EA Sports have done it again. In the ever-evolving landscape of EA FC 26, the re-release of the 93+ Icon Player Pick SBC has stirred the Ultimate Team community, bringing with it both excitement and frustration. With a new twist-a 1-of-4 choice instead of the previous 1-of-3-and a slightly cheaper price tag (about 100k less than the last time) Fut 26 Coins, the question remains: is this SBC truly worth it? Let's break down the current state of the 93+ Icon Player Pick and what the community has been experiencing from their hard-earned SBC grinds. Re-Released with a Twist: 14 Teams Required This updated version of the SBC demands a whopping 14 squads to be submitted, making it one of the most expensive grinds in the game. EA did increase the odds slightly by bumping it up to a 1-of-4 pick, but that doesn't always translate to value. When you're submitting high-value squads, you're expecting at least one game-changing player-not a repeated rotation of mid-tier icons. The Matteus Effect: A Running Joke Turned Reality If there's one name that's been everywhere in these packs, it's Lothar Matthäus. No matter who's opening the packs, it seems like EA has assigned him a permanent slot. From the first five picks to the last, Matthäus has shown up with suspicious regularity. And while he's certainly usable, it becomes frustrating when he's the "best" option you constantly see from a pool that's supposed to feature the greats like Pele, R9, and Zinedine Zidane. This repetition makes the SBC feel less like a gamble and more like a recycled loop-especially when 700k coins worth of fodder are on the line. High-End Pulls: Rare, But Not Impossible Despite the complaints, there have been a few wins. Some lucky players have pulled Thierry Henry, who, despite being listed at 600k, still plays like a multi-million-coin icon. Zebul, valued at around 800k, and Jairzinho (Jazing), sitting at 450k, are also solid picks. Still, these cards are often marginal upgrades or simply don't make it into squads packed with Team of the Season superstars. A standout pull was a pristine Prime Ronaldo (R9)-a dream pick that makes the grind worth it in theory. But how often is that happening? Not enough. Duds Galore: Four Strikers in a Row? The worst moments, though, come when the pick delivers four unusable strikers in one go. Players hoping for a top-tier midfielder or a world-class defender end up with a lineup of attackers they'll never start. Names like Puskás, Rooney, and Del Piero-while legends-often pale in comparison to Team of the Season cards or EVO-boosted players that dominate the meta. And for those already rocking Team of the Season Mbappé, Dembele, or Kvara, even 96-rated strikers like Mia Hamm don't offer enough reason to switch things up. Usability vs. Value: Most Don't Make the Squad Another key concern from the community is usability. Many icons, despite being rated highly or having historically strong reputations, just don't slot into modern squads. Whether it's Soul Campbell, Beckham, or Xavi, the vast majority of these cards become high-rated fodder rather than game-changing inclusions. In some cases, players are pulling icons like Blanc or Vander Sar, who are still solid but have seen price drops due to newer options like Vicario dominating in goal. Kelly Smith, once a standout, now appears in nearly every pick but rarely gets used. The Market Crash: Icons Losing Value Fast One of the reasons this SBC feels underwhelming is the current state of the transfer market. Cards that were once valued at over a million coins are now hovering around 400–600k. Henry, a player with serious in-game power, is listed at just 600k. That kind of devaluation makes it hard to justify grinding or spending over 700k in fodder when your best option may only be worth half of what you paid. It's also worth noting that icons no longer feel "untouchable". With the rise of Evolutions, boosted promos, and Team of the Season, many icons simply can't keep up unless they have + abilities or high-end work rates and traits. The Psychology of the Pick: Why We Still Do It Even with all these concerns, players keep completing the SBC. Why? 1.Hope for R9, Pele, Zidane, Cruyff-the dream never dies. 2.Content value-YouTubers, streamers, and players alike love the thrill of opening high-stakes picks. 4.Club management-With stacked clubs post-TOTS, this SBC gives a reason to clear out fodder. 6.Repeatability-It refreshes every 3 days, giving players time to recover and try again. 8.EA knows exactly what they're doing. Even if the odds are low, the potential of hitting a million-coin card is enough to justify the risk for many players.Recommendations: Should You Do the SBC? If you're wondering whether to sink your resources into this Icon Pick, consider the following: ·You have a full club with lots of untradeable fodder. ·You love the thrill of pack openings and content. ·You're in need of a high-end attacker, midfielder, or defender and feel lucky. Avoid it if... ·You're low on coins or fodder and can't afford to risk 14 squads. ·You already have a meta squad stacked with Team of the Season players. ·You're easily frustrated by RNG or have had bad luck in the past. Final Thoughts: A Content-Heavy, Risky Gamble The re-release of the 93+ Icon Player Pick in EA FC 26 is a classic EA move-just tempting enough to reel players in, just disappointing enough to frustrate most. For every R9 or Zebul, there are ten Kelly Smiths, Ian Wrights, and Gattusos waiting to underwhelm. Still, the excitement is real. The YouTube content is popping buy EAFC 26 Coins. And whether you're chasing the dream or simply clearing out your club, this SBC continues to represent the perfect blend of hope and heartbreak that defines the Ultimate Team grind.
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