FIFA Ultimate Team (FUT) can be a rocky ride at times, but having some of the greatest footballers ever in your squad is a whole different experience. While there are over 100 Icons in FUT, many legendary superstars are yet to be included.
Despite their on-field achievements, some big names are missing from the Icons list. We take a look at some of the very best football players who have earned their legendary status, but not their FUT Icon cards.
10 Oliver Kahn (Germany)
The legendary German goalkeeper was one of the most iconic players of his generation. He had won pretty much everything there’s to win with Bayern München. Kahn was trained by another German legend, Sepp Maier himself.
He appeared in earlier FIFA games, but back then he was an active player and Ultimate Team wasn’t even a thing yet. The last time Kahn was available in one of EA's titles was way back in 2008, and was still one of the best in the game.
9 Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina)
One of the most clinical strikers of all time, the Argentinian legend was nicknamed Batigol by fans. Batistuta earned his legend status during his years in Serie A, playing for Fiorentina and Roma, scoring over 200 goals.
He suffered major injuries throughout his career, and he ended up having to retire due to pain in his ankles. Considering that Batigol was one of the highest-rated players in earlier FIFA games, it would be great to have him in the game once again and watch him lead the attacking front.
8 Zico (Brazil)
Considered to be one of the most talented attacking midfielders of all time, Arthur Antunes Coimbra definitely deserves to be an Icon in future games. The Brazilian midfielder is better known as Zico, though.
He was actually available as a playable midfielder in a number of FIFA games as part of the beloved Classic XI, but EA Sports cut that team off to put more focus on Icons cards instead. Zico was quite "overpowered" in the games he was included in, and it would be interesting to see how he would fit in the current meta of FUT.
7 Paul Gascoigne (England)
With his astonishing performances for club and country, an Icon card for Gascoigne is surely just around the corner. Gazza is considered a uniquely talented attacker worldwide, and he’s also known for his top-notch banter.
The Englishman appeared in earlier FIFA games, but as a shadow of his former self, during the late stages of his career. Gazza at his prime would be a game-changer of a card in any FIFA, considering how he’d most likely have good pace and strength. With Gerrard and Lampard both having their Icon cards already, there’s nothing stopping EA from adding this legend as an Icon.
6 Romário (Brazil)
A key cog in Brazil’s World Cup and Copa América campaigns, Romário was simply one of the most gifted players in front of goal. Scoring hundreds of goals for club and country made him a legend of the game. He was named FIFA World Player of the Year in 1994, after being the runner-up a year earlier.
He was shortly included in the FIFA 14 Ultimate Team Legends, but only for a brief period. He’s fast, agile, extremely talented, and he’s equally deadly with both feet.
5 Georgios Karagounis (Greece)
The Greek midfielder was a machine that never ran out of energy. He was everywhere on the pitch, and a key player in Greece’s unbelievable run at Euro 2004 - the team that won the tournament against all odds.
Zagorakis and Charisteas also deserve a shout out, especially for their performances in that tournament, but overall, Karagounis is the most capped Greek player, and one hell of a box-to-box midfielder.
One could argue that many other footballers deserve Icon cards before Karagounis, but Greece’s victory in Euro 2004 is an unmatched event in the modern era of international football. That team should have at least have one representative in FUT.
4 Tugay Kerimoglu (Turkey)
A Blackburn and Premier League star, Tugay’s sheer passion for the game, and dedication to his team earned him his legend status. He’s made over 230 appearances in Premier League. His long shots and game sense were something else, and so was his loyalty to Blackburn.
He has a special place in the heart of every Blackburn fan, and his talent would immediately make him a viable choice in any FIFA game. Of course, he couldn’t replace players like Vieira or Kante as a defensive midfielder but would still make a huge difference.
3 Sergio Agüero (Argentina)
The striker left an unforgettable mark in the history of football, especially in the Premier League. Sadly, he had to retire at the age of 33 due to a heart condition. Agüero truly loves football, and he’s also streaming on Twitch as SLAKUN10.
Given how he’s an avid gamer and loves playing FIFA, it won’t be surprising to see him find his place in upcoming FIFA games.
Even his base cards in FUT were quite good, and he’d regularly receive special cards to make his stats even better. This man is a once-in-a-generation kind of talent, fits the meta perfectly, and can get a solid green link with other Argentinian players if he’s added as an Icon.
2 Edgar Davids (Netherlands)
The Dutch-Surinamese midfielder is the definition of an iconic player with his standout hairstyle, goggles, and hustling play style. Another football legend, Louis van Gaal nicknamed him "The Pitbull" because of his “incredible marking ability, aggression, and hard-tackling style of play”.
All versions of Davids would have high pace, high work rate, and would show a physically dominating presence in the midfield. Partnering him with existing Icons or other meta players would be a dream scenario. If anything, it’s surprising that Davids isn’t in the game already.
1 Alfredo Di Stéfano (Spain)
He’s the most wanted player by FIFA fans per FIFPlay’s polls. In an amazing 21 years at River Plate, Huracan, Millonarios, Real Madrid, and Espanyol, he had won pretty much everything. At Madrid, he forged an iconic partnership with Ferenc Puskás.
Di Stéfano was a natural in front of the goal; he was a gifted and prolific goalscorer with great versatility, but with his talent, you could play him in any attacking position. He regularly pulled off great performances, and he’d most likely do well in FUT if EA ever decides to add him. In his earlier days, Di Stéfano also played for Argentina, so there's even some room for creativity.