So far, Team of the Year Attackers, Midfielders, and Icons Team 1 have officially joined the player pool. And today, TOTY Defenders and TOTY Icons Team 2 will also be added to the game’s card packs, bringing FIFA 26 event to a climax.
Currently, there are quite a few TOTY cards worth acquiring this season, especially TOTY Marcelo card from TOTY Icons Team 1. This article will introduce the upcoming EA FC 26 TOTY release date and provide a review of TOTY Marcelo card.
Release Date
As in previous years, FC 26 TOTY release plan is divided into four phases. First, attackers will be added to the card packs, followed by midfielders, and finally defenders and goalkeepers. All player cards will then be added to the card packs for a grand week-long finale, culminating in the release of 12th Man and 12th Woman cards the following day.
Here are the specific release dates:
- TOTY Attackers: Friday, January 16
- TOTY Midfielders: Sunday, January 18
- TOTY Defenders & Goalkeepers: Tuesday, January 20
- TOTY Icons Team 1: Friday, January 16 - Tuesday, January 20
- TOTY Icons Team 2: Tuesday, January 20 - Friday, January 23
- TOTY Full Release: Thursday, January 22 - Friday, January 30
- TOTY 12th Man & 12th Woman: Friday, January 23 - Friday, January 30
If you have specific target positions, save your card packs for those release windows. If you want to try players in all positions, then the full lineup release period from January 22nd to 30th is your best option.
TOTY Icons Team 1
TOTY Icons Team 1 is now available. The complete card list is as follows:
- Zlatan Ibrahimović (ST, Sweden) - 95
- Jairzinho (RW, Brazil) - 94
- Lilian Thuram (RB, France) - 93
- Marcelo (LB, Brazil) - 92
- Wayne Rooney (ST, England) - 92
- Caroline Seger (CM, Sweden) - 91
The arrival of the new TOTY Icon Marcelo has instantly ignited the enthusiasm of the player community. The pairing of Marcelo and Ronaldinho is inherently nostalgic, but what truly makes this card stand out is not just the nostalgia factor, but also the improved card performance.
Marcelo SBC Mission
This card is extremely powerful and is the most expensive Legendary Player SBC in EA FC 26 to date, requiring approximately 1.7-1.8 million FC 26 coins. To obtain this card, you need to complete the following 12 tasks before February 6th.
Challenge 1: On a Loan
Squad Requirements: 84+ Team Rating
Solution: 4x 82's, 6x 84's, and 1x 86-rated players
Challenge 2: Los Blancos
Squad Requirements: 86+ Team Rating Must feature at least 1x TOTW and 1x Real Madrid player
Solution: 3x 87's, 3x 86's, and 5x 84-rated players
Challenge 3: 87-Rated Squad
Squad Requirements: 87+ Team Rating
Solution: 3x 88's, 4x 87's, and 4x 84-rated players
Challenge 4: Top-notch
Squad Requirements: 87+ Team Rating Must feature at least 1x TOTW
Solution: 3x 88's, 4x 87's, and 4x 84-rated players
Challenge 5: 87-Rated Squad
Squad Requirements: 87+ Team Rating Must feature at least 1x TOTW
Solution: 3x 88's, 4x 87's, and 4x 84-rated players
Challenge 6: 88-Rated Squad
Squad Requirements: 88+ Team Rating
Solution: 1x 90, 2x 89's, 2x 88's, and 6x 86-rated players.
Challenge 7: 88-Rated Squad
Squad Requirements: 88+ Team Rating Must feature at least 1x TOTW
Solution: 1x 90, 2x 89's, 2x 88's, and 6x 86-rated players.
Challenge 8: 89-Rated Squad
Squad Requirements: 89+ Team Rating
Solution: 2x 87's, 3x 88's, 4x 89's, and 2x 90's
Challenge 9: 89-Rated Squad
Squad Requirements: 89+ Team Rating
Solution: 2x 87's, 3x 88's, 4x 89's, and 2x 90-rated players
Challenge 10: 89-Rated Squad
Squad Requirements: 89+ Team Rating Must feature at least 1x TOTW
Solution: 2x 87's, 3x 88's, 4x 89's, and 2x 90-rated players
Challenge 11: 89-Rated Squad
Squad Requirements: 89+ Team Rating Must feature at least 1x TOTW
Solution: 2x 87's, 3x 88's, 4x 89's, and 2x 90-rated players
Challenge 12: 90-Rated Squad
Squad Requirements: 90+ Team Rating
Solution: 3x 88's, 3x 89's, 2x 90's, and 3x 91-rated players
Marcelo TOTY Card Review
Compared to the previously released Base Icon Marcelo (89 OVR) and Champions Icon Marcelo (89 OVR), TOTY Marcelo (92 OVR) shows significant improvements in Pace, Shooting, Defending, and Physical.
This makes Marcelo the strongest left-back in FUT 26, and almost impossible for any other player to surpass before TOTS. It’s expensive, but incredibly worthwhile.
TOTY Marcelo's most striking feature is his Anticipate + Jockey + Intercept playing style setup. This combination is perfect for a full-back, ensuring defensive stability while greatly expanding attacking options. Not to mention his 91 acceleration and 90 defensive ability, making this card virtually unstoppable on the field.
When attacking, TOTY Marcelo’s presence is also extremely strong. He can not only execute traditional overlapping runs but also frequently cut inside to midfield and even participate in playmaking and breakthroughs on the edge of the penalty area. Combined with his excellent rolling ability, his dribbling is incredibly smooth.
As a left-back, his ball control and footwork have completely surpassed the traditional full-back category.
If you enjoy playing him as a playmaking Falseback or an attacking Wingback, his passing, dribbling, especially his Tiki-Taka and technical abilities will definitely not disappoint. If you also have Ronaldinho, this duo will be unstoppable on the field.
Is he worth it?
Currently, TOTY Marcelo costs approximately 1.7 million FUT 26 coins and requires many FOD players with ratings of 89-90, making the acquisition cost not low. However, considering TOTY event, this price is reasonable.
Furthermore, compared to other mainstream left-backs like Théo Bernard François Hernandez, Marcelo has significant advantages in technique, ball control, attack, and defense. In the current version, there are almost no truly comparable alternatives.
If you feel it's not the right time to acquire him, you can rent this card to experience it first. Once you get used to his rhythm, this card may very well become your most satisfying investment in the entire TOTY event.
Overall, FC 26 TOTY Icon Marcelo isn't just a nice-looking nostalgia card; he's a top-tier player who can truly change the way the left flank plays. His offensive prowess is undeniable among left-backs, and he's equally reliable defensively. This card is currently the most recommended acquiring in EA FUT 26.
However, you can also look forward to seeing what powerful lineups you'll get from today's TOTY Icons Team 2. Good luck with opening packs and upgrading during TOTY!
















