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Best cards for beginners
Stars win highlights; squad players win matches. These are the cards that make a first deck solid.
Last updated: October 24, 2026
Why squad players matter most
Players rated 1–5★ come on without any substitution, so they are the cards you will play most often. A deck needs at least 14 of them. The best ones are good enough to win battles on their own and, at 3–4★, come with a Last Breath that rewards you when they are sent off.
Best free attackers (1–5★, no substitution)
| Player | Pos. | Rating | ATK / DEF | Club | Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Neres | FWD | 5★ | 1950 / 1150 | Napoli | |
| Francisco Conceição | FWD | 5★ | 1950 / 1150 | Juventus | |
| Gabriel Martinelli | FWD | 5★ | 1950 / 1150 | Arsenal | |
| Jérémy Doku | FWD | 5★ | 1950 / 1150 | Manchester City | |
| Arda Güler | MID | 5★ | 1850 / 1450 | Real Madrid | |
| Adrien Rabiot | MID | 5★ | 1750 / 1550 | AC Milan | |
| Gavi | MID | 5★ | 1750 / 1550 | Barcelona | |
| Manuel Locatelli | MID | 5★ | 1750 / 1550 | Juventus |
Put two or three of these in Attack mode early: at 1950 ATK they beat most other squad players, and every win costs your opponent Fan Support.
Best free defenders and goalkeepers
| Player | Pos. | Rating | ATK / DEF | Club | Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guglielmo Vicario | GK | 5★ | 750 / 2150 | Tottenham Hotspur | |
| Joan García | GK | 5★ | 750 / 2150 | Barcelona | |
| Lucas Chevalier | GK | 5★ | 750 / 2150 | Paris Saint-Germain | |
| Yann Sommer | GK | 5★ | 750 / 2150 | Inter | |
| Giovanni Di Lorenzo | DEF | 5★ | 1150 / 1950 | Napoli | |
| Marc Cucurella | DEF | 5★ | 1150 / 1950 | Chelsea | |
| Marquinhos | DEF | 5★ | 1150 / 1950 | Paris Saint-Germain | |
| Robert Sánchez | GK | 4★ | 500 / 1900 | Chelsea | Loyal Servant |
A 5★ goalkeeper with 2150 DEF in Defense mode stops every squad attacker and most 6–7★ players. Set one face-down on your first turn to protect your Fan Support while you build.
Best 6–7★ players (one substitution)
| Player | Pos. | Rating | ATK / DEF | Club | Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Pulisic | FWD | 7★ | 2650 / 1850 | AC Milan | |
| João Pedro | FWD | 7★ | 2650 / 1850 | Chelsea | |
| Kenan Yıldız | FWD | 7★ | 2650 / 1850 | Juventus | |
| Marcus Thuram | FWD | 7★ | 2650 / 1850 | Inter | |
| Rafael Leão | FWD | 7★ | 2650 / 1850 | AC Milan | |
| Bruno Fernandes | MID | 7★ | 2550 / 2150 | Manchester United | |
| Florian Wirtz | MID | 7★ | 2550 / 2150 | Liverpool | |
| Declan Rice | MID | 7★ | 2450 / 2250 | Arsenal |
These are the backbone of the middle of a match: strong enough to beat squad players easily, cheap enough to bring on with a single substitution.
Skills every first deck should have
- Bicycle Kick: Target 1 of your face-up players: it gains +800 ATK until the end of this turn.
- Through Ball: Draw 2 cards.
- Youth Academy: Call up 1 player rated 5★ or lower from your hand in face-up Attack mode. This does not use your normal summon.
- Nutmeg: Target 1 of your face-up Attack-mode players: this turn it may attack the opponent's Fan Support directly, slipping past their defenders. Main 1 only.
- Park the Bus: All your players gain +600 DEF until the end of your opponent's next turn.
Add two set cards to protect yourself, for example Offside Trap and Tactical Foul, and the Stadium of the club you use most.
Or start from a ready-made deck
The 6 built-in decks already follow these ideas. The Starter XI (Arsenal and Real Madrid) is the easiest to learn with; open it in the deck builder with Start from… and swap a few cards to make it your own. Read the deck building guide for the full rules.