EA Sports FC 24: 15 Icons That Are Missing From The Game

Highlights

• Icon cards are highly coveted in EA Sports FC 24, featuring legendary soccer players like Pele, Zidane, and Cruyff.
• Not all deserving players have made the cut as icons in the game, with many deserving athletes overlooked.
• Update added new icons like Pique, Maradona, Matthews, Charles, Ozil, Bale, Ibrahimovic, Buffon, Aguero, Gascoigne, and more.

Icon cards are some of the most sought-after in EA Sports FC 24. Legendary soccer players such as Pele, Zinedine Zidane, and Johan Cruyff have been rewarded with this special card despite no longer playing professionally.

Even players who have not done so much in the game, like Steven Gerrard, Henrik Larsson, and Juan Sebastian Veron have been immortalized in EA FC 24. But not everyone has made the cut. There are hundreds of players who stake a claim to be included as an icon item in the game. These athletes should have been added…

Updated on April 28, 2024, by Ben Painter: Icons are the most sought-after cards in EA Sports FC 24 Ultimate Team. Not only are they some of the best cards in the game mode, but they are a chance for gamers to use some of their favorite players of all time on their teams, including those who no longer play soccer professionally but were superstars in their eras. There are hundreds of examples of players who should be included as icons in the game, but five more former professionals who should be added to Ultimate Team have been added to this list instead in its latest update.

1 Gerard Pique

Last Game Appearance: FIFA 23

• Best Attributes If Added: Defending, Heading, Passing

This FC Barcelona legend recently retired from the game, and his absence has been sorely noted in La Liga teams in Ultimate Team. The Spanish defender was a stalwart for many clubs with his amazing defending stats and ability to play out from the back with ease, an attribute which is very common in the modern style of gameplay.

Pique would join the likes of Carlos Puyol, Ronaldo, and Johan Cruyff as the former Barca players present in the game mode. They are one of the most iconic teams in soccer and Pique deserves to be immortalized with an icon card.

2 Diego Maradona

Last Game Appearance: FIFA 22

• Best Attributes If Added: Dribbling, Passing, Flair

Without a doubt, one of the best players to ever grace a soccer field, Maradona is regularly grouped with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the best of all time. In previous editions of the game, the Argentine was included in the roster of Icons/Legends, but due to licensing issues, he was removed from FIFA 22 aand hasn’t been included since.

It is long overdue that Maradona is re-added as an icon, as the game needs one of the mavericks and overall best players in its history to still be useable in video game format. Especially considering Maradona is no longer with us, he deserves to be included in memoriam.

3 Stanley Matthews

Last Game Appearance: N/A

• Best Attributes If Added: Dribbling, Crossing, Flair

The first-ever winner of the Ballon d’Or, in 1956, Stanley Matthews is an absolute legend of the game. He played for the likes of Stoke City and Blackpool, not big clubs now, but at the time they were some of the biggest football teams in England.

Matthews is the oldest player to ever play a game at the highest level in England, at 50 years old, and also the oldest player to play for the National Team, at 42. Although the game was a little different back then, it still is an impressive feat. Matthews would have insane dribbling stats, a deep bag of tricks, and would be able to finish well if he were to be added to the icon roster on EA Sports FC.

4 John Charles

Last Game Appearance: N/A

• Best Attributes If Added: Strength, Heading, Finishing

Dubbed the best foreign export of Italian side Juventus, John Charles also put on the shirts of Leeds United and AS Roma throughout his illustrious career. What was special about Charles was that he was comfortable playing at both CB and ST, so he would be a very unique icon card in the game. Using the fluid method of changing positions added in the game, he could fit seamlessly into both defense and attack.

The Welshman was both footed, exceptional in the air, and had the strength of an ox, all skills which would make for a perfect forward in Ultimate Team.

5 Mesut Ozil

Last Game Appearance: FIFA 23

• Best Attributes If Added: Dribbling, Passing, Set-piece Delivery

Fans of the game will recognize this German, as he was always a go-to CAM in Ultimate Team playing for the likes of Real Madrid and Arsenal in his career. He retired after last season, playing for İstanbul Başakşehir in Turkey, and there has been a maestro-shaped hole ever since.

Ozil was largely underrated as a player, but deserving of an icon after winning many titles in his career, including four FA Cups for Arsenal. A superb dribbler – which should be highlighted on his potential icon card – along with his eye for a pass and pinpoint set-piece delivery, Ozil will be able to play as a CAM, CM, RW and LW in the game, making him a very versatile midfield player.

6 Gareth Bale

Last Game Appearance: FIFA 23

• Best Attributes If Added: Pace, Strength, Power

Arguably the best Welshman to have ever played the game of soccer, Gareth Bale was always a go-to item on Ultimate Team with his blistering pace and frightening left foot.

The later stages of his career slightly tarnished his legacy, dropping out of favor at La Liga giants Real Madrid, he moved to LA FC in 2022 and retired at the relatively young age of 33. For what he has done in the game of soccer, Gareth Bale deserves an Icon card and it will certainly be one of the most highly requested.

7 Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Last Game Appearance: FIFA 23

• Best Attributes If Added: Strength, Dribbling, Skill Moves

Recently retired Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been ever present in Ultimate Team since its conception in FIFA 10. It is strange having a soccer game without Zlatan in it. Known for his off-the-field antics as well as his goal-scoring prowess on it, the big Swede was one of the best strikers of his generation.

Certain to have amazing finishing stats, 5-star skills, and the technical and flair playstyles, Ibrahimovic will be a card that most gamers would use on Ultimate Team… if they can afford him that is.

8 Gianluigi Buffon

Last Game Appearance: FIFA 23

• Best Attributes If Added: Diving, Reflex, Leadership

Known for his long spell with Serie A side Juventus, Gianluigi Buffon, for a few years, was the best goalkeeper in the game and was a regular in Ultimate Team Squads.

But, FIFA 23 was his final as a regular item as he called time on his career while playing for Serie B Parma at the commendable age of 45. But a soccer game without the legend that is Buffon is unsettling, and it is a crying shame that EA Sports did not reward the Italian with an Icon card for EA Sports FC 24 for his exploits in real-world football.

9 Sergio Aguero

Last Game Appearance: FIFA 22

• Best Attributes If Added: Pace, Finishing, Dribbling

In a different world, Sergio Aguero would still be on Ultimate Team as he was prematurely forced to retire at the age of 33, not long after a move to Barcelona, due to heart problems. His last card in FIFA 22 was an 87-rated, proving that he still had a lot to offer in the game.

An icon for Manchester City as they staked a claim as one of the main forces in soccer, Aguero was famous for scoring a last-minute winner in 2022 to gift his side their first-ever Premier League. That alone was enough to cement an Icon card in EA FC 24.

10 Paul Gascoigne

Last Game Appearance: N/A

• Best Attributes If Added: Dribbling, Passing, Skill Moves

Completely absent from all editions of the game formerly known as FIFA, as he called time on his career in 2004 before the game had an Ultimate Team mode. The legendary English midfielder Paul Gascoigne was known for his excellent ability on the ball, his eye for goals, and his superb passing range.

“Gazza” sadly had issues in his life which stopped him from reaching the heights that his ability should have taken him, but, what he did for club and country was enough to deserve the title of EA Sports FC 24 Icon. If given a card in the future, he will go down as one of the best dribblers in the game mode’s history.

11 Franz Beckenbaur

Last Game Appearance: FIFA 17

• Best Attributes If Added: Defending, Short Passing, Strength

This Bayern Munich and Germany legend was once in the game as recently as FIFA 17. He has since passed away so that stakes more of a claim for EA to include him once again as an icon to ensure that his legacy is remembered by the fans who were not old enough to see him play.

One of the best defenders to ever grace a soccer field, Beckenbaur won many titles with Bayern Munich and is one of the very rare few to lift the World Cup as a player and as a manager. He is an iconic figure of the sport and his absence from Ultimate Team has gone too long.

12 Arjen Robben

Last Game Appearance: FIFA 21

• Best Attributes If Added: Pace, Finesse Shot, Dribbling

The Dutch winger was famous for his signature move, cutting inside onto his left foot from the right wing and causing damage. Defenders knew what he was going to do every time, but Robben was so good that no one could stop him.

With blistering pace and a deadly left foot, if Robben was included as an icon in EA Sports FC 24 he would be a highly used item on the right wing, certainly having the finesse shot playstyle. He will be among great company with Dutch legends such as Ronald Koeman, Clarence Seedorf, and Ruud Van Nistelrooy, making an amazing squad featuring players from the Netherlands.

13 Alfredo Di Stefano

Last Game Appearance: N/A

• Best Attributes If Added: Shooting, Dribbling, Power

Alfredo Di Stefano was a legend in the 50s and 60s, a two-time Ballon d’Or winner and winner of multiple La Liga and Champions League titles with Real Madrid.

Originally from Argentina, Di Stefano played at a time when FIFA wasn’t so strict when it came to what country players could represent, so he played six games for Argentina before switching to Spain. He could become the first icon to have multiple nationalities in Ultimate Team if he ever receives an icon card. A natural finisher, he could put away any chance and was the focal point of a historic Real Madrid team.

14 Edgar Davids

Last Game Appearance: N/A

• Best Attributes If Added: Tackling, Stamina, Strength

For a player with such an iconic look, it’s a wonder why EA Sports has not included Davids among their icon roster. The Dutchman was a tenacious midfielder who could do anything on the football pitch. In the game, he would be a solid box-to-box midfielder with great physicality and tackling stats.

He was most famous for his spell with Serie A side Juventus, but infamously, he ended his career as Player-Manager of Barnet in the English fifth tier, where he donned the number 1 shirt, usually reserved for goalkeepers.

15 Francesco Totti

Last Game Appearance: FIFA 17

• Best Attributes If Added: Dribbling, Passing, Finishing

A player who oozes class and loyalty, Francesco Totti spent his entire career playing for his boyhood club AS Roma, despite having the ability to go on and play for more established clubs and add to his one Serie A title.

That alone was deserving of an icon in EA Sports FC 24, but on the field he was regarded as one of the greatest Italian players of all time. Versatile, he could play in multiple positions in attack and chip in with goals and assists. There is rarely a one-club player in soccer and Totti is comfortably the cream of the crop.