The grind of EA FC 26 Ultimate Team is an unwavering quest that continuously pushes players to obtain the next meta card, gaining a competitive edge. While you can opt for purchasing players through the transfer market, some of the best elite players are released as a limited-time Squad Building Challenge (SBC) or timed objectives. There are also a lot of great cards that often go overlooked.
Once the timer runs out, they disappear forever, becoming desired cards that are both esteemed and impossible to acquire for latecomers. This is a recall of the five top players who are now forever unavailable (ignoring transfer market intricacies), leaving only regret for players who didn’t obtain them on time.
The Winter Wildcards Wanderer: 89 OVR Alexander Isak
When the festive Winter Wildcards promotion came, it kicked off with a limited-time SBC: the towering 89 OVR Alexander Isak. This Newcastle United striker instantly became a lethal forward for the team, making shots that were previously thought to be impossible.
Isak possesses perfectly balanced attributes, boasting a deadly attacking combination of high pace and clinical finishing. His huge height, combined with agile dribbling, made him a threat to the back four.
To complete Isak, you had to submit one 86-rated squad and one 87-rated squad, making him cost just over 83,000 coins on the market.
The Skill Moves Maestro: 87 OVR Flashback Ángel Di María
Flashback cards always awaken a sense of nostalgia, celebrating a player’s peak performance. Released in an earlier season, to commemorate Argentina’s innovative genius, was the 87-rated Ángel Di María card.
The player possessed 5-star skill moves, an important attribute for players who utilise the elastico skill move to cut down defenders. His dribbling was enhanced with the Technical playstyle plus, and the Finesse shot playstyle made him a threat anywhere around the box.
Although linking him with other players can be a tad bit of a problem, as he plays for Rosario Central in the Liga Profesional de Fútbol, his Argentinian nationality can be put to use.
The Season Objective Grind: 88 OVR World Tour Rodrygo
Not all good cards are found in packs and SBCs; some require patience and determination to grind. The 88-rated World Tour Rodrygo was a premium reward in the seasonal progress, locked at level 40 in the season objectives menu.
This particular version of the Real Madrid forward was a spectacular upgrade, having pace, four-star skill moves and weak foot, making him a perfect right-sided attacker. Earned through playing the game for several weeks and enough XP points to unlock him, this card was technically “free.”
Unfortunately, now there is no SBC for him and no pack to open, as once the season ends, there is no way to unlock the card that was available earlier.
The Early-Game Enigma: 86 OVR Ultimate Scream Paul Pogba
One of the highlights of the early-season Ultimate Scream promo was the 86 OVR player pick for Paul Pogba. This card was specifically memorable due to its offering a choice between a CAM and a CDM version of the French player. Each version had a difference in stats, with different areas being boosted and both having different playstyle pluses.
The CDM version had the Intercept playstyle plus, and the CAM version had the incisive pass playstyle plus, making him perfect for players looking for either a defensive or offensive item.
While Pogba was released as a relatively pricey SBC for 200k, his huge physical presence, powerful long shots, and distinct animations made him a formidable force in the midfield.
The Bundesliga Marksman: 89 OVR POTM Harry Kane
The Bundesliga Player of the Month SBC for October, Harry Kane, was a 90-rated Player of the Month (POTM) card in FC 26. This version of the card is a significant upgrade over his 89-rated Gold card, offering a major boost in pace. While he is still slower than meta players like Erling Haaland or Viktor Gyökeres, this pace increase makes him much more usable for competitive Bundesliga squads.
This SBC is expensive, with a cumulative value of 180K to 190K. One of the biggest draws of this card is the combination of the Low Driven Shot+ and Finesse Shot playstyles, making him incredibly lethal in front of the net. Additionally, the card adds new roles like Poacher+ and Target Forward+, giving you more tactical flexibility
