For years, Ultimate Team enthusiasts have chased the dream of assembling the highest-rated squad possible in EA Sports’ flagship football series. In EA FC 25, that dream has finally become reality: players can now build a full 98-rated team for the first time ever. Thanks to the arrival of endgame promos, boosted Evolutions, EA FC 25 Coins and record-breaking special items, the power ceiling in Ultimate Team has been shattered. Let’s explore how the first 98-rated squad is now possible in FC 25, which cards are necessary, how chemistry plays a vital role, and what this means for the future of Ultimate Team.
The Evolution of Power Creep in Ultimate Team Power creep has been a constant theme across the Ultimate Team cycle in recent years. From humble gold cards to Team of the Year (TOTY), Team of the Season (TOTS), and now multiple specialty promos like Fantasy FC, Path to Glory, and Greats of the Game, each new wave pushes player ratings higher than ever. But EA FC 25 has introduced some unique mechanics that opened the door to an unprecedented milestone: the 98 overall rating.
The main drivers of this milestone include:
Evolutions: Allowing users to upgrade low-rated cards into 95+ monsters.
Fantasy FC & Festival of Football promos: Introducing multiple 97, 98, and even 99-rated cards.
Chemistry-linked team building: Enabling easier synergy between top-tier players from different leagues and nations.
Building the First 98-Rated Squad: Key Components To achieve a 98-rated team, a very specific combination of factors must be optimized: starting XI rating, bench quality, chemistry (for stat boosts), and even player positions. Here's what a potential 98-rated Ultimate Team might look like in July 2025, based on available content.
Goalkeeper: 98 Yassine Bounou – Greats of the Game Bounou’s 98-rated card from the “Greats of the Game” promo offers perfect links to LaLiga and Moroccan players. With near-maxed stats and traits like “Footwork Saves” and “Cross Claimer,” he is one of the highest-rated keepers ever.
Defenders: 99 Ronald Araújo – TOTS Ultimate
With elite pace, defending, and physical stats, he anchors the backline.
98 Theo Hernández – Festival of Football
His France links are vital, and his high pace-physical blend makes him perfect for the meta.
98 Éder Militão – Greats of the Game
Offers Real Madrid and Brazil links. One of the strongest CBs in FC 25.
98 Trent Alexander-Arnold – Fantasy FC
Upgradable and tech-savvy, this card brings vision and crossing to a max level.
Midfielders: 99 Jude Bellingham – Festival of Football / TOTS
Arguably the best CM in the game. Links to England, LaLiga, and Real Madrid.
98 Kevin De Bruyne – Greats of the Game
An engine in midfield with 99 passing and long shots.
98 Bruno Fernandes – Fantasy FC
With multiple upgrades, he’s now a 98-rated creative powerhouse.
Forwards: 99 Kylian Mbappé – TOTS Ultimate
The highest-rated attacker in the game, Mbappé is unstoppable.
98 Cristiano Ronaldo – Festival of Football
Age-defying stats, shooting, and physicality make CR7 one of the most lethal strikers.
98 Lionel Messi – Greats of the Game
His card combines flair, dribbling, and finesse to complete the holy trinity up front.
Bench: High-Rated Support Cast To hit a 98 team rating, your bench must also feature 97+ players. A sample includes:
99 Haaland (TOTS)
98 Salah (Festival of Football)
98 Kimmich (Greats of the Game)
97 Musiala (Fantasy FC)
97 Alisson (TOTS)
98 van Dijk (TOTS Ultimate)
97 Saka (Festival of Football)
Chemistry and Manager Setup Reaching 98 rating doesn’t only rely on card stats — chemistry is crucial. Here's how it's managed:
Hybrid formations (like 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3): Allow use of wide-range nationalities.
Nation-link synergy: Players like Bellingham and Kane, or Mbappé and Theo Hernández, provide green links.
Icons or Greats of the Game cards: Offer universal links to glue the team together.
Manager Boosts: A Premier League or LaLiga manager can help give that final point of chemistry needed.
With 33/33 chemistry, each card performs at peak rating, often surpassing 99 in individual attributes.
Evolutions Pushing the Ceiling Evolutions — introduced as one of the flagship features in EA FC 24 and expanded in FC 25 — play a pivotal role. Users who completed early Evolutions with players like Openda, Güler, or Zaire-Emery and continued upgrading them through multiple campaigns could now have 97 or 98-rated Evo cards that boost the squad rating and are completely unique.
Market Impact and SBC Strategy Building a 98-rated team isn’t cheap. Most of the players mentioned above command millions of coins or rare pack luck. However, EA has been releasing top-tier SBCs like:
98-rated SBC Ronaldo (Festival of Football)
98 Futties-style Flashback Messi
98 De Bruyne Player Moments SBC
These allow grinders to create endgame squads without needing to pack every elite player. Additionally, weekly upgrade SBCs let you recycle fodder for chances at 96–99 rated cards.
The Future: 99-Rated Teams? With August approaching and the Futties promo just around the corner, we may even see the first 99-rated Ultimate Team in FC 25 history. EA could introduce "99 All" cards like they did in FIFA 23’s endgame cycle, and Evolutions may offer another upgrade path. For now, though, the 98-rated team is the peak of what’s achievable — and it’s absolutely breathtaking.
Final Thoughts Reaching a 98-rated team in EA FC 25 Ultimate Team is a major milestone in the game’s evolution. With dynamic promos, chemistry tools, Evolutions, and well-designed SBC content, the pathway to building the most powerful squad in football gaming history is open. Whether you’re chasing greatness or Fut Coins for sale just admiring it from afar, the bar for endgame squads has been officially raised — and it’s only going higher.
| 
게시일