9 Best Attacking Midfielders in EA Sports Ultimate Team History (Ranked)

Summary

• Playmakers are a key cog in the system in EA Sports Ultimate Team.

• Modern-day stars Kevin De Bruyne and Bruno Fernandes have featured in TOTY; they were given world-class cards.

• Icons Pele, Zinedine Zidane and Jairzinho have also shone as a ten.

Creating your side in EA Sports Ultimate Team is like a jigsaw. Every piece - or player in this instance - combines to create a unique and stunning masterpiece which can help you win the hardest competitions. That's been the case ever since the mode became a reality in 2008.

One of the most important aspects of your side comes in the middle of the park. Playmakers not only help defend, but they also act as the fulcrum for attacking movements. They have to create chances effortlessly, whilst also finishing off moves as well. Due to this, we have decided to reveal the nine best attacking midfielders in FIFA, now EA Sports FC, since it began all those years ago.

We have limited every player to just one card - otherwise, we would have included Pele and Diego Maradona countless times - whilst it's also important to consider that, in recent years, there have been more special cards. Therefore, although there have been higher-rated cards, they have not felt as dominant.

Ranking Factors

• Rating - The higher the rating, the better they should perform on paper.

• Comparison to other cards in the game - Whether they felt overpowered.

• Key Stats - Pace is always a key stat for every outfield player.

Opinions on cards are also naturally subjective, so several world-class cards have missed out.

9 Bruno Fernandes

Version: FIFA 21 Team of the Year

Manchester United have had nine players included in EA Sports' TOTY, but only one - Bruno Fernandes - has featured since FIFA 19. The former Sporting Lisbon midfielder was included in the FIFA 21 TOTY after an electric campaign with the Red Devils. He was the key cog in the system.

The playmaker was given a 97-rated card that was superb in every area. While he was at home in the final third creating chances, he could also put in a defensive shift as well. He had four-star skill moves and a four-star weak foot, whilst stats such as '99 Vision', '97 Long Passing' and '98 Short Passing' painted an impressive picture.

8 Marco Reus

Version: FIFA 19 Team of the Season

Marco Reus was consistently blighted by injuries during his spell at Borussia Dortmund, but - when he was fit and confident - he was one of the best midfielders in the world. That was showcased during the 2018/19 campaign, where his performances secured him a stunning 98-rated Team of the Season card.

Just like Fernandes, he was an artist in the final third. Not only could he glide around effortlessly, he could pick out a teammate with ease. He had '97 Finishing' and '97 Agility', which meant even the world's best defenders started to fear for their future once the German came bursting forward.

7 Zinedine Zidane

Version: FIFA 23 Cover Star Icon

Zinedine Zidane needs no introduction. A world-class playmaker. Legendary finisher. Passionate mastermind. There's a reason why he is strongly considered one of the greatest French players of all time, and that has been showcased in EA Sports' products consistently.

In FIFA 23, he was given a Cover Star Icon card via a Squad Building Challenge. He had five-star skills and a five-star weak foot as the Frenchman glided around the final third like it was a kickabout in the park. The only reason it's not at the top of this list is because it was released on August 18th 2023 - near the end of the game's cycle.

6 Jairzinho

Version: EA Sports FC 24 Futties Icon

It's the same story a year later with Jairzinho. The legendary Brazilian was given a Futties Icon card at the end of EAFC 24's game cycle, which - while it was superb and a joy to use - means hardly anyone used him. The winger-turned-playmaker was given the card because he was a fan favourite all season.

To celebrate that, he was given a 98-rated card with five-star skill moves, a five-star weak foot, and - remarkably - four PlayStyle+ - Quick Step, Technical, Whipped Pass and First Touch. Any attacking stat you looked at was world-class, truly proving that the forward was in a league of his own.

5 Kevin De Bruyne

Version: FIFA 20 Team of the Year

From 2018 to 2024, Kevin De Bruyne was included in every single TOTY. For seven years, the Belgian was in a league of his own as he dictated the tempo of matches, produced an endless stream of assists and also scored his fair share of stunning and unstoppable goals.

We could have included any of those cards, but we have opted for his FIFA 20 TOTY version. The 98-rated card lacked pace - 88, far lower than others on this list - but what he lacked in pace he made up for with technical and sophisticated brilliance. With a five-star weak foot, De Bruyne was a threat from anywhere.

4 Diego Maradona

Version: FIFA 20 Icon Moment

Diego Maradona was a mastermind. One of the greatest Argentine players of all time is famous in England for his "Hand of God" moment, but - around that - the nimble magician was a level above everyone else on the pitch. That's been replicated in previous FIFA games, with his 99-rated FIFA 20 Icon Moment card the best.

There was one significant issue with the card - a three-star weak foot - but if you focused your play to help him cut in on his stronger foot every single time, he quickly showed it wasn't as disastrous as first perceived. When he had stats like '99 Finishing, Balance and Dribbling', that was backed up as well.

3 Lionel Messi

Version: FIFA 21 Futties

In the summer of 2021, Lionel Messi rocked the footballing world. The greatest player in Barcelona's history left the club due to financial issues and he joined European rivals Paris Saint-Germain in the process. To honour the transfer, Messi was given a Futties card at his new club.

Released via a SBC on August 21st 2021, the legendary Argentine was wanted by everyone. The attacking midfielder had five-star skills, a four-star weak foot and a nearly endless stream of '99' stats. His balance, composure and finishing stood out from the crowd, yet - in truth - he was comfortable everywhere.

2 Neymar

Version: FIFA 23 Futties

Every year, EA Sports finishes off the year with Futties, a promo that celebrates the best Ultimate Team players that year. Messi showcased that in FIFA 21, and - two years later - Neymar was given a world-class 99-rated card to celebrate his legendary performances in the game over the past 11 months.

The Paris Saint-Germain superstar was about to leave for Saudi Arabia in real life, but that didn't impact his talent in FIFA 23. With five-star skills and a five-star weak foot, it felt like the Brazilian could do anything you asked, even if he wasn't the strongest.

1 Pele

Version: FIFA 22 Icon Moment

Finally, Pele's FIFA 22 Icon Moment card has been ranked as the best attacking midfielder in EA Sports Ultimate Team history. In truth, the Brazilian has been overpowered in every single game and choosing just one was a challenge. However, that's what happens when one of the greatest players of all time is available.

The attacking midfielder felt like a cheat code, even if that was expected for his mind-boggling price. With '96 Pace', '97 Dribbling' and '97 Shooting', one of the greatest goalscorers of all time could not only finish chances off but also create them. That's what separated him from other world-class players.