picks across a number of leagues, taking into account clean sheets, assists, goals, interceptions, and overall impact for their teams. So, without further ado, let’s jump into our list of players who haven’t been included in Team of the Week yet, but definitely deserve to be, with some concept upgrades to boot. FIFA 20 players who deserve TOTW cards Lucas Perez The Spanish striker struggled to make a mark during his time in England, with spells at Arsenal and West Ham. Eventually, he decided to return to Spain. This season he’s been on fire for CD Alavés, hitting the back of the net 11 times. He’s the fourth top goalscorer in La Liga, all without an in-form card. Thomas Muller Muller made a name for himself in the 2010 World Cup, where he claimed the Golden Boot and Best Young Player, but in recent seasons Bayern fans might argue he’s starting to lose half a yard where it counts. During the course of this Bundesliga campaign, though, he’s been doing everything to prove doubters wrong – that’s for sure – with the most assists in the league (15) and scoring six goals for the German champions. Surely, he should be in the Team of the Week sometime soon. Provider. Dominic Berardi Now, here’s a name old school FUT players will recognize: Dominic Berardi. The winger used to be a staple of Serie A Ultimate Teams in years gone by, and for Sassuolo he’s still proving today that he can get the job done. The Italian has scored 9 goals so far, which isn’t bad for a winger, and racked up five assists in 19 starts. He might not have lightning pace any more, but that doesn’t seem to be stopping him. Myron Boadu Sometimes the silver players that are in hot form tend to go under the radar and that appears to be exactly what’s happened with Boadu in FIFA 20 Ultimate Team. The 19-year-old forward has been really impressive for AZ Alkmaar of late, scoring 14 goals in 24 appearances – making him the third highest scorer in the league, behind Cyriel Dessers and Steven Berghuis. If that’s not impressive enough for you, he even has six assists to his name, showing he can do a bit of both at the top end. Similar to a jump up in ratings given to Adama Traore, an in-form card would have to be gold for Boadu. Dean Henderson The media in England seems to think it’s a three horse race for the No.1 jersey at international level and who could blame them? Jordan Pickford, Everton’s goalie, has had some howlers during the season and the two competing for top spot are Tom Pope – who has had a TOTW card – and Dean Henderson, who has not. Sheffield United’s young stopper has been seriously impressive during his debut year in the top flight and has had a big part to play in the The Blades’ impressive run, with 10 clean sheets. Odsonne Edouard Celtic’s Odsonne Edouard has scored 21 goals and 12 assists in the Scottish Premier League, which should be more than enough to see his 74 rating fly up into the gold bracket. Our concept would increase his card to 78, with shooting improving to complement his speed. Marcel Halstenberg Red Bull Leipzig’s young defender was immense before the Bundesliga, and many other leagues, were put on hold due to the current global situation. The club were third in the league, a position not too uncommon for them in recent times. With eight clean sheets in the league, also the third highest, manager Julian Nagelsmann has been overseeing the development of the center back, who has formed a formidable back three with Dayot Upamecano and Lukas Klostermann. Hopefully, he’ll get an upgraded card sometime soon for his new post. Roberto Torres Osasuna’s Roberto Torres has been performing to high standards in La Liga, with the third highest amount of assists in the division. If you think that’s not enough to merit his inclusion, he’s also scored six goals – including one in their last fixture before the season was suspended, versus Espanyol. Marco Silvestri Even with more clean sheets in the Serie A this season than Wojciech Szczesny and Samir Handanovic, Team of the Week inclusion has somehow evaded Hellas Verona’s first-choice stopper. Marco Silvestri has been in fine form, with 36% of matches he’s been selected for resulting in no goals conceded, so why not boost his ratings to reflect that improvement? Six ratings higher should do the trick. Habib Diallo Senegal’s Habib Diallo is another that has a low rated Ultimate Team card, but definitely deserves some recognition for his performances for FC Metz. The attacker has netted 13 since the start of their domestic campaign, and added three assists to that as well. Victor Lindelof Manchester United fans talk a lot about the impact of Harry Maguire, who they signed for around $97 million back in August 2019 and have since named club captain. However, the development and consistency of his regular partner, Lindelof, does go without recognition. So far, he’s racked up eight clean sheets this season, with notable results including three wins Manchester City and three against Chelsea in all competitions – without conceding in four of those fixtures. Alphonso Davies You don’t even have to be a regular viewer of Bundesliga action to have heard about Bayern Munich’s flying full back Alphonso Davies. He might have been given a Player Moments upgrade in FIFA 20 already, but having seemingly cemented his place at left back, he should be well in line for a future Team of the Week card as well. It would also give players who didn’t complete the SBC a chance to grab another upgraded Davies card. Mateo Kovacic The Croatian might well have had a Storyline special card rated 88, but for those who didn’t grab the Season Reward when it was available there should be something in between. Given his consistency under Frank Lampard, an 84 upgrade would do just fine. Issiaga Sylla There’s something different about this selection, because it’s not based on goals scored or assists. Instead, interceptions. Across the top European leagues, nobody has cut out more passes than Toulouse’s left back, with the 26-year-old racking up 67 already. If league competitions continue at some stage, this figure could increase even more, too. That’s why we’ve decided to put him forward as one of the most underrated players around, and one that deserves an in-form version. Omar Mascarell Here’s another interceptor. With the third highest amount in the European top leagues, Mascarell has completed 62 interceptions and is reading the game really well in the middle of the park for Schalke. He might feature in more teams as an 81, rather than his base. So, there we have it! Those are the 15 players we’re shocked to have seen miss out in Team of the Week for FIFA 20, and hopefully they will get improved in-form cards some time soon as a reward for their contributions to their respective clubs. Have we missed anybody out? The answer is probably. Tweet your suggestions to us @UltimateTeamUK and we’ll most likely fire a gif back in your direction. Thanks for reading.

27 years later, EA finally confirm FIFA 22 is “powered by football” EA SPORTSThe argument about whether it’s called football or soccer is a tale as old as time, but thanks to EA – we finally know FIFA 22 will be “powered by football.” It raises another question, though: what does that exactly mean? If you take a scroll through Twitter now, or even a year ago when we were all knee-deep into FIFA 20, the community have often called for gameplay changes. The tired Frostbite engine is just one part of the argument, and to play a football game like FIFA 21 where passing was so inconsistent and complicated for the last year has left a sour taste in many mouths. FIFA 22, thankfully, presents an opportunity for the game’s developers to choose a different path. Depending on who you speak to, whether it’s our followers on Twitter with UltimateTeamUK or professional players, some of which I have interviewed in the past, the gameplay comes up time and time again as problematic. FIFA 22 Hypermotion Technology On July 9, though, everybody that’s raised concerns with the in-game experience of the previous three installments were given some hope. The cover star was announced as Kylian Mbappe, to the surprise of almost nobody, but there were two interesting details on the case art. Detail one – “Hypermotion Technology.” Well, we’ve never heard of that before. FIFA 22 cover star revealed: Kylian Mbappe 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/OhXz1KqpqO — Dexerto Sports (@DexertoFC) July 9, 2021 The Frostbite engine certainly hasn’t got a loyal fanbase by any means. In fact, the game’s community has been very critical of how gameplay has deteriorated, especially in the era of Xbox One and PlayStation 4. However, EA have been teasing a big feature coming. For their annual news conference, EA Play Live, on July 20 we know they will be releasing more information about such enhanced technology. What players want, though, is less talk and more action. This has got to deliver – and feels like a big moment for the franchise. Its performance on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S just has to be better, and more fun to play. EA Play Live schedule 2021 Let’s be clear – FIFA games are going to sell every single year. Ultimate Team has been, while controversial in some circles, a genius introduction. Career Mode is a nice format people are always coming back for, and so is Pro Clubs. Wait, Powered by Football? Detail two – “Powered by Football?” Now the easy joke to make here is, wait a minute, are we only now being powered by football? FIFA is a football game, after all, and it’s been running since 1993. What the cover art does suggest, though, with these two details is that there appears to be significant realistic changes in the works. At EA Play Live, we’re bound to hear more on this front and it could quite possibly be the rework we’ve all been waiting for. Improvements to defending, passing, attacking, and even set pieces – why not? Slogans are usually very revealing. To that point, increased focus on real football and face scans in recent years when developing the game would suggest more accurate movements and player representation will be a big strength for Hypermotion. As the series edges closer and closer to realism while trying to keep elements of arcade gameplay, finding the balance will be tough. But for the first game on next-gen (current-gen now, for most), there’s no doubt that the bar is set high. This isn’t a crossbar challenge though, and this new engine – if that’s what it is to be – must hit the back of the net.

13 iconic cards that would be worthless on FIFA 22’s FUT Market EA SPORTSThe collapse of the FUT market in FIFA 22 Ultimate Team has been unprecedented, rendering some of the game’s best cards basically worthless – but how would it reflect on some of the franchise’s best-ever players? It has been well documented that the market is going through an extremely rough patch in FIFA 22, with the likes of Kai Havertz dropping from a valuation of 115,000 coins last year to a mere 5,000 this time. That’s not the only example, either. With a dead market has come a really torrid struggle for FUT Club owners, who have argued many packs are now not even worth opening. If you don’t get one of the top stars, the chances are that you’ll have to sell the player who appears on your board or walkout 10 to 15 times over to afford a great card in the future. Those of us who have been playing Ultimate Team from the very start – started our journey as card collectors, and slowly got used to the fast-paced nature of online play – will have played with some incredible items over the years in EA‘s series. The sad thing is, though, many of them would be utterly worthless today. Iconic FUT cards that wouldn’t survive in FIFA 22 1 – Kaka, FIFA 11 (86) The cover star of FIFA 22, Kylian Mbappe, is worth a whopping 1.3 million – 1.7 million coins, but the cover star of FIFA 11 would probably fetch around 10-15k in the current climate. 2 – Xavi, FIFA 12 (92) The pass master. Xavi was one of those footballers that didn’t ever fit the Ultimate Team meta mould of pacey midfielders, so you can bet your bottom dollar he would be in the lower echelons of the market today. 3 – Robin Van Persie, FIFA 12 (86) The flying Dutchman. Robin Van Persie enjoyed a purple patch of his career between 2010 and 2014, but there’s no way a striker with that pace (82) would be considered high-value in FIFA 22. Dare we say it, he could be modern-day fodder. 4 – Carles Puyol, FIFA 11 (87) A brick wall of a defender. Carles Puyol is one of the most decorated centre-backs in history, winning the La Liga six times and the Champions League on three occasions. While he might be held in high esteem among football fans, there’s no doubt that this slow, high-rated card would have a sinking valuation these days. A quick prediction would be 6,000 – 8,000 coins, which is a fraction of what it once was. 5 – Frank Lampard, FIFA 12 (87) A box-to-box midfielder. Frank Lampard was a staple of Premier League teams up and down the land in FIFA 12, with a fantastic shot that made up for his sluggish sprint speed. Sadly, he would just be viewed as a rating in FIFA 22, and we’d give him an estimated valuation of 7,000 coins… tops. 6 – Antonio Di Natale, FIFA 13 (85) Faster than a car. Italy’s Antonio Di Natale was a nightmare for defenders when he was fed with a lofted pass. Once he got in behind, there was no chance you were catching him. However, if you look at the Serie A market in FIFA 22 where cards such as Ciro Immobile – similarly rated – is 14,000 coins and two ratings higher… There’s not much hope for the former Udinese man. 7 – Zlatan Ibrahimovic, FIFA 13 (88) The skillful Swede. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has had a crazy career but in FIFA 13 he was arguably at the peak of his powers, having joined PSG from AC Milan. With 88 shooting, the 6ft5 star was dominating Ultimate Team as the perfect poacher, priced in the upper echelons of Ultimate Team. In 2021, though, this card would be lucky to be over 20,000 coins. 8 – Bastian Schweinsteiger, FIFA 14 (88) World Cup winner. In 2014, Bastian Schweinsteiger got his hands on the biggest trophy international football has to offer, but looking back at his base gold card, it would be worthless in the unstable FIFA 22 market. 63 pace? You’re looking at 5,000 coins for a card that used to be one of the best around. 9 – Thiago Silva, FIFA 18 (88) Everybody’s favorite Brazilian. Thiago Silva was in every team he could possibly be. Players all around the world would try to shoehorn him into their defensive lines, because of how fast he was compared to the competition. As sad as it is, though, with 80+ pace CBs cutting about in the game today, PSG’s central defender wouldn’t have the aspirational price he one did. 10 – Ronaldinho, FIFA 10 (87) The trickster. Ronaldinho had every single skill in the book in his locker, beating opposition teams by himself at times. FIFA 10 is probably the time where he had his best base card, but a 77 pace LF wouldn’t survive in this market. Ronaldinho as SBC fodder? What is the world coming to? 11 – Carlos Tevez, FIFA 12 (88) Bulldog-like approach. Carlos Tevez was one of the most lethal strikers in the Premier League at the time FIFA 12 was released, marking his highest base rated card to date. In a world where 90+ pace strikers are considered to be meta and most of the others fall short, it’s a shame to think the Argentine would probably be around 6,000 coins nowadays. 12 – Didier Drogba, FIFA 12 (86) The man for the big occasion. Didier Drogba scored so many important goals for Chelsea over the years, many of which came against their London rivals Arsenal. While this was a landmark year for the Ivorian, scooping the Champions League trophy in Bayern Munich’s backyard, his card would have a poor value if it was released a decade later. 13 – Alexis Sanchez, FIFA 16 (86) The flying winger. Alexis Sanchez’s glory years came at Barcelona and Arsenal, playing for the latter when FIFA 16 launched. At the time, he would undoubtedly be a regular in your opponent’s starting 11, though with the way the FUT market has gone – valuing just a select few cards in the realm of the elite – Sanchez wouldn’t be near Raheem Sterling’s price of 30,000 coins. A few thousand coins would likely be his valuation. Now – it’s always good to look back at the past and remember some of the top cards we used to play with. But really, the way the in-game economy is going today in Ultimate Team, this is just another way of showing how bad things have gotten. Each of these players should be among the top-rated and top-priced in the world, but there’s no chance they would be in 2021. Many would simply be considered fodder, and that’s the sad reality.

14-year-old FIFA 21 pro breaks record by going 300-0 in FUT Champions RBLZ/EA Sports14-year-old FIFA professional Anders Vejrgang has set a new world record for consecutive FUT Champions wins by racking up 300 victories with zero losses in FIFA 21. FUT Champions is an Ultimate Team game mode where the best players battle it out each week, and the Danish wunderkind has been absolutely balling out on anyone unlucky enough to face him. Each player gets 30 games to play a week, with better rewards given based on how many games you win. It can be tough for anyone to win all 30, as any FIFA player will let you know. Apparently, Anders has had no problem at all though, to say the very least. The previous record had belonged to Manchester City FIFA pro Shellzz, who went 298-0 before losing his 299th match, so getting a perfect 300 wins and zero losses is certainly a memorable one for the 14-year-old. https://twitter.com/rblz_anders/status/1340850118988361730?s=20 The RB Leizpig esports player has been dealing with jealous haters and trolls in the runup to his record-setting win (such is the price of video game fame) and seemed to dedicate his milestone especially to them: “300-0 – new world record. Still no shower, no sunlight, and no Bruno pens for another week, sorry haters.” Three weeks ago Verjgang hit 210 wins, and hasn’t slowed down since. If you’re wondering about that “Bruno” bit in his Tweet, it’s in reference to a clip that emerged last week of the Dane actually losing the final match of an online tournament to a Bruno Fernandes penalty. It wasn’t FUT Champions match though, so it didn’t count against his streak. So, what’s the secret that makes this literal child a demigod of FIFA? Well, if you’ve tuned in to any of his streams you’ll know it’s due in part to his Jedi-like mastery of the stepover skill move. Take a look at recent matches against former FIFA world champ Kai ‘Deto’ Wollin, who is over twice Verjgang’s age: How many stepovers did you count, or did you lose track just like we did? Now, just imagine having to play against a player like that in FUT Champions and you might begin to understand how he managed to get all the way to a world record. At the time of writing, he’s played in 10 Weekend Leagues and has yet to drop a single match, a pretty ridiculous feat — and that’s before you remember he’s doing this at just 14 years old. He might have a world record, but it will still be interesting to see how long he can actually keep this streak alive.

FIFA 21 ICON Prime Moments details leaked for all 101 legends EA SPORTSJust as EA SPORTS were on the brink of releasing ICON Swaps 2, FIFA 21 ICON Prime Moments details for all 101 legends have leaked – including Ronaldinho, Steven Gerrard, Ronaldo, and many more. Contents FIFA 21 ICON Prime Moments detailsRonaldinho – Andriy Shevchenko – Rui Costa – Filippo Inzaghi – Rivaldo – Ruud van Nistelrooy – Marcel Desailly – Gianfranco Zola – Frank Lampard – Steven Gerrard – Michael Owen – Roy Keane – Ryan Giggs – Paul Scholes – Alan Shearer – David Trezeguet – Thierry Henry – Fabio Cannavaro – Clarence Seedorf – Javier Zanetti – Roberto Baggio – Robert Pires – Pavel Nedved – Rio Ferdinand – Ronaldo – Edwin van der Sar – Alessandro Nesta – Hernan Crespo – Jari Litmanen – Michael Ballack – Luis Figo – Claude Makelele – Raul – Emmanuel Petit – Jay-Jay Okocha – Deco – Hristo Stoichkov – Luis Hernandez – Fernando Hierro – Gheorghe Hagi – Franco Baresi – Diego Maradona – Bobby Moore – Johan Cruyff – Socrates – Emilio Butragueno – Marco Van Basten – Frank Rijkaard – Ruud Gullit – Gary Lineker – Michael Laudrup – George Best – Pelé – Lev Yashin – Alessandro Del Piero – Carles Puyol – Dennis Bergkamp – Patrik Kluivert – Patrick Vieira – Peter Schmeichel – Roberto Carlos – Lothar Matthäus – Paolo Maldini – Marc Overmars – Laurent Blanc – Henrik Larsson – Christian Vieri – Miroslav Klose – Eusébio – Hidetoshi Nakata – Juan Sebastián Verón – Sol Campbell – Gennaro Gattuso – Kaka – Pep Guardiola – Ronald Koeman – Michael Essien – Carlos Alberto – John Barnes – Hugo Sánchez – Garrincha – Andrea Pirlo – Didier Drogba – Kenny Dalglish – Ian Rush – Ian Wright – Zinedine Zidane – Gianluca Zambrotta – Juan Román Riquelme – Ashley Cole – Samuel Eto’o – Eric Cantona – Nemanja Vidić – Xavi – Ferenc Puskás – Philipp Lahm – Bastian Schweinsteiger – Petr Čech – Fernando Torres – Davor Šuker – David Beckham – – Ultimate Team’s next promo was set to be released on February 19, following the conclusion of the Future Stars event. While many might have been wondering what would be included in that, out of nowhere, data miner FUT Watch has provided Dexerto with a boatload of leaked content ahead of Icon Swaps 2. All 101 ICONs will be receiving a Prime Moments version, and we now know exactly what era of their careers these will be based on. FIFA 21 ICON Prime Moments details Ronaldinho “Barcelona’s league fixture against Sevilla in September 2003 bizarrely kicked off at five minutes past midnight, but the match was the stuff of dreams for Ronaldinho who, on his home debut, scored his first Barcelona goal. After receiving the ball from the goalkeeper inside his own half, Ronaldinho carried it up the pitch, danced around two Sevilla players and smashed a shot from 30 yards out in off the crossbar to score a goal that helped set the tone for the rest of his Barcelona career.” Andriy Shevchenko “Andriy Shevchenko put in the performance of a lifetime and stole the show when he guided AC Milan to the 2004 Supercoppa Italiana. Shevchenko scored a perfect hat-trick in their rampant 3-0 victory against Lazio, firstly with a left footed volley on the turn and then with a pinpoint header into the bottom corner just before half-time. He completed his hat-trick in the second half with a thunderous right footed volley from the edge of the box which left the goalkeeper rooted to the spot.” Rui Costa “A highly memorable goal in Rui Costa’s career came at the 2004 UEFA European Championships, played in his backyard of Lisbon, Portugal. Costa picked up a pass from Hélder Postiga just over the half-way line, strode forward and evaded the challenge of Phil Neville. Then, just outside the penalty area, he sharply cut to his right, took a touch to steady himself, and unleashed a stunning strike that crashed into the goal off the crossbar, leaving England keeper David James flailing.” Filippo Inzaghi “The 2007 FIFA Club World Cup Final saw AC Milan play Boca Juniors, and Filippo Inzaghi was the man to open the scoring in the 21st minute, thanks to his great positioning and a fine pass from Kaká. Boca Juniors responded instantly a minute later but Milan scored their second after half-time, before the duo of Inzaghi and Kaká linked up once again to score a near identical goal to the first. Milan eventually won 4-1 and became the first European team to win the FIFA Club World Cup.” Rivaldo “Rivaldo scored one of the greatest hat-tricks of all time when his Barcelona side faced Valencia in the final La Liga game of the 2000-01 season. His first goal was a wonderful free-kick from 30 yards and his second was a thunderous strike from a similar position. The third goal was somehow even more impressive, as he controlled the ball with his chest on the edge of the box and fired in a bicycle kick to seal a 3-2 win which saw Barça leapfrog Valencia and secure a UEFA Champions League spot.” Ruud van Nistelrooy “Ruud van Nistelrooy put in a man of the match performance when Manchester United faced Millwall in the 2004 FA Cup Final in Cardiff. After Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring, van Nistelrooy got in on the act with a second half penalty, which he rammed into the roof of the net. The Dutchman then sealed a 3-0 win in the 81st minute as he finished from close range and ensured his man of the match award and FA Cup winners’ medal was beyond doubt.” Marcel Desailly “France were faced with a 1998 FIFA World Cup™ Final rematch when they lined up against Brazil in the 2001 Confederations Cup Semi-Final, and there was a similar outcome for Les Bleus. Robert Pirès scored an early opener before Brazil equalised on the half-hour mark. Captain Marcel Desailly gave France the lead once again and sent them to the final when he scored the winner in the 54th minute with a header that left the goalkeeper rooted to the spot.” Gianfranco Zola “Gianfranco Zola scored many wonderful goals in his career, and his most iconic was scored for Chelsea in an FA Cup replay against Norwich in 2002. As a corner was being taken, he made a dart towards the near post to find space, although found himself in an awkward position as he met the cross. Zola improvised by nonchalantly flicking the ball through his legs and it flew past the goalkeeper and into the back of the net before any Norwich player had time to react to his ingenuity.” Frank Lampard “The 2013 Premier League fixture between Aston Villa and Chelsea at Villa Park was an eventful game with three goals scored and a red card for both teams, but it will always be remembered as the game where Frank Lampard became Chelsea’s top goalscorer of all time. With Chelsea 1-0 down, he scored with a powerful left-footed strike to equal the record. He then made the record his own with his 203rd goal for Chelsea – a close-range finish after making a trademark late dart into the six-yard box.” Steven Gerrard “Steven Gerrard produced one of the most remarkable moments of his career against Olympiakos in the final UEFA Champions League group game in 2004. Needing a win to qualify, Liverpool had come from behind to lead in a tight game. Then, with less than five minutes to go, Gerrard ensured qualification when he received a knockdown by Neil Mellor and fired home a thunderous half-volley from 25 yard to make it 3-1. Gerrard went on to captain the club to Champions League glory that season.” Michael Owen “21-year-old Michael Owen was Liverpool’s saviour in the 2001 FA Cup Final against Arsenal. Liverpool were 1-0 down and struggling to get back into the game until a loose ball landed at Owen’s feet in the box in the 83rd minute. Five minutes after dispatching that chance, Owen used his pace to latch on to a pass behind the Arsenal defence, took one touch and guided the ball into the bottom corner of the goal with his left foot to complete the comeback and win the cup.” Roy Keane “After joining Manchester United from Nottingham Forest in 1993 for a then British transfer record, the pressure was on Roy Keane to successfully make the step up. Thankfully, his Manchester United career got off to a flying start as he scored a brace against Sheffield United on his Premier League debut. Both goals were precise side-footed finishes that would have made the club’s strikers proud, and they helped Keane cement his place early on in what was an extremely successful team.” Ryan Giggs May 11, 2008 is a date that will live long in the memory of Ryan Giggs, as the Welshman tasted double delight in Wigan. Coming on as a second-half substitute, Giggs latched onto a pass from Wayne Rooney and slotted home to secure a 2-0 win that gave Manchester United their 17th Premier League title and Giggs his tenth. The day also marked Giggs’ 758th appearance and was also noteworthy as it equalled the all-time Manchester United record which was previously held by Sir Bobby Charlton.” Paul Scholes “Paul Scholes scored a career best 14 league goals in 2002-03, which included a hat-trick against Newcastle United towards the end of the season. He scored his first with a brilliant volley following a clever one-two and followed it up with a strike into the top corner from the edge of the box, before sealing the hat-trick by tapping home at the back post early in the second half. The win propelled Manchester United to the top of the table as they went on to win the Premier League title.” Alan Shearer “Alan Shearer cemented his place in Newcastle United folklore when he broke Jackie Milburn’s 49-year-old club goalscoring record with a goal against Portsmouth at St James’ Park in 2006. From a long ball, Shearer won the initial flick-on before latching onto Shola Ameobi’s perfectly timed backheel and poking the ball through the legs of the goalkeeper. The goal was Shearer’s 201st goal out of an eventual total of 206 for his boyhood club.” David Trezeguet “The 2001-02 Serie A title race reached a thrilling end on the final day of the season as Juventus, Roma and Inter Milan all battled it out to call themselves ‘campioni’. It was The Old Lady who would take the title back to Turin thanks to David Trezeguet. The Frenchman rose to the occasion by scoring a powerful header and providing a precise assist in a 2-0 win vs Udinese, as his 24th league goal of the season saw him finish as Serie A joint-top scorer.” Thierry Henry “Having equalled the all-time French goal scoring record against the Faroe Islands four days earlier, Thierry Henry went into the game against Lithuania determined to make the record his own. Despite having to wait until the 80th minute to do so, Henry broke the record with a finish from just inside the box to spark wild scenes of celebration. Just one minute later, Henry put the icing on the cake as he raced through and slotted home once again to extend his record and seal a 2-0 win.” Fabio Cannavaro “After a slow start to the 2006-07 season, Real Madrid welcomed champions Barcelona for the 153rd La Liga El Clásico. An early Real goal inspired the rest of the team, which was demonstrated by the incredible defensive display of Fabio Cannavaro. Facing the challenge of shutting out energetic teenage Lionel Messi, among others, the experienced defender remained focused on keeping a clean sheet which proved vital in winning La Liga on head-to-head after finishing level on points with Barcelona.” Clarence Seedorf “With Milan 2-0 down at half time against bitter rivals Inter, not many would have predicted a Milan victory but Clarence Seedorf had other ideas. The Dutchman helped pull Milan back level by setting up two goals and the best was yet to come. In the 85th minute, Seedorf unleased a venomous strike from 35 yards which won the derby for Milan and sealed an incredible second half comeback which will be remembered in Derby della Madonnina history for years to come.” Javier Zanetti “Javier Zanetti lifted many trophies in his Inter Milan career, and he played a major role in securing his first in 1998. In a 3-0 win against Italian rivals Lazio in that year’s UEFA Cup Final, Inter had taken an early lead before Zanetti left his mark in dramatic fashion on the hour. Waiting on the edge of the box at a free kick, the ball was knocked down perfectly for Zanetti to step forward and fire home a brilliant first-time effort into the top corner off the underside of the crossbar.” Roberto Baggio “Almost a month after his 37th birthday in 2004, Roberto Baggio became the first player in nearly 30 years to score 200 Serie A career goals. After setting up the first goal for Brescia in a 2-2 draw with Parma, Baggio became part of an illustrious list when he received the ball on the edge of the box, dropped a shoulder and skipped past two defenders before firing into the bottom corner. The goal had added significance as it ensured Serie A survival for Brescia.” Robert Pires “Robert Pirès picked up his first FA Cup winners medal in May 2003. Having helped the Gunners reach the final, he proved to be the deciding factor at the Millennium Stadium against Southampton. Pirès started the match on the left of midfield and would score the only goal of the game in the 38th minute. Drifting in from the wing, Pirès found space around the penalty spot, controlled a loose ball, and then fired into the bottom corner.” Pavel Nedved “In May 1999, Pavel Nedvěd wrote himself in to UEFA history when he scored the last ever goal in the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup competition. Nedvěd played a key role in helping his club reach the final and entered the record books in the 81st minute when he scored the winning goal. With the score at 1-1 and with his back to goal, Nedvěd waited for the loose ball to drop on the edge of the box before spinning and hitting a stunning first-time volley which landed in the bottom corner of the net.” Rio Ferdinand “The 2007-08 UEFA Champions League Final was the first all-English final and featured Manchester United and Chelsea. With Ryan Giggs starting on the bench, Rio Ferdinand had the honour of leading his team out as captain. Ferdinand calmly led by example throughout a tough 120 minutes which ended in 1-1 draw and then a penalty shootout. As van der Sar saved the winning penalty from Anelka, Ferdinand was a picture of pure elation as he sprinted in celebration.” Ronaldo “Brazil may not have been able to retain the FIFA World Cup™ in 2006, but it was certainly a successful tournament on a personal level for Ronaldo. After bagging two goals in the group stage match against Japan, Ronaldo scored a record-breaking 15th World Cup finals goal during the Round of 16 match against Ghana. He beat the offside trap with ease and skilfully rounded the goalkeeper, before rolling the ball into an empty net to break the then record.” Edwin van der Sar “In the 2007 Community Shield, Edwin van der Sar produced a moment of goalkeeping brilliance to secure a win for Manchester United. Following a 1-1 draw with Chelsea in regular time, the match went to a penalty shoot-out. After playing mind games with Claudio Pizarro, van der Sar sprung to his right to make a brilliant one-handed stop. He followed this up with another fine save from Frank Lampard and completed a hat-trick of saves moments later, keeping out Shaun Wright-Phillips.” Alessandro Nesta “Having led the 2010-11 Serie A title race since November, AC Milan secured the title on 7th May 2011 following a 0-0 draw with Roma. Although their attack was not firing on all cylinders, Milan were able to call upon their ever-reliable defence with a champion’s display from Alessandro Nesta, keeping a clean sheet despite a first half onslaught by Roma. Thanks in part to Nesta’s defensive brilliance, a goalless draw was enough for Milan to secure league title number 18.” Hernan Crespo “Hernán Crespo joined Lazio in the summer of 2000 as part of a then world record transfer. He displayed his finishing abilities throughout the season and netted his first hat-trick for the club against Hellas Verona. After scoring the first from close range, Crespo showed his intelligence for the next two. He timed his run perfectly for the second and reacted quickest with his predatory instincts to score the third late on. Crespo finished the season as Serie A top scorer with 26 goals.” Jari Litmanen “Jari Litmanen scored one of the best goals of his career in March 1998 when his Ajax side faced FC Twente. Receiving the ball just outside the box, Litmanen took two touches in the air to steady himself and create the angle. He then allowed the ball one bounce and fired a looping shot towards goal that sailed over goalkeeper Sander Boschker and into the far side of the net. The goal gave Ajax a 2-1 win and was one of an incredible 112 goals that Ajax scored during the title winning season.” Michael Ballack “Michael Ballack had a highly successful first season at Bayern Munich, with the club winning both the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal. Ballack was clearly the star man in the 2003 DFB-Pokal Final as Bayern won 3-1 against his former club, 1. FC Kaiserslautern. His got his new team off to a flying start by scoring a header and a penalty within the first 10 minutes, and later provided an assist with a clever reverse pass.” Luis Figo “The 2006 Supercoppa Italiana was one of the greatest matches in the competition’s history. Roma’s excellent start saw them go 3-0 up before Inter pulled one back prior to half time. Inter continued their comeback and levelled the scores in the 74th minute, taking the game to extra time. Luis Figo was the hero for Inter when he audaciously placed a 25-yard free kick to the side of the goalkeeper, who had stepped across expecting a traditional over-the-wall free kick, to win it 4-3 for Inter.” Claude Makelele “Some of football’s biggest stars were on show in the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ quarter-final when France faced Brazil. In a highly anticipated game with plenty of goals expected, Les Bleus were able to call upon the ever-reliable Claude Makélélé to keep the Brazilian superstars quiet for 90 minutes, thanks to his defensive brilliance. Sat in his famous ‘Makélélé role’ alongside Patrick Vieira, France made it clean sheet number three of the tournament in a memorable 1-0 victory.” Raul “Schalke 04 kicked off their first home game of the 2011-12 Bundesliga season in style with a 5-1 win against Köln, but it wasn’t just the score line that had everyone talking after the game. Raúl was the name on everybody’s lips when he floated into the box while completing a one-two, before coolly controlling the ball on the turn and then cheekily chipping the goalkeeper. The goal was subsequently named the 2011 German goal of the year.” Emmanuel Petit “Emmanuel Petit produced a brilliant pass to open the scoring in the 1998 FA Cup final against Newcastle United. With Arsenal enjoying the better of the opening stages but struggling to break through, Petit picked up the ball in midfield in the 23rd minute. After assessing his options, he played a pinpoint ball over the top for Marc Overmars to run on to and open the scoring. Arsenal went on to win 2-0, with Petit picking up an FA Cup winner’s medal in his first season with the club.” Jay-Jay Okocha “Jay-Jay Okocha had become a fan favourite with his dazzling displays at Bolton Wanderers and one of his finest moments came in the 2004 League Cup semi-final first leg against Aston Villa. Okocha opened the scoring in the second minute with a curling free kick but produced an even better effort in the 80th minute. With the ball on the corner of the 18-yard box, Okocha ran and hit a powerful, curving effort with the outside of the foot into the bottom corner to secure a 5-2 win.” Deco “Deco produced a special performance in the second leg of the 2006 Supercopa de España as Barcelona beat local rivals Espanyol to the trophy. The Portuguese midfielder put Barcelona 2-0 up in the 12th minute with a typically composed low finish, but it was his second and Barca’s fourth goal which was truly memorable. Receiving a cross that seemed to hang in the air behind him, Deco adjusted his body position and fired an acrobatic shot into the bottom corner of the goal.” Hristo Stoichkov “By 1994, Hristo Stoichkov had become one of the world’s top players and he showcased this on the global stage at the 1994 FIFA World Cup™. He displayed his abilities throughout the tournament, but his memorable moment came in the quarter-final tie with Germany. Trailing 1-0, Bulgaria won a free-kick 25 yards from goal and Stoichkov brilliantly curled the ball over the wall and into the bottom corner to equalise. Bulgaria won 2-1 and reached the semi-finals for the first time in their history.” Luis Hernandez “The 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup Final saw the USA welcome rivals Mexico. Both sides started cautiously but Luis Hernández forced the hosts to change their half time team talk by scoring a 43rd minute goal. Hernández glided past two defenders to meet a near-post cross with a powerful header to put Mexico ahead. The game livened up in the second half, however Hernández’s goal would prove to be enough for Mexico to win their third Gold Cup in a row.” Fernando Hierro “Denmark, Spain and the Republic of Ireland entered the final day of their 1994 FIFA World Cup™ qualifying group fixtures with two spots up for grabs. Spain hosted leaders Denmark needing to win. With the game level at 0-0, a 63rd minute corner was crossed into the box and Fernando Hierro was there to head past an onrushing Peter Schmeichel. Spain went on to win 1-0 in front of a raucous crowd in Seville and would top the group, knocking out Denmark in the process.” Gheorghe Hagi “Gheorghe Hagi led Romania to a famous 3-1 victory in the 1994 FIFA World Cup™ group stage match against Colombia. The playmaker showed great vision to assist two goals with sublime passes behind the Colombian defence, and his vision was also evident as he scored an extraordinary goal of his own. After receiving the ball 40 yards from goal out wide on the left, he caught the goalkeeper off guard and floated the ball over his head directly into the goal.” Franco Baresi “On 10 January 1990, AC Milan met Messina in the group stage of the Coppa Italia. Milan would cruise the game 6-0, and it was Franco Baresi who took the match ball home. The defender scored three penalties on the day, going to the left on each occasion. The first one was slotted into the bottom left corner, and the last two were rifled into the top corner, leaving the goalkeeper no chance. The goals subsequently helped Baresi to win the competition’s golden boot award.” Diego Maradona “Known for spectacular moments of brilliance, Diego Maradona showcased one for Napoli during a 4-1 win over Milan in 1988. With the score at 0-0, Maradona beat the Milan offside trap and burst through the defence to latch on to a lofted pass. As Giovanni Galli came racing out of goal, Maradona instinctively headed the ball from 25 yards, looping the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper to see the ball bounce into the net for one of the longest headed goals in history.” Bobby Moore “England captain Bobby Moore led out West Ham United at the 1964 FA Cup Final. It became a historic day for The Hammers as their 3-2 victory over Preston North End was their first FA Cup victory. Moore put in a real captain’s display before lifting the trophy, and he was then famously lifted onto his team-mate’s shoulders in euphoria, and it would not be the last time in his career.” Johan Cruyff “By 1972, Johan Cruyff had become one of the world’s greatest talents and he showcased this with a starring role in the 1971-72 UEFA Champions League Final. Already the reigning champions, Cruyff’s Ajax met Inter Milan in Rotterdam. He opened the scoring in the 47th minute, finding space and pouncing on a mistake to tap home. 30 minutes later he leapt highest to score a header to secure a 2-0 win and ensure Ajax won back-to-back titles.” Socrates “The 1982 FIFA World Cup™ was not the most successful for Brazil, but it still threw up some memorable moments for the Brazilian players. One of these belonged to Sócrates in the Sarrià Stadium, Barcelona, when they faced eventual winners Italy. Starting a move just over the halfway line, Sócrates strode forward and played a 1-2 with Zico. Receiving the ball back as he entered the Italian box, he took one touch and then slotted the ball past goalkeeper Dino Zoff to spark scenes of joy.” Emilio Butragueno “Real Madrid visited Real Sociedad’s Atotxa Stadium for the final time in January 1993, but the occasion belonged to Emilio Butragueño who left his magic on the stadium. He anticipated a long-range pass perfectly and coolly lobbed the onrushing goalkeeper on the half-volley from the edge of the box. He capped it off with his trademark celebration en route to a first ever 5-1 win for Los Blancos against Real Sociedad.” Marco Van Basten “A 4-0 win for AC Milan vs IFK Göteborg in the UEFA Champions League was not a huge surprise, however the individual performance from Marco van Basten certainly did raise a few eyebrows. He became the first player to score four goals in a UEFA Champions League match. Three of his goals were exceptional, and the best of the lot was the one that sealed his hat-trick when he acrobatically latched onto a cross with a bicycle kick that was too powerful for the outstretched goalkeeper.” Frank Rijkaard “The 1995 UEFA Champions League Final saw Ajax meet reigning champions AC Milan. It was a cagey affair with neither team willing to take risks, and chances were few and far between. However, it was Ajax who were patient enough to catch Milan napping in the 85th minute when Frank Rijkaard, who had put in a disciplined performance, set up Patrick Kluivert to score the winner and make it UEFA Champions League title number four for the Dutch giants.” Ruud Gullit “One of the highlights of Ruud Gullit’s career came in the 1989 European Cup final when Gullit scored two goals in Milan’s 4-0 win over Steaua București. His first was a poacher’s effort from close range, and the second was a memorable strike. The ball was played into Gullit by Roberto Donadoni from the left flank. Gullit controlled the ball with his right foot, let it take one bounce and then from just inside the box lashed the ball into the goal past the helpless Silviu Lung.” Gary Lineker “In January 1987, Gary Lineker produced an iconic El Clásico performance with all three goals for Barcelona in a 3-2 win against Real Madrid. He displayed his incredible knack of being in the right place at the right time with his first two goals as he scored two close-range efforts with an outstretched leg. For his third goal, he was presented with a one-on-one with the goalkeeper and delicately chipped the ball over him to seal the hat-trick in style.” Michael Laudrup “Michael Laudrup featured as a substitute for the Barcelona side that beat Real Madrid 5-0 in January 1994 and, after his transfer to Madrid later that year, he played on the opposite side during the January 1995 El Clásico. Incredibly, it was Real Madrid’s turn to win 5-0 on that day. Laudrup showed great determination and vision for his assist in the game, and his all-round contribution was a midfield masterclass as he seemed to have complete control of the game throughout.” George Best “George Best made his Manchester United debut at the age of 17, but it was two years later, in the 1965-66 European Cup quarter-final second leg away to Benfica, that he really made a name for himself on the global stage. In the sixth minute of a captivating individual display, he opened the scoring with a looped header over the goalkeeper and, just seven minutes later, he scored a brilliant individual effort after speeding past the defenders and drilling the ball into the far corner.” Pelé “Pelé spent much of his career at Santos and enjoyed consistent success. One of the biggest moments came in September 1963 when he helped secure a second consecutive Copa Libertadores title. Having scored four goals in the semi-final, he starred in the second leg of the final against Boca Juniors to lift the trophy in Argentina. Pelé showcased his world class ability throughout and set up the equalising goal before dribbling past a defender to score the winning goal low into the bottom corner.” Lev Yashin “The inaugural European Nations’ Cup Final in 1960 saw Lev Yashin cement his legacy as an all-time great. The ‘Black Spider’ put in a typically outstanding performance by taking the game to extra time after pulling off a hat full of saves to keep the Soviet Union level at 1-1. Yashin’s saves eventually paid off as the Soviet Union scored the winner in the 113th minute, giving Yashin a career defining moment of European glory.” Alessandro Del Piero “Alessandro Del Piero demonstrated his incredible set-piece prowess with his hat-trick against AS Monaco in the 1997-98 UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg. His first goal was a superbly struck free-kick and he later calmly dispatched two penalties. The goals were crucial in helping Juventus get through to the final and Del Piero to secure his place as the top scorer in the UEFA Champions League that season.” Carles Puyol “Carles Puyol was at the heart of Spain’s defence as they faced Germany in the 2008 UEFA European Championship final. Puyol put in an incredible performance keeping the stars of Germany quiet for 90 minutes. They extended their run of clean sheets from the quarter final with a hard-fought 1-0 victory. Puyol’s captivating display on this grand stage was vital in securing his first ever international trophy and a spot in the UEFA Team of the Tournament.” Dennis Bergkamp “Dennis Bergkamp was known for extraordinary moments of brilliance, but one magical moment captured worldwide attention in 1998. Having already assisted the opening goal in Holland’s FIFA World Cup™ Quarter Final with Argentina, the Dutchman won the game in the dying minutes with one of the best strikes in World Cup history. Bergkamp deftly controlled a 60-yard pass that came over his shoulder, wrong footed a defender and then coolly finished past Carlos Roa with the outside of his right foot.” Patrik Kluivert “In the UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying play-off between the Netherlands and Republic of Ireland at Anfield, 19-year-old striker Patrick Kluivert stepped up to be the hero for the Netherlands. Kluivert opened the scoring in the first half by slotting the ball into the bottom corner from just inside the box. He then scored a late second with a magnificent chip over the goalkeeper, after showing excellent ball control, that sealed a 2-0 win and qualification to the finals for the Netherlands.” Patrick Vieira “Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ sealed the 2003-04 Premier League title with a 2-2 away draw at Tottenham Hotspur in April 2004. Patrick Vieira crucially opened the scoring against their North London rivals by sliding the ball home after a classic Arsenal counterattack, and then set up their second goal. Although Tottenham came back into the game and earned a share of the points, a draw was enough to confirm Arsenal as Premier League winners and keep their famous unbeaten run going.” Peter Schmeichel “Peter Schmeichel was known for his heroics at Manchester United, but none were more dramatic than in the 1999 FA Cup semi-final. Facing bitter rivals Arsenal at Villa Park, and with the scores level at 1-1, the Gunners were awarded a last-minute penalty. Schmeichel faced Dennis Bergkamp and threw himself to his left, pushing the ball away from danger. It proved pivotal as United went on to win the tie in extra-time, before going on to win a historic treble.” Roberto Carlos “Roberto Carlos will forever be remembered for his incredible ability to strike the ball, and one of his most memorable moments was scoring an ‘impossible goal’ against CD Tenerife in 1998. Receiving a bouncing ball out wide, and almost in line with the goal, Carlos surprised everyone in the stadium, not least the goalkeeper, by shooting first-time. He struck the ball with such power and curve that it flew over the goalkeeper and into the far side of the net.” Lothar Matthäus “The 1990 FIFA World Cup™ Final was a rematch of 4 years before with Germany, now captained by Lothar Matthäus, looking to avenge their loss to Argentina. The midfielder made the difference this time around by keeping quiet Diego Maradona as well as superbly leading his team’s transitions from defence to attack. A late Matthäus pass resulted in a penalty that won the game for Germany 1-0 and saw Matthäus lift the famous trophy.” Paolo Maldini “AC Milan’s 4-0 win against Barcelona in the 1994 UEFA Champions League Final was undoubtedly one of the best team performances in the history of the competition. Paolo Maldini, dependable as ever, played his part by helping his team keep a clean sheet against a Barcelona frontline that included both Hristo Stoichkov and Romário. Maldini put his body on the line for the win and had to be substituted off with an injury in the 83rd minute, but the victory surely helped ease his pain.” Marc Overmars “Arsenal had the chance to win the 1997-98 Premier League title in May 1998 when Everton visited Highbury. The Gunners went 1-0 up in the sixth minute before Marc Overmars stole the show by scoring two outstanding goals. The goals were similar as Overmars took the ball from the halfway line on both occasions, dribbled into the box and finished spectacular runs with low driven shots. Overmars’ fantastic performance secured Arsenal the Premier League title.” Laurent Blanc “In August 1998, Marseille hosted Montpellier in a nine-goal thriller which was the highest scoring game of the season. With Montpellier 4-0 up at half time, Marseille’s team talk clearly worked as they matched their opponents by scoring 4 goals in the second half, before winning a 90th minute penalty. It was Laurent Blanc’s responsibility to seal one of the most remarkable comebacks in Ligue 1 history, and he did just that by firing it past the goalkeeper to win 5-4.” Henrik Larsson “Henrik Larsson played a pivotal role as Barcelona defeated Arsenal in the 2005-06 UEFA Champions League Final, his final appearance for the club. Larsson was introduced as a second-half substitute with Barça 1-0 down and made a big impact in the final 15 minutes. He first assisted Samuel Eto’o’s equalising goal, before playing a clever reverse pass for Belletti winning strike just 4 minutes later. This earned Larsson his one and only Champions League winners’ medal.” Christian Vieri “Christian Vieri enjoyed a successful season with Lazio in 1998-99, winning two trophies. His stand-out moment came with a man of the match display in the last ever UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup final in May 1999. Vieri opened the scoring in the seventh minute with a leaping header just inside the 18-yard box, looping the ball over goalkeeper Carlos Roa and into the top corner. Later in the game, his perseverance provided an opening for Pavel Nedvěd to volley home to secure a 2-1 win over RCD Mallorca.” Miroslav Klose “Germany’s Miroslav Klose is one of the few players to have played and scored in four different FIFA World Cup™ tournaments and he is also the holder of the all-time FIFA World Cup™ goalscoring record. In the semi-final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ against Brazil, he scored his 16th and final FIFA World Cup™ goal. After receiving the rebound from his own shot, Klose tapped the ball home to score a historic goal in a game that Germany won 7-1 en route to lifting the trophy.” Eusébio “One of Eusébio’s finest performances in a Benfica shirt came in the first leg of the 1964-65 European Cup quarter-final against Real Madrid. He scored two goals on the night, and his first was a sight to behold. Eusébio picked the ball up inside his own half and ran towards the Real Madrid goal at speed. With the opposition scared to even attempt to tackle him, he ran straight through and produced a powerful finish as he rifled a low shot beyond the keeper from just outside the box.” Hidetoshi Nakata “Hidetoshi Nakata played in all four of Japan’s 2002 FIFA World Cup™ matches, with the stand-out being the final group stage match against Tunisia. Japan needed to avoid defeat to qualify for the knock-out stages for the first time in their history, but Nakata turned in a man of the match performance and led his country to a 2-0 win. Having played the pass which led to the opening goal at the start of the second half, Nakata secured victory with an excellent diving header in the 75th minute.” Juan Sebastián Verón “After joining Lazio in 1999, Juan Sebastián Verón enjoyed title success in his first season. He played a pivotal role in securing the Serie A trophy in dramatic fashion on the final day of the season. Needing a win against Reggina, Verón scored a first-half penalty before providing a pinpoint free-kick for international compatriot Diego Simeone to head home the final goal in a 3-0 win to secure Lazio their first Scudetto in 26 years.” Sol Campbell “Sol Campbell made 73 appearances for England and was not renowned for his goal scoring ability throughout his career. However, Campbell did notch once for his country at the 2002 FIFA World Cup™ against Sweden. David Beckham swung in a first half corner and Campbell leapt highest to powerfully head home in the 24th minute. Campbell celebrated wildly as he sprinted away from goal to savour hitting the back of the net for the Three Lions for the first time in his career.” Gennaro Gattuso “With Milan 3-2 down on aggregate, they needed a huge performance in the second leg of their 2006-07 UEFA Champions League semi-final against Manchester United, and they rose to the occasion to win the game 3-0. Although Gattuso did not have a direct hand in the goals, he put in an outstanding and tenacious defensive display to keep United’s vast array of attacking talent at bay. This gave his team the foundation they needed to reach the final which they then went on to win.” Kaka “Established as one of the world’s leading players by 2006, Kaká scored his personal favourite goal for Brazil against rivals Argentina in a friendly at the Emirates Stadium, London. Coming from a defensive corner, Kaká dispossessed Lionel Messi before showing his pace to accelerate away from the Argentine. Running the length of the pitch, he breezed past Gabriel Milito before calmly slotting the ball past the onrushing Abbondanzieri in goal, securing a 3-0 win.” Pep Guardiola “At the age of 20, Pep Guardiola had established himself as a first team regular for Barcelona in 1991-92. He played a major role in helping his club reach the UEFA Champions League Final in 1992, featuring in all 11 matches throughout the competition. Guardiola started the final against Sampdoria at Wembley and put in a mature performance as Barcelona won 1-0 after extra time to win the coveted trophy for the first time.” Ronald Koeman “Ronald Koeman had many brilliant moments in a Barcelona shirt and one of his finest came in El Clasico at Camp Nou in January 1994. With Barcelona 1-0 up, Koeman stepped up to smash a trademark free-kick around the Real Madrid wall and goalkeeper into the back of the net. Barcelona went on to win the game 5-0 and ultimately it proved to be a key result as they won their fourth consecutive La Liga title that season.” Michael Essien “A goal that is likely to come to mind whenever the name Michael Essien is mentioned is the midfielder’s stunning late equaliser against Arsenal in 2006. Chelsea were trailing 1-0 with their 51-match unbeaten run at home under threat. However, in the 84th minute of the game the ball was rolled back to Essien 30 yards out from goal. Essien didn’t think twice about hitting the ball first-time as he arrowed a fierce shot into the far side of the net.” Carlos Alberto “Carlos Alberto spent much of his career with Santos and picked up numerous medals. In the 1968 title winning season he produced a moment of brilliance in a 3-0 win over Portuguesa. Having already converted a confident penalty won by Pelé, Carlos Alberto picked up the ball on the right, skipped past the defender and drove to the by-line. Then, from just inside the box, he unleashed a vicious effort from an incredibly tight angle which flew past the goalkeeper and into the roof of the net.” John Barnes “John Barnes joined Liverpool in 1987 and enjoyed an outstanding first season which ended with a league title win. One standout display came in April 1988 when he turned on the magic in a 5-0 thrashing of Nottingham Forest at Anfield. After assisting the opener with a clever 1-2, Barnes produced a moment of brilliance for the fourth. Collecting the ball on the left, he nutmegged a defender then skipped past another before cutting the ball back for Peter Beardsley to fire home.” Hugo Sánchez “In 1988, Hugo Sánchez scored the most memorable goal of his career for Real Madrid. His teammate Martín Vázquez crossed the ball from the left-hand side, and with the ball slightly behind him, Sánchez had to quickly adjust his position. With his back to goal 12 yards out, he produced an acrobatic bicycle kick and connected perfectly with his left foot as the ball flew into the top corner. Sánchez wheeled away and somersaulted to celebrate his iconic finish.” Garrincha “The 1962 FIFA World Cup™ semi-final was an all-South American tie between Brazil and Chile. In the absence of the injured Pelé, Garrincha quickly stepped up to the occasion by opening the scoring in the 9th minute with a thunderous strike into the top corner from the edge of the area. Garrincha then made it 2-0 in the 32nd minute with a powerful header from a near post corner, which set Brazil en route to an impressive 4-2 win and into the final, which they would go on to win.” Andrea Pirlo “In June 2013, Andrea Pirlo wore the famous Azzurri kit for the 100th time when he took to the pitch against Mexico in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. Pirlo marked the occasion in typical fashion by opening the scoring with a trademark curling free kick into the top corner from 30 yards. His beautiful strike set the tone for the special day as Italy went on to win the game 2-1, with the free kick going down as one of many great set piece strikes in his illustrious career.” Didier Drogba “Didier Drogba enjoyed regular success at Chelsea, but a particular highlight came on the final day of the 2009-10 season. Chelsea needed a win to secure the Premier League title and Drogba was tied with Wayne Rooney in the race for the Golden Boot award. Chelsea raced into an early lead and Drogba scored a 17-minute hat-trick in the second half to put both awards beyond doubt. Drogba won the Golden Boot with 29 goals and lifted the Premier League trophy after an 8-0 win over Wigan Athletic.” Kenny Dalglish “At the age of 35, Kenny Dalglish lifted his sixth and final First Division title as a player with Liverpool in 1986. As player-manager, Dalglish selected himself in a decisive final day away to Chelsea knowing a win would secure the trophy. In the 23rd minute, Jim Beglin hooked the ball into the box and Dalglish brilliantly controlled the ball with his chest and volleyed first time into the bottom corner. It proved to be the only goal of the game and ensured a 16th league title for The Reds.” Ian Rush “Ian Rush scored twice as Liverpool came from behind to beat Merseyside rivals Everton and win the 1986 FA Cup. After falling behind to a Gary Lineker strike in the first half, Rush scored the equalising goal in the 56th minute when he broke the offside trap, rounded the goalkeeper, and finished with his left foot. Just 17 minutes later, Rush secured the result when he reached a back post cross and controlled the ball first time before volleying past Bobby Mimms to make it 3-1.” Ian Wright “In September 1997, Ian Wright became the then record goal scorer for Arsenal when he scored a hat-trick against Bolton Wanderers. Wright first equalled the record when he broke through the defensive line and finished past the goalkeeper from a tight angle. Several minutes later, the record was his own as he tapped home from close range and revealed again his t-shirt with 179 across the front. Wright went on to score once more in the second half to complete his perfect day.” Zinedine Zidane “Zinedine Zidane became a national hero for hosts France at the 1998 FIFA World Cup™. Playing at his first World Cup, Zidane lined up for France as they faced Brazil in the Stade de France. France got off to a perfect start as Zidane headed home a Petit corner in the 27th minute, before repeating the feat in first-half injury time from a Youri Djorkaeff inswinger. The win was sealed in the second half to start wild scenes of jubilation across France and enshrine Zidane’s name in history.” Gianluca Zambrotta “After two years in Spain, Gianluca Zambrotta returned to Italy when he joined AC Milan in the summer of 2008. He scored his first goal for the club in a home game against Lazio in September. Receiving the ball inside the opposition half on the right, Zambrotta advanced forward before unleashing an unstoppable right-footed effort at goal from 30 yards, with the ball flying past the goalkeeper and clipping the inside of the post on its way in.” Juan Román Riquelme “Juan Román Riquelme was named Copa Libertadores MVP in 2001 by playing a vital role in helping Boca Juniors retain the coveted trophy. He starred during the semi-final against Palmeiras in one of the finest individual performances of all time. Riquelme was unplayable in both legs of the tie but it was the second leg in Brazil where he scored from the edge of the box and showcased his incredible dribbling ability and close control, toying with the opposition throughout.” Ashley Cole “An iconic moment in the career of Ashley Cole came during a comfortable win for Chelsea over Sunderland in 2010. Cole timed his run in behind the Sunderland defence perfectly to meet John Terry’s lofted pass before chopping inside towards the corner of the six-yard box and past the sliding challenge of Lorik Cana. Using the outside of his foot, he curled the ball around the left side of the goalkeeper and into the net.” Samuel Eto’o “Frank Rijkaard’s Barcelona were trailing by a single goal against Arsenal in the 2006 UEFA Champions League Final when Samuel Eto’o showed fantastic composure to pull them level. Henrik Larsson played an excellent first-time cushioned pass into the path of Eto’o who had made a well-timed run into the box from out wide. After one touch to set himself, he placed the ball past the goalkeeper at the near post. Barcelona would go on to score once more and secure a second UEFA Champions League crown.” Eric Cantona “One of Eric Cantona’s finest moments in a Manchester United shirt came in December 1996 against Sunderland. With his side 4-0 up, he received the ball on the half-way line and turned two midfielders before running towards goal, playing a one-two with Brian McClair, and then chipping the goalkeeper first time from 18 yards. As the ball clipped the post on the way in, Cantona produced one of the most iconic celebrations in Premier League history, standing tall and soaking up the crowd’s energy.” Nemanja Vidić “Nemanja Vidić was part of an iconic Manchester United defence in the late 2000s, a defence which played a critical role in the clubs UEFA Champions League win in 2008. The Serbian put in a typically stellar performance in the final and was key in keeping Chelsea talisman Didier Drogba quiet. Manchester United were victorious following a penalty shootout which saw Nemanja Vidić claim his first and only UEFA Champions League winner’s medal.” Xavi “Spain entered the 2008 UEFA European Championships as favourites, and Xavi had been key to their popularity in recent years. His influence was imperative in the final where Spain were victorious once again. Receiving the ball between the lines of Germany’s midfield and defence, Xavi’s first touch allowed him to immediately face up the German backline before drilling the ball into the path of Fernando Torres who scored the only goal of the final.” Ferenc Puskás “The greatest players produce extraordinary performances on the biggest stages and Ferenc Puskás did just that in the 1960 European Cup Final. Real Madrid overcame Eintracht Frankfurt in an enthralling 7-3 victory at Hampden Park in Glasgow in which Puskás netted 4 of his side’s 7 goals, all of which came from attempts inside the penalty area. The goals were vital in taking the game away from Frankfurt and securing a fifth European Cup title in a row for Los Blancos.” Philipp Lahm “At the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ which was being played in his native Germany, Philipp Lahm scored the opening goal of the tournament with a famous strike from the corner of the 18-yard box. Cutting in from the left, Lahm created enough space for himself to have an attempt on goal. He struck his right-footed effort with immense accuracy towards the top left corner of the Costa Rican goal. The ball clipped the post on its way into the net, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.” Bastian Schweinsteiger “If anything were to epitomise Bastian Schweinsteiger, it would be his influential battling performance in the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ Final. Germany overcame Argentina after extra time to become world champions for a fourth time, with Schweinsteiger leaving everything on the pitch. He excellently marshalled the midfield, winning his individual battles and driving his team forwards towards victory.” Petr Čech “Petr Čech played a massive part in helping Chelsea secure the club’s first ever UEFA Champions League crown in 2012. With the scores level at 1-1 in extra time, Čech faced a penalty from the usually reliable left foot of Arjen Robben. Diving low to his left, he saved the penalty and kept his side on level terms before saving a further spot kick from Ivica Olić during the penalty shootout to inspire his side to victory in München.” Fernando Torres “Fernando Torres arrived at the 2008 UEFA European Football Championship in fine form, having scored 33 goals in his first season for Liverpool. He only scored once in Spain’s journey to the final, though become his country’s hero as he scored the solitary goal in the final against Germany. The strike was vintage Fernando Torres as he timed his run perfectly to get behind the German defence and then delicately dinked the ball over the goalkeeper to help Spain clinch their first major title in 44 years.” Davor Šuker “After defeat to France in the semi-finals, Croatia’s impressive 1998 FIFA World Cup™ campaign saw them meet the Netherlands in the third-place play-off match. Many eyes were rightfully on Croatian striker Davor Šuker, who had the chance to win the Golden Boot. He did just that in the 35th minute when he scored the winner to make it 2-1 to Croatia with a great driven finish into the corner. Šuker’s six goals proved vital in Croatia’s best FIFA World Cup™ finish to date.” David Beckham “With England trailing Greece by a single goal heading into injury time during the final game of qualifying for the 2002 FIFA World Cup™, they looked towards their talisman for inspiration. David Beckham stepped up to take a free-kick almost 30-yards from goal. From a central position, he memorably struck the ball with incredible technique and power into the top corner of the Greek goal to level the score at 2-2, send the home fans into raptures and England to the 2002 FIFA World Cup™.” So, there you have it! That’s the entire list of FIFA 21 Prime ICON Moments we can expect to see this year. For more details, stick with us @UltimateTeamUK and @FUTWatch on Twitter.

Register Sign in Login to enable dark mode. Sign up for free to unlock exclusive perks: See fewer ads An Ad-lite experience on articles. Dark Mode Customize your Dexerto experience, choose between dark or light. Great deals with our monthly newsletter Recommendations for unmissable entertainment. Save money with the best online deals in Gaming, TV and Movies, and Tech. Already have a Dexerto Media Group account? Login Register Gaming Entertainment TV & Movies Esports Tech Connect With Us Twitter Twitch YouTube More Archive About Us Advertise With Us Sign up free now Sign in Gaming Entertainment TV & Movies Esports Tech Connect With Us More Gaming FIFA FIFA | All All News Guides Features Events Opinion Reviews FIFA Take-Two boss finally breaks silence on FIFA 2K game rumors Jeremy Gan FIFA Take-Two boss finally breaks silence on FIFA 2K game rumors Jeremy Gan EA SPORTS FC EA Sports FC explained: What is EA FC 24 and where is FIFA 24? Andrew Highton FIFA Best midfielders for FIFA 23 Ultimate Team Nathan Warby FIFA Best strikers for FIFA 23 Ultimate Team Alex Garton FIFA Best young players in FIFA 23 Career Mode Nathan Warby Articles FIFA Best goalkeepers for FIFA 23 Ultimate Team Alex Garton FIFA Is FIFA 23 cross-platform? Ultimate Team crossplay on PlayStation, Xbox & PC Nathan Warby FIFA How to play co-op in FIFA 23 Ultimate Team: Is it cross-platform? David Purcell FIFA FIFA 23 FUT Champs Play-Offs & Finals rewards, ranks & tips Andrew Highton FIFA FIFA 23 Division Rivals rewards: Ranks, release times & more Nathan Warby FIFA Best FIFA 23 custom tactics, meta formations & player instructions Nathan Warby FIFA Best center-backs for FIFA 23 Ultimate Team Andrew Highton FIFA Kevin Hart teases brilliant USMNT tattoo after World Cup venue reveal Hunter Haas FIFA Feyenoord’s Wouter Burger has bizarre FIFA 20 Ultimate Team revealed Joe Craven FIFA FIFA 23 promo calendar: Next Fut event, special cards & more Nathan Warby 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 View Archive

Over 10,000 FIFA Mobile players banned just before TOTS promo EA SPORTSEA SPORTS has banned over 10,000 FIFA Mobile players in the lead-up to the biggest promotion of the year: Team of the Season (TOTS). The developers allege players were caught cheating in AI matches. Team of the Season is rolling out across FIFA 21, and that includes Mobile. The Community TOTS promotion in the mobile game is set to start on April 29 — using the same players as the traditional console and PC version — but a fair chunk of players will miss out on it entirely. EA SPORTS announced on April 28 they have banned over 10,000 players for cheating just before the promotion was meant to drop. The suspensions will last for three weeks, meaning players who were caught up in the ban wave will miss the promotion entirely, and one last chance to bolster up their teams before the game runs its cycle. “We’ve temporarily suspended over 10,000 players that have cheated in PvE/AI matches,” they said in the statement. Exactly what cheats the players used were not disclosed. We’ve temporarily suspended over 10,000 players that have cheated in PvE/AI matches. These suspensions will last 3 weeks. Know the Rules: https://t.co/OytWdOXeKV Our Terms of Service: https://t.co/sIAYyjgFkP— EA SPORTS FC MOBILE (@EASFCMOBILE) April 28, 2021 According to EA’s rules, “cheating can include but isn’t limited to, using external tools, performing in-game exploits, and abusing glitches or bugs.” “Games are at their best when everyone can play on a level playing field. Cheating, phishing, hacking, or anything else that gives you a competitive advantage ruins the experience for everyone and impacts the game balance.” The TOTS promotion is set to include powered-up squads from the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, and more, and are often the strongest cards in a FIFA game’s lifecycle. More cards are rolling out in FIFA 21 and FIFA Mobile in the next two weeks. Keep your eyes peeled on @UltimateTeamUK for all the updates as they happen.

Resident Evil Village: Shadows of Rose DLC ending explained CapcomMade it to the end of the Resident Evil Village: Shadows of Rose but still confused by the ending? Here’s a breakdown of what we think it all means. The Winters saga of the Resident Evil series has drawn to a close (unless Resident Evil 9 brings Rose back) with the Shadows of Rose DLC, but the ending of this expansion left us with more questions than answers. However, we think we’ve got enough pieces to work out what it all means until the inevitable sequel arrives. Be warned though, as we’ll be openly discussing the Shadows of Rose ending, lots of spoilers will be lurking below – including spoilers for Resident Evil Village and earlier entries, as Resident Evil Village and its ultimate ending have ramifications for the wider RE universe. Ethan Winters was not what he seemed The DLC is set within the Megamycete, a living database with mutagenic properties that records and stores the DNA and consciousnesses of all infected by it – and those who die in its vicinity. Miranda (RE Village’s villain) realized that her dead daughter’s consciousness is stored in the Megamycete and dedicated her now mutated and long life to bringing her back. This is where the Winters family comes in, as Ethan’s wife Mia was working with Miranda and a bioterrorist organization called The Connections to bring back Miranda’s daughter using the mold. The mold comes from the Megamycete, but it’s also likely infused with some of the other mutagens from the RE universe such as the T-Virus or Las Plagas. These experiments led to the events of RE7 and the creation of Eveline who would infect both Mia and Ethan with her mold before being destroyed. One of the big twists of RE Village is that Ethan has been dead since RE7, killed by Jack Baker at the start of the game. However, the mold allowed his consciousness to form a new body, defeat Eveline, and rescue his family in both games. Ethan learns this after being killed by Miranda and entering the world of the Megamycete where the consciousness of Eveline – still salty about being killed by him – mockingly reveals his true nature to him. Evie may be dead, but she’s now trapped in the Megamycete, her personality and malice living on. Ethan then reanimates again and rescues Rose from Miranda, killing the villain and causing her to be absorbed into the Megamycete. Miranda wanted to use Ethan’s daughter Rose as a vessel to house her dead daughter’s consciousness. This is because Rose was the perfect host, being conceived by a human mother and a father who is essentially living mold. Eveline was the first attempt, but the bio-weapon was considered a failure, then escaped and infected the Baker family in RE7. Chris Redfield destroys the Megamycete at the end of RE Village, unaware of Ethan’s true nature, which causes Ethan to crumble into dust and die as the Village is destroyed around him. This devastates Chris and Mia but Ethan dies satisfied that his family is safe. Shadows of Rose final confrontation Shadows of Rose picks up fifteen years later and deals with Rose hating her mold-like abilities and wishing to be rid of them. As she is technically a bioweapon, Rose has been under Redfield’s supervision for her whole life and struggles to fit into society. Rose views Chris and his Hound Wolf Squad as surrogate parents, having grown up without Ethan and being estranged from her mother Mia Winters. In the DLC, Canine, a member of the Hound Wolf Squad tells Rose that she may be able to use a recovered chunk of the Megamycete to rid herself of her powers. To do so, she’ll need to enter the world/database and study Miranda’s memories to find a way. As a carrier of the mold, Rose is able to do this and eventually fights her way through the nightmare world of the Megamycete and recovers a crystal that allows her to shed her powers. Along the way, Rose is guided by a mysterious figure known as Micheal and also fights and destroys the still bitter consciousness of Eveline before coming face-to-face with the consciousness of Miranda. Miranda reveals that she manipulated Rose into entering the Megamycete and is still obsessed with resurrecting her daughter using Rose’s body. Now vulnerable without her powers, Rose is forced to battle Miranda until Micheal arrives to help. Micheal is revealed to be the consciousness of Ethan, still living within the Megamycete battling both Eveline and Miranda. To save Ethan from disappearing completely, Rose restores her powers, and the father-and-daughter duo destroys Miranda for good. After a warm conversation with the father she never knew, Rose leaves the Megamycete, her powers intact, and becomes more accepting of them after finally getting to speak to Ethan. The DLC then ends with the same cutscene RE Village ended with, showing Rose visiting Ethan’s grave. Is Shadows of Rose really the end? This is where things get confusing and slightly unsatisfying as far as endings go, Rose is then seen getting into a car with one of Chris’s men. The car drives into the distance towards what looks like the figure of Ethan Winters walking towards it before apparently stopping. It’s the exact same scene from the ending of RE Village – without anything extra to explain it. As Shadow of Rose was intended to be the final chapter of the Winters saga, we may never know what’s going on here. Of course, the story could continue in RE9. While it was nice to see Rose and Ethan finally get to meet, and for Rose to make peace with her powers, this ending seems to suggest that the Winters family story is not over. The figure of Ethan walking towards the car could simply imply her father is watching over Rose or is always with her, but as Ethan technically still exists in the Megamycete, it could also suggest he’s found a way to return. After all, it wouldn’t be the first time Ethan has come back from the dead using the mold to make himself a new body. Capcom may leave both interpretations up to the player, and if the Winters family is never seen again in Resident Evil this could work. However, as Rose still has her powers, coupled with the revelation that a portion of the Megamycete stills exists, this could be fertile ground for future stories in RE9. If various dead characters still exist there, who else could come back from the dead? Chris is also likely to be involved in RE9, set to investigate the BSAA for using bioweapons against Miranda. It’s also possible that the Megamycete makes a comeback now that the DLC has made a point to do so once before. A database that houses the consciousness of all beings ever infected by the mold – with the ability for them to come back from the dead could be a very interesting plot device for future RE games. Who else could be lurking within the database? And if the mold is revealed to be an ingredient of the many viruses we’ve seen across the Resident Evil universe, then pretty much anyone could come back in future stories. The main takeaway from the Shadows of Rose ending could be that nobody in Resident Evil is ever truly dead and gone… For even more Resident Evil guides, check out some of the content below: RE4 ending explained | Where to find the Shotgun | Where to find the Golden Egg | Can you save the dog? | Separate Ways | The Mercenaries | Changing costume | How Spinels work | Achievements & Trophies | Remake differences | Resident Evil 4 review | Resident Evil 5 remake | Code Veronica remake

Smash legend Hungrybox explains how he became a star on Twitch & YouTube HungryboxJuan ‘Hungrybox’ DeBiedma is one of the great Super Smash Bros. competitors of all time and an icon in the Latin community. In an exclusive Dexerto interview celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month, Hungrybox opened up about his rise to stardom. HungryBox has long been the face of Team Liquid’s Super Smash Bros. roster and has been a household name in both the game’s competitive scene as well as the Twitch and YouTube spaces over the last three years. The 29-year-old is considered one of the “Five Gods” of competitive Melee and has since become a full-time streamer with over 400,000 followers on Twitch. As a first-generation Argentine-American, DeBiedma has become a popular figure across the Latin American community. Along his way to the top, Hungrybox has learned many valuable lessons to become a top-tier streamer and competitor. Hungrybox’s humble origins DeBiedman began attending Super Smash Bros. tournaments when he was just 13 years old. From there, he rapidly gained skills in Smash Melee with the character Jigglypush in particular. Over the decade since Hungrybox has dominated the Melee scene and achieved and has won over a dozen major tournaments. Despite being a Smash Bros legend, Juan still graduated college from the University of Florida and juggled having a job while both competing at tournaments and focusing on content creation. He told Dexerto: “I was first passionate about content when I was in college. I realized that I could make people laugh while also balancing schoolwork and other priorities.” Hungrybox also explained how he built such a large following on Twitch, “My most effective method in building my stream was to create content that was original but also enticing and hard to look away from.” Becoming a full-time streamer After juggling streaming and working for quite some time post-graduation, Hungrybox decided to focus on becoming a full-time streamer. While this is no easy feat and no guarantee of success, the hardest part could be breaking the news to his family. Luckily, his close ones were fully on board with the career change. “My family and friends were usually pretty supportive of streaming. Especially when they realized it was something that could be used to make a living and not just a hobby. I think the most important thing was the fact that I was able to do it while I was studying or working. “Once the stream got bigger, especially over the past three years, I realized that it was much more important for me to prioritize streaming full-time instead of doing it alongside something else.” Hungrybox recognizes the challenges he’s had to face in the past with gaining such a massive, widespread audience across the internet. “The biggest hurdle I’ve had to overcome as a result of my fame is probably just using my platform more consciously and realizing that with so many people watching me I have to recognize how many viewpoints there are on so many various topics.” Along the road to the top of streaming, Hungrybox lacked guidance. That meant learning lessons the hard way. “One piece of advice that stuck with me throughout my career was to shake off any bad thing that happened, especially during a match, and focus on the thing directly after. I think if you keep thinking about a bad play or a mistake, it ruins every other play you do after that fact. “You can’t let past errors impact future success. And when it comes to streaming, no one really taught me how to do it so I kind of just figured it out myself and grew out of my shell.” Hungrybox shares advice to future YouTube & Twitch streamers The Smash Bros legend and streamer has been in the spotlight since he was a young kid, and as a first-generation American, a ton of pressure was on his shoulders to represent the Hispanic community. “To be a role model for the Hispanic community and also a representative, I think it just means showing that you can be anything you really want to be when you put your mind to it regardless of where you come from. “I moved to the United States when I was three years old and was a first-generation immigrant, and I really had to figure out who I was and what I wanted to do in this country from a very young age. But I never let that limit me and rather I feel that my culture and the way I express myself.” One thing Hbox has become well known for is his aggressive celebrations when winning a match of Smash Bros. He’s even passed out from the insanity of his screams after coming out victorious in close matches. Although his intensity may be thought to purely stem from his dedication to competing in Smash, they actually have ties to his Argentinian roots. “With my pop-offs and loud reactions, I feel that a lot of it just comes from the way I was raised in the way people from my country get excited about things, especially soccer. So I always embraced it and never put it away.” With so much experience under DeBiedma’s belt, he shared important parting words to streamers looking to make a name for themselves. With a “saturated” streaming market, broadcasters need to “offer something that no one else on the platform can” in order to stand out. “When you bring something unique or do something in a way that no one has, you essentially have a monopoly on that niche content. Take advantage of it and grow from there. Anyone can play video games with their webcam on the screen – make streaming more than that!”

Percy Jackson deserves the Hogwarts Legacy treatment Disney+It’s an exciting time to be a Percy Jackson fan with the TV show’s obvious success and a new book on the way. Now, it’s time for the mythological series to receive the epic RPG treatment it deserves. Though the subject of a lot of controversy, 2023’s Hogwarts Legacy undoubtedly gave a lot of Harry Potter fans what they’ve always wanted in a game – a chance to step into the wizarding world and carve out their own adventure. There are countless IPs out there with enticing worlds and characters that would make a fantastic Triple-A experience but, there’s no better time for Percy Jackson and the Olympians to put its godly mark on the gaming industry. The following article contains spoilers for Percy Jackson and the Olympians book and TV series. A brief history For anyone unfamiliar, Percy Jackson and the Olympians (or PJO for short) started life as a book series by Rick Riordan aimed primarily at a middle school audience. In the almost 20 years since the first book was published, however, it’s attracted a dedicated worldwide fanbase across all ages. The story centers around the titular protagonist Percy Jackson who is thrown into a dangerous world of gods and monsters after discovering that he’s a demigod – the son of a Greek god. After learning of his lineage Percy finds himself at Camp Half Blood – a refuge for demigod children and teenagers where they can develop their skills, connect with other Half Bloods, and learn how to survive in a world where hostile monsters will always be on the horizon. The initial tale of Percy was chronicled across five books, the first two – The Lightning Thief, and The Sea of Monsters – were adapted for the screen in the 2010s. However, both the fans and Riordan himself, have criticized the movies for their deviations from the source material. It was The Lightning Thief feature film that gave fans their first, and to this date, the only video game though with an exclusive Nintendo DS tie-in turn-based RPG, that unfortunately left a lot to be desired. All eyes on Percy After over a decade of waiting and hoping from fans, 2023 finally saw a brand new adaption of Percy Jackson in the form of a TV series for Disney + that had Riordan’s full involvement. With a talented cast of young actors leading the way, and a second season already ordered, there’s a high chance we may see all 5 books brought to life eventually. A brand new book, Percy Jackson and the Chalice of the Gods was released ahead of the show’s premiere in 2023 which followed the core trio, Percy, Grover, and Annabeth, and it’s since been confirmed that a sequel, Wrath of the Triple Goddess is due for release in 2024. Essentially, there are a lot of eyes on Percy, making it the perfect time to give the franchise a second shot at video game greatness. The case for a video game: Demigods and Monsters From our brave and sassy hero to his fellow campmates, and the all-powerful gods from the Greek Pantheon, the characters and world Rick Riordan has crafted would act as the perfect basis for a sprawling RPG experience. The safe haven of Camp Half Blood could easily act as a main hub, while the perilous domain of the Underworld, and the sheer scale of Mount Olympus would make for stunning in-game environments. In terms of gameplay, Percy and co. have certainly faced enough challenges to make for exciting content. How about having to face Medusa in a fight or playing an intense game of Capture the Flag with weapons included? And those are just a couple of snippets of the action that the demigod faces in his first adventure, let alone the rest of the books. Live your own adventures While there’s a lot of potential in reliving Percy’s journey in a game adaptation, there’s perhaps even more in fans being able to carve out their own story. Creating a character would be a fantastic way to immerse yourself at Camp Half Blood. Having the ability to choose your godly parent at the start of the game, or have them be selected at random – could set the stage for your demigod’s unique abilities. Each Greek god has an area of expertise so it’s natural their children would inherit some of their skills. A son of Poseidon could breathe underwater indefinitely, making certain areas in the world easier to explore. A daughter of Hephaestus could be efficient at building and crafting. Being a child of Ares would boost your character’s overall physical strength. There are countless ways that creating your character would make for a unique playthrough in a PJO RPG, and that’s before even deciding on your weapon of choice or taking on quests. Endless possibilities A vast open-world RPG in the vein of Hogwarts Legacy would be groundbreaking for a Percy Jackson game, but there are really endless possibilities when it comes to the franchise venturing into video game territory properly. A LEGO game where you can experience the different quests from the series while collecting and playing as different characters akin to LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga would likely serve the scope of PJO just as well as an action/adventure or open-world RPG. There’s even an in-universe trading card game in the franchise called Mythomagic which would make a fantastic turn-based title like Gwent. Overall, Rick Riordan has created an extremely rich franchise over the years that’s more than deserving of the Triple-A treatment. With so many eyes on Percy Jackson right now, as well as the success of games based on mythology in recent years, such as God of War, and Hades, there’s never been a better time for PJO to get the video game adaption it deserves.

How Neekolul became a Latin icon on Twitch & TikTok Neekolul, InstagramNicole ‘Neekolul’ Sanchez has become a pioneer content creator on both Twitch and TikTok for the Latin community. In an exclusive Dexerto interview to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, she told us her story. Today, Neekolul is signed to 100 Thieves where she works with a star-studded roster of streaming talent, from Rachell ‘Valkyrae’ Hofstetter to Jack ‘CouRage’ Dunlop. The 25-year-old has over one million followers on TikTok, as well as almost 500,000 on Twitch. As a first-generation Mexican American, her rise in the streaming world has resonated with so many across Latin America. The path she wished to forge in carving out a loyal community of viewers, speaking both in Spanish and English, was uncharted waters due to a lack of similar success stories. That is what makes Neekolul’s journey to the top so special. How Neekolul blew up on Twitch & TikTok Neeko decided to start streaming in 2017 when she created her Twitch channel. The channel is the same one you can see her go live on today, playing video games, sitting in Just Chatting, or cooking with friends. Within three years, it accumulated over 500,000 views and almost 50,000 followers. Back then, TikTok wasn’t on anybody’s radar so the strategies to go viral were a little different, yet people started to buy into her charm and liked watching her play games. In May 2019, the creator opened up a YouTube channel, posting more personal content. This allowed the audience to get even closer to Neeko… And then, the ‘OK boomer girl’ video happened. Sporting a Bernie Sanders tee to support the former US presidential candidate, Neeko absolutely took over TikTok. The original clip racked up three million views and hundreds of thousands of likes. Once people found out Nicole was streaming on a regular basis, it wasn’t long before the 2020 viral success turned into an explosive climb on Twitch. How it all started Neeko told Dexerto: “When I was a child, around eight or nine, my mom bought a camcorder and I actually tried to upload on YouTube at around that age. It was really embarrassing, so I would upload videos and then take them down, but the evident moment where I thought I really want to give this a go… I was kind of at a crossroads. “I had a job I was very miserable at and had this thing [streaming] that kept calling my name. Sure, I wasn’t making a full living off it, but I was comfortable pursuing this. “Ever since then I felt wholeheartedly about it. Even after that decision, I didn’t make a single dime really, aside from my stream. It was not enough, but it was something that kept calling my name.” Sanchez says guidance from partner Nick Brotman – who has worked with huge YouTubers such as MrBeast – allowed her to connect with a larger audience. Today, she follows trends and uses that to inform content decisions. Jumping on TikTok trends is something Neeko’s fans see her doing all the time, as seen in the video below with over two million views. Telling her family about career change As is the case with so many budding Twitch streamers, telling the family about their intentions to start out in content creation was a big moment. “My parents, eh, I wanna say my Dad – sorry Dad – was very disappointed,” she said. “He wouldn’t tell me this but I could tell, yaknow? He was kind of like ‘I hope she gets her sh*t together’.” Streaming is a gamble compared to more predictable career paths in the jobs market, but not everyone understands the opportunities of social media and streaming. Neekolul added: “My Mom just wanted to see me happy. I think being the first child of two parents that came from Mexico and had nothing when they came here, I think I went through a lot of things in my life. Ultimately, my Mom did want to see me happy, and saw this made me happy. “I would say my Dad was disappointed because he completely did not understand the space at all. My Mom didn’t understand it either, but was more empathetic and wanted to see me happy.” If she didn’t make it in streaming, Neeko says local government would provide some enticing position, to help local communities. Becoming a Twitch streamer people look up to Without the plethora of successful Latin streamers we see today, Neekolul had to forge her own path on Twitch, using TikTok to boost her presence. There is no doubt that the first-generation Mexican American is an icon for young viewers across Latin America. So, what does it mean to be a role model and represent the Hispanic community? “It means everything to me because I do streams in English and Spanish. Although people have a pre-conceived perception of me, then they come into my stream and they know my background, where I’m from, and the things I have had to go through… Which is the story of so many first-generation Mexican Americans or Latin Americans in general… It’s very hard to find someone like that in the content creator space. “As for myself, it’s very important – not only for the Hispanic community in America but in general – being Latinx, having those content creators to look up to is very very important for the growth of our community in the content creator space.” The streamer says she applies a different charm for her English and Spanish viewers, with a little help from the Twitch chat from time to time. For those wanting to replicate her success and looking to become an icon of Latin America within the space, she says to be authentic, find your niche, and follow trends to grow that dedicated audience you’re looking for.

How Monument Valley’s “lucky” success saved the company behind it Ustwo GamesDexerto speaks to Ustwo games about Monument Valley and its legacy ahead of a PC release in 2022. Monument Valley, one of the most iconic mobile games available today, will finally come to PC this year. Alongside its sequel, the Monument Valley: Panoramic Collection will introduce the puzzle adventure to an entirely new audience, along with protagonist Ida and her M.C Escher-inspired world. To celebrate the upcoming release on July 12, 2022, Dexerto spoke to Peter Pashley, Chief Development Officer at Ustwo Games, the team behind the franchise to find out where it came from, and how it’s changed their lives. Creating Monument Valley “The original vision [for Monument Valley], was about a game where the architecture was the star, filling up the screen with a small character wandering around,” Pashley recalls. “Making isometric concept art made it immediately clear that it was quite hard to add MC Escher-style ‘impossibility’ to these buildings.” That “impossibility” has come to be one of Monument Valley’s defining features, but it wasn’t until testing that it was clear the concept would be fun in execution. That was before an entire level was even built. “It was only when we did the first prototype, in which players could interact with an impossible structure, that we really started paying attention to the concept.” “The ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ from testers of this really simple demo gave us the confidence to pursue it – even when the next step (to build our first fully-featured level) was tough, we could fall back on that confidence of ‘we know we’ve got something good here, we just need to do it justice.” Do it justice Ustwo did, too, catching the eye of tech giant Apple and featuring prominently on both the App Store and iPhone hardware commercials. “I think for most people Monument Valley came out of nowhere; we’d had a good reaction to the announce trailer but then we were really just lucky that Apple chose to feature it as a Game of the Week at launch, which lit the blue touchpaper and it just took off beyond our wildest expectations,” Pashley explains. “One of the pillars of development was “every screen good enough to print” and so that’s been a really good fit for people wanting to show off their newest devices.” “There was definitely more pressure the second time around [with Monument Valley’s 2017 sequel], especially as it was quite a different team who had to live up to it but didn’t all have the confidence gained from being there the first time.” “When Apple told us that they wanted to use MV2 to launch their refresh of the App Store and keep it secret to reveal at WWDC, it was a completely different level of pressure to the first game. “We had to keep the game super secret, it had to live up not only to the pressures of a sequel but also being the poster child for a new service!” House of Cards and Monument Valley’s “luck” The game even featured prominently in Netflix’s House of Cards, opening up the world of Monument Valley to an entirely new audience. “When the producers of House of Cards contacted us to ask about featuring Monument Valley we thought it was a prank,” Pashley reveals. “The game was part of the creation of a particular game aesthetic, like a zen puzzle game, and we could never have predicted that.” “Someone who joined the company recently told me that it was used as an example in one of his film school classes; this weekend I met an 8-year-old who loves it and wasn’t even born when it was launched.” Between both Monument Valley titles, the team at Ustwo is humble in its response to being asked how the franchise has changed the studio and the lives of its employees. “It’s safe to say that the company and all our jobs probably wouldn’t exist without the success of Monument Valley,” says Pashley. “I’d like to claim that we’re all so super-talented that we would have come up with something else amazing, but any success like this has so much luck involved. We were lucky to have a good idea, to be the right team to make it, and to have the right ecosystem to launch it into.” “You couldn’t expect to have that level of success with a short premium game in today’s mobile ecosystem.” The future of the franchise In any case, Ustwo assured us that Monument Valley 3 is “glinting tantalizingly on the horizon”, making a PC port a perfect way to bring the franchise to new audiences before it arrives. “We’ve thought about doing this for a long time, but we’ve always said that we wouldn’t do it just for the sake of it, we’d need to do a really good job of it, not just to expand the canvas of the game but also to make sure that playing it with a mouse feels as good as the original touchscreen.” “There’s so much subtlety to the game’s design that we couldn’t ask anyone else to do it, and it’s only been recently that we have had the people and the time to make it happen. It’s been a lot of work, but also a real pleasure to go back to the two games and metamorphosize them into something slightly different for a new audience.” “The first time I played the game with expanded canvas it just felt right – it adds so much atmosphere and immersion to the experience. Monument Valley has always been a play experience that grabs people, that holds their attention, but having it take up your whole field of view is almost like playing it in VR. It really felt like getting to experience Monument Valley for the first time all over again.” Monument Valley: Panoramic Collection launches on July 12 on PC.

Children of the Sun Preview: A lone dev, a lone bullet, and a whole lot of style René Roth/Devolver DigitalChildren of the Sun, Devolver Digital’s forthcoming indie title for PC, is part Hitman-style shooter, part Giallo movie, and part ballistics-bending puzzle. We got a taste of the bloodbath in store ahead of its release later this year, as well as an opportunity to hear more about its morbid mystery and its murderous mechanics from the game’s solo developer, René Rothe. Children of the Sun is a forthcoming single-player, third-person shooter from lone developer René Rothe. Published by indie specialists, Devolver Digital, it’s as dark as it is delightful. With a seamless blending of elements from both horror survival, and puzzle games alike, along with some truly distinctive time manipulation mechanics, it offers a fresh and fierce gameplay experience. Children of the Sun: A cerebral serve of blood and bullets Players assume control of “The Girl”. A mostly silent protagonist on a vengeful rampage against the eponymous Children of the Sun, the cult who upended her life. Masked, and armed with just one bullet — and the mysterious, almost telekinetic ability to control its trajectory — she’s a one-woman assassin with a mind set on murder. While Rothe says he originally designed his protagonist as an androgynous figure, without really having any gender in mind, when others he showed the designs to referred to the character as “the girl”, he came to feel a female main character was the right fit for the story. “It was very lucky,” he says of the unexpected inspiration, “I’m very happy to have chosen [to use] a girl.” The protagonist’s story draws on inspiration from the classic fiction trope where a young girl discovers strange and unexplainable powers when she reaches puberty. Riffing on this idea, Rothe designed a protagonist with a lust for revenge and the metaphysical means to achieve it. While dialogue throughout the preview was sparse, the game’s gritty story is unveiled through a series of cut scenes with an art style both striking and surreal. The cut scenes were one of the areas Rothe received help with during the game’s creation. The other was the game’s music. The soundtrack is deeply immersive, atmospheric, and slick with ambient distortion that calls to mind Hotline Miami’s experimental, electronic vibes. But as rich and menacing as the game’s story, visuals and music are, it’s the mechanics that really shine. And those were designed and developed by Rothe himself. Originally, he started development of the game “quite a long time ago” while he was working other jobs. “I did it as a side thing, just sort of as fun,” Rothe explained, “even after Devolver became involved with it, I still did it on the side.” All up, he estimates it took him around five years to make. After dabbling with development on the side for about two years, he estimates he spent three years of full-time work perfecting and polishing everything we see today. Fresh, fun, and fatal: Children of the Sun’s unique take on time manipulation One of the key features of Children of the Sun is its innovative and interactive combat. Although you won’t be going head-to-head with any of your opponents. Instead, players control a single bullet. Each time a cultist gets taken down, players have the opportunity to re-aim. Allowing for a single bullet to curve its way around obstacles, accelerate its speed, and trigger environmental traps — all while cleaving its way through multiple enemies in each level. Rothe said in the past he mainly worked on small, atmospheric-style projects, rather than fully-fledged games. Originally, the concept for Children of the Sun “was more like a small environment, a visual idea” in his mind. So that’s what he focused on. As Rothe explained it, weighing down the mechanics any further with “game-y game” features just for the sake of it “felt wrong.” Children of the Sun’s environments are small, and the way players can interact with the environment heavily limited. But, it’s the challenge presented by these restrictions that help make each level so immersive. Replayability is rife with this one. We’ve already gone back through the preview more than once to try and solve the riddles in each level. With multiple solutions for both clearing the stage and meeting the additional enigmatic objectives, Children of the Sun encourages players to experiment and get creative. Plus, the online leaderboard for the highest score in each level gives you some visible bragging rights over your friends and strangers, adding an almost retro, arcade-style feel — on top of all the other flavors. As puzzling as the preview was, Rothe tells us players can expect even more challenges and tougher riddles to solve with the full game. “It will be really interesting to see how people react to the game,” he said. We already know we’re looking forward to seeing how we stack up on that leaderboard at release. Children of the Sun will be available on PC later this year.

Delivering Mars: Inside the production on one of 2023’s most ambitious indie gems KeokeN InteractiveDeliver Us Mars stands tall as one of the year’s most ambitious sci-fi games yet it comes from an unassuming indie team of barely a few dozen developers in the Netherlands. To shed some light on how the expansive project came together, from the cast’s first impression of the script to seeing themselves digitized on the red planet, we spoke with actors Ellise Chappell and Neil Newbon on their experience bringing the game’s central father-and-daughter relationship to life. While KeokeN Interactive’s latest release boasts a staggering, interplanetary scope as the very survival of our species comes into question, this backdrop mainly serves to illuminate an extremely personal, tightly-woven familial conflict at its core. The troubled relationship of scientist Isaac Johanson and his daughter Kathy is the driving force of the narrative and one that takes players on many unexpected, heart-wrenching twists and turns where right and wrong, good and bad, are never truly black and white. It’s a surprisingly engaging storyline that we praised as a “truly unmissable journey” for sci-fi fans. Though the ambitious tale you’d expect from a AAA-caliber team, fit with full motion capture, authentic performances and a well-rounded script, comes from a relatively small indie studio toiling away in the Netherlands. Breaking down just how this enormous project came to be, and what the process looked like for two of the leading cast members, we spoke with UK actors Ellise Chappell (Kathy Johanson) and Neil Newbon (Isaac Johanson) to gain insight on all things from the strenuous recording sessions to the research required in grounding the spacefaring adventure. Contents Breaking down the casting process – Researching the role – A look at the “intense” production schedule – What lies ahead for the series? – Finding the right Isaac & Kathy As two polar opposites, Chappell and Newbon find each other at completely different stages in their respective careers. For the former, years of performing in a number of immensely popular TV shows led to her first steps in the gaming industry. While for the latter, more than a decade of experience as one of the region’s top motion capture experts led to another opportunity in the space, though one that he wasn’t initially set to star in. “Originally, I wasn’t going to be playing Isaac,” Newbon revealed in conversation with Dexerto. “I was trying to find Isaac.” Having first emailed the company years prior after playing 2018’s Deliver Us The Moon, Newbon was enraptured and fully onboard to work with KeokeN Interactive in just about any capacity. Cut to 2021 and he joined the follow-up project in pre-production as a performance director, helping the team cast its next batch of stars for the sequel. “Someone said ‘that guy emailed us about three years ago!’” he joked of his first day in the studio. Before long, the team realized he himself was actually the best fit for the role. “For casting, it’s treated very similar to film these days,” Newbon continued. “We do screen tests, self-tapes, way more extensive casting than we would have done before, simply because more actors are interested in games.” That’s a point Chappell echoed as well, stating the audition came through her agent “just like any other” she’d receive for a film or TV project. As the protagonist of the new chapter, Chappell was first to be locked in for the role of Kathy, securing her spot in her very first video game. “I immediately said yes, it’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” she said. “As soon as I read the scenes I got through, I was really into it straight away. I found it really complex, the whole audition process was so playful, fun, and interesting.” Adding to the “new experience” was the fact it was Chappell’s first audition in a ‘volume,’ a technologically advanced production stage akin to the likes used to film The Mandalorian. This means acting with minimal surrounding context, just a handful of props, and no specific costumes to help immerse the cast. A completely different setup to what you’d find outside of the gaming space. “Ellise Chappell is an extraordinarily talented actor,” Newbon said, having been ‘blown away’ by her first appearance on a stage of its kind. “To see someone of her caliber come in and not only do an amazing job performance-wise but also smash performance capture… she blew us away.” From there, it was off to the races as the cast prepared for a few weeks of flat-out recording sessions, diving head-first into an extensive amount of research in the process. Complete immersion Given Chappell and Newbon signed on at different stages of their career, it lines up that their experience with the series from KeokeN also differed greatly. On one hand, we know Newbon was an enormous fan, someone who “fell in love” with the original game back when it first launched. “I just thought what an incredibly interesting and provocative game,” he said of Deliver Us The Moon. “Then I realized how relatively small the team was and I was blown away. I actually emailed them and said I’d love to work with you on anything, whatever you want,” Newbon said. Though on the other hand, as a relative newcomer to the gaming industry, Chappell hadn’t played Deliver Us The Moon prior to her audition. In fact, she was fairly inexperienced with the industry as a whole, describing herself as a “mini-gamer” before jumping into the deep end. Rather than playing through certain titles herself, she instead preferred to watch a handful of playthroughs online. Games like The Last of Us helped show just what the medium is capable of, “those kinds of games where the narratives and the characters are just as thrilling as the gameplay,” she explained. As Chappell hadn’t yet experienced the first chapter of the ‘Deliver Us’ saga, she waited until things were official and the role was locked in before getting up to speed. “I waited for a few weeks to hear which was a bit nerve-wracking, but then I got the news which was really exciting. I didn’t play Deliver Us The Moon until I knew I’d got the role. When I got the role, I was like, alright, I’m gonna play Deliver Us The Moon and do as much ‘space prep’ as I could. “I loved it and I was so enthralled by the feeling I had, what was achieved in terms of feeling like you were in space. I found it really thrilling and immersive, so I really enjoyed the first game.” Now both caught up on the original and fully onboard for the next chapter, it came time for the cast to prepare for their new roles. From studying tape to having experts in the field read over the script, no stone was left unturned in making Deliver Us Mars as authentic as it could possibly be. “We were all studying a lot of NASA feeds,” Newbon said. “Just to get a sense of the ambiance of space, to understand the process of becoming an astronaut. We went with as much realism as we could.” “I was watching NASA livestreams every morning,” Chappell chimed in. “Immersing myself that way made it easier to imagine things [on set].” Fortunately for both, the script was airtight well before performance capture got underway, allowing them to get familiar with their character’s journey along with the overall scope of the narrative. “NASA and the ESA were contacted to help on the script,” Newbon revealed. “So there were lots of space agencies that were actually working independently on the script to make sure it was accurate.” “I would say I had the whole shape and most of the script before we started shooting, which was really helpful,” Chappell continued. “It was like 400 pages. Kathy goes on such an incredible arc in this game, it was so useful having that all in front of me. “I did my prep in a similar way that I would prep for a TV & film job. I mapped out her whole arc, I put it all on post-it notes on my wall. I felt this was such a personal, emotional, and complex story within this family. To have such a personal story in duality with this huge theme and big, epic backdrops was a wonderful thing. To be able to see so much in these relationships. They’re all so complex and these characters are really interesting. I loved discovering this journey.” An “intense” production schedule Not only responsible for portraying Isaac, but also for helping guide performances across the board, Newbon had to strike a balance between his responsibilities as an actor and director on Deliver Us Mars. Juggling multiple hats, he described it all as one big form of “storytelling, just with a different set of tools. “It does take a shift in terms of focus. Directing is more cerebral than acting. In acting, you can’t overthink when you’re doing it, it’s more experiential than cerebral.” Condensing the full capture process into just two weeks, the day-to-day hustle for all involved was “intense,” Chappell added, often having to record a “bunch of scenes every day.” But with Newbon’s assistance alongside Narrative Designer Raynor Arkenbout, the crew pulled it off without a hiccup. “I loved it,” Chappell said of her experience on set. “It was really fun to just get completely immersed in the story. It was a really wonderful experience.” However, she admitted it was certainly a “challenge” jumping from familiar territory in the world of film and television to her first gaming project. “When you’re on [a TV or movie] set, sometimes you’re working with a green screen. So in that sense, you have to imagine your surroundings or imagine a mythical character. But when you’re in a volume and you’re in a motion capture suit, you don’t have the costume to ground you either. On top of that, in this setting, you’re in space. Such a tiny percentage of the human population gets to experience what it’s actually like to be in space and wear a spacesuit. So it takes a lot of imagination.” Over the course of the two-week shoot, the team “generally” stuck to the script given how “finely tuned” it all was, but that’s not to say there wasn’t room for improvisation. Far from it, in fact, as Chappell was told to “be vocal and go with what feels right for the character. “With Kathy, we all pretty much stuck to the script because it’s so well-written. But there are these little moments where you feel you could be softer or add a little joke. With the emotional scenes, I had a line here and there, but it was more just here’s the shape of what happens, then I just kind of did whatever came out.” In a similar instance, while capturing an emotional scene conveyed through a hologram in the finished product, Newbon spoke from the heart and ended up with an entirely new chunk of dialogue not originally nailed down. “It just came out of the experience I was having,” he explained. “Something came out amid what we were doing and it sort of became improvisational because it just felt right. [Arkenbout] deliberately kept it in because he felt it was a really natural, organic moment.” Having given their all to the project back in 2021, what came next was entirely out of their hands. Newbon and Chappell departed and left the developers to work their magic over the next two years as they brought the cinematic sequences to life and realized the intricate gameplay sections in between. “Heartwarming” reception and what lies ahead With Deliver Us Mars now out in the wild for fans of the original to experience and newcomers to be enraptured with, it’s been a “surreal” period for the cast that did their bit a few years prior. Now seeing it all in one complete package, viewing the sequences they memorized from a whole new perspective, witnessing the level of detail in every frame, it’s unlike any other acting experience out there, both agreed. “It’s honestly so surreal, but in the best way possible,” Chappell said. “I love everyone who worked on this project, everyone worked so hard and was so passionate about the project. So to get to play it and see everyone’s work come together was really special. I was so invested in the story and the characters, to see that all play out, to go through all of it was a complete joy.” For Chappell, it was such a “wonderful experience,” the UK actor is now keeping the door open for any and all gaming opportunities. “I just think it’s a wonderful medium, you can get so fully invested in it.” In fact, she’s even starting to play more video games herself, now the proud owner of a Nintendo Switch. “That’s my main port of call,” she joked. “I’m really getting into it and I’m really excited for Hogwarts legacy to come to the Switch later this year!” As for what comes next from KeokeN, both performers are unsure of what the future may hold, but they’re absolutely eager to work with the team again should the opportunity arise. The following section contains spoilers for the ending of Deliver Us Mars. Do not continue reading if you haven’t yet finished the game. Mere moments before credits roll, Deliver Us Mars hangs on four words amid its conclusion: “We can be better,” as spoken by Kathy. Traveling back to Earth, things go awry. Our home planet has ceased communication, though it’s unclear exactly why. Could it simply be technical issues? Has devastation rapidly torn apart the rest of civilization? No one knows for sure, but the threads certainly linger if KeokeN wishes to pull on them anytime soon for a third chapter. “I don’t know anything about what the future holds. None of us do,” Chappell admitted. “But if it was going to come back for a third game, I think there’s so much more to explore and I would love to come back as Kathy. “It is left on a bit of a cliffhanger, there’s so much scope to explore. What happens to Earth? What is the state that we find it in? We see the technology from Mars is starting to malfunction a bit. There are so many unanswered questions that I feel would be lovely to explore. Fingers crossed.” “I would love to see more work from KeokeN,” Newbon added. “I would love to see an even bigger budget for whatever they do. Is something happening? I have no idea. But I think the bigger KeokeN gets, the more exciting the project is gonna be. “KeokeN, whatever you want to do, I’ll always audition, even if it’s playing a dude in the corner sweeping, I’d love to work with them again!”

Baldur’s Gate 3’s new evil ending could be the intended conclusion Larian StudiosThe end is nigh for Baldur’s Gate 3, as Larian Studios has revealed it won’t receive DLC, nor is the team working on the sequel. All we have left is a few more patches worth of content, including a new ending that might finally give fans the conclusion Larian’s been planning since Early Access. The upcoming Patch 7 for Baldur’s Gate 3 adds additional evil endings, though it’s unclear if these are exclusively for the Dark Urge (who is shown in their trailers) or if all characters can unleash true horror on the Forgotten Realms. A recent teaser for the evil endings has revealed something that piqued the interest of long-time fans, especially as it might also explain the meaning behind the game’s cryptic theme song. The Dream Guardian was a lot different in Early Access Baldur’s Gate 3 entered Steam Early Access in 2020. That version of the game has a number of differences from the final release. The biggest difference involves the Dream Guardian, a character you design alongside your protagonist. In Early Access, the Dream Guardian was known as the Dream Visitor, and they dressed and acted a lot more seductively in an attempt to seduce your Tav, while the Dream Guardian is decked out in armor and is all business when it comes to fighting the Mind Flayers. The Dream Visitor’s role and personality are starkly different, as it downright gives you visions of power and tries to entice you with romance. This character is meant to be your ideal partner, one you craft yourself, and they love to tell you everything you want to hear. Fans instantly realized what the Dream Visitor was You didn’t need a doctorate in obscure D&D lore to work out where this original storyline was going. Pretty much everyone who completed the Early Access build worked out that the Dream Visitor was a manifestation of the Mind Flayer tadpole you are forcibly given in the intro scene. Only, instead of forcing you into transforming, it teases you with your innermost desires. The fact that the Dream Visitor was notably more aggressive and evil on the surface added credence to this. The only question is how this would have all played out in the final release, as the story ended up being a lot different. We know from cut content like the original Nightsong design that Baldur’s Gate 3’s story changed a great deal throughout development, and the shifting Dream Visitor/Guardian role seems to be part of this. Larian already made huge changes to character personalities based on fan feedback, with party members like Shadowheart being ungrateful jerks in the first Early Access, but were softened over time. It makes sense feedback to the Dream Visitor reveal could also have prompted a change. The meaning of “Down by the River” Baldur’s Gate 3’s theme is a song by Borislav Slavov called “Down by the River.” It’s a great song, but on the surface, it seems to have nothing to do with the game’s plot. That is unless you believe that the original plan was for the Dream Visitor to seduce the player as part of the Mind Flayer transformation process. The final words of the song are: “Don’t wake me up, Just leave me there dreaming” Fans have taken these closing lyrics to mean that the original bad ending of the game involved your protagonist giving in to the Dream Visitor/Tadpole and choosing to remain with them in the paradise within your imagination, depicted as a beautiful river. Meanwhile, your physical body has turned into a Mind Flayer and is off to eat some brains. However, the full release of the game completely changed the story. The Dream Visitor became The Emperor: a Mind Flayer gone rogue who is actively helping you escape from possession. While there are endings that involve Mind Flayer control, they play out very differently from the theoretical Dream Visitor ending. How the new endings are bringing back the original concept Baldur’s Gate 3’s Patch 7 update will add new evil endings, and a teaser for one of them suggests we’re going back to the cut concept with a twist. In the teaser, a citizen is struck with a psionic attack. Their mind is taken from the current hellish landscape, and suddenly, they’re picking up food at the market in a bustling city, while whistling “Down by the River.” Instead of the player giving in to the Mind Flayer tadpole, this new ending involves your character controlling others using the same tactic as the Dream Visitor, giving them a happy life in their minds, all while singing. (Some have referred to this as the “Naruto ending”. Get out of here, you weebs — there’s no room for Infinite Tsukuyomi in my Baldur’s Gate.) This evil ending could bring the story full circle. While the original Dream Visitor was a bit too suss, this new twist ending involves you becoming the seducer, using your mental powers to enslave others. Whether your character is also a thrall of the Mind Flayers has yet to be confirmed, which means it could be even closer to the original plan than we realized.

Viral Far Cry 6 TikTok shows dog’s heartbroken reaction to brutal gameplay UbisoftA TikTok creator showed some brutal Far Cry 6 gameplay to their dog and the pup’s reaction was absolutely priceless, but it was also heartbreaking. Ubisoft’s Far Cry 6 was released in October of 2021 on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC. The game features some of the most stunning and immersive gameplay of the year but also features some pretty brutal moments. This is especially true when it comes to the game’s treatment of animals, which ranges from cockfighting to this soul-crushing moment a TikTok user shared with their dog. Viral Far Cry 6 TikTok Typically, reaction videos are reserved for popular streamers or content creators. But, this time, it’s all about one dog’s reaction to some absolutely brutal Far Cry 6 gameplay. Over the track “Evil Morty” from Rick and Morty, we see an adorable pup watching its owner playing Far Cry 6 when suddenly the player is attacked by a dog in-game. The player, out of self-defense or some kind of twisted vengeance, fights off the dog and proceeds to shoot it, all while their own dog watches. After the events transpired, the dog turns to give its owner an unforgettable and tragic look. Some of the comments from the post sum up the viewer’s reaction perfectly. User GritZ wrote, “Dog grows up to develop a game where dogs kill humans” while another user, Kemur, calls this video, “His villain origin story.” Far Cry 6 is a game that’s all about pets and animals, so this player still has time to redeem themselves in the eyes of their canine companion. But another slip up like this and we may see a very different kind of reaction come from that Husky the next time around.

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How to watch Far Cry 6 gameplay reveal: date & time UbisoftWe are finally going to be getting a sneak peek at the gameplay of Ubisoft’s upcoming title, Far Cry 6. Fans of the series will be watching as expectations are high for the beloved series. One of Ubisoft’s most respected franchises has always been Far Cry. The prolonged series has a touted reputation that stems from earlier titles, as they are exceptional open-world RPG adventures. Featuring immersive stories, memorable antagonists, and some wonderful open-worlds, the developer is always pushing the mantle. While the sixth installment of the series has been delayed until no later than March 2022, fans are still hopeful Ubisoft can deliver another fantastic title. Now, they have announced the first look at the gameplay – here’s how you can tune in. How to watch Far Cry 6’s gameplay reveal While we have seen an ample amount of cinematic trailers for Far Cry 6 thus far, we have not seen any actual gameplay of the new entity. Now, Ubisoft has announced they will be showcasing the game for the very first time on May 28th, 2021. If you are looking to catch all the action, then the stream is going to be live at the following times. 12:30 pm EST – 9:30 am PST – 5:30 pm BST – 6:30 pm CEST – As well, the stream is going to be live on Ubisoft’s Twitch and YouTube channels, but we have placed the stream down below for your convenience. The contents of the gameplay reveal are still unknown as of now, but there are a few aspects we are hoping to see. Most reveals for AAA titles typically follow some sort of entry campaign mission, where we will see some new mechanics that are introduced. This is probably how the Far Cry 6 gameplay reveal is going to go, but of course, we do not know yet. It will be interesting to see how the gameplay is going to differ from its predecessor, Far Cry 5. Along with this gameplay reveal, we can hope to see more news regarding Far Cry 6 at next month’s Ubisoft Forward, which is just one of the many developer conferences we are going to see within the month of June. Far Cry 6’s gameplay leaks First Far Cry 6 gameplay leaked hours before official revealhttps://t.co/dNBvPUo9fehttps://t.co/ri45MHhoRj pic.twitter.com/cmHCLh1QdV — Instant Gaming (@InstantGamingEN) May 28, 2021 Despite Ubisoft’s best efforts to keep details on Far Cry 6 from leaking online, a gameplay video has begun circulating online. This video showcases the new explosive arrow bow, CD gun gadget, modified jetpack, classic cars, stealth mechanics, and what appears to be a pet crocodile. While the leak may have given players a brief insight into the grizzly world of Far Cry 6, Ubisoft’s upcoming gameplay reveal will hopefully shed some more light on these exciting additions. Speaking of game conferences, there is plenty to watch in the coming month, and if you are looking to view them all here is when/how you can tune into them.

Ubisoft warns against signing up for Far Cry 6 “beta” phishing scam UbisoftIf you’ve recently gotten an email about an offer from Ubisoft to participate in a Far Cry 6 beta, you might want to avoid that offer at all costs, as the company has issued a warning that its nothing more than a scam. If you’re eager to get your hands on Far Cry 6, even in beta form, you may want to be extra cautious, especially if you installed anything that came with it. Publisher Ubisoft has issued a warning on its official Twitter account that there’s a phishing scam going around, claiming to give players access to a Far Cry 6 beta. While the email in question seems to be aimed at content creators, it’s entirely possible that these emails have gone out to regular folks as well who may want to get their hands on the game. We can confirm the email regarding FC6 beta access is a phishing attempt. It has been reported. Please do not respond if you have received this email or similar. Thank you for the report! https://t.co/G7jBlRS6IW — Ubisoft Support (@UbisoftSupport) February 19, 2021 “We can confirm the email regarding FC6 beta access is a phishing attempt,” Ubisoft said in a tweet. “It has been reported. Please do not respond if you have received this email or similar.” YouTuber theRadBrad seems to be the one who sounded the alarm on the whole scandal, stating that people who download the “beta” that they are offering get a virus installed that monitors everything on their screen, which is a huge invasion of privacy to say the least. Just a heads up to all content creators. There is an email from the official @Ubisoft address going around that claims beta access to Far Cry 6. It even has an embargo with a special password for access. The virus watches your screen and records everything you do. Be safe. — theRadBrad (@thaRadBrad) February 18, 2021 The eagerness to get hands-on with Far Cry 6 is understandable. The game was originally supposed to released on February 18, ironically enough the day that theRadBrad sounded the alarm, but it’s now scheduled to release sometime in Q2 or Q3 2021. Read More: 5 things we know about Far Cry 6 so far – To be clear, Ubisoft has not officially announced any public “beta” for Far Cry 6 and it’s unlikely that they do so anytime soon, as that’s generally not what happens for Far Cry games. Still, given the fact that we are months out from the actual release date, it’s possible that plans change.

How to preorder Far Cry 6 on PlayStation 5 & Xbox Series X Ubisoft[jwplayer 91I9RIGm]Ubisoft officially announced Far Cry 6 during their July 13 Forward conference. The wildly anticipated open world title already has a wealth of editions to choose from. Here is everything you need to know about pre-ordering it on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Far Cry 6 was officially revealed during Ubisoft’s July digital conference. The first-person shooter will be led by Breaking Bad actor Giancarlo Esposito, who plays the series’ latest villain Anton Castillo. The French publisher also announced that the game will be hitting stores on February 18, 2021 on next-gen consoles PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Here is our guide on preordering the anticipated title. Where to preorder Far Cry 6 Despite releasing in 2021, Far Cry 6 already has a handful of editions to choose from. Regardless of which one you choose, they all come with the ‘Libertad Pack’ which includes an exclusive weapon and an adorable puppy companion. Similar to previous Ubisoft releases, FC6 has a total of four editions. All of them come with various bonus items such as cosmetics and weapons. Currently, there is no place that is taking orders for PS5 and Xbox Series X, however each store page will eventually be updated to include the next-gen consoles once their release dates are announced. The Gold Edition comes with a steelbook as well as the Season Pass. The Ultimate Edition includes both the Season Pass as well as the Ultimate Pack with Croc Hunter, Vice, and Jungle Expedition skin packs. Lastly, the Collector’s Edition contains a Flamethrower replica, steelbook case, artbook, 10 stickers, flamethrower “how to assemble” print, CD soundtrack, Chorizo dog keychain, and map. Standard Edition US Amazon (PS4 + PS5 / Xbox One + Series X) $59.99 – Walmart (Xbox One / Series X) $49.94 – Walmart (PlayStation 4 / PS5) $49.94 – Best Buy (PS4 + PS5 / Xbox One + Series X) $59.99 – UK Ultimate Edition (digital only) US Best Buy (Xbox One / Series X) $119 – PlayStation Store (PlayStation 4 / PS5) $119 – Microsoft Store (Xbox One / Series X) $119 – UK PlayStation Store (PlayStation 4 / PS5) £91.99 – Microsoft Store (Xbox One / Series X) £91.99 – Gold Edition US Walmart (PS4 + PS5 / Xbox One + Xbox Series X) $109 – Best Buy (PS4 + PS5 / Xbox One + Xbox Series X) $109 – Amazon (PS4 + PS5 / Xbox One + Xbox Series X) $109 – UK Collector’s Edition (Ubisoft store exclusive)

How to get more Gun Powder in Far Cry 6 UbisoftGun Powder is required to craft powerful weapon mods and attachments, making it an essential material in Far Cry 6. It’s not always easy to find, but fortunately, there are a few different ways to get more of it. In Ubisoft’s latest open-world title Far Cry 6, players take control of Dani Rojas, a guerilla who teams up with the rebel group Libertad in an attempt to liberate the people of Yara from the island’s ruthless leader Anton Castillo. In order to take down Anton and his forces, you’ll first need to stock up on the best weapons in the game. Once you’ve done that, it’s time to craft mods like Sights and Blast Rounds at the Workbench to unleash their full potential. One of the rarest materials for weapon crafting is Gun Powder. This isn’t just any old resource that can be found scattered across Yara, so you’re going to have to put some time and effort into stocking up on it. Contents Earning Gun Powder from Ambushes – Stealing Gun Powder from Supply Drops – Looting Gun Powder from FND Caches – How to get Gun Powder in Far Cry 6 Here are the three main ways you can get your hands on Gun Powder in Far Cry 6, and how much of it you’ll be able to source using each method: 1. Earning Gun Powder from Ambushes A guaranteed way to get Gun Powder in Far Cry 6 is to take part in Ambushes. These require you to take out multiple enemies protecting a crate, and are marked by red pistol icons on the map when you get close to them. Every Ambush gives at least one Gun Powder, as well as other important crafting materials like Supremo Bonds, so this is the best way to go about finding Gun Powder and upgrading your weapons. 2. Stealing Gun Powder from Supply Drops Another guaranteed method to get Gun Powder is to steal Supply Drops from military-controlled zones. These aren’t always easy, as you’ll have to be sneaky or risk fighting waves of Anton Castillo’s forces. Each Supply Drop in Far Cry 6 is guaranteed to contain at least one Gun Powder, so you won’t have the frustration of only walking away with unneeded materials if you follow this method. 3. Looting Gun Powder from FND Caches As well as completing Ambushes and stealing Supply Drops, it’s also possible to get Gun Powder by looting FND Caches. These are red-and-black chests that are hidden in military-controlled zones around Yara. If you’re struggling to find FND Caches, you can bribe soldiers across Yara with Pesos and they’ll mark some locations on your map. You can also reveal locations by collecting maps from Military Checkpoints. Read More: Best Far Cry villains ranked – It’s important to remember that not every FND Cache will contain Gun Powder, though, so prepare for some disappointment if this is your chosen method of finding more weapon crafting materials. That’s everything you need to know about finding Gun Powder. For more tips, check out our guides to unlocking all Amigos, finding all Roosters, and getting the best weapons for your loadout in Far Cry 6.

Far Cry 6 weapons list: All guns confirmed so far UbisoftThe Far Cry series has always been touted as having some of the most powerful weapons, but what’s been confirmed for Far Cry 6 so far? The sixth installment of the franchise is releasing worldwide on October 7, and it will be the first one engineered for the Xbox Series X|S and PS5, so fans are eager to jump back into the action. Like any other Far Cry game, there’s going to be a major emphasis on guns and we’re bound to find a flurry of them throughout – some of which we know about already. All Far Cry 6 weapons Players will have a wide array of choices from guns when roaming around the map, and throughout the pre-release content Ubisoft have provided, we’ve got a decent outlook on some of the weapons coming to Far Cry 6. Below is a rundown of all Far Cry 6’s weapons from what we know thus far. We will be sure to update this page as we learn more in the coming days. Handguns Stechkin APS – M1911 – Flare Gun – Makarov PM – Rifles AKM – AS Val – Fal – Carbine – M4 Variant – M16A1 – SKS – Browning M2 – M60E3 – RPG – Minigun – MG42 – SMGs PPSH – MP34 – KSG – Sniper’s Dragunov – Rocket Launchers, Shotguns, and grenades Molotov Cocktail – Grenade – RPG – QLZ-87 – RG-6 – Discos Locos – We’re bound to uncover more weapons when the game fully releases soon, and we’re amped to see what weapons will emerge as the best in Far Cry 6. In the meantime, we’ve got some content surrounding Far Cry 6 that you should check out in preparation for the game’s release.

Far Cry 6 Season Pass details confirmed and Blood Dragon returns UbisoftUbisoft have showcased more slick gameplay for the long-awaited action title Far Cry 6 at E3 2021, ahead of its release in October. We got a closer look at the backstory of the main antagonist and protagonist within Far Cry 6 – Anton is trying to groom his son Diego to become the new ruler of Yara – Ubisoft have revealed new information around the Far Cry Season Pass – Of all the Ubisoft titles in the works, none of them have kept fans guessing as much as Far Cry 6. Originally scheduled for release in February, the ongoing health crisis meant fans of the series were kept waiting for info to come out. In the latest installment in the main series, players take control of Dani Rojas: a guerrilla warrior seeking to liberate their homeland of Yara from the dictatorship of Anton Castillo, voiced by Giancarlo Esposito of The Mandalorian and Breaking Bad fame. On May 28, Ubisoft released new footage from the game, which revealed more info about the story and showcased some cool new gameplay mechanics, from a shiny new weapon upgrade system to the ability to pet animals, including an insanely cute dog called Chorizo. As part of their Ubisoft Forward event E3 2021, the developers showed off even more details about Far Cry 6. You can check out the latest trailer below: Encompassed in the trailer was a bit of the backstory behind the protagonist Dani Rojas, and how her family fled from their hometown in pursuit of a better life in America. But, while sailing across the sea, there were multiple gunshots and eventually, Dani and her family were found Anton Castillo. The trailer basically showcases the insanity of Anton to a full degree, and how ruthless the dictator is, and how a certain character “Diego” was in the pursuit of leaving his father’s grasp, but Anton is determined to make him the new ruler of Yara. Far Cry 6 Season Pass revealed As well, Ubisoft has also unveiled plans for post-launch content for Far Cry 6 in the form of a Season Pass, where we will be able to get to play as all the villains from previous Far Cry titles, including Vass and Pagan Min. Check out the trailer for the Season Pass below. For the first time ever, we will be able to play as these iconic villains and get a bit more insight into the true insanity they all unleashed on us during these games. It is unknown at the time if we’ll be able to play throughout the entire game as these characters, or if it’s just going to be little segments for each villain. But, nevertheless, we are amped to see Vass, Pagan Min and Joseph Seed return, and taking control of them will undoubtedly be a one of a kind experience. More to follow…

Far Cry 6: Secret ending explained and how to unlock UbisoftFar Cry 6 has a secret ending to discover as well as a game-changing post-credits scene. Here’s how to unlock Far Cry 6’s secret ending and what it all means. There’s some confusion among fans as to when exactly Far Cry 6 is set, as Ubisoft has not given us a concrete date, simply saying the game is set in the ‘modern day’. The game channels locations, styles, and themes that seem rooted in the 1970s, but this is mostly just to set the atmosphere. The Far Cry games (apart from the trippy Far Cry: Blood Dragon) are all set within the same interconnected universe. However, Far Cry 5’s ‘The Collapse’ changed things, creating an almost post-apocalyptic world going forward. While Far Cry 5 could be set in its own timeline, Far Cry 6 is not, and does feature connections to earlier games – more on this later. The sixth entry could plausibly be set before Far Cry 5, or perhaps Yara somehow avoided The Collapse? The game’s two endings and post-credits scene may offer some clues – naturally spoilers incoming. Contents How many endings are there in Far Cry 6? – How to unlock the Far Cry 6 secret ending – Far Cry 6 ending and post-credits scene explained – Far Cry 6 DLC may explain the ending further – How many endings are there in Far Cry 6? Far Cry 6 has one true ending, a secret ending, and a rather jaw-dropping post-credits revelation. To get the true ending and post-credits scene, simply play through the game as normal. It’s that easy. But as with earlier games in the series, Far Cry 6 can end early through its secret ending. This is likely to be uncanonical and only exists as a bit of fun. But secret endings have become a staple of the series since Far Cry 4. How to unlock the Far Cry 6 secret ending At the beginning of the game, your player Dani will be on a boat and will take part in a mission to destroy two enemy boats. After this, you can progress to the next mission as normal and explore the open world of Yara. Or you could just not do that. Instead, you can choose to sail out to sea. If you do, then the game will end right there. Just like in Far Cry 4, your character will decide to not get involved in the civil war and just do their own thing. Read More: Best weapons in Far Cry 6 – You’ll be treated to a secret ending cut-scene where Dani is sitting on a beach enjoying a relaxed and peaceful life – far away from Yara. This ending results in the rebels losing the war, with Dani never stepping up to lead them to victory. In regards to the rest of the game, there are no choices that impact the ending. Previous Far Cry titles have allowed players to influence events through alliances and choices, but Far Cry 6 works as one complete narrative instead. Far Cry 6 ending and post-credits scene explained This article is about to get very spoiler-heavy, so if you were only here to find out how to unlock the secret ending and don’t want to learn anything else, leave now. We’re about to drop a bombshell of a spoiler that will impact the wider Far Cry universe. During Far Cry 6’s proper and canonical ending, Dani and the other rebel leaders discuss Yara’s future and the credits roll. But after the credits, a conversation plays out between one of them and a mysterious smuggler, and one who has a very familiar voice. Read More: Far Cry 6 review – The voice belongs to Michael Mando, who portrayed crazy pirate villain Vaas Montenegro in Far Cry 3. Vaas was of course killed off during the events of that game, but the character’s popularity endures. The inclusion of Vaas as the smuggler in Far Cry 6 will come as a shock to many players, as it suggests the character is still alive, teasing a bigger role in a future game or Far Cry 6 DLC. Although it all depends where Far Cry 6 sits within the series’ timeline. Far Cry 6 DLC may explain the ending further If Far Cry 6 is set before Far Cry 3, then Vaas is likely still dead, and this is just an easter egg to please fans of the character. We’ll need to wait for the devs to tell us more, and to clarify if Vaas really is alive or not. Read More: Best Far Cry villains ranked – In our view, due to Far Cry 6 making no reference to Far Cry 5’s ‘The Collapse’, it seems likely that Far Cry 6 is a prequel and that Vaas really is gone. However, it seems a strange easter egg to include without any future plans, so perhaps we’re wrong? Also, if Far Cry 5 is set in a separate timeline, then The Collapse never happened in this one. The Far Cry 6 DLC will involve three-story chapters each focusing on a different villain from Far Cry’s past. Vaas is one of the characters these packs will explore, so we may get answers to our questions very soon.

5 things we know about Far Cry 6 so far UbisoftUbisoft’s Far Cry 6 has certainly got fans of the franchise extremely excited to jump into the game’s world. Here are five important things we know so far. Since the announcement of Far Cry 6 back at Ubisoft Forward in 2020, fans of the series have been desperate to their hands on the title and explore the game’s tropical world. However, a delay back in October scrapped the game’s initial release date of February 18 and has left fans waiting for a confirmed launch date. In the meantime, we thought it would be appropriate to reflect on five significant things we know about the title so far and check out what fans can look forward to when Far Cry 6 finally arrives. 1. Yara, a return to a tropical setting For Far Cry 6, Ubisoft has listened to the fans and brought the franchise back to a tropical setting in the form of Yara. This Cuban-inspired nation is located in the heart of the Caribbean and features Far Cry’s first-ever fully-urban location, Esperanza. Despite Yara’s idyllic tropical landscape, “decades of economic sanctions have devastated the nation, leaving it impoverished and divided.” Yara is a land filled with citizens wanting to take a stand and form a revolution, that’s where we as the players fit into the story. 2. Step into the shoes of Dani Rojas In Far Cry 6, players will follow the story of Dani Rojas, a citizen of Yara who grew up in the conflict-ridden nation. Dani can be played as either a man or a woman, which we assume will be chosen by players at the start of the game. Ubisoft has made it very clear they wanted this revolution story to feel authentic and powerful, so Dani had to be someone who grew up in Yara. “We knew that if we’re going to tell the revolution story if we’re going to tell a story about someone in a guerilla movement, you need to have that personal connection with them.” This connection will no doubt be key in getting players invested in the game’s narrative, which from what we’ve seen so far, looks to be great. 3. A ruthless dictator at the helm If there’s one thing Ubisoft does well, it’s adding to the franchise’s array of incredible villains. The main antagonist of Far Cry 6 is the dictator Anton Castillo, played by Giancarlo Esposito. Some of Esposito’s biggest roles included Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian, Gus Fring in Breaking Bad, and the list could go on. By the looks of it, Castillo looks to be an intriguing villain who is willing to do anything to return to the past and restore Yara to its former glory once seen under his father. Unfortunately, that glory doesn’t include anyone that isn’t willing to obey and follow his way of thinking. It also appears Castillo’s relationship with his son Diego will play an important role in the plot and be the primary focus of the narrative at points. It will be interesting to see how the game switches between perspectives and tells both sides of that dynamic. 4. More verticality in the map design Perhaps one of the most exciting aspects of Far Cry 6 is the new direction the developers are taking with the game’s environment. As Esperanza will be the first main urban location available to explore in the franchise, it’s given the devs the chance to design the map a little differently. This includes elements such as verticality that haven’t been seen in previous titles. So, prepare to be able to explore a variety of interesting buildings and rooftops. Just be careful not to slip. 5. There’s a dog called Chorizo Of course, we had to save the most important aspect of the game until last. That being Chorizo, the sausage dog. With the Amigos for Hire system returning from Far Cry 5, players will be able to hire AI friends to fight alongside them. One of these recruits is called Chorizo, a dog with a custom-built wheelchair. Graphics are all well and good, but if you can’t interact with a dog, what’s the point? Hopefully, these five features will give you a flavor of what’s coming with Far Cry 6 from everything we know about so far. Of course, it’s likely a lot more information will come out on the game in the near future so keep an eye on our dedicated Far Cry 6 hub for all the latest news and leaks.

Far Cry 6 best weapons: Ultimate loadout & how to unlock them UbisoftYara is filled with a seemingly endless supply of guns and accessories to take down enemies in Far Cry 6, but these are the best weapons that will take your loadout to the next level. You won’t get very far in Yara without good weapons, and Far Cry 6 is absolutely full to the brim with them. In fact, there are almost 100 weapons in total, and they all come with their own mods to make them even more powerful. These weapons fall into one of two categories: Purchasable and Unique. The first lot can be purchased from Guerilla Garrison, a buildable Camp facility, while the latter need to be found around Yara or unlocked as part of missions. You’ll have access to four weapon slots from the very start of your journey, and figuring out which ones to choose as you progress can be daunting. Below, you’ll find the best loadout we used to get through Far Cry 6’s sprawling open world. Contents Best Primary Weapon 1 – Best Primary Weapon 2 – Best Primary Weapon 3 – Best Sidearm – Best Supremo – How to unlock new weapons – Best weapons loadout in Far Cry 6 A good loadout in Far Cry 6 requires weapons that cover all scenarios, and that’s why our favorite lineup consists of the SSGP-58 Rifle, the SKS Rifle, the RAT4 Rocket Launcher, the Desert Eagle Pistol, and the Medico Supremo. Each of these weapons serves a purpose, from eliminating basic enemies to blowing up powerful vehicles like tanks and helicopters that pose a huge threat in combat. We’ll explain each of our choices below. Best Primary Weapon 1: SSGP-58 Rifle How to unlock: Find in military zones or purchase from Guerilla Garrison. Your first Primary Weapon should be an all-rounder that’s capable of firing fast shots to take down basic enemies and pierce holes in poison tanks. The SSGP-58 with Soft-Target Rounds is the best shout. This fully-automatic rifle (or any similar gun, if you can’t get this one yet) will be your go-to weapon for most of your Far Cry 6 journey. Think of it as your old faithful, while the rest of your loadout is more specialized. Best Primary Weapon 2: SKS Rifle How to unlock: Find in military zones or purchase from Guerilla Garrison. For your second Primary Weapon in Far Cry 6, you’ll want a Rifle that specializes in taking out enemies with heavy armor. For this goal, there’s no better choice than the SKS with Armor Piercing Rounds equipped. Read More: Best Far Cry villains ranked – With this gun, you’ll be able to easily one-shot enemies with helmets. Using it with a Suppressor will make it even more deadly as you’ll be able to stealthily take out a whole camp of enemies without them knowing. Best Primary Weapon 3: RAT4 Rocket Launcher How to unlock: Find in military zones or purchase from Guerilla Garrison. You’re going to come up against plenty of powerful vehicles like tanks and helicopters in Far Cry 6 that will laugh off regular guns. That’s where the RAT4 Rocket Launcher with Lock-On Missiles comes into play. It’s got one of the highest damage outputs in the game, so one shot from this should be enough to take down even the strongest opponents. Combine it with the Exterminator Supremo, and you’ll be unstoppable. Best Sidearm: Desert Eagle Pistol How to unlock: Find in military zones or purchase from Guerilla Garrison. Finally, we have the Desert Eagle Pistol with Blast Rounds in the Sidearm slot. Chances are, you won’t be using your Sidearm much, but this is a great backup to have for dealing extra explosive damage. These might not be the flashiest or most exciting weapons in Far Cry 6, but they’ll get the job done – and they’ll do it very, very well. Best Supremo: Medico How to unlock: Bought from Juan after reaching Level 4. As well as your four main weapons, you’ll also be able to equip a Supremo in Far Cry 6. These are huge backpack weapons that do everything from poisoning your enemies to boosting your speed and health. Read More: Far Cry 6 review – We recommend the Medico Supremo, which lets you self-revive in solo play and provides some immunity. It’s also great for co-op, as it will allow you to rapidly heal yourself and your allies over time. How to unlock new weapons in Far Cry 6 There are multiple ways to get new weapons in Far Cry 6, ranging from finding them hidden across Yara to purchasing them from vendors at Camps. As expected, the better the weapon, the harder it is to get. Here are the main ways to unlock new weapons in Far Cry 6: Find them hidden in FND Caches (chests) around Yara. – Get them as a reward for completing missions and sidequests. – Purchase them from Guerilla Garrison at your Camp. – Purchase them from the Black Market at your Camp. – You’ll need to fully upgrade Guerilla Garrison at your Camp to be able to purchase all of the weapons on offer, while many of the Unique Weapons can only be found by completing quests and side missions. That’s it for our Far Cry 6 weapon recommendations! With so many potential loadouts, it’s always best to experiment, but our suggestions will definitely give you the edge across Yara. For more guides like this one, as well as the latest updates, check out our Far Cry 6 main page. Additional reporting by Brad Norton.

Far Cry 6 DLC roadmap adds Rambo, Stranger Things, and Danny Trejo UbisoftFar Cry 6 is still just under a month away, but Ubisoft has already revealed its post-release content roadmap. Here’s everything that’s coming. Even though Far Cry 6 won’t be with us until October 7, 2021, Ubisoft has already confirmed its post-launch content roadmap. There’s also a lot to like, especially for long-time fans of the series. Of course, Far Cry 6 will feature a Season Pass that will bring three additional chapters, with each focusing on a different villain from previous Far Cry games. The villains in Far Cry are often considered some of the best in gaming, so this will be a fun experience for franchise veterans. Contents Far Cry 6 DLC roadmap – Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon returns – The villains are Vaas Montenegro (Far Cry 3), Pagan Min (Far Cry 4), and Joseph Seed (Far Cry 5). Each chapter will allow players to delve into the psyche of each villain as they “struggle to escape the horrors of their own minds”. Not only will each episode allow players to understand the villains better, but it will also offer some intense rogue-like gameplay to enhance the core experience. Episode 1: “Vaas: Insanity” planned for release in November 2021. – Episode 2: “Pagan: Control” planned for release in January 2022. – Episode 3: “Joseph: Collapse” planned for release in February 2022. – Far Cry 6 DLC roadmap The roadmap also contains Weekly Insurgencies which will be available once the main campaign is finished. These will involve players putting down new uprisings that spring up from the villain’s remaining henchman. The Weekly Insurgencies can be played solo or over multiplayer. Additionally, there will be Six Special Operation missions that will take place in a new area and feature brand new gameplay mechanics not seen in the main campaign. The first two missions will be available at launch, with the final four releasing later. The first two confirmed locations are Mesozoico and Maceo. Next up is three crossover missions featuring guest characters/figures. Each mission will star a different guest, those being Rambo, Danny Trejo, and Stranger Things. The Far Cry 6 Season Pass will not be required to access the Special Operations and Guest Missions. Episode 1 – Vaas: Insanity The first chapter of Far Cry 6’s former villain-themed DLC will be Vaas: Insanity. Players will control the thought-dead Far Cry 3 antagonist, Vaas, in a rogue-like style chapter that delves into the crazy pirate’s mind. Vaas was apparently killed in Far Cry 3, but the ending of Far Cry 6 implies Vaas may still be active. The Far Cry 6 ‘Insanity’ chapter will release on November 16, 2021, as the first of three similar chapters. It will be fun to see if Vaas did survive the events of Far Cry 3 as, since that game, the character has become a real fan favorite. The character has also helped voice-actor Michael Mando become a big star, with the actor going on to portray Nacho in Better Call Saul and Mac Gargan in Spider-Man Homecoming, a character destined to become the villain known as Scorpion. Episode 2 – Pagan: Control Far Cry 4’s charismatic and sympathetic villain Pagan Min will be the star of the second Far Cry 6 DLC, called ‘Control’. This will release on January 11, 2022 on all platforms. Like the ‘Insanity’ chapter that featured Far Cry 3 villain Vaas, Pagan Min’s chapter will dive into “the depths of the villain’s troubled psyche” – which should be a very interesting place to visit. While Vaas’s fate was (seemingly) sealed in Far Cry 3, Pagan Min can survive the game in some endings, meaning the character could still be alive and well in the Far Cry universe by the time of Far Cry 6. However, “well” is a relative term, as players familiar with the twist at the end of Far Cry 4 will know there’s much more to Pagan than a ruthless dictator. The DLC is likely to explore his part, and potentially, what Pagan did after he lost his kingdom, if he survived that is. Regarding the ‘Control’ chapter, Ubisoft has said, “Blending intense action and storytelling, Pagan: Control will provide a unique opportunity for players to explore Pagan’s mind, learn more about his past, and face off against familiar faces as he struggles to break free from his cycle of guilt and regrets.” Episode 3 – Joseph: Collapse The final villain-themed Far Cry 6 DLC will arrive on February 8 2022 and features Joseph from Far Cry 5. The Joseph: Collapse episode will be coming to PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Stadia, and PC. Like the first two DLC episodes, the chapter sees the return of a major villain, this time being Far Cry 5’s cult leader Joseph Seed. Unlike Pagan Min, who can survive the events of Far Cry 4, or Vass from FC3 whose fate has always been debated, Seed did indeed die at the end of Far Cry 5. Read More: Best Far Cry villains ranked – Therefore this latest roguelike expansion will be set in Joseph’s mind and see him face off against twisted versions of his own cultists, his faith, and the demons that haunt him. Joseph: Collapse will be the last Far Cry villain-themed DLC chapter, but there is more Far Cry 6 DLC still to come. Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon returns Originally released in 2013, Blood Dragon is an 80s themed shooter that was a stand-alone DLC for Far Cry 3. Over the years the game has become a cult classic, and many players will relish the opportunity to play it in 4K – or play it for the first time. PC players will be able to download the original Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon while console and Stadia players will receive the Classic Edition. The updated version also adds the Blood Dragon Set. This includes seven items usable in the Far Cry 6 main campaign, these are: One outfit: Blood Dragon Gear Set – Two weapons: AJM9 and Kobracon – One vehicle: Omega Enforcer – One weapon charm: KillStar – One Fang for Hire: K-9000 – One vehicle Chibi: Blood Dragon Chibi –

Best Far Cry villains ranked, from Vaas to The Jackal UbisoftFar Cry’s villains are often the star of the games, more so in fact than the player’s character. Here’s all the main Far Cry villains ranked by popularity and ruthlessness. With Breaking Bad’s Giancarlo Esposito all set to play new Far Cry villain Antón Castillo in the sixth main entry of the series, we thought now may be a good time to look back at those who’ve come before. Far Cry is known for its expansive open worlds and satisfying gunplay, but each game’s main villain is usually the most memorable thing about it. Far Cry’s villains are charismatic, layered, and deliciously evil – yet still manage to be sympathetic at times. Here’s a breakdown of each major villain, ranked by their memorability and ruthlessness: 6. Lucas Krieger: Far Cry Dr. Lucas Krieger is quite one-dimensional compared to later Far Cry villains, but he makes a suitable foil for Jack Carver in the series’ first game. Krieger operates more like a Marvel supervillain than a typical Far Cry villain, using an experimental serum to turn soldiers into mutants. Yet as he’s the original Far Cry bad guy, he deserves his place on this list. 5. The Jackal: Far Cry 2 The Jackal was a far cry (see what we did there?) from original villain Lucas Krieger. When we first hear about The Jackal, he’s a feared and legendary mercenary that traffics arms to gangsters and revolutionaries. Although by the time the player meets him, he’s not at all what they expected. The Jackal’s motivations aren’t inherently evil and he’s fighting something far more deadly than any man-made weapon. His true identity will also shock players of the original Far Cry. 4. Batari: Far Cry Primal While some may consider Ull to be the main villain of Far Cry Primal, it’s really Batari pulling the strings. While Ull is the big blunt instrument we see the most of, his overt brutality is nothing compared to what Batari plans to unleash on the world. Batari worships a sun god called Suxli and will burn any person or village in the name of her fiery deity without remorse or mercy. 3. Joseph Seed: Far Cry 5 Seed is the leader of a violent far-right religious cult which kills anyone that rejects their message, or him as their religion’s prophet and divine leader. Read More: Far Cry 6 DLC roadmap – While Seed certainly has a menacing presence, he’s not as original or memorable as the next two entries on this list. Although what makes Joseph Seed truly scary is his parallels to some aspects of real life. 2. Pagan Min: Far Cry 4 Pagan Min is the king of Kyrat, a charming, charismatic, polite, and murderous dictator. Although he’s different from most Far Cry villains in that he doesn’t spend most of the game trying to kill the protagonist. Instead throughout Far Cry 4, he simply wants Ajay, to hear him out and appears to show genuine affection for him. He’s also saddened when Ajay joins the rebels and takes up arms against him. By the time Ajay does hear Pagan out, cornering him at gunpoint, what he says may make the player think twice before they pull the trigger. 1. Vaas Montenegro: Far Cry 3 Vaas still remains the most memorable Far Cry villain by far. Michael Mando’s performance as the crazy pirate drew critical acclaim from both fans and pundits when the game was released. Vaas is insane, violent, and unpredictable. While he’s actually killed well before the game ends and replaced by less honest and less likable villains. Vaas is so memorable, that many players actually missed him throughout the rest of Far Cry 3’s run time. But this may be because the other villain’s biggest crime was they were awful dullards by comparison.

Far Cry 6 Amigos guide: How to unlock all pets & which is best? UbisoftAmigos are loyal animal companions in Far Cry 6, ranging from the adorable Chorizo to the deadly Oluso, and they all come with unique perks and abilities. Here’s how to unlock every single one of them. Animal sidekicks are back in Far Cry 6 to help you take down Anton Castillo’s forces. These Amigos have perks to help you do everything from distracting your enemies to stealthy takedowns and even looting more money from dead bodies. There are five Amigos you can unlock in the standard game (Guapo, Chorizo, Chicharron, Boom Boom, and Oluso) as well as two bonus Amigos (K-9000 and Champagne) that can be unlocked as DLC and as part of Far Cry 6 Ultimate Edition. Here’s how to unlock all of the Amigos released in Far Cry 6 so far, as well as details of their unique special abilities and which one we think is the best teammate to take into battle with you. Contents How to unlock Guapo the Crocodile Guapo is a deadly crocodile, and he’s the first Amigo that gets unlocked in Far Cry 6. You’ll find him automatically during the ‘Juan of a Kind’ Operation, which is part of the game’s prologue so you can’t avoid doing it. His main ability is Ancient Survivor, which allows him to passively recover health over time and self-revive after being defeated. This makes him one of the easiest Amigos to use, as you won’t have to pay too much attention to him. Here are Guapo’s unlockable abilities in Far Cry 6: How to unlock Chorizo the Sausage Dog Players can unlock Chorizo as a reward for the ‘Who’s A Good Boy?’ Yaran Story. You can begin this optional sidequest in the Montero Farm of the Madrugada region once you’ve finished the ‘Meet the Monteros’ Operation. Read More: Far Cry 6 review – Chorizo may be an adorable sausage dog, but don’t let that fool you, as he’s a great asset in battle. With the Attention-Seeker ability, he’ll distract enemies with his cuteness while you sneak around them or go in for the kill. Here are Chorizo’s unlockable abilities in Far Cry 6: How to unlock Chicharrón the Rooster When you’re not busy using Roosters in Cockfights, you can actually have one as your Amigo. Chicharrón is unlocked as part of the ‘Man’s Best Enemy’ Yaran Story, which begins when you read the Yaran Story note in Patriotas Peak camp. Don’t let his size fool you, as Chicharrón is an intimidating little fella with a “lust for battle” that simply can’t be satiated. His main ability, Angry Bird, allows him to fling himself at enemies from a distance and attack them. Here are Chicharrón’s unlockable abilities in Far Cry 6: How to unlock Boom Boom the Dog Boom Boom is a big dog that can be unlocked as a reward for completing the ‘Boom or Bust’ Yaran Story. He can be found locked inside a blue shipping container west of Feroza town in the Valle De Oro region. As well as being a fierce attacker, Boom Boom’s main ability Fetch, Boy will allow him to retrieve resources from the bodies of dead enemies, making him a great Amigo to have when you’re running low on certain items. Here are Boom Boom’s unlockable abilities in Far Cry 6: How to unlock Oluso the Panther The panther Oluso can be unlocked by completing the ‘Triada Blessings’ Yaran Story. To do this, you’ll need to complete three treasure hunts: Ída’s Triada Relic, Okú’s Triada Relic, and Mimo Abosi’s Triada Relic. Read More: How to get money fast in Far Cry 6 – Oluso is a sneaky attacker, making him one of the best Amigos to have on your team for missions that require stealth. His main ability, Shadow Striker, allows him to slay enemies quickly and silently from the shadows. Here are Oluso’s unlockable abilities in Far Cry 6: How to unlock K-9000 the Metal Dog Unlike the previous Amigos in this guide, which require you to complete missions to get them, K-9000 can only be unlocked if you have the Blood Dragon Pack, which is part of the Far Cry 6 Season Pass. This metal dog has the main ability Iron Skin, which grants him immunity to fire and poison, and reduces the amount of damage taken from enemy bullets. As a result, he’s one of the sturdiest Amigos in the game. Here are K-9000’s unlockable abilities in Far Cry 6: How to unlock Champagne Like K-9000, you can’t unlock Champagne by completing quests. The only way to get Champagne is to own the VICE Pack DLC, which is available if you purchase Far Cry 6 Ultimate Edition. Champagne’s main ability is Status Symbol, which allows her to collect more money from the bodies of dead enemies. This is a great ability if you’re saving up to buy something special, and she’s a solid fighter, too. Here are Champagne’s unlockable abilities in Far Cry 6: Which Amigo is best in Far Cry 6? With seven Amigos on offer, you might be wondering which animal is best to have by your side. We think Oluso is the best, as his stealthy abilities will stop him from alerting enemies to your presence and help you progress through dangerous situations. As each Amigo has its own unique abilities, it’s definitely worth switching them up depending on your current needs. If you’re stocking up on money, for example, choose Champagne. If you need more resources, go with Chorizo. Read More: Best weapons in Far Cry 6 – You might find that Amigos just aren’t your style: They can alert enemies to your presence when you’re trying to be sneaky and tend to get eliminated quickly in heated battles anyway. If this is the case, simply leave them behind. That’s everything you need to know about Amigos! For more tips and guides like this one, as well as the latest updates, check out our Far Cry 6 main page.

All Far Cry 6 Rooster locations & how to win Cockfights UbisoftIn order to win Cockfights in Far Cry 6, you’ll need to know the locations of all the best Roosters hidden around Yara, and they’re not always easy to find. Competing in Cockfights is one of the easiest ways to earn some extra money in Far Cry 6, but it’s also a fun way to pass the time and take a small break from exploring the sprawling map of Yara and taking down Antón Castillo’s forces. Based on traditional fighting games like Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat, the game places a variety of Roosters in one-on-one battles for glory. There are even over-the-top special moves known as Gallo Super attacks to deal extra damage. It’s all very bizarre, but also quite addictive if you’re willing to spend enough time with it. In order to win at the higher difficulties, though, you’re going to have to find the best Roosters – and we’ve got all of their locations for you. Where to find all Roosters in Far Cry 6 There are a total of 19 Roosters to unlock in Far Cry 6, with the first 13 hidden around Yara and the final six given as Ubisoft Connect rewards. We’ve marked the location-based Roosters on the map above. Here’s where to find every Rooster in Far Cry 6: Roosters in Far Cry 6 will also be marked on the minimap with a white crate symbol when you get close enough to them, so you’ll know you’re on the right track once you get to these locations. When you find all 13 hidden Roosters, you’ll earn the Recrooster trophy or achievement. The 6 Roosters that are unlocked through Ubisoft Connect aren’t required to unlock this. How to win Cockfights in Far Cry 6 Cockfights in Far Cry 6 are relatively easy, to begin with, and you can probably button-mash your way to victory. But as you progress through the difficulty levels, you’ll need to play a little more strategically and utilize all of the tricks your Rooster can pull off. There are three types of attack – Close-Range, Long-Range, and Jump Attack – and your Rooster can dodge in any given direction. Take damage or miss attacks, and your Rage Bar will fill up, allowing you to unleash a powerful Gallo Super attack. Read More: Far Cry 6 review – The best strategy for most Cockfights is to bait your opponent into attacking you first, dodge backward out of harm’s way, and then go in for the kill with a Long-Range attack or Jump Attack, or your Super Gallo when it charges up. This might sound simple, but it can be very tempting to just constantly attack your opponent, especially when you’re playing something as silly as this. You’ll get a lot further if you approach battles more strategically instead. For more tips to master Far Cry 6, check out our guide to finding all Amigos, the best ways to earn money fast, and our recommendations for the best weapons and loadout to take you to victory against Anton Castillo’s forces.

Who to start & who to sit in Fantasy Football in Week 8? YouTube: NFLWith the Week 8 of the NFL season approaching, who are your best options to start and to sit this week on your Fantasy Football team? Every week in Fantasy Football offers players difficult choices, but none is more critical than who to place on your roster and your bench. The decision can be as simple as just picking the best players, but for those who want to maximize their chances of getting the most possible points each week, you should delve deeper into matchups, injuries, and player usage, as these can change week to week. While we will not list off every single player that you should start or sit in Week 8, we will list a few players who would normally be bench players that are probably worth starting this week, along with some normal starters who might be better left on the bench this week. If a player is not listed on here, it means you’re probably fine to start or sit them as you normally would. Which Fantasy Football players should you start Week 8? With Week 8 of the Fantasy Football season upon us, here are the players on your bench who might be a better option to start this week. Quarterbacks Kirk Cousins (Minnesota Vikings) Cousins is being started in only 50% of fantasy leagues, despite the fact that he’s sixth overall in average points per week. Going up against a very beatable Packers defense, Cousins could have a great week. Running Backs Zack Moss (Indianapolis Colts) Zack Moss had another weak game this week with only 3.2 yards per carry and 5.5 fantasy points. However, he got right back to taking the lion’s share of the carries, a trend that may well continue when facing a lowly Saints defense David Montgomery (Detroit Lions) This is all conditional on the assumption that Montgomery will be cleared for the upcoming game against the Vegas Raiders. If that is the case, he can be poised for a great game. Wide Receivers Adam Thielen (Carolina Panthers) This might seem like a mistake, especially considering Thielen and the Panthers are facing a very tough Houston D. But Thielen has established himself as Bryce Young’s most reliable target and has put up 20-point games in back-to-back weeks. Nico Collins (Houston Texans) On the other side of that matchup, Collins has the potential to break out against that Carolina defense. Tight Ends Dalton Schultz (Houston Texans) Schultz has touchdowns in three straight games, along with at least 7 targets in his last two. He’ll be a strong option for CJ Stroud against Carolina. Defense Seattle Seahawks The Seahawks will get their chance to feast on PJ Walker and the hapless Browns offense this week. It could be quite ugly. Kicker Dustin Hopkins (Cleveland Browns) If the Browns are going to get points against a stingy Seahawks defense this week, it will probably come on the leg of Hopkins. Which Fantasy Football players should you sit Week 8? On the other hand, these Fantasy Football players who would normally be starters might not be the best options for your team in Week 8. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars) For the second week in a row, Lawrence is the player who you should consider sitting. He’s only thrown 8 touchdowns this year and never had a game of more than 20 fantasy points this year. Running Backs Austin Ekeler (LA Chargers) Ekeler is getting started in over 90% of fantasy leagues despite the fact that he’s only rushed for one total touchdown this year. Yes, his limited games impact that, but he’s averaging 11 fantasy points per game. Bijan Robinson (Atlanta Falcons) Once again, Arthur Smith is failing to utilize a highly-drafted dynamic offensive weapon. Bijan doesn’t have a rushing touchdown all year and only got one carry last week. He’s questionable for Week 8, so who knows how much playing time he’s going to get. Wide Receivers Devante Adams (Las Vegas Raiders) It might seem ridiculous to not play Tae, but considering the fact that that their QB play has been atrocious and they’re facing a tough Lions defense. Jaylen Waddle (Miami Dolphins) Now banged up, Waddle continues to get played in almost 90% of fantasy leagues despite the fact that that he’s had as many games with under 10 fantasy points as games with more than 10 points. Tight Ends George Kittle (San Francisco 49ers) Kittle has actually been slightly underplaying relative to the rest of the top tight ends this year. But with Brock Purdy out, who knows how that struggling 9ers offense will gel against Cincy’s tough D. Defense San Francisco 49ers With their offense struggling, the 9ers defense may be in a lot of short fields and bad situations against a starting-to-surge Bengals D. Kicker Daniel Carlson (Las Vegas Raiders) Carlson continues to struggle, missing one field goal last week against the Bears. Be sure to check out more of our Fantasy Football content here.

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What is the Fantasy Premier League Challenge? New FPL game & this week’s challenge Fantasy Premier LeagueFantasy Premier League has introduced a brand new way of playing the game, introducing the FPL Challenge to players. Here’s exactly what it is and how it works. The FPL Challenge was teased during the March international break before finally being revealed on Monday, March 25. Each week, fantasy managers can pick a new squad to take on a specific challenge. For example, you may have an unlimited budget to bring in all the big guns, or a more restricted budget to pick the best cheap differentials. At the end of the week, those who participate in the challenge will be eligible to earn rewards based on their team’s performance, and then the team is completely reset for the next challenge the following gameweek. Team building remains roughly the same, with captains earning double points and a need to pick five defenders, five midfielders, and three forwards, but instead, you basically have a wildcard each week to make the most of what’s available. Here are the key details and what this week’s challenge is. Differences between FPL and FPL Challenge As mentioned, much of the game is the same in FPL Challenge, but there are some glaring differences (and not just the new team each week). One of the key differences is that you can have up to five players from the same team in FPL Challenge, meaning you can load up on assets from the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal, especially when they have easy fixtures. Another is that the deadline is when a player’s match starts, not when the first match of the weekend kicks off. This means you can make changes based on team line-ups to avoid any awkward waiting for a player to come off the bench. Finally, league scores also reset after every gameweek so you don’t have to worry about falling behind against your opponents: you can just go ahead and beat them next week and it’s no bother! This week’s FPL Challenge (Gameweek 30) The first FPL Challenge is Gameweek 30’s Unlimited Budget, which needs no explanation. You will not be restricted by cost which means you can load up on the likes of Haaland, Son, Salah, De Bruyne, Saka, and more without a care in the world. Fortunately, we’ve also been given the next few gameweeks worth of challenges so we can start thinking about the opportunities down the line, too. Here’s what they are: Gameweek 31: Forward Focus All forwards score double points – Captained forwards get quadruple points – Gameweek 32: Red Rivalry Liverpool & Manchester United go head-to-head and players from these teams earn double points – FPL Challenge prizes Perhaps the most enticing part of the new FPL Challenge is the rewards that are on offer. Here’s what you can bag for good performances: A trip to New York All managers who have joined the game and entered a team before the end of the 2023/24 season eligible to win a trip to New York City. – Each Gameweek team entry is an entry to the prize draw. – – Signed Premier League shirts each gameweek Unlimited Budget: Ange Postecoglou – Forward Focus: Rasmus Hojlund – Red Rivalry: Alexis Mac Allister – – Also, the three top-scoring managers of each weekly Challenge will each receive a Premier League Nike match ball, a copy of EA Sports FC, and an FPL bundle consisting of a rucksack, T-shirt, mug, and more. As of the time of writing, that’s everything you need to know about the FPL Challenge. Be sure to check back as we recommend the best teams for each gameweek and reveal the upcoming challenges each week.

When are the Blank and Double Gameweeks in Fantasy Premier League 2023/24? Fantasy Premier LeagueBlank and Double Gameweeks can be huge difference makers in your Fantasy Premier League season, and mini-leagues have been won and lost based on how players navigate them. Here’s everything we know about this season’s blank and double gameweeks in FPL. FPL’s Blank and Double Gameweeks can be difficult to get your head around as we approach the business end of the season. While we’re accustomed to teams getting one match per gameweek, all of a sudden there are postponements, cancellations, and rescheduled matches, and you’ve burned through your Free Hit or Wildcard already because you didn’t foresee all of these changes. The best FPL managers plan ahead for these things, though, and that often means knowing when to expect your blanks and doubles and making your team up accordingly. So when are we getting blank and double gameweeks in the 2023/24 FPL season? Here’s what we know. FPL Blank and Double Gameweeks 2023/24 Based on the planned dates for domestic tournament fixtures, we already know which weeks should have either blanks or doubles. Fortunately for us, FPL expert Ben Crellin keeps track of absolutely everything going on, so we can anticipate the following based on Crellin’s FPL calendar: Gameweek 25: Possible double gameweek Brentford (vs Liverpool & Manchester City) – Liverpool (vs Brentford & Fulham) – Luton (vs Manchester United & Liverpool) – Manchester City (vs Brentford & Liverpool) – – Gameweek 26: Blank gameweek (teams listed below could have a blank) Chelsea – Fulham – Liverpool – Luton – Manchester United – Tottenham – – Gameweek 29: Blank gameweek Clashes with FA Cup quarter-finals – – Gameweek 34: Likely double gameweek Clashes with FA Cup semi-finals – – Gameweek 37: Double gameweek Touted to be a “big” double gameweek – – While none of these gameweeks are official or finalized yet, we should start to expect news and announcements soon, especially for Gameweeks 25 and 26 as they are fast approaching. With these in mind, you can start planning around them, especially focusing on when you could use your Free Hit, Wildcard, Bench Boost, and Triple Captain chips, as they could play a huge part if used correctly while navigating these weeks. For example, a well-placed Free Hit on a blank gameweek could allow you to use your wildcard at the right time to have a full team of 15 double gameweek players — perfect for utilizing a bench boost. Those decisions should be made when fixtures and blanks/doubles are announced, but make sure to come back to this page for every update to the schedule. Be sure to check out the rest of our FPL content to keep yourself in top shape as the season progresses: Best FPL tips this Gameweek | Best FPL defenders according to AI | Best FPL midfielders according to AI | Best FPL forwards according to AI | Best budget defenders | Best budget midfielders | Best cheap forwards | Best FPL team names | Best premium FPL players ranked

Top 7 essential players for Fantasy Premier League wildcard: Best FPL wildcard picks Premier LeagueThe Fantasy Premier League Wildcard chip can be an absolute game-changer, and this might be the perfect time to use it after a string of poor performances from the most popular players in the game, but which players are absolutely essential on your wildcard? Here are our top picks. The wildcard can be an invaluable utility in Fantasy Premier League. With the ability to completely change up your team at no cost, it can turn your season around if played well. For that reason, you want to pick players with the chance of scoring you the most points, from a range of teams, based on form, fixtures, and a number of other factors. Here are who we recommend you have to bring in on your wildcard, with a number of them featuring in the best FPL wildcard team. Best FPL wildcard essential picks Mohamed Salah (12.6m, MID) Form: 10.7 – – Kieran Trippier (7.0m, DEF) Form: 9.3 – – Son Heung-min (9.3m, MID) Form: 8.0 – – Matty Cash (4.9m, DEF) Form: 3.3 – – Ollie Watkins (8.3m, FWD) Form: 13.0 – – Bukayo Saka (8.6m, MID) Form: 4.7 – – Jarrod Bowen (7.4m, MID) Form: 6.3 – – When looking at both form and fixtures, it’s hard to look past these players. Haaland features in 91.4% of teams, so we’re assuming most people reading this already have him — and we wouldn’t recommend transferring him out either. While Salah wasn’t super popular in Gameweek 1, it’s become clear that he’s well worth the investment depending on how you want to build your team, and it’s certainly possible to have him, Haaland, and fellow form star Son in a good FPL team. Saka has a nice run of fixtures that includes Sheffield United, Burnley, Wolves, and Luton in the next 6 weeks, while Bowen, almost overlooked by some on their wildcard, has matches against Everton, Nottingham Forest, and Burnley. Finally, with Aston Villa’s fixtures, we need not mention how imperative Ollie Watkins is in the coming weeks, given the incredible form he’s in. Honorable mentions Those are our essential picks for your FPL wildcard, but there are a number of honorable mentions who should almost certainly be at least considered for your squad. We would advise taking a look at West Ham’s James Ward-Prowse (6.3m, MID) if your budget can’t stretch to Bowen, Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon (5.6m, MID), Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma (6.5m), and Liverpool’s Kostas Tsimikas (4.5m) are all great options on a reasonable budget to help enable the big hitters. With a limited budget, you’d be hard-pressed to get all of the players we recommend into your team, but it’s worth trying to squeeze most of them in and seeing what cuts could be made.

Top 5 sleeper running backs to draft in the 2023-24 Fantasy Football season YouTube: Atlanta FalconsThe Fantasy Football season kicks off soon, and every fan is looking for the best sleeper running backs to help win their leagues. Here are our picks for five under-the-radar running backs to target in your draft. Every Fantasy Football player knows the thrill of finding a hidden gem in the draft or on the waiver wire. Plucking an obscure third-string running back out of nowhere who steps into a bigger role than anticipated and helps you win your league. Especially for running backs, perhaps the position most likely to get injured during the NFL season, it’s important for players to have plenty of options on their bench. Here are five sleeper running backs, all currently projected to go outside the first eight rounds by ESPN, who you can get towards the end of your league’s Fantasy Football draft this year. Note, all stats and projections are assuming players are in a 10-12 person PPR league. Best sleeper Fantasy Football running backs Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks (ADP 142, RB 41) The rookie out of UCLA was taken by Seattle with their second-round pick in the 2023 draft. After letting Rashaad Penny leave in free agency, the ‘Hawks leadership clearly believes that Charbonnet can replace most of Penny’s production. He will start out as the number two behind second-year back Kenneth Walker III, but given Walker’s injury history from last year Seattle might be wise to limit his workload early. That means that some of those carries are likely to go to Carbonnet as part of an offense that loves to pound on the ground. Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons (ADP 166, RB 47) Even though Allgeier ended up as the Falcons’ number one back last year, he’s been a bit forgotten as the team elected to use their top-ten pick on Texas’s Bijan Robinson. But given that Allgeier managed to cement himself in the top spot last year, it would make sense for Atlanta to continue featuring the second-year RB to complement Robinson. Especially on third downs and in goal line situations, Allgeier might get plenty of use. Khalil Herbert, Chicago Bears (ADP 115, RB 33) Herbert already turned heads in the preseason, converting a screen pass from third-year QB Justin Fields into a long touchdown. Now with a competent offense full of weapons (and hopefully Fields taking that next step), Herbert could be poised for a breakout year. The third-year running back out of Virginia Tech hasn’t put up gaudy numbers in the past, but that’s largely because Chicago was one of the worst defenses in the NFL and he was behind David Montgomery. With Montgomery now gone, it should be Herbert’s time to shine. Samaje Perine, Denver Broncos (ADP 135, RB 37) Perine is new to the Broncos, having spent the last few years of his career with the Cincinnati Bengals, where he was a fairly productive back behind Joe Mixon. Now, he joins Javonte Williams in the backfield tandem in Denver. Even though Williams will probably be the starter to begin with, he is coming off ACL surgery. This means that the Broncos could lean more heavily on Perine than the Bengals had previously. Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars (ADP 169, RB 53) Another rookie running back, Bigsby also began turning heads in his first preseason action with Jacksonville, ripping off some massive runs against the mighty Cowboys defense. Former first-round pick Travis Etienne will likely enter the season as the starting back, but don’t forget that Etienne missed the entire 2021 season after suffering an injury in the preseason. If Etienne goes down again, Bigsby could be the guy Jacksonville turns to. Be sure to check out our FPL 2023/24 content and upcoming Fantasy Football content.

Top 5 sleeper wide receivers to draft in the 2023-24 Fantasy Football season YouTube: NFLFor those Fantasy Football players looking for an under-the-radar wide receivers to help you win your league, here are five sleeper picks that should still be available later in the draft. In recent years, with the rise of the passing attack and the decreased importance of having a bell-cow running back, wide receivers have shot up the draft charts. From alpha wide receivers like JaMarr Chase, Justin Jefferson, Tyreek Hill, and Devante Adams to the elite #2 guys like Tee Higgins, DeVonta Smith, and Jaylen Waddle, making sure you have a solid stable of wide receivers is the best chance you have to win your league. Most ESPN mock drafts have more wide receivers than running backs getting drafted earlier. However, it’s also good to have one or two elite players no one is thinking about on your bench, just in case of a bye-week or unfortunate injury. These five sleeper wide receivers should be at the top of your mind when those mid round picks roll through. Note, all stats and projections are assuming players are in a 10-12 person PPR league. Best sleeper Fantasy Football wide receivers Skyy Moore, Kansas City Chiefs (ADP 119, WR 43) A good rule of thumb to winning your Fantasy Football leagues: never bet against Patrick Mahomes. With a starting core of wide receivers that includes Moore, Kadarius Toney, and Marques Valdes-Scantling, there are going to be a ton of targets available for Moore to grab if he can step up into the role. Even though many players and fans thought that Moore had a somewhat disappointing rookie year, there’s no reason to think he can’t step up in 2023. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks (ADP 106, WR 37) The Seahawks’ passing attack was no less lethal last year with Geno Smith taking over for Russell Wilson, and now they’ve added even more weapons. First-round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba out of Ohio State will join studs like D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. While that might seem like a problem to some players, who worry about there being too many mouths to feed in Seattle, the truth is that the Seahawks offense has always been good about distributing the ball to all its wideouts. Expect JSN to get plenty of looks throughout his rookie year. Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens (ADP 125, WR 47) The Ravens have spent years searching for the potential alpha wide receiver to go with former league MVP Lamar Jackson. They may have found it in first-round pick Zay Flowers. Not only will Flowers be, potentially, the best wide receiver that has played with Lamar on the Ravens, but with a new offensive coordinator in Todd Monken it’s more likely that the Ravens will shift away from that heavy-run style fans are accustomed to. Allen Lazard, New York Jets (ADP 158, WR59) Just like Patrick Mahomes, it’s never a good idea to bet against Aaron Rodgers, even if he is now wearing a different shade of green. Rodgers moving from the Packers to the Jets will be a big adjustment, but luckily he has several familiar faces joining him. Having Allen Lazard there will give Rodgers a great deal of comfort as he settles into a new team for the first time in 20 years. While Garrett Wilson will still probably get a ton of attention and targets, there’s good reason to think that Rodgers will continue feeding his favorite target from Green Bay. Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears (ADP 145, WR 52) Speaking of comfort, even though the Bears were aggressive in getting help for third-year QB Justin Fields in the form of DJ Moore, Mooney is another player who was incredibly productive with the quarterback last year. Expectations will be raised on Fields this year and, like Rodgers, he will undoubtedly be looking to fall back onto his comfort target when the heat is on. Don’t be surprised if Mooney gets more targets than people think. Be sure to check out our Fantasy Football content including our 5 sleeper running back picks.

Best Trent Alexander-Arnold FPL replacements after injury Fantasy Premier LeagueAhead of Gameweek 21, it was revealed that Trent Alexander-Arnold had suffered from a hyperextended knee and would be out for “several weeks.” So who is best to replace the prolific full-back in Fantasy Premier League? Here are our picks. Trent Alexander-Arnold has been widely considered an essential pick in FPL over the last few years. His creativity has led to multiple goals and assists, revolutionizing what it means to be a full-back in the current day, usually priced similarly to the mid-range midfielders and offering more points to boot. While he didn’t start this season off quite the same, Liverpool have started to find form and as a result, so has Trent — but this latest setback will be devastating both to him and to his over two million owners in FPL. Liverpool assistant manager Pep Ljinders confirmed: “Trent hyperextended his knee during the last game … He had a scan and he will be out for a few weeks, so let’s see after that.” So who is best to fill that defender role in your Fantasy Premier League team? Here are our best picks. Who to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold in FPL with Kieran Trippier (6.7m, NEW) Trippier feels like a natural sideways step for Trent owners — a high-priced defender that has been a constant force for Newcastle at both ends of the pitch. Despite his poor run of form, Trippier is well worth consideration if you have no other areas to address on the pitch and aren’t worried about your budget. Pervis Estupiñan (4.9m, BHA) Estupiñan is finally back for Brighton, with a reduced price to his peak this season, but before his injury, he was one of the best picks in the game. Now, he’s clocking in at sub-5m and has scored two goals in four games since his return. Alfie Doughty (4.5m, LUT) Doughty has really gone under the radar of late, but ahead of Gameweek 21, is the most in-form defender in the game. He’s earned four assists in his last five games and with matches against Burnley and Sheffield United in the next few gameweeks, he could be a brilliant rotation option for your team. Pedro Porro (5.7m, TOT) Pedro Porro has been one of the standout performers at the back this season and is guaranteed 90 minutes each week. He’s the third-highest scoring defender in the game thus far with a great run of fixtures that includes Brentford, Everton, Wolves, Crystal Palace, and Fulham over the next 10 gameweeks. Spurs’ fixtures do take a turn from Gameweek 33 onwards but, until then, Pedro Porro is about as essential as it gets. Emerson (4.5m, WHU) If you’re looking for another cheap differential to help bolster the rest of your squad, West Ham’s Emerson is another player who has gone under the radar. Going into Gameweek 21 he ranks second in the form standings for defenders, off the back of four straight clean sheets against the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, and Brighton. West Ham’s upturn in defensive prowess could make for a good budget differential in Emerson. Virgil van Dijk (6.3m, LIV) If you ultimately want to stick with Liverpool defenders, then Virgil van Dijk might be the obvious choice. While he doesn’t have the same offensive power that Trent does, he’s still a stalwart at the back for a Liverpool side that are clearly on the up, and comes 2m cheaper than his injured teammate too. Obviously, there is no science behind picking the best replacement here, but what you can do is make informed decisions based on price, form, and the needs of your FPL team. With injuries mounting up and both the Asia Cup and AFCON ongoing, you might be looking to use your wildcard. If you do, make sure you pick the best wildcard team for this week according to AI.

How to start a fantasy football draft? Best picks, strategies, more YouTube: NFLIf you are getting into fantasy football for the first time, you may be wondering how a fantasy draft works or what you should do. Here are some tips to make sure that you don’t fumble your draft. Fantasy football can be intimidating to newer players. Even casual football fans who know most of the big-time players and teams can feel lost as their first season approaches. A critical piece of constructing your fantasy football team is the draft, where you will select the players that will make up your team. While you will be able to make changes to your roster via trade and waivers, the draft where you will find most of the core players on your team. Here’s everything you need to know about how your fantasy football draft works and how to win your draft. How do you start a fantasy football draft? Each fantasy football league’s commissioner will set a date for the draft, which will start automatically on the designated date. Your commissioner should communicate with all members of the league to find a date and time that works for everyone. The draft will start automatically at the designated time and in most instances the application or site hosting the league (Yahoo, ESPN) will create a random draft order to determine who will pick at a given slot. How does a fantasy football draft work? Most fantasy football drafts follow a snake format, where the order begins sequentially and then follows the reverse order in the following round. This means that the person selecting first in the order would pick last in the following round, while the person selecting last in that round will pick first in the next round. The other common draft format is an auction, where players will have a certain amount of money (either real money being wagered for the league pool or a fictional allocation given to each player) that they can use to bid on players. In this format, each player can place bids on one given NFL player until no other player is willing to outbid them. The player with the highest bid then adds that NFLer to their team. In either format, the draft will continue until each player has filled out their entire roster. How many NFL players are on a fantasy football roster? Each fantasy football draft must result in every player having a viable roster of 18 players in the following positions: One quarterback – Two running backs – Two wide receivers – One tight end – One team’s defense and special teams unit – One kicker – One flex player (this can be a running back, wide receiver, or tight end) – Seven bench players – Different leagues may have different roster sizes, usually including more running backs or wide receivers. What’s the best strategy for a fantasy football draft? In general, the best strategy when it comes to having a successful fantasy football draft is to target the two most important positions – wide receiver and running back – as early as possible. This is because of the flex position, where players can put an extra skill position player in their lineup each week. It’s also due to the fact that the top-end wide receivers and running backs are perceived to be of much higher value compared to their contemporaries. Put another way, there is a much bigger difference between a top-end and mid running back than there is between a top-end and mid quarterback when it comes to fantasy production. Most fantasy football drafts recommend that players recommend that players do not draft their quarterback or wide receiver until at least the fourth round, to ensure that they get several strong foundational pieces at the skill position. The sole exception would be for extremely productive players at the QB or TE position like Patrick Mahomes or Travis Kelce. For these players, it might be advisable to pick them in an earlier round, but you should then spend most of the following rounds drafting only skill position players. Finally, it’s common practice to save your picks for kicker and defense until the last two rounds. This is because these positions often produce the fewest fantasy points and there are often many who are available each week to pick on the waiver wire. As a result, there isn’t much upside to drafting an elite kicker or defense. Be sure to check out our Fantasy Football content including our 5 sleeper running back and 5 sleeper wide receiver picks.

Best Salah and Son FPL replacements for AFCON & Asian Cup Fantasy Premier LeagueMo Salah and Heung-min Son are jetting off to represent their home nations in mid-season tournaments, creating a few headaches for FPL managers around the globe. However, we’ve got some replacements to consider for the two massive points scorers. With the calendar turning over from 2023 to 2024, January means the start of a brief transfer window. This can affect FPL plans in a big way, especially if there’s a big move to be made. However, the AFCON and AFC Asian Cup are also going to present challenges for FPL Managers. Two of the league’s best players – and FPL point scorers – Mo Salah and Heung-min Son are going to be away on extended breaks. Sure, they’re not the only ones jetting off for the tournaments, but they do create the biggest headaches for managers. So, to try and help you through this different to-navigate period, we’ve selected a handful of replacements that should shine in their absence. Though, replicating their exact points tallies might be a little farfetched. Cole Palmer – 5.6m Since joining Chelsea from Manchester City this summer, Cole Palmer has become a reliable points scorer in FPL – and has already become one of the must-have players of the season. He’s returned 12 goals for the Blues so far this term and their fixture list becomes a little easier in January. Add in the fact that Palmer is also the first in line for penalties and the England international is a top option to replace the two departing stars. Richarlison – 6.8m It’s taken a while for Richarlison to finally settle at Spurs, but the Brazillian is in a solid run of form right now. He’s got five goals in his last five games, including one against his former club Everton. With Son jetting off to the Asian Cup, he’s in line for more starts and should get more of the chances that are typically created for his teammate. So, while on the more expensive end of things, he’s a solid choice. Phil Foden – 7.8m If you’re going to splash out a bit, then Phil Foden should be a consideration. Sure, you may have to deal with a bit of line-up roulette from Pep, but the English forward is going to be key in City’s fightback in the title race. He’s already scored 96 points in FPL this season and should be on for more hauls as the Citizens face Burnley, Everton, Brentford, Bournemouth, and Manchester United over the coming weeks. Eberechi Eze – 6.0m If you’re looking for a differential option that has big boom or bust potential, well, Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze is right up there. The winger has yet to completely sparkle this season and has, at times, been outshone by Michael Olise (5.8m). However, Palace face Burnley, Luton Town, and Sheffield United over the next few weeks, and Eze is still one of their main men. So, he’s a definite option. Diogo Jota – 7.7m Getting Jota into your team might prompt a bigger reshuffle seeing as he’s a forward in FPL, not a midfielder, but he could be the Liverpool with the most to gain through Salah’s absence. The Portuguese is back from injury and has already scored against Burnley since that return, and with Salah gone, he’s a contender to get more starts through the middle. He’s a safer bet in FPL than Darwin Nunez too. Jarrod Bowen – 7.9m Like Palmer, Bowen has been a pretty valuable asset in FPL this season and it’s difficult to have a top team without him. The winger is the fourth most-used midfielder in-game so far this season. The Hammers have one of the softer runs of fixtures in the coming weeks too, facing Sheffield United, Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest, and Brentford. With Mo Kudus at the AFCON representing Ghana, Bowen will solidify himself as West Ham’s main man. He’s a must-have, even if he’s not a massive differential pick. Pascal Groß – 6.4m Pascal Groß was one of last season’s stars in FPL, helping Brighton and Hove Albion’s climb up the table with some handy set piece work. This season has been a different story for the German midfielder, but he’s in a position to benefit now too. With Mitoma representing Japan, Groß becomes a key cog for the Seagulls in games against Wolves, Luton, Sheffield United, and Everton. He’s a long-term differential play because of those fixtures and could be a snip at 6.4m. Obviously, you might have different plans for your FPL team – including a Wild Card during his period – but you should always plan your route back to players like Salah and Son. Be sure to check out the rest of our FPL content to keep yourself in top shape as the season progresses: Best FPL tips this Gameweek | Best FPL defenders according to AI | Best FPL midfielders according to AI | Best FPL forwards according to AI | Top 3 must-have FPL players from each team | Best budget defenders | Best budget midfielders | Best cheap forwards | Best FPL team names | Best premium FPL players ranked | Best promoted players | Best underpriced players | Best new signings for FPL

Best Free Hit team in Fantasy Premier League Gameweek 38 according to AI Premier LeagueThe Free Hit chip is an extremely powerful tool in Fantasy Premier League, granting players the opportunity to completely change their team for just one game week. Luckily, this AI can pick out the very best Free Hit team each week based on stats and player data. Here’s the best team for GW38. As explained, the Free Hit is a one-week play, able to completely change up your fantasy team to pick anyone you want (providing you can afford them), and can easily help you navigate a tricky fixture schedule or an awkward game week. That said, it can always feel a daunting prospect, and it’s difficult to pick the best 11 players to field for your one-week punt, with a mix of differentials as well as guaranteed high-scorers meaning you could have a very boom-or-bust week. That’s where this AI steps in. Best Free Hit FPL team: Gameweek 38 The AI Team Picker on FantasyFootballHub analyses all the data among each Premier League player to assess who is most likely to score highly in any given game week or period of gameweeks. Here is the Free Hit team the FFH AI recommends for FPL Gameweek 38: GK: Alisson (LIV) – GK: Travers (BOU) – DEF: Gvardiol (MCI) – DEF: Gabriel (ARS) – DEF: White (ARS) – DEF: Mengi (LUT) – DEF: Richards (CRY) – MID: Salah (LIV) (VC) – MID: Foden (MCI) – MID: Havertz (ARS) – MID: Palmer (CHE) – MID: Eze (CRY) – FWD: Haaland (MCI) (C) – FWD: Toney (BRE) – FWD: Muniz (FUL) – Obviously, the key when picking your Free Hit team is maximizing your on-field assets, and that’s especially key if you’re playing it so late in the game at GW38. It’s your last roll of the dice and, if your mini-league is on a knife edge, you want the safest bets. That’s why AI is opting for Manchester City, Arsenal, and Liverpool players. Sure, there aren’t many differentials to be had now, but points on the board are key. Be sure to check out our other FPL guides to help you get the best out of your team and improve your overall rank: Best FPL tips this Gameweek | Best FPL defenders according to AI | Best FPL midfielders according to AI | Best FPL forwards according to AI | Top 3 must-have FPL players from each team | Best budget defenders | Best budget midfielders | Best cheap forwards | Best premium FPL players ranked | Best promoted players | Best underpriced players

Fantasy Premier League tips: Best Gameweek 37 team, who to buy & sell, best differentials, more Premier LeagueThe Fantasy Premier League 2023/24 season is finally reaching its climax, with just two gameweeks left. Here is the best FPL Bench Boost team, top differentials, and who you should buy and sell; all of our best FPL tips ahead of Gameweek 37. We’re steadily approaching the climax of what has been a very sporadic FPL season so far, with some of the top FPL players struggling to find consistency as much as the players they’re selecting. From this point onwards, it’s time to start planning ahead for your second Wildcard (if you haven’t used it already) and how to get the most out of your team either before or after using it. Here, we’ve gone through everything you need to know for Gameweek 35, but it’ll be updated at the start of every single Gameweek so you can see the best teams, differentials, who to buy and sell, and more. Contents Best FPL Gameweek 37 Bench Boost team It’s the penultimate week of the FPL season and most veteran managers are using their Bench Boost chip. If you’re looking for 15 Double Gameweek players this week, here’s who you want to target: GK: Pope/Dubravka (depending on Pope’s availability) – GK: Petrovic – DEF: Gvardiol – DEF: Pedro Porro – DEF: Gabriel – DEF: White – DEF: Dunk – MID: Foden – MID: Fernandes – MID: Palmer – MID: Son – MID: Gordon – FWD: Haaland – FWD: Isak – FWD: Jackson – Of course, this may continue changing in the lead-up to the Gameweek 37 deadline on Saturday, May 11. Alternatively, it’s well worth looking at the best Free Hit team as that’s going to be a very popular pick this week. Who to buy & sell in FPL Gameweek 37 It’s time to start planning long-term for the coming gameweeks, with doubles and blanks in abundance, and that’ll involve making informed decisions on the best players to bring in or remove from your team. Here are our recommendations on players to buy and sell, based on form, ownership, and projected performances going forward, with a mind to the upcoming blank and double gameweek schedule: Who to buy in Gameweek 35 Marc Cucurella (4.8m) – Richarlison (6.8m) – Nicolas Jackson (6.9m) – Who to sell in Gameweek 35 Destiny Udogie (4.9m) – Bukayo Saka (9.0m) – Darwin Núñez (7.8m) – With the upcoming blank and double gameweek schedule no doubt causing a headache for FPL managers, you’ll want to assess the upcoming schedule and target teams that play in the blanks and doubles, while establishing your chip strategy. As for who to sell, we’ve picked players who are injured, out of form, or simply now surplus to requirements. Right now, you need to be purely focusing on building for DGW37, so prioritize those players. Best differentials for FPL GW35 A good differential pick can see you flying up the FPL rankings, with low-owned players securing huge hauls to get the better of your mini-league opponents. We typically look for differentials with ownership percentages lower than 10%. Here are some of our picks for the best differentials for Gameweek 35, with all ownership details correct at the time of writing. Again, this is with the next few gameweeks in mind and navigating the blank and double GW schedule: Nick Pope (5.3m, GK) Ownership: 4.8% – – Joao Pedro (5.2m, FWD) Ownership: 6.2% – – Richarlison (6.8m, MID) Ownership: 3.2% – – Noni Madueke (5.3m, MID) Ownership: 1.0% – – Nicolas Jackson (6.8m, FWD) Ownership: 6.1% – – Be sure to check back for Gameweek 38 as we look at the best updated AI FPL team as well as which players you should be looking to buy or sell, an updated injury list, and more top differentials. If you’re still looking for inspiration, make sure you check out our other FPL guides, too: Best FPL tips this Gameweek | Best FPL goalkeepers according to AI | Best FPL defenders according to AI | Best FPL midfielders according to AI | Best FPL forwards according to AI

Best Fantasy Premier League midfielders in Gameweek 38 according to AI Premier LeagueA solid midfield is essential to a good FPL team, and this AI has picked out the very best FPL midfielders to transfer in during Gameweek 38, as you make your final shot to reach the top of your mini league. With only one gameweek left, now is the time to go big or go home. But which midfielders does the AI expect to top the rankings in the final week of the Premier League season? Here’s the list. AI predicts FPL points: Top 10 Midfielders in Gameweek 38 Here’s who the FantasyFootballHub AI has predicted to be the highest points scorers in Gameweek 38 of the 2023/24 Premier League season: Mo Salah finds himself topping the expected points charts once again, looking at a possible 8 points against Wolves. He’s closely followed by Phil Foden, who plays West Ham in what is expected to be a title-winning matchup. Elsewhere, Palace duo Olise and Eze are expected to continue their superb form against Villa, who have been in celebration mode since locking in their Champions League spot earlier in the week. Best FPL tips this Gameweek | Best FPL wildcard team according to AI | Best FPL goalkeepers to buy this week | Best FPL defenders to buy this week | Best FPL forwards to buy this week

Best FPL Gameweek 36 wildcard team according to AI Fantasy Premier LeagueAI has identified the best Fantasy Premier League wildcard team for you to pick in Gameweek 36 of the 2023/24 season, choosing players it expects to score the most points in the final three gameweeks. We’re at the point now where blanks and double gameweeks have caused havoc, and one slip-up will cost you in that title race. With your 100m budget becoming incredibly difficult to navigate in this crunch period, especially with price rises and drops, making these decisions can be frustrating, especially at wildcard time — but luckily, AI has done the hard work for you. Best FPL Gameweek 36 wildcard team FantasyFootballHub’s AI team picker gives you the best chance at glory based entirely on stats and key data, and below is what they perceive to be the best team for Gameweek 36 if you’re using your wildcard, or even if you just want to make some major changes. Here’s the best FPL Gameweek 36 team based on AI’s projections: GK: Petrovic (CHE) – GK: Dubravka (NEW) – DEF: Pedro Porro (TOT) – DEF: Gvardiol (MCI) – DEF: Gabriel (ARS) – DEF: Burn (NEW) – DEF: E. Royal (TOT) – MID: Son (TOT) – MID: Garnacho (MUN) – MID: Palmer (CHE) – MID: Foden (MCI) – MID: Fernandes (MUN) – FWD: Jackson (CHE) – FWD: Isak (NEW) – FWD: Haaland (MCI) – From Gameweek 36 onwards, the AI recommends targeting players from the likes of Tottenham, Man City, and Newcastle. When using this wildcard, you’ll want to bear in mind that there is another Double Gameweek in GW37 to tackle, so be sure to check up on those upcoming fixtures too, and have a plan in place for that. Be sure to check out the rest of our FPL content to keep yourself in top shape as the season progresses: Best FPL tips this Gameweek | Best FPL goalkeepers according to AI | Best FPL defenders according to AI | Best FPL midfielders according to AI | Best FPL forwards according to AI

Best Fantasy Premier League goalkeepers in Gameweek 38 according to AI Premier LeagueChoosing the best goalkeeper in FPL can help put you at ease each weekend, as you balance a need for clean sheets and save points with as tight a budget as possible. Thanks to AI, we know which goalkeepers should excel in Gameweek 38. While everyone spends hours analyzing players in the middle of the park and at the top end of the pitch, it’s the one pretty much confined to the 18-yard area that will have to serve as a rock to the rest of your team. To make this consideration easier, we’ve turned to the higher powers of FantasyFootballHub AI to deliver its verdict on who the best goalkeepers are for Gameweek 38 in Fantasy Premier League. AI predicts FPL Gameweek 38 points: Top 10 Goalkeepers To give you plenty of depth and detail in this area, here are the top 10 FPL GK picks, in order, that AI believes will dominate Gameweek 38 of the 23/24 season, which will come in especially handy if you’re looking to make a change at the back at the end of the season. With the season coming to a close, there won’t be too much room to maneuver and try to outscore your mini-league rivals. That’s epitomized by pretty much every ‘keeper bar Arsenal’s David Raya being projected to score four points. The Golden Glove leader is projected to score five, with the Gunners hosting a resurgent Everton team to end the season. It’s worth noting that the best FPL Free Hit team according to AI currently has Alisson and Mark Travers as their chosen goalkeepers. Though, the choice is up to you at the end of the day. Now that you know the best FPL GK according to AI, here are many other Fantasy Premier League guides for you to check out: Best FPL defenders according to AI | Best FPL midfielders according to AI | Best FPL forwards according to AI | Best FPL tips this Gameweek | Top 3 must-have FPL players from each team | Best budget defenders | Best budget midfielders | Best cheap forwards | Best FPL team names | Best FPL team according to AI | Best premium FPL players ranked | All FPL position changes this season | Best promoted players | Best underpriced players | Best new signings for FPL | Top FPL trap players to avoid

Best Fantasy Premier League defenders in Gameweek 38 according to AI Premier LeagueChoosing the best Fantasy Premier League defenders for your team is no easy task. So, using the power of AI, we can give you a great idea as to the players you should consider buying in Gameweek 38. There was a time when the job of a full-back was just to defend their side of the pitch and occasionally get forward. Nowadays, it’s almost mandatory for a full-back or a wing-back to get forward, support the attack, and even get into the box. With all this in mind, let’s use data from FantasyFootballHub AI to help you select the best Fantasy Premier League defenders for Gameweek 38 and beyond. AI predicts FPL Gameweek 38 points: Top 10 Defenders We’ve already seen some spectacular performances from certain defenders this season in FPL, but there are still some more to come. So, with that in mind, the FFH AI has picked out the players expected to earn the most points in Gameweek 38, just in case you want to make some defensive changes for the run-in. Unsurprisingly, Manchester City and Arsenal defenders are leading the way for the final game, given both need to win in the title race. The two of them take up a combined seven spots in the top 10. The AI continues to put some faith in Liverpool’s Trent-Alexnader Arnold and Virgil Van Dijk, but the Reds were run ragged in the Merseyside Derby and haven’t kept a clean sheet since March. So, be cautious. Here are some of our other Fantasy Premier League guides for you to check out and use to your advantage: Best FPL midfielders according to AI | Best FPL forwards according to AI | Best FPL tips this Gameweek | Top 3 must-have FPL players from each team | Best budget defenders | Best budget midfielders | Best cheap forwards | Best FPL team names | Best FPL team according to AI | Best premium FPL players ranked | All FPL position changes this season | Best promoted players | Best underpriced players | Best new signings for FPL | Top FPL trap players to avoid

Best Fantasy Premier League forwards in Gameweek 38 according to AI Premier LeagueThe Fantasy Premier League season is now reaching its climax, and it’s do or die for many managers in their mini leagues. If you’re choosing the best forwards to pick from in Gameweek 38, then this AI has done the job for you. With a good mix of the regular high-flyers and some cheaper options playing well, the template is still somewhat open in the final week of the season. Luckily, the FantasyFootballHub AI does the hard work for you, picking the best players to bring in for the final gameweek. AI predicts Gameweek 38 FPL points: Top 10 Forwards Here’s who the FFH AI has predicted to be the highest points scorers in Gameweek 38 of the 2023/24 Premier League season: As ever, Haaland is topping the list, way ahead of Newcastle’s Alexander Isak and Brentford’s Ivan Toney, both of whom have been linked with big money moves away in the summer. Elsewhere, many players on the list are as you would expect: Nicolas Jackson and Ollie Watkins are both expected to keep performing well as some of the best strikers in the league. As for budget options, Brighton forward Joao Pedro and Nottingham Forest’s Chris Wood are also expected to hit high scores in the final week. Be sure to check out all of our FPL guides so you can stay ahead of the competition this season: Best FPL tips this Gameweek | Best FPL wildcard team according to AI | Best FPL goalkeepers to buy this week | Best FPL defenders to buy this week | Best FPL midfielders to buy this week

6 best Fantasy Premier League defenders to replace Ben Chilwell Premier LeagueBen Chilwell has struggled to find the same form in the first couple of Gameweeks of the 2023/24 season, and with the Chelsea full-back now both facing an injury and a general minutes concern, here are the best replacements for him in Fantasy Premier League. In Gameweeks 1 and 2, Ben Chilwell was playing about as far forward as he could get, often caught occupying the middle of the pitch while waiting for passes from his teammates, cutting in from his natural position on the left to get heavily involved in Chelsea’s attack. After that, though, it became clear that the Chelsea of last season wasn’t a complete fluke, and that there are some fairly serious issues with the squad. While Chilwell, Nicolas Jackson, and Raheem Sterling were deemed “essential” for a short span of time, all three are now making their way out of fantasy teams. But which defenders are best to replace Ben Chilwell in FPL? The lead-up to Gameweek 7 might be the perfect time to transfer him out for one of our top selections here. Ben Chilwell FPL replacements Kieran Trippier (6.6m, NEW) Upcoming fixtures: BUR (H), WHU (A), CRY (H), WOL (A), ARS (H) – – Kyle Walker (5.3m, MCI) Upcoming fixtures: WOL (A), ARS (A), BHA (H), MUN (A), BOU (H) – – Matty Cash (4.7m, AVL) Upcoming fixtures: BHA (H), WOL (A), WHU (H), LUT (H), NFO (A) – – Levi Colwill (4.5m, CHE) Upcoming fixtures: FUL (A), BUR (A), ARS (H), BRE (H), TOT (A) – – Trent Alexander-Arnold (7.9m, LIV) Upcoming fixtures: TOT (A), BHA (A), EVE (H), NFO (H), LUT (A) – – Sergio Reguilon (4.4m, MUN) Upcoming fixtures: CRY (H), BRE (H), SHU (A), MCI (H), FUL (A) – – The choice you make in replacing Chilwell in FPL depends a lot on the coverage you already have in your team, and what you can afford. If you’re looking to find a route to bring Salah in, you might want to opt for someone like Matty Cash who comes in cheaper with some great upcoming fixtures. Alternatively, you might still trust the Chelsea defence and want to bring Colwill in instead. Alternatively, you might want to take advantage of Trippier’s return to top form, though he does come at a higher premium, so too does Trent Alexander-Arnold, however we know how much damage both players can do. Whatever you choose, we’re fast approaching wildcard time for many FPL managers, and if you choose to take that route you’ll want to make sure you pick the best wildcard team to take advantage of the coming run of games. Best FPL tips this Gameweek | Best FPL midfielders according to AI | Best FPL forwards according to AI | Top 3 must-have FPL players from each team | Best budget defenders | Best budget midfielders | Best cheap forwards | Best FPL team names | Best FPL team according to AI | Best premium FPL players ranked | All FPL position changes this season | Best promoted players | Best underpriced players | Best new signings for FPL | Top FPL trap players to avoid

Best Erling Haaland replacements in Fantasy Premier League Fantasy Premier LeagueInjury news around Erling Haaland’s foot knock remains pretty vague, which is not great news for Fantasy Premier League managers. So, we’ve got a few options for FPL replacements if he’s out long-term. When Erling Haaland joined Manchester City last season, many fans and pundits expected fireworks – and he delivered in spades. The Norwegian hit 36 goals in the league and was key to helping City bring home a treble, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League. In FPL terms, Haaland was a must-have all season, and that’s rolled over into this season. The 23-year-old came into the 2023/24 FPL season with a 14.0m price tag, making him the most expensive player in a decade. He’s been in good form this season too, however, the injury concerns that followed him from Dortmund to City have reared their head. He missed City’s 2-1 win over Luton Town with a foot injury and Pep Guardiola has remained coy on any updates. Which isn’t ideal, given Pep’s typical FPL Roulette tricks. So, if he does remain out, we’ve got a few options for you to look at. Ollie Watkins – 8.5m Ollie Watkins is the most obvious option for a Haaland replacement. The Aston Villa forward has 8 goals this season, racking up 99 FPL points. Most FPL managers will already own Unai Enemy’s main option, but if you don’t, well you’re going to want him to try and replace Haaland’s output. Villa play Brentford, Sheffield United, and Manchester United in their next three games, so his form should continue. Julian Alvarez – 6.9m Julian Alvarez has played in tandem with Haaland since joining City, but with his strike partner sidelined, the Argentine forward becomes the main man for Pep’s side. He’s valued at 6.9m in FPL and you’ve liked used him at one point or another this season. With forward options not in great quantity at City, he’ll get plenty of time and opportunities to bag points if Haaland is a longtime concern. Darwin Nunez – 7.6m Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez has constantly been compared to Haaland given they both joined the Premier League at the same time, but the Uruguayan forward has been a long way off his North West rival. The 24-year-old has proven himself to be an awkward customer in FPL given the bizarre chances he misses. However, if Haaland’s injury lingers, Nunez becomes a top option – especially as Mo Salah heads off to the AFCON. The Uruguayan would then take over penalty duties, and, well, it’s not like Liverpool are short on those. Dominic Solanke – 6.6m Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke is becoming an increasingly popular option in FPL with his ownership rising to 10% after the initial news of Haaland’s injury. He’s bagged eight goals this term already and has a favorable set of upcoming fixtures as the Cherries face Luton Town, Nottingham Forest, and Fulham in their next three. He’s not really in the differential category at 6.6m, but he’s definitely an option. Callum Wilson – 7.8m As to is Newcastle’s Callum Wilson. The England forward has been out through injury himself in the last few weeks, but finally returned during Newcastle’s 4-1 loss away at Spurs. However, the 7.8m option also has a good set of fixtures coming up, as he faces Fulham, Luton Town, and Nottingham Forest. With Eddie Howe’s men faltering in recent weeks, Wilson should come straight back into the fold and be a consideration for many. Of course, these are just our picks and you might want a full reshuffle should the Norweigan ace be out long-term. Though, it’s unknown just how long he’ll be out and, if he does make a swift return, how long the foot injury will linger. Haaland misses out in the best Wild Card team for Gameweek 17, with AI selecting Alexander Isak, Ollie Watkins, and Cameron Archer.

5 best Fantasy Football running backs to replace Nick Chubb YouTube: NFLCleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb has been ruled out for the season after suffering a gruesome knee injury in a Monday Night Football loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. So, here are a few fantasy options to consider if you need a replacement. The early weeks of the 2023/24 Fantasy NFL season have been a little brutal if you’ve gone big on running backs from the AFC North. Baltimore Ravens star JK Dobbins went down with a season-ending Achilles tear in week one and now Browns running back Nick Chubb has suffered a “significant” knee injury himself – and not for the first time in his career. The former Georgia Bulldog is done for the season and will leave a massive hole in any fantasy roster. However, there are still a few backs out there on waivers that could help fill it a little. Kyren Williams (Los Angeles Rams) If for whatever reason Kyren Williams is still unrostered in your fantasy league, then he should absolutely be your priority as a replacement for the now-injured Chubb. He’s still available in around 40% of leagues according to ESPN. The running back has become the Rams’ go-to option on offense, and has even prompted trade talks to see Cam Akers move on from Los Angeles. He’s racked up returns of 17.4 and 28 points in PPR leagues and has an interesting schedule to come. Jerome Ford (Cleveland Browns) Jerome Ford benefitted most from Chubb’s injury on Monday night, getting 16 for 106 yards in the 26-22 loss to Pittsburgh. The running back out of Cincinnati is the Browns’ default RB1 now and should outpace Pierre Strong. However, despite being widely available in most leagues, there is some concern over him given that the Browns may opt to sign a veteran running back instead. Kareem Hunt (FA) So, who would be that veteran running back? Well, logic would dictate that it is Kareem Hunt. The veteran back has familiarity with the Browns’ system after a four-year stint in Cleveland. They just couldn’t come to terms on a new contract. He’s been rostered in around 12% of leagues, so some fantasy fans are preparing for his return. However, as of writing, he is still a Free Agent. So, it is a situation to keep an eye on. Justice Hill (Baltimore Ravens) Justice Hill is still pretty widely available in most leagues, given that many players used their waiver priority to get Gus Edwards in the wake of JK Dobbins’ injury. Though, he is still an interesting play. The Ravens running back had 57% of snaps against the Bengals, but it was Edwards who produced on the ground and scored better. Hill remains an interesting play in PPR, given his slightly bigger workload and receiving ability. Though, it is a risky play while Edwards is producing. De’Von Achane (Miami Dolphins) De’Von Achane was a late-round stash for a majority of fantasy players who drafted him, but the Dolphins running back is still available in over 80% of ESPN leagues. He was inactive in week one, but saw the field in week two as the Fins defeated the New England Patriots. Achane is a long-term play given Miami has Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr, but will get his chance to impress with Wilson still on IR for another few weeks. Be sure to check out more of our Fantasy Football content here.

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5 best Fantasy Football running backs to replace JK Dobbins YouTube: Baltimore RavensBaltimore running back JK Dobbins went down with a season-ending Achilles tear, so here are five potential replacements for him on your Fantasy Football team. Only one week into the NFL season, teams are already suffering catastrophic injuries. In their game against the Houston Texans, the Baltimore Ravens lost starting running back JK Dobbins for the remainder of the season. It is an unfortunate injury not only for the Ravens team but for Dobbins, who himself was just coming back after needing arthroscopic surgery for an ACL tear last year. The injury is terrible for Dobbins who will lose yet another promising season, but Fantasy Football owners who drafted the back are also in mourning. But fret not, here are five players who are on the waiver wire for most leagues that you can snap up to replace Dobbins. Fantasy Football running backs to pick up for JK Dobbins Gus Edwards (Baltimore Ravens) As is often the case when a starter gets injured, the next logical choice for Fantasy Football owners is to pick up his backup. In this case, Gus Edwards and rookie Justice Hill would be solid choices, but we give the edge to Edwards. Even though Hill was the one who managed to punch home two scores yesterday after Dobbins left, Edwards had the higher yards per carry (4.0 vs Hill’s 1.1). Edwards also has experience leading a backfield, so it’s likely the Ravens will go back to him. He’s also only rostered in 21.4% of leagues, according to ESPN. Joshua Kelly (LA Chargers) He’s going to be a popular waiver claim in a lot of leagues where he was not rostered (that’s 89.7% of leagues where he’s still on waivers). Kelly was a top-10 running back in Week 1, putting up 91 yards rushing on 16 carries with one touchdown. Even though he’s in his fourth year with the Bolts and they have Austin Ekler, the fact that Kelly got so much usage makes him an intriguing replacement for Dobbins. Tyler Allgeier (Atlanta Falcons) Fantasy Football fans were befuddled to see the Falcons give the lion’s share of the running back touches to second-year back Allgeier rather than first-round pick Bijan Robinson. Many Robinson owners weren’t happy to see Allgeier rumble to 15 carries for 75 yards (5.0 YPC) and two touchdowns. He’s rostered in less than half of leagues, so it might be a good call to stash him until Arthur Smith finally turns over the offense fully to Robinson. Kyren Williams (LA Rams) The other LA team also had a backup running back putting up some impressive numbers in Week 1. Williams got 15 carries for 52 yards (3.5 yards per carry) and capped it off with two touchdowns. Even though that YPC isn’t exactly stellar, the fact that Williams got 15 touches is encouraging (especially since he’s behind the oft-injured Cam Akers). He’s available in 90% of Fantasy Football leagues, so he’d be a great option to snatch off the waiver wire. Kenneth Gainwell (Philadelphia Eagles) This one’s a bit more of a gamble, as Gainwell was slotted to be the #3 back in Philly behind D’Andre Swift and Rashaad Penny. But with Penny getting sat for the New England game, Gainwell established himself with 18 touches (14 rushes and 4 receptions) for 74 all-purpose yards. If Penny remains out for an extended period of time, Gainwell could be a sneaky-good addition who could pay off dividends. Be sure to check out more of our Fantasy Football content here.