The FIFA Ultimate Team cycle moves fast, as cards that were once unstoppable are caught up in the tide of the ever-changing meta. Weekly squad building challenges, promotion players and EA Sports' frequent patch releases mean base gold cards are quickly phased out.
While the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar can get you through the entire year, many fans of this incredibly popular EA franchise simply don't have the coins to add them to their squad. Still, there is a wide selection of affordable base gold cards that users can still rely on at this stage of the game cycle. These players can be used against even the trickiest of FUT Champions opponents.
10 Ferland Mendy - 83-rated LB
If you have played in the weekend league then the chances are you have come up against this card. At 7,000 coins, Mendy is a must-have for any new team looking to compete.
The next-best options on the left side of the defence are going to set players back triple figures. Even then, there's no guarantee they will perform better than this 83-rated defender, who comes with five-star weak foot and four-star skills. This makes the Frenchman a dangerous option in midfield or as part of a back three.
9 Raphael Varane 86-rated CB
Pace and power. Real Madrid's Raphael Varane has been a stalwart in the teams of Division One players since the release of FIFA 21. While Varane wouldn't be looked at as one of the best defenders in the world in real life, FIFA Ultimate Team's meta relies heavily on pace and the French centre-back has plenty of it.
Shadow chemistry will give the card 89 acceleration and 95 sprint speed in-game; more than enough to deal with even the very fastest players in the game.
8 Joe Gomez - 83-rated CB
The young Liverpool centre-back holds all the necessary facets of a dominant defender and is even preferred to 90-rated Virgil van Dijk by pro players.
While not as dominant defensively, Gomez has a speed advantage, which is crucial in FIFA 21 (to deal with the barrage of through-balls against opponents who rarely have players in the attacking line-up without speed). Gomez may not feature as regularly in weekend league teams as he did at the start of the game, but the English defender is still a great value option at around 7,000 coins. Plus, you won't need to head to the alleged FIFA 21 'black market' to get him.
7 N'golo Kante - 88-rated CDM
If you can't beat them, join them. Kante is one of the most frustrating players to come up against, as the French midfielder's defensive AI constantly hounds players for possession and positions himself in the way of passing lanes.
Perfect work rates (med/high) and solid overall stats mean the card still holds up well at this stage of the game cycle. If FIFA fans have 99,000 coins to spare, the star Chelsea man should be at the top of their priority list.
6 Marcus Rashford - 85-rated LM
Marcus Rashford's combination of five-star skills and in-game custom body type is hugely beneficial, as it allows the Manchester United winger to perform moves with much more fluidity than the average card. Players who are efficient with skills will find themselves troubling even the best defensive cards in the game.
Be sure to hit the card with a finisher chemistry style. This will give a solid boost to an 83 finishing base stat that isn't always reliable when Rashford receives the ball behind the defensive line.
5 Georginio Wijnaldum - 85-rated CM
In every good 4-2-3-1 system is a ball-carrying forward who can affect the game at both ends of the pitch. Wijnaldum's blend of stats makes him the ideal partner alongside a ball-winning CDM in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
While good all-round, 75 aggression means there is less tenacity when challenging for a 50/50 ball. This doesn't bode well against the vast array of overpowered midfield cards in FUT right now.
4 Ousmane Dembele - 83-rated LW
FIFA fans can usually expect to pay a fortune for players who come with both five-star skills and weak foot, but Ousmane Dembele is an exception. A frustrating 68 stamina stat means the Barcelona winger may be best used as a super-sub to take advantage of tiring defenders.
While the young winger is a nightmare to play against, take care with your shooting to avoid missing the target or rolling the ball tamely into the goalkeeper's grasp.
3 Kyle Walker - 85-rated RB
The Manchester City full-back is still one of the best defenders in the game and available for around 27,000 coins. Attacking players who like to play a high line should consider utilising this card as a centre-back. Walker's in-form card is a favorite amongst the professionals, which has seen the team of the week version rise to 1 million coins.
With just 28 in-game stats separating both versions, there's no harm in adding the budget-friendly version to your team without spending on FIFA points.
2 Heung min-Son - 87-rated LM
With just 86 acceleration, the days of playing this South Korean superstar on the flanks are over. Applying a hunter card gives reason for optimism, as doing so increases this stat up to 96, but it just doesn't feel like that in-game.
Son can make a huge difference centrally, though, if players are looking for a versatile forward who can finish with both feet with a five-star weak foot. High work rates also see the Spurs forward compete for every loose ball, which can often force opponents into a mistake.
1 Rodrigo - 82-rated ST
Sometimes all you need is pace (and a little help from some intelligent attacking AI). Rodrigo constantly makes aggressive runs in behind the opponent's line of defense, which means if they're not switched on, you can expect to find the Leeds forward in dangerous positions behind even the most stubborn defensive set-ups.
Finisher chemistry is perfect for this card, which tops up a mediocre base finishing stat to 95. Combined with 92 shot power, this makes for a striker players can trust to put the ball into the back of the net.