The Team of the Year event is the biggest moment in EA Sports FC 26 Ultimate Team. Based on reliable community leaks, the full Men’s Team of the Year starting XI has already surfaced ahead of the official release. If you want to know exactly who made it, who missed out, and what this means for packs and gameplay, this guide explains everything clearly.
Keep in mind: this is based on leaks, not final confirmation. Until EA officially releases TOTY, small changes are still possible.
All Leaked EA FC 26 Team of the Year Players
As per reliable sources, the men’s TOTY lineup is 4-3-3 and it is a classic formation. The final team consists of only eleven players, which means that some big names have to be left out, even though they had good seasons.
Goalkeeper
The leak suggests the goalkeeper for the Year Team is Gianluigi Donnarumma. His name on the list is not a surprise considering his constant performances and popularity in Ultimate Team. Other world-class keepers were nominated but just one position was there to fill.
Defenders
The defence collection is already a tough one to deal with, as they will possess the physical presence and speed making them the strongest for Ultimate Team.
The leak indicates that Jules Koundé is going to be the right back, who is known for his defensive reliability and versatility.
William Saliba and Virgil van Dijk are the ones who take the spot at the center back; Saliba for his exceptional season and Van Dijk for his undeniable influence and leadership.
At the left back, Nuno Mendes takes care of the whole thing by delivering speed, attacking assistance, and defensive stability.
This backline might not include some of the users’ favourite players, but it is evident that the final choices were made based on the factors of meta strength and consistency.
Midfielders
The midfield trio was one of the most discussed aspects of the leak.
Pedri got to the list because of his technical superiority and the role he played in remarkable matches.
Vitinha is regarded for his influence that stretches from controlling, passing and getting involved everywhere, and thus his strong work rate, which is why he already exists in all competitions.
For many, the most astonishing name to be included among the players is Declan Rice, who is now in direct competition with more attacking midfielders. He seems to have won EA over with his defensive reliability and all-round role.
This particular midfield selection is one of the main reasons some famous attackers were completely missed.
Attackers
The attacking part is exactly what the majority of players were predicting: unadulterated star power.
Kylian Mbappé is leading the left wing and is almost a guaranteed presence every year in the squad already.
On the right side, Ousmane Dembélé gets a place after a successful and steady season.
In the center, Erling Haaland is the one who completes the trio, bringing top-notch finishing and physical strength.
The mere fact that there are only three positions for forwards won’t allow several top scorers to be included, even though they had good seasons.
Big Names Missing From TOTY
The leaks have caused debate mainly because of who did not make the final XI.
Players like Harry Kane, Raphinha, and Lamine Yamal are all missing from the leaked TOTY squad. Kane’s exclusion is especially controversial given his goal output, while Yamal and Raphinha appear to have suffered due to positional reshuffling into midfield during nominations.
Even though some of these players were nominees, only eleven cards can be selected, and midfield-heavy choices limited attacking slots.
When These TOTY Cards Are Expected to Release
Based on the leak schedule, the men’s Team of the Year cards are expected to enter packs starting Friday, January 16. EA usually rolls out TOTY content in phases, so attackers, midfielders, and defenders may appear separately before the full squad becomes available.
Voting for TOTY nominees is expected to open shortly before release on EA’s official platforms.
What You Should Do Now
If you play Ultimate Team, this leak helps you plan ahead. You can save packs, coins, and SBC fodder for when TOTY cards hit packs. These players will likely become some of the strongest and most expensive cards in the game.
Just remember that leaks are not official. Until EA confirms the squad, treat this list as highly likely—but not guaranteed.
Final Takeaway
The leaked EA FC 26 Men’s Team of the Year features Donnarumma, Koundé, Saliba, Van Dijk, Mendes, Pedri, Vitinha, Rice, Mbappé, Dembélé, and Haaland. It is a powerful but controversial XI, with several major stars missing due to limited slots and positional choices.
If the leak holds true, this TOTY will strongly shape the Ultimate Team meta for months to come.
