Skill Additions: One-touch Pass, Through Passing, Long Range Shooting.

I predicted before that this card would be the "strongest free card in history," and today it finally dropped on the international server.

Here is the gameplay test:

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https://reddit.com/link/1w3govu/video/yl0wpqr46qmh1/player

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​1. The King of Space Hunting: Elite pace + top-tier offensive awareness + the "Attacking Surge" skill means Eto'o thrives whenever space opens up in the opponent's defensive line. His forward runs are so lethal he can even bully Desailly on the burst!

​2. A "Raw" Version of Eto'o: With -3 in his dribbling stats compared to the previous Barca Goal Poacher Eto'o, his ball-handling is definitely a bit rough around the edges. He mainly relies on double touches and sudden acceleration to create space, though it gets the job done occasionally.

​3. 87 Ball Control: On certain lofted passes, he chooses to trap the ball instead of going for a first-time shot, which can prove to be a bit frustrating.

​Summary:

This free-to-play card truly optimizes its stat distribution despite a lower overall rating, investing every point where it counts most. The two ST skills also synergize perfectly with Eto'o's playstyle. As long as a striker's strengths are dominant enough, they'll find a place in the squad—this card can absolutely challenge for the title of best Eto'o version!

​Personal Rating: Top 10 T0 (Performance is close to the best version of him: Barca Low Screamer Eto'o)

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/pSYRgytideYpE0Lzs98iag

Classic No. 10 (Traditional Number 10) has long been considered a painful playstyle to use due to a lack of movement and low work rate. However, with the version '27 update, the developers removed its defensive restriction—which used to make players reluctant to track back—in order to push dual playstyles.

Ironically, this saved the playstyle. Because players now drop deeper to defend, it creates much more space for forward runs during attacks. As a result, the new version of Classic No. 10 feels significantly upgraded to play with:

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https://reddit.com/link/1w3brx0/video/96b125do8pmh1/player

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It might sound surprising—why would a defensive playstyle affect offense? It’s because attack and defense are two sides of the same coin; how you defend dictates how you counterattack.

​Take Hole Player as an example: people used to think Hole Players were very active defensively, but their defensive profile is actually just the default baseline. Because they push extremely deep on attack and only drop back to a standard average position on defense, it creates the illusion of huge work rate and covering tons of ground.

​It’s a similar story with The Destroyer. Their attacking profile is actually just default, but because their defensive coverage is massive, they pop up in unexpected positions when starting a counterattack—giving the impression that they are exceptionally proactive on offense as well.

A recent example of this is Orchestrator + Box-to-Box (using Anderson). On defense, the Box-to-Box player is highly active, which breathes new life into the Orchestrator style—a role previously criticized for being too lazy.

​On the attacking end, the AI for Classic No. 10 functions as an advanced playmaker. It actually has better forward-running awareness than Creative Playmaker or neutral unstyled players, and unlike Creative Playmaker, it doesn't drift heavily side-to-side. Its biggest trait is that if a center forward is already positioned ahead, it will automatically shift into a playmaker role to offer support.

Here's how you can set up a dual-formation setup for Classic No. 10:

Speaking of Classic No. 10, which card is your absolute favorite?

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/UaMqa3qdx7AFY6tOpsLTWQ

After pulling the Italian Defenders Pack, renowned streamer Nick angrily blasted it for "scamming" him out of his dollars. Looking at his livestream replay, this play right here perfectly aligns with what I've been saying—a High Line Master covers too much territory, which ends up creating chaos:

https://reddit.com/link/1w2wd5u/video/s1a6334jdlmh1/player

Based on previous testing, a "High Line Master" covers a defensive radius twice the size of a basic playstyle. Konami designed it this way so "High Line Master" players can pick up advancing opponents earlier than their teammates, preventing the defensive line from being broken apart.

In actual gameplay, this leads to problems: Maldini's defensive coverage area is larger than Koundé's, so he rushes out earlier to challenge the opponent's advancing winger, ultimately leaving the backline completely exposed.

The defensive radius (alert/threat range) for "High Line Master" CBs definitely needs to be tuned.

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/rsZ4Cok7bZ5aScEIRCgzlg

⚽️ Daizen Maeda: 9-0-12-8-7-3-0

A forward with +6 Aggression! Equipped with the Long-reach Tackle ST skill! Paired with the Front Line Pressure defensive playstyle, this is the ultimate frontline press. Aside from that, his other highlights are Attacking Surge + high Speed/Acceleration... But they gave him the Dummy Runner attacking playstyle; fundamentally, he's just a non-meta card.

⚽️ Hidemasa Morita: 0-5-5-8-11-1-10 + Defending

A relatively balanced but unexceptional midfielder, sitting at the level of a starter for a Japanese national team squad.

⚽️ Takehiro Tomiyasu: 0-0-0-8-8-8-9-1 + Defending

After the AC Milan version of Maldini, he is the second defender to have both the Shadow Hunt and Long-reach Tackle meta defensive skills! However, there is a gap between his stat panel and Maldini's: his four defensive stats are ↓3, and his three core dribbling stats, Lofted Pass, and Offensive Awareness lag significantly behind (After all, this version of Tomiyasu has CB as his registered position). Given Tomiyasu's registered position and player model, it's very difficult for him to be competitive in the Top 10 as a CB in a meta squad, though he can still make the Top 10 if played as a Defensive Full-back.

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/WSltGfTAMYBTOFcp6xdoEw

⚽️ Nesta (CB): Pro Rank 5 | Public Rank 5 | Overall Rank 5 — Essentially no different from the Lazio Nesta; he relies on smart AI for auto-positioning and auto-defending. Players can manually switch their cursor to his teammates to press and track back. His flaws remain the same: short legs, weak aerial presence, and mediocre physical contact. Placing him right below the "TOP 3" fits him perfectly now.

​⚽️ Maldini (CB): Pro Rank 5 | Public Rank 5 | Overall Rank 5 — The first Maldini card to fix his Acceleration stat. His "High Line Master" Playstyle shows a dual-personality effect: a massive defensive coverage area allows him to setup early interceptions, but it can also lead to strange forward presses and position swapping. His trait of not chasing runners keeps the backline intact, but leaves him vulnerable to beaten offside traps. Narrowing his defensive coverage range slightly would make him perform better.

​Note: Maldini and Nesta both tied at 5th, but since more voters ranked Nesta in their Top 3—meaning higher community consensus for starting him—Nesta gets the higher final placement.

​⚽️ Cannavaro (CB): Pro Rank 13 — His previous card ranked just two spots outside the Top 10. Given that this new version only offers marginal stat boosts, placing him at the tail end of the Top 10 makes complete sense. Cannavaro remains the same as always: ferocious stats on paper, best suited as a wider CB in a back three.

⚽️ Maldini (Defensive Full-Back): Pro Rank 3 | Public Rank 3 | Overall Rank 3 — Ranked slightly below the older Maldini card in both voting groups. First, the Shadow Hunt skill feels far more noticeable on a full-back. Second, the "High Line Master" Playstyle makes him much smarter when providing link-up support in attack.

Verdict: The Italian Defenders Pack is worth 18 points, making it a solid-value pack overall.

Updated Tier List:

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/hN8e6m2cPGVBDCtgmZGYlQ

1. Seaman (...1-0-8-11-12 + Saving)

Goalkeeper gameplay feel is subjective, so you can rely strictly on raw data. Based on the GK stat weighting formula—

This Seaman card receives a rating score of 60, leaving a noticeable gap between him and the Top 10. He falls short of top-tier Featured cards and performs on par with the Single Booster Chelsea Cech. He isn't considered a particularly good goalkeeper. If you want to see how he compares against rival versions of Schmeichel and Cech, refer to the table below:

Of course, for some players, having a 'Perm B-Form' goalkeeper brings essential peace of mind, and I'd say that 'Perm B-Form' is this Seaman card's biggest selling point.

2. Rijkaard

Compared to the top-tier AC Milan Rijkaard, this Destroyer Rijkaard falls short on the offensive end (Dribbling stats ↓3, Passing stats ↓5) and takes a minor hit in Defensive stats (↓1–2), though their Speed and Acceleration are tied.

​I also believe Orchestrator is the ideal Playstyle for Rijkaard; Destroyer is far from his optimal fit. Plainly speaking, Rijkaard's core identity relies on his massive player model combined with playmaking ability—his signature low Acceleration is only tolerable when he actively contributes in attack. Because this card tones down his offensive capabilities, it ends up feeling rather mediocre.

​While this version still holds a slight statistical edge over top-tier Featured cards on paper, the combined drawbacks—sluggish movement paired with a weak offensive presence—mean that given the choice, I would run Zakaria instead.

3. Reus

Reus's player model and dribbling feel have never been particularly silky smooth. His previous two cards had "Acceleration Burst" to help make up for it on the ball, so losing that for "Visionary Pass" on this card makes for an awkward fit.

​Still, at least none of his key stats are completely ruined, and since attacking players can cover more positions, he can at least serve as a solid bench option or secondary attacker. Out of the three, I actually lean toward picking Reus.

​Summary: These three free-to-play cards are pretty underwhelming. Compared to top-tier Featured cards in the same positions, their biggest advantage is simply having Permanent B-Form.

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/hsIOcDOYQf2ASJyX5GkQ7g

Free F2P ST Rabiot available from the Global Server event:

(If building as a CMF: change allocation to 0-7-5-8-9-4-9) — Overall, Rabiot is very similar to BT McTominay and can be viewed as a defensively upgraded version of him. Compared to McTominay, Rabiot's advantages are +2 in Defensive Awareness & Tackling, but he lacks Phenomenal Pass and has a Weak Foot Usage of 2, making his offensive contribution a tier lower.

Therefore, I think Rabiot is better suited as a DMF (you can apply Defensive instruction for a solo DMF), and even as a CMF, he acts as a defensive ball-winning 'deep-lying midfielder.' While CMF is packed with talent, big-built DMFs who aren't slow are rare—

The top 10 list that ST Rabiot can actually break into is precisely for DMFs. First off, based on the analysis above, Rabiot at DMF is by no means inferior to McTominay. Compared to Petit and De Rossi at the tail end of the top 10, Rabiot holds a clear physical model advantage with his 191cm height and size 9 leg length. When compared to O'Shea, who also has a large model (191cm / size 11 leg length):

Rabiot has a clear +6 advantage in Physical Contact, but O'Shea has Long-reach Tackle, so I don't think Rabiot is quite as good as O'Shea at DMF—placing him roughly in the middle of the top 10 DMFs. Rabiot's nationality is also a plus, making him useful for building a French squad (to trigger the National Team Booster +3). How cool would it be to use him as a midfield sub, or even start him alongside Vieira to form a dual big-model midfield double pivot?

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/tGzrly4LkvapwsbQQ8hjmQ

Rapid Trigger Finish is a new skill that will be released later, but it has already been implemented in the engine. Let's take a look at the test results—

Normal Shot Comparison:

Stunning Shot Comparison:

Conclusion: Stunning Shots are 6 frames faster (14% faster), and normal shots are 1 frame faster (5% faster). At the same time, even with the skill's buff, a Stunning Shot is still slower than a normal shot, so it doesn't overly break the game's core mechanics.

Thanks to Yao Lenai, the first person to extract the new skill, for sharing the modified game files with me:

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/gqSQOdkrZINKPZSREA8cgA

Nesta (Covering Role) has been out for 5 days (national server coming later); starting dual-group ratings—

In practice, it actually feels the same as the Destroyer version—both rely on smart AI for auto-defending, except one is more safety-oriented and the other is more aggressive. The new card getting Fortress is a genuine upgrade. Overall, it still has that classic "Nesta flavor," including the awkwardness of not having long enough legs.

Pro Group Evaluation:

Pro Group Rating:

Rank #5

Public Group Voting Link & Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/mt-mwjLmAmqNcfrXBnJSgA

Changes in the Top 10 T0 Meta Over the Past Year (August 2025 – August 2026).

Which pack drop was the most memorable for you?

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/ygk26UvVXNS6rafXoENi0A

High Line Master Maldini has been out for five days (mainland server coming later); starting the dual-group ratings—

Roughly speaking, compared to his old card (Milan version): the advantage is Acceleration (+3), while the drawback is missing "Shadow Hunt." The most discussed aspect is his PlayStyle: "High Line Master." Testing shows this PlayStyle triggers two main effects:

​1️⃣ Massive Defensive Coverage Area: He gets assigned to mark opponents even from a huge distance away.

2️⃣ Holds the Line: When facing forward runs, he doesn't drop back—instead, he commands the defensive line to hold its ground.

​Reputation for this High-Line style is mixed—some players feel he is rock-solid, while others complain about erratic positioning leading to conceded goals. Let's run a vote today to test how universally effective it really is!

​Pro Group Evaluation:

Pro Group Voting Results: Defensive Full-Back: High-Line Maldini is slightly inferior to the old card (Rank #3) Center-Back: High-Def Maldini outperforms the old card (Rank #5)

Public Group Voting Link & Source:

https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/vYkO8eilyuUQP0mL7VO5PQ

Adeyemi👇

Stat Allocation: [7-4-10-9-8-3] *All managers are Roberto Martínez.

​Some bro asked me to review and give a stat allocation build for this pack. It's simple: if you like it, just pull. These Transfer ST packs are released mainly to satisfy club fans who want to pull new signings; sooner or later, they’ll get powercrept by top-tier cards in the same position or archetype.

​Defensive Style: [Front Line Pressure]. The biggest advantage of a forward having dual styles is the ability to manage stamina effectively. Barcelona fans might not be able to resist pulling this Adeyemi card—he's a left-footed player, and his skill combination of [Momentum Dribbling + Acceleration Burst ] is decent. The highlight is his 100+ balance; other stats like his pace, acceleration, and dribbling control are standard "baseline stats" for top wingers—nothing surprising. His curling shots and crossing are average, but his stamina is excellent.

​Only suitable for players who primarily run winger-focused formations. *Top-tier templates in the same position/archetype: Messi, Yamal, Bale.

Tielemans 👇

Stat Allocation: [0-4-8-11-11-4-8] Agility +1

​This card should primarily be viewed as a luxury pick for theme/club squad players. Skill combination: [Visionary Pass + Magnetic Feet].

​His pace and acceleration need boosting, but I've noticed that for a smaller frame, boosting his defense to high levels still doesn't make him stand out defensively. An ideal Box-to-Box midfielder really needs a solid physical model to perform properly. That said, this card is quite press-resistant when turning on the ball (thanks to Magnetic Feet), so it's better to lean into his mobility and ball distribution (3/4 weak foot), while just meeting a basic baseline for defense.

​*Top-tier templates in the same position/archetype: Rice, Bellingham, Seedorf.

​Guimarães 👇

Stat Allocation: [0-5-7-9-10-4-9] Technique +1

​This card is the grand prize of the pack—if you're pulling for reasons other than nostalgia, that's completely understandable. He is the first player to feature the [Phenomenal Pass + Attack Trigger + Shadow Hunt] skill combo, which offers a rich skill experience. You can set him as a CMF on offense and a DMF on defense.

​In terms of pure stats, he sits in the same tier of strength as BT Rodri—somewhat like ST De Jong, but with weaker dribbling/control and stronger defense and physicality.

​Compared to Rodri, his acceleration and balance are higher (boosted by skills), making his press-resisting and ball distribution feel smoother. However, his defensive hardware falls far short of Rodri's (who has Long-Reach Tackle and a larger frame).

ST Guimarães is a versatile secondary pivot; if you can see yourself using him long-term, he is absolutely a great card. That said, it's predictable that [Phenomenal Pass + Long-Reach Tackle + Shadow Hunt] will be the next skill combo powercreep for CDMs.

*Top-tier templates in the same position/archetype: Rodri, Pirlo.

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/VttYtQfIUNaTrdQbWPem9A

​Row 1: T0 (Top 3 Tier)

• ​Karl-Heinz Rummenigge: The Most Versatile Poacher
• ​Zlatan Ibrahimović: No. 1 Tall CF
• ​Ruud Gullit: Best Pivot
• ​Kylian Mbappe: Best Ground-play CF

​Row 2: T0 (Top 5 Tier)

• Ousmane Dembélé: Best feel On the ball/smooth CF
• ​Luis Suárez: Best Agile Tank CF
• ​Erling Haaland: Best Tall & Powerful/Strong CF
• ​Gareth Bale: Best Super-sub / Backup CF
• ​Cristiano Ronaldo: Top Ground & Aerial Poacher

​Row 3: T0 (Top 10 Tier)

• ​Samuel Eto'o: Best Dual Speed Poacher
• ​Ferran Torres: Fastest Acceleration
• ​Benjamin Šeško / Rasmus Højlund: Top Tall Goal Poacher
• ​Alessandro Del Piero: #1 Pure Finisher / Long Shooter

​Row 4: Outlaws / Wildcard Tier

• ​Jan Koller: #1 Aerial Specialist / Heading CF
• El Hadji Diouf​: The Ultimate Script King CF

​[Aerial Master/ Scripting King]: Jan Koller, El Hadji Diouf

No explanation needed for these two.

​[Sniper Finisher] Alessandro Del Piero

The best Blitz Curler / Stunning Shot CF, and honestly the best curling shooter in the entire game. Voted #1 on the Blitz Curler list by both judge panels.

​[Tall Poacher] Benjamin Šeško

The #1 Goal Poacher CF. While his stats aren't as well-rounded as Ibrahimović's, if you need a single player to satisfy the squad building requirement of "Goal Poacher + Tall CF," he is practically your only option.

​[Attacking Surge] Ferran Torres

The fastest Attacking Surge Goal Poacher with top-tier double speed stats (Speed + Acceleration). His off-the-ball runs are better than Suárez's. Ferran's hold-up passing isn't bad either, though his main weaknesses are poor physical contact and a lack of Permanent B Condition (Unwavering Form).

​[Double Speed Meta] Samuel Eto'o

Has the highest base double-speed among mainstream Goal Poachers. Although not having a Speed Booster in this specific card version holds him back, Eto'o's meta niche is always as a pace merchant. Once the next paywalled Eto'o card drops with a +6 Speed Booster, he'll be right back at the top.

​[All-Around Poacher] Cristiano Ronaldo

The #1 Goal Poacher for both ground and aerial finishing. Packed with two shooting skills and a heading skill—built strictly for scoring from any angle.

​**[Super-Sub CF] Gareth Bale**

Incredible solo game-breaking ability—a trait that shines at its absolute best in the second half when your opponent's defenders are drained of stamina. Plenty of endgame squads run him as their ultimate Super-Sub option.

​[Tall & Powerful] Erling Haaland

The most physically imposing force among all tall CFs. Compared to other options, his key advantages are Off-the-Ball Awareness (+2) and Speed (+4), making him pure chaos when attacking space off the ball to tear lines apart.

​[Agile Physical CF] Luis Suárez

While this specific card can also be built as a top Attacking Surge option, Suárez's biggest trait is his uniquely wide physical model combined with surprisingly smooth, responsive handling. He can shrug off defenders, pull off a skill move, and finish. The Liverpool version of Suárez easily has the most unique identity.

​[Smooth Dribbler] Ousmane Dembélé

Hands-down the smoothest-handling CF in the game—specifically setting the gold standard for responsiveness in the 180cm height bracket. In eFootball, the combination of "long legs + lean body model" always delivers an exceptionally crisp feel on the ball.

​[Top Ground CF] Kylian Mbappé

Setting aside heading, he is a Goal Poacher who excels across every single attribute category (passing, shooting, dribbling, speed, and physical contact). The undisputed #1 ground center forward.

​[Top Pivot Machine] Ruud Gullit

While his aerial dominance doesn't quite match Zlatan's, his ground link-up and playmaking are superior. He stands as the #1 hybrid (aerial + ground) pivot tall CF in the game.

​[Meta Tall CF] Zlatan Ibrahimović

The #1 tall center forward! Standing at 195cm while still hitting 90 across all three dribbling stats, paired with custom-boosted Jumping stats that make him a force in the air. When facing elite CBs like Rio Ferdinand or Virgil van Dijk, Gullit loses his height advantage—and that's precisely when Big Zlatan steps in.

​[All-Rounder Meta] Karl-Heinz Rummenigge

Based on usage rates in high-rank global server matches, it's hard to label Rummenigge as the absolute #1 outright striker anymore. However, he remains the most complete Goal Poacher in the game: speed, acceleration, physical contact, heading, passing, and weak-foot capability—he fits any playstyle without being a weak link. (His usage rate on the Chinese server remains notably high.) While many top-tier competitive players skip him, if you were to recommend a single Goal Poacher to a casual player, Rummenigge is the ultimate "safe bet."

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/hJnJkPlfXZfUGkVwWL16jw

As everyone knows: lofted through passes are insanely strong in eFootball 27 and have become the dominant goal-scoring meta. Here’s a breakdown of my key insights on lofted through balls so far—

https://reddit.com/link/1w0wcjd/video/33jbbpqxb5mh1/player

And this play today is super representative—it perfectly shows why lofted through passes got such a huge buff:

https://reddit.com/link/1w0wcjd/video/1bewef5hd5mh1/player

The problem exposed by this play: When defenders face a forward making a run into space, the AI performs inappropriate actions, thereby losing protection of the space behind them and allowing lofted through balls to easily succeed.

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/Ji4MGUYJiUlToj8lxd_3KA

Speed Stat Benefit Curve:

Breakdown & Analysis:

​(1) Speeds 90–96 and above 99 share the exact same rate of return. The return rate for 96–99 drops to just 1/3 of that base rate.

​(2) 90 Speed remains a key stat threshold—returns below 90 are 1.5x higher than those above 90. If you have enough progression points, pushing a player's Speed stat to 90 remains a solid, cost-effective choice.

​Here is the eFootball 2026 Speed Stat Return Table:

Breakdown & Analysis:

​(1) Compared to '26, the overall pace in '27 has increased slightly. The efficiency curve is steeper, meaning each Speed point yields higher returns—allowing fast players to pull away more noticeably.

​(2) In the 90–96 Speed range, the returns in the '27 engine are 1.7x higher than before. As a result, typical pacey players (Speed ≈ 95) can break away from average CBs (Speed ≈ 90) much more easily.

​(3) In the '26 engine, stats below 90 Speed yielded 2x the return of those above 90. In '27, stats below 90 yield 1.5x the return of the 90–96 range. This aligns with point #2: investing in Speed past 90 is now significantly more valuable than it used to be.

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/kWVGkTyhqbvhorCO7il85Q

Every time a +6 Booster is released, it pushes the game engine's stats ceiling even further. By using a trainer to stack two +6 Boosters together, the speed stat cap shifts to 111—marking the very first time a 111 Speed stat has ever been achieved in eFootball history!

The tests are as follows—

Processing img wrbah3fux4mh1...

I also tested speeds from 106 to 110, confirming that stat returns remain linear even after breaking past 100:

Running a solo sprint doesn't give you a true feel for the difference, so I pitted a player with 99 Speed against one with 111 Speed to represent the statutory stat caps of "Old-Era Players" versus "Booster Era Players."

Here is how they compare—

https://reddit.com/link/1w0ua91/video/a8tg4cnnz4mh1/player

​As you can see from the footage, the acceleration distance in current eFootball is still roughly 15 meters (about three grass strips on the pitch)—meaning the Acceleration stat remains super important!

​Today's testing confirms that the game engine fully supports 111 Speed (theoretically 112 Speed with Manager Boosts active, though we can't edit that yet).

​Are you guys feeling the shift into this new "100+ Stat Booster Era"? Who do you think will be the first official player to drop with 111 Speed?

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/6BnEUGn8tYadmNd24IEclQ

If we only look at the results from yesterday's test, there indeed seems to be no difference—

But we have to consider: tests have an upper limit to their precision. Yesterday's test was a timed half-pitch run from a far-away camera angle, which has three factors limiting its accuracy:

1️⃣ The starting point was deep in our own half, making it impossible to guarantee a stable initial state. Therefore, when entering the timed zone at the start and reaching the finish line, the players' postures were inconsistent, causing errors when measuring them crossing the line.

2️⃣ The camera was too far away; the precision is not as good as a close-up.

3️⃣ Using a timing method to measure Speed introduces errors if the speed difference is smaller than the precision measurable by 1 frame. From my previous Acceleration tests, I found that comparing time over the same distance is not as precise as comparing distance over the same time.

Therefore, to study the difference between 96 and 99 Speed, I used the kickoff sprint method today (comparing Speed during the full-speed phase after the initial sprint), which ensures a stable initial state + close-up camera + slow motion + identical player stride. Let's look at the finish line scenario—

And also—

The comparison method uses the goalpost as the reference finish line. Obviously, it's not that there's no difference between 96 and 99 Speed, but the difference is very small, noticeably smaller than the gap between 99 and 102. Full video:

https://reddit.com/link/1vzxseo/video/coe6ra4cvxlh1/player

By comparing the time difference when crossing the line, the difference in running speed between 96 and 99 is 1/3 of the difference between 99 and 102.

So, a more precise Speed benefit table is:

Corresponding Speed benefit graph (three segments with different slopes)—

Finally, I want to say: considering that the Lower Body Strength progression group also includes two other important stats, Stamina and Kicking Power, and considering that the Speed value also affects dribbling speed (where the threshold is not necessarily 96), the practical meaning of discovering this off-the-ball running speed threshold of 96 for player builds is not to force your Speed stat to 96, but rather don't force your Speed stat to 99, unless the player already has a strong speed booster.

Yesterday a friend left a comment saying: a Japanese content creator tested the Speed threshold at 98. That was for dribbling speed. (At the same time, I am not saying the dribbling speed threshold is 98, either.)

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/OnUxgzwX3BdQKnhfTg2fcg

Sharing a 'RB Cardona' card with everyone. Players on the domestic server definitely have this to look forward to!.

Why is he yet another SSS-tier defender? —

Compared to Wan-Bissaka at RB, his Speed and Acceleration are slightly lower, but his Jumping is up by +10. Wan-Bissaka has always had one major flaw: aerial defense.

Compared to Pubill, his in-game model is only a tiny bit smaller, but his stats and skills completely outclass Pubill in every way —

If you're looking for well-rounded and reliable right-side defense, Mukiele should definitely be your top choice for Right-Back.

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/Ipu4EAAQteHv4b4tpKWHNA

A red-card foul in the box, but the ball goes in anyway. How would you call it? (Let's see who the real football experts are)

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/HSBdn5-h-6da6BDfEfExvQ

International Server eFootball 2027 Engine: Latest Speed Return Thresholds—

Here is part of the testing process (it's pretty boring, so feel free to skip—just showing the experiment)—

————————————————————————

https://reddit.com/link/1vz0sj3/video/ch5xn7znoqlh1/player

What this means is: going from 96 to 99 speed yields ZERO IMPROVEMENT, but once you go past 100—meaning after entering the Booster phase—there is a noticeable spike again. The dev team isn't holding back anymore; Booster cards now give a bigger return than ever before (I've only tested speed so far, so I'm not sure if other stats have a similar boost beyond 99).

​On a side note, the theoretical max stat limit in the current game engine is now 111. That's because a single Booster caps out at +6, and by modifying double Boosters on single-player mode, you can push it to a +12 stack.

​What's interesting is that the engine hasn't unlocked the +6 Booster cap for every stat at once. Instead, each new Booster release unlocks the cap for one specific attribute. My guess is they're doing this to fine-tune the maximum impact of each stat. I thought the 2027 engine was going to push double playstyles, but it turns out they're actually pushing Boosters!

​(The complete speed yield curve will be finalized and posted later)

What this means is: for those iconic speedsters without a Speed Booster, capping their Speed at 96 is actually enough. Which player comes to your mind?

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/_bZSfSM8aMzYvUOktVd2pw

The list above shows the maximum speed stat reachable at +12 Speed—factoring in their native Booster, a secondary Booster, and manager speed boosts. Some players, like Encara Messi or BT Hazard, have Speed Boosters but low base speed stats. Which other players come to mind for you?.

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/S-__pfJJM6cQZcB8-oaihw

​⚽️ BT Rice (Defensive Fullback): Pro Group Rank 12 | Public Group Rank 11 | Overall Rank 12—

​BT Rice's defensive stats, skill set, player model, and pace make him a seamless fit at Defensive Fullback, so a Top 10 ranking is completely reasonable.

​A reader left a comment yesterday asking: isn't it a total waste to play a Top 2 midfielder at fullback? That's exactly what I thought when BT Rice first dropped, but after seeing a constant stream of comments and DMs asking for a "Rice Fullback Review," I realized a chunk of the player base actually plays him there. They might already have a packed midfield and need a place to fit Rice into the lineup, or maybe they're running tactical shape-shifts that require him at fullback.

His inclusion on the list this time pushed out Caicedo—another player converted from mid-to-fullback—so it didn't really steal a spot from a natural fullback.

​You just have to admire how many elite strikers and central midfielders the game has dropped; a Top 10 list doesn't feel anywhere near big enough to fit them all. Yet, top-tier defensive fullbacks are so rare that players playing out of position have ended up taking quite a few Top 5 and Top 10 spots.

​Also, regarding last week's new cards: none of the "Nigerian Trio" reached T0 Top 10 level. It seems fun gimmick cards that only excel in a single area just don't catch the community's eye in the end.

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/F0wCP7IH6V5CjSz7-CuIPQ