one of the most recognisable figures in women’s football
Gamers are getting ready for the release of EA FC 26 and that means the return of popular game mode Ultimate Team.
It also means there will be a new batch of Icons and Heroes arriving.
While Heroes are players who made significant contributions to their clubs and countries, Icons are some of the best players in the history of football.
EA FC 26 will see 12 new Icons in the game.
As Icons, some will be gracing EA Sports’ flagship sports game for the first time, while others are making a dramatic return just a few years after returning.
With EA FC 26 releasing on September 26, 2025, we look at the new Icons in more detail.
Alex Morgan
Alex Morgan is one of the most recognisable figures in women’s football, and for good reason.
Her career boasts two FIFA Women’s World Cup titles, an Olympic gold medal, and the inaugural National Women’s Soccer League championship with the Portland Thorns.
Hailing from the West Coast, Morgan has consistently delivered on the sport’s biggest stages.
In the 2019 World Cup, she kicked off the United States’ title defence in spectacular fashion, scoring five goals in a single match.
Her now-iconic “tea celebration”, performed after a decisive header that propelled the team to the final, cemented her status as both a fierce competitor and a cultural talking point in the sport.
Morgan only retired from football in 2024. She now returns to EA FC 26 as an Icon.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Arguably the most anticipated EA FC 26 Icon, gamers hope to be lucky enough to get Zlatan Ibrahimovic into their teams.
A conqueror of world football, Ibrahimovic is no stranger to silverware.
A 2013 Puskás Award winner for an audacious bicycle kick against England, he’s collected league titles in the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, and France.
The Swedish sensation tops his nation’s goalscoring honours with over 60 goals in twice as many games, finishing his career with over 30 major trophies.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is one of the most decorated footballers on the planet.
Marcelo
Successor to Roberto Carlos at Real Madrid, Marcelo became one of the best left-backs in the history of the game.
He left the Santiago Bernabéu with a haul of 25 trophies, including six LaLiga titles and five UEFA Champions Leagues.
Marcelo became a Madrid mainstay, making him the first foreign captain since 1904.
He returned to Fluminense in the twilight of his career to claim the Copa Libertadores before hanging up his boots.
Iniesta
A central figure in a midfield trio that defined the tiki-taka play of one of football’s greatest ever teams, Iniesta is one of the most decorated Spanish footballers of all time.
With an iconic Barcelona side, he won two historic trebles, nine LaLiga titles, and four UEFA Champions Leagues.
He also guided a golden Spanish generation to back-to-back Euros wins and scored a dramatic extra-time winner on the world stage in the 2010 final against the Netherlands.
Iniesta will now arrive in EA FC 26 as an Icon, meaning gamers have the chance to reunite him with midfield partner and fellow Icon Xavi.
Caroline Seger
Caroline Seger stands as one of football’s most enduring and respected midfielders.
Across nearly two decades at the top level, she has amassed an extraordinary number of appearances for both club and country, winning league titles and European honours along the way.
As captain of Sweden, Seger’s career has been defined by her consistency, resilience, and ability to lead from the centre of the pitch.
Earning well over 200 international caps, she holds the record as the most capped player in European football history, a testament to her longevity, professionalism, and influence in the game.
Francesco Totti
Francesco Totti embodies the very meaning of a one-club player.
Nicknamed L’Ottavo Re di Roma, the “Eighth King of Rome”, he rose through AS Roma’s youth system and spent his entire professional career in the club’s famous yellow and red.
Over nearly 800 appearances and an unparalleled 20-year captaincy, Totti became both the heartbeat and the face of the team.
His honours include a Serie A title, two Coppa Italia triumphs, and two Supercoppa Italiana victories.
Along the way, he scored more than 300 goals, cementing his status as one of Italian football’s greatest ever players and a symbol of loyalty rarely seen in the modern game.
Toni Kroos
Toni Kroos has been a central figure in some of football’s most celebrated midfield line-ups.
After winning three Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich, he went on to dominate European football with Real Madrid, securing four LaLiga championships and four UEFA Champions League trophies, including an unprecedented three consecutive Champions League wins.
A mainstay for Germany, Kroos has earned over 100 international caps, ranking among the nation’s most capped players.
His vision and precision were on full display at the 2014 World Cup, where he led the tournament in assists and played a pivotal role in Germany’s historic title triumph.
Oliver Kahn
Oliver Kahn, often called Der Titan, was a commanding presence between the posts for more than a decade at Bayern Munich.
Bundesliga titles became a regular achievement for the German goalkeeper, who also added six DFB-Pokal trophies and a UEFA Champions League win to his impressive collection.
Kahn’s influence extended beyond club football.
On the international stage, he earned the Golden Glove at the 2002 World Cup after keeping five clean sheets, and made history as the first and only goalkeeper to win the tournament’s Golden Ball.
He is one of football’s greatest shotstoppers and his legacy will be honoured in EA FC 26.
Giorgio Chiellini
Giorgio Chiellini, the towering defender from Tuscany, began his career at local club Livorno before a move to Juventus cemented his place in Italian football history.
Over 17 seasons, he led the Old Lady’s resurgence, helping the club secure nine Serie A titles, five Coppa Italia victories, and five Supercoppa Italiana wins.
Chiellini’s influence extended to the international stage as well.
He represented Italy in four UEFA European Championships, culminating in his crowning achievement: captaining the Azzurri to glory at UEFA Euro 2020, a triumph that underscored his leadership, resilience, and enduring impact on Italian football.
Cha Bum-kun
Cha Bum-kun is one of South Korea’s greatest goal scorers and a true icon of the Bundesliga.
During his time with Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen, he won both domestic and European honours while making over 300 appearances in Germany.
Nicknamed Cha Boom, his powerful, memorable strikes became the stuff of legend.
Over the course of his career, he scored just under 100 goals, leaving a lasting mark on European football and paving the way for future generations of Asian players in top-tier leagues.
Sissi
In 1999, Sissi shone on the world’s biggest stage.
Her impressive performances at Palmeiras earned her a place in the Brazilian national team, where she rewarded the selectors by scoring seven goals and claiming the tournament’s Golden Boot.
She announced herself with a stylish hat-trick against Mexico, featuring two remarkable free kicks, all while being watched by Pelé from the stands.
Sissi’s skill, vision, and composure during the tournament cemented her status as one of Brazil’s most influential women’s footballers.
Steffi Jones
Steffi Jones’ career is defined by consistency and excellence at the highest level.
Over two decades, she helped Germany secure three consecutive European Championships, earning a reputation as a reliable and tenacious defender.
Jones capped off a storied international career with over 100 caps, demonstrating remarkable resilience.
Even an ACL rupture could not slow her down; she returned to action just months later to help her team win a second Olympic bronze, cementing her legacy as one of women’s football’s most determined and accomplished defenders.
These new Icons will change the way you play Ultimate Team and along with the existing Icons, there will be more opportunities to create unique teams.
It will also provide more chances to use players you grew up watching.
Some will be better than others, therefore, they will be more expensive.
If players pre-order EA FC 26 Ultimate Edition by August 26, 2025, they could get one of these new Icons from a roster of 15.
It will upgrade to a Champion version in November.
Ultimate Edition players will be able to get started on September 19, while the general release is September 26.
EA FC 26 is almost here, but expect further surprise announcements.
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