"World Cup Round of 16, England vs. Mexico, Bellingham completely takes over the game; In the 36th minute, he scores a header from Saka's cross, and just 2 minutes later, he finishes off a brilliant counter-attack pass from Kane for another goal. A brace in two minutes, completely stunning the Mexicans. Not only did he carry the attack, but he also contributed a crucial goal-line clearance before halftime. Undisputed MVP."

First of all, he's definitely getting a POTD today, and as a player who has already had 2 POTD cards, it is highly likely that Bellingham will be included in this round's Showtime pack. My prediction for his card is as follows—

https://preview.redd.it/c67kfrxkgjbh1.jpg?width=876&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c5134849f3cdaacb171f08525944182b69d420ff

1️⃣ Playstyle: Without a doubt, a Hole Player (SS) deeply involved in both attack and defense. In fact, the Hole Player playstyle is the one that best suits Bellingham. Let's look at the current Top 3 CMFs:

https://preview.redd.it/s0oml6iogjbh1.jpg?width=413&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5fad6d634f470933ff3069e09e7d76fb59dcb49a

Why has Bellingham been outshined by newer cards? Assuming all three are Box-to-Box midfielders, Bellingham's attacking progression is not as good as Seedorf's, and defensively, he is inferior to Rice due to lower defensive stats and lacking the Long-reach Tackle ST skill.

Why is Bellingham suited to the Hole Player playstyle? Because he definitely has attacking talent, but his ability to pick up the ball deep and drive forward is not his strong suit. It's best to let him make autonomous forward runs into the heart of the defense to initiate attacks. Relying on his excellent 186cm/14 leg length large player model, he can wreak havoc on the opponent's backline, and his three core dribbling stats are enough to allow him to turn with the ball and create threats.

2️⃣ Offensive Awareness: Massive upgrade! Both goals came from precise, late runs into the box. He also needs the Attacking Surge ST skill.

3️⃣ Heading: Massive upgrade! The 36th-minute diving header goal means he also needs the Bullet Header ST skill.

4️⃣ Three Core Dribbling Stats: Maintained advantage. 7 dribble attempts, 4 successful, best on the pitch.

5️⃣ Stamina: Upgrade! Maintained a high intensity of box-to-box running throughout the game even when playing with ten men.

Conclusion: For this card, I suggest they don't follow the old routine of buffing a midfielder by just giving him Long-reach Tackle. Instead, as described above, they should truly reflect Bellingham's attacking talent, which would create a unique niche similar to Gullit playing as an SS (a ground-based version of Gullit).

If his Showtime card comes out like this, do you think my analysis is accurate?

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/YuoEmJXYp4-g75lTtO1gbg

Epic/Showtime cards are being released frequently during the World Cup, but surprisingly, in this latest player rating session, three new cards failed to powercreep their older versions!

https://preview.redd.it/2ie9u2jp4ibh1.jpg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1dea5db7c7a7ae7b66c2c80af669cd4132b5abf2

⚽️ Dembélé (CF): Overall Rank T0 Top 10 

He has an inactivated playstyle when playing CF, and his skills aren't really a good fit either. If you play him at LWF/RWF, his on-the-ball feel isn't superior compared to meta Wingers, so I couldn't even be bothered to rate his ranking as a LWF/RWF.

https://preview.redd.it/7l0ezfqu4ibh1.jpg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1d5efbd51a34103e99c284827313d6e335b7793b

⚽️ New Marcelo (Attacking LB/RB): Pro Rank #5 | Overall Rank #5 

The Full-back Finisher playstyle is too unpopular and has poor universal applicability; he's not as good as the old card (Old card rank: #3).

⚽️ New Marcelo (LMF/RMF): Pro Rank #6 | Public Rank #7 | Overall Rank #6  

The lack of the Edged Crossing ST skill led the dual-group raters to believe he is slightly inferior to the old card (Old card rank: #5).

Next, let's talk about Magnetic Feet Neymar, which involves four positions:

https://preview.redd.it/gkf0j6ox4ibh1.jpg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b66b80b785c4e51c2f87de28e17b331bcc8a4656

https://preview.redd.it/mdaqgbsy4ibh1.jpg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6a4b3408db2a2f9a9c57791444fb98739549329c

⬆️ Both groups highly agreed: the new Magnetic Feet Neymar only powercreeps the old card (Hole Player Neymar) at the LWF/RWF position, but as a winger, he is still slightly inferior to Best and Hazard. For SS, AMF, and LMF/RMF, he is worse than the old card. Magnetic Feet Neymar only enters the AMF Top 5 tier as a card of the same name.

This time, the only one you could say actually powercrept his old card is Caicedo:

https://preview.redd.it/xuttx7d05ibh1.jpg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ac55de84415131f207dd4938c02562fc7429a48a

⚽️ New Caicedo (CMF): Pro Rank #11 | Public Rank #11 | Overall Rank #11 

A bigger Makélélé. The old card was also just outside the Top 10, but the improvement in his long-range shooting ability has bumped up his ranking.

https://preview.redd.it/esksgh625ibh1.jpg?width=1024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2072ab71d47196f34df2ffbb70d184966ebc001b

To summarize the common reason why these cards couldn't powercreep the old ones: their playstyles changed from popular ones to ones with relatively low universal applicability. It seems players are no longer buying into this trick of minor stat buffs combined with a playstyle change for a differentiated powercreep.

Ultimately, the value of these two packs is as follows—

https://preview.redd.it/2d1xlng35ibh1.jpg?width=1010&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9e588f31668f9049ae2dab7414285835d2b5dc80

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/2PMHemAH_Dv7r0OvV2EGvA

https://preview.redd.it/xlitwee4ydbh1.jpg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ff6e70b9372caee4ccfbfb5e550ba46ee7bd7274

Magnetic Feet Neymar has been out for five days (coming to the Chinese server later), and the dual-group rating has begun.

The new and old Neymar present another puzzle of differentiated power creep! The power creep on the new Neymar's stat panel (+2 Physical Contact, +2 Kicking Power) is not the deciding factor; the change from Momentum Dribbling to Magnetic Feet, and from Hole Player to Prolific Winger is the key.

New Card In-Game Experience—

https://reddit.com/link/1unyfnz/video/ib64kct2ydbh1/player

1️⃣ Magnetic Feet Neymar is ranked #3 for LWF/RWF. 

2️⃣ The pro player group judges believe: Magnetic Feet Neymar performs better than the old card at LWF/RWF, and is equal at LMF/RMF. He does not perform as well as the old card at SS and AMF.

Poll 1: Magnetic Feet Neymar, claims the top spot for LWF/RWF?

Option	1st Place (4 pts)	2nd Place (2 pts)	3rd Place (1 pt)	4th Place (0 pts)	Weighted Avg. Score	Rank
Best	5	0	1	1	3	#1
Hazard	2	3	2	0	2.29	#2
Magnetic Feet Neymar	1	4	3	0	1.88	#3
Bale	0	0	1	6	0.14	#4

Poll 3: I believe in the following positions, the new Neymar is better than the Hole Player Neymar [Multiple Choice]

Option	Count	Percentage
SS	3	23.08%
LWF/RWF	8	61.54%
AMF	3	23.08%
LMF/RMF	5	38.46%
Not as good in any position	0	0%
Pass / Abstain	2	15.38%
(Blank)	1	7.69%
Number of valid responses	13

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/7rMvgDiUb9ewdfoFyWka0Q

https://preview.redd.it/kgdfk9dmmdbh1.jpg?width=2000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c14126a829ac6436e5762e8abb3779220559815d

⚽️ Rating: Undisputed #1 Attacking Full-back

He truly is the absolute purest example of a Legendary Beast (Note: I am saying Lahm is undisputed #1 compared to other players in his position, not that this new card is undisputed #1 compared to his old card; the new card is essentially just a minor power-creep).

⚽️ Lahm: 0-6-10-7-8-7-5 + Breakthrough

Added Skills: Double Touch, Outside Curler, Man Marking, Acrobatic Clearance, Aerial Superiority

When BT Lahm was first released, I thought the stat panel on the new card was just a minor power-creep (Lofted Pass ↑2, Tackling ↑2, Defensive Engagement ↑2, Speed ↑1, Physical Contact ↑2). However, I missed one crucial point: BT Lahm has the Crossing +4 booster (which the old Bayern version doesn't have). This means the stat cap for his Lofted Pass is increased to 103. Considering that when Pinpoint Crossing activates it can give a +10% boost to passing stats, this 103 stat cap is not hard to reach; you only need to allocate progression points to get his Lofted Pass to 93—

93 x 110% = 102.3 (in-game stats round up, so 102.3 = 103). This is BT Lahm's unique advantage; every cross has the effect of being 4 points higher than a normal player's stat cap. Therefore, my recommended build has also been updated. The final state is: 80 Physical Contact, 103 Lofted Pass, 90 Dribbling, 95 Tight Possession, all four defensive stats at 90, and Speed/Acceleration over 90. It's very perfect!

As for the old card's Long-reach Tackle changing into the new card's Shadow Hunt, how should we evaluate that? Let's first look at its effect in actual matches—

https://reddit.com/link/1unxffx/video/06kzdrrqmdbh1/player

Here are the conclusions:

1️⃣ Shadow Hunt is suited for dynamic scenarios, while Long-reach Tackle leans towards static defending. Situations on the pitch are constantly changing, and it's hard to say that any specific playstyle will only ever encounter recovery situations and never tackling situations. All we can say is that, overall, the Offensive Full-back position is quite a good fit for the Shadow Hunt skill, because situations where you need to recover from a through ball are more frequent.

There is another key piece of logic: relatively speaking, a full-back needs to get back into position more than they need to win the ball cleanly. For example, you need a faster recovery run to prevent the opponent's speedy winger from delivering an uncontested cross or curling shot, or to stop an unmarked cutback from the byline. In these situations, if a defender can just get into position to interfere with the opponent a little bit, the outcome can be very different; you don't necessarily have to win the ball outright.

Conversely, central positions require you to win the ball cleanly rather than just having a body in position. In the heart of the midfield or defense, if you reach out for a tackle and don't win the ball, failing to intercept the opponent's attack, it will be fatal.

Summary: Shadow Hunt is, relatively speaking, half a tier below Long-reach Tackle, but the full-back position is where the gap between the two ST skills is the smallest.

2️⃣ Specifically, a full-back in a 4-at-the-back formation needs Long-reach Tackle more, while a 5-at-the-back formation allows Shadow Hunt to shine. The best use for this Lahm card is as a wing-back in a 5-at-the-back formation with the Attacking instruction. If I had the choice, I'd prefer BT Lahm to have Long-reach Tackle, but Shadow Hunt isn't bad either.

3️⃣ For Lahm, there's no need to over-analyze the defensive end, because his true power lies in his all-around ability on the attacking end. Experiencing this new card once again confirmed his status as the #1 Attacking Full-back: with his invincible on-the-ball feel, he is the Messi of attacking full-backs. Dribbling in circles and progressing the ball with an ultra-high touch frequency are his highlights. Even better, Lahm can play on both the left and the right. His Very High weak foot accuracy guarantees he is a dual threat when attacking down the wing, able to either drive to the byline or cut inside to cross, making him impossible for opponents to defend against.

The fact that the new card's Lofted Pass can break the stat cap to reach 103, and his Physical Contact can reach 80, only widens Lahm's undisputed lead.

4️⃣ Lahm's only flaw, of course, is his small player model. When playing in a 4-at-the-back formation, he will feel slightly less solid on the defensive end compared to Zambrotta and Zanetti.

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/0CeYAJzbvIn9uCc9vu8rsw

Caicedo and Marcelo have been out for five days (coming to the Chinese server later), and the dual-group rating has begun.

https://preview.redd.it/urygestmo8bh1.jpg?width=2000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=78d550200feadc7e2ff4a33977c8091d9c8b07e9

⬆️ Compared to his old card, his shooting ability has been improved, which fits the current meta's requirements for midfielders. He can be viewed as a bigger Makélélé.

https://preview.redd.it/p2kx05tno8bh1.jpg?width=2000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=677c86cb5c53db36ae2c6e446e006258cdbe6824

⬆️ The stat panel has been strengthened, but the Full-back Finisher playstyle lacks universal applicability, especially causing significant issues on the defensive end.

In-Game Video: Caicedo

https://reddit.com/link/1undc9f/video/1zz9z8voo8bh1/player

In-Game Video: Marcelo

https://reddit.com/link/1undc9f/video/d2k79alqo8bh1/player

New Marcelo (Attacking LB/RB): Pro Rank #5 | Overall Rank #5

New Marcelo (LMF/RMF): Pro Rank #6

Caicedo (CMF): Pro Rank #11

Question 1: Caicedo's Ranking as a CMF (The main upgrade from the old card is shooting)

Option	Count	Percentage
Top 5 or better	1	7.69%
Top 10	8	61.54%
Top 15 or worse (Old card was in Top 15)	2	15.38%
Pass / Abstain	2	15.38%
Number of valid responses	13

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/RRZER69sqz_Pz1skwUe0Kg

https://preview.redd.it/f894xp02j8bh1.jpg?width=2000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6387b1a63997dad16438ea985cdc3d51205de76d

⚽️ Rating: SS: T0 / AMF: T0 Top 5 / LWF/RWF: T0 Top 3 / LMF/RMF: T0 Top 3

🇧🇷 Neymar: 6-2-8-11-9-2 + Off the Ball

Added Skills: Outside Curler, One-touch Pass, Pinpoint Crossing, Long-range Shooting

Compared to the Hole Player version of Neymar, the stat panel has mainly seen a +2 power-creep to Physical Contact and +2 to Kicking Power. However, the most significant difference lies in the Magnetic Feet ST skill. First, let's take a look at him in action—

https://reddit.com/link/1unclie/video/az28p3n4j8bh1/player

Experience:

1️⃣ If you play him as a Wide AMF or LWF/RWF, the change in playstyle from Hole Player to Prolific Winger isn't a big issue, because Neymar belongs to the ball-carrying archetype. If you play him as a central AMF or SS, the playstyle change has a much bigger impact. However, Neymar has always been just average when playing as a central SS anyway.

2️⃣ This new Neymar clearly focuses on his ability in physical duels. With Magnetic Feet, you can definitely feel a difference. It's mainly noticeable in the moment you drive forward with the ball; he's better at holding off an opponent and gliding past them.

One of the tips for using Magnetic Feet is: wait for the opponent to close in, turn your body side-on to shield the ball, and then use Acceleration Burst to burst into space. Magnetic Feet + Acceleration Burst have an inherent logical synergy. 

However, even with Magnetic Feet, deliberately trying to back into and body opponents with Neymar's player model still isn't very effective.

3️⃣ Losing Momentum Dribbling is not fatal for Neymar. Remember that even before he had Momentum Dribbling, Neymar's on-the-ball feel was still excellent. However, based on the change in his ST skill set, I still recommend playing this Neymar more efficiently. Once you have the ball, don't deliberately try to show off; after beating your man, make a more sensible pass. Your efficiency will be much higher.

4️⃣ The new card has buffed his shielding and Kicking Power, which is also a reminder that you should play him in a more “modern" way; blast a shot whenever you find the chance.

This card is suitable for players who like Acceleration Burst. In this chaotic version of the game where inertia has increased, Acceleration Burst is becoming more and more useful. Ultimately, I think at the LWF/RWF position, the Magnetic Feet Neymar is slightly better than the old card. In other positions, they are tied, or the old card is better.

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/QrZC2XzJ9CT7YG-5G1AbrQ

https://preview.redd.it/ciqnwlfnf8bh1.jpg?width=2000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=10457fac52f6c094d0a0dbacdb6e3dfe98b8f5f4

⚽️ Rating: CB/DMF/CMF T0

⚽️ L. Martínez: 0-4-8-7-8-4-7

Added Skills: Fighting Spirit, Heading

There are quite a few highlights on his stat panel: excellent in all four defensive stats + outstanding Speed/Acceleration. Having 90 Lofted Pass and 90 Tight Possession is a rare advantage! (It's very rare to find a defensive player in the middle or back third who can also hit 90 in Lofted Pass). The in-game performance is as follows—

https://reddit.com/link/1unav3o/video/d5l6kljf68bh1/player

I recommend primarily playing him at the DMF position: his defending is truly good, his sweeping coverage is on point, and his tackling is fierce. His on-the-ball feel when turning in tight circles is particularly outstanding. If you are determined to build up the play on the ground from the back, he provides a lot of confidence. His Physical Contact is also not bad; when facing a high press, he can always flexibly turn in a circle and pass the ball out. This actually replicates the real-life Martínez very well.

Martínez's disadvantages are also quite obvious. With only a Medium Weak Foot Accuracy, his ball distribution will be restricted. Furthermore, his leg length is 5, giving him a Leg Length Based Height of only 173cm. This dooms him to having insufficient static defensive ability, meaning he can only be played as the secondary DMF in a double pivot.

Let's compare Martínez to other Destroyers like Makélélé and Caicedo. With this build, Martínez's only real advantage is that his Lofted Pass is high and he has Visionary Pass (there's nothing you can do about it; the level cap for CBs is too low. There are plenty of players from other positions converted into CBs, but it's very hard to convert a CB into another position). He is suited for a double pivot system and for a playstyle that utilizes a lot of lofted passes.

This card is an excellent choice for Argentina/Manchester United themed squads, and it's definitely worth it for fans of the player.

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/tLDRR8N5LZzsiBJShjm47w

Which shooting skills are essential? Which Showtime shooting skills are even worse than standard skills?

The pro player group judges participated in a shooting skill evaluation (on a 5-point scale), and the results are as follows:

Shooting Skill	1 Pt	2 Pts	3 Pts	4 Pts	5 Pts	Avg. Score
First-time Shot	0	0	0	1	18	4.95
Bullet Header*	0	0	0	4	15	4.79
Long-range Shooting	0	0	0	6	13	4.68
Long-Range Curler	0	0	1	5	13	4.63
Phenomenal Finishing*	0	0	0	7	12	4.63
Low Screamer*	0	0	2	4	13	4.58
Blitz Curler*	0	0	1	12	6	4.26
Dipping Shot	1	0	6	2	10	4.05
Acrobatic Finishing	1	4	8	3	2	3.06
Willpower*	3	5	10	1	0	2.47
Rising Shot	7	3	8	1	0	2.16
Chip Shot Control	7	4	8	0	0	2.05
Knuckle Shot	8	5	5	1	0	1.95
Penalty Specialist	12	1	6	0	0	1.68

(Note: the Outside Curler skill has already been rated and was given a score of 4.52)

Analysis is as follows:

1️⃣ First-time Shot, Long-range Shooting, Long-range Curler: Without a doubt, these are the highest-scoring standard skills. If you don't have First-time Shot, you simply aren't fit to be a forward. Long-range Shooting provides a +10% boost to the Finishing stat, and Long-Range Curler is a parameter-modifying skill that provides an approximate +10% boost to Finishing/Kicking Power. Both are incredibly high-value skills.

Note: The Long-Range Curler skill is effective for all curling shots, not just those outside the box. However, the Long-range Shooting skill is ineffective for curling shots outside the box. Therefore, for players who rely on Blitz Curlers, the Long-range Shooting skill is not essential, but the Long-Range Curler skill is absolutely mandatory.

2️⃣ Bullet Header: The highest-scoring Showtime shooting skill. For a long time, the game engine's method of suppressing powerful headers was to add an accuracy debuff. Bullet Header reduces this debuff, making it an essential skill for an aerial pivot.

3️⃣ Phenomenal Finishing: You can't say it's essential for a center forward, but the beauty of it is that it works quietly behind the scenes. It doesn't require you to force a specific, high-risk type of shot that, if missed, ends your entire attack to trigger it. Clearly, it's also a high-value Showtime skill.

4️⃣ Low Screamer / Blitz Curler: The voting results show Low Screamer slightly ahead. Actually, in this meta where long-range shooting is strong, both of these skills are very powerful. The difference is that Blitz Curler is the kind of high-risk special attack that ends your possession if it fails mentioned above (it has specific shooting spots), whereas Low Screamer can be executed anytime you find space during a normal attack.

Some friends might think: right now, as long as you have space at the top of the box, the scoring rate for a normal shot isn't low, so why do I have to use Low Screamer? Football is a game of probabilities. The essence of Low Screamer is that it requires more open space to execute, but rewards you with a massive boost to your scoring probability. From a position just outside the top of the box, you could say Low Screamer is a guaranteed goal if it's not blocked.

5️⃣ Dipping Shot: Triggers the same way as Low Screamer, and also provides a noticeable boost to the goal-scoring rate. It can be considered a "mini Low Screamer."

6️⃣ Willpower: The worst Showtime shooting skill, and it's well-deserved. An average score of 2.47 makes it lower than Fortress, but higher than the absolute worst Showtime skill, Game-changing Pass.

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/9-Cg2xkwXSmST5tKL6nPdA

View Poll

https://preview.redd.it/b65z60b7s4ah1.jpg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0e83a5867d3c9f408b393e20c903e94670ae7237

⚽️ Marcelo: 0-4-9-9-10-4-6 + Ball-carrying

Just like the Dummy Runner Kaká, they are trying to save an unpopular playstyle by slapping it onto a strong card. Compared to the old card, this version has +2 to the four defensive stats and +3 Physical Contact, making the stat panel indeed a bit better. The core feature is that the new Full-back Finisher playstyle likes to drift into the middle. 1️⃣ If you don't have another player on the same wing, like in a 5-2-3 formation, a Full-back Finisher won't drift too far into the center. 2️⃣ However, if a Full-back Finisher is used in a wide formation where a Prolific Winger is operating on the same flank, they can exploit the half-spaces to link up, which is somewhat interesting.

But at the end of the day, not many people play wide formations, so this "unpopular playstyle rescue plan" is predicted to be a failure.

⚽️ Lloris: ...1-0-11-10-10 + Saving

His main value is as a goalkeeper for a themed France national team squad. With so many World Cup cards available, the most suitable national team to build a full squad around is definitely the talent-rich France.

⚽️ Neymar: 6-2-8-11-9-2 + Off the Ball

Compared to the Hole Player Neymar, the stat panel is only a minor power-creep. +2 in Physical Contact and Kicking Power makes him a bit more "modern" (fitting the current long-range shooting meta), and his player model has also been tweaked to be slightly bulkier. The playstyle change from Hole Player to Prolific Winger is a negative power-creep in any version of the game. However, some pro player judges believe that for Neymar's ball-dominant playstyle, the playstyle change doesn't have a huge impact.

The core difference of the new card is that Momentum Dribbling has been replaced by Magnetic Feet, further enhancing the new card's physical dueling ability. First, Momentum Dribbling doesn't have a huge impact on Neymar's player model and on-the-ball feel anyway, so the new card's feel won't be bad. Second, in the current engine, there is quite a bit of space in the half-spaces on the wings for cutting inside, and you don't need to do too much turning and twisting; straightforward, explosive dribbling to beat players is enough.

My initial assessment is that this is a new card whose selling point is fitting the current meta, emphasizing Kicking Power and physical duels. But you can't say they put much effort into it, because the stat panel is essentially a minor power-creep, and the playstyle is still a negative power-creep that doesn't fit a central role. The period where this card has an advantage will likely be hard to sustain for long; it might become outdated in a couple of months when the 2027 engine drops.

Let's see what the #1 Neymar fan among eFootball pros, Juninho has to say about it:

https://preview.redd.it/ufnn8bb0s4ah1.jpg?width=993&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5d457eeeadc2ffb5ed9b0acd073eee0c6b3e9fb6

(Juninho: I won't spin for these players.
Amadeusz: So you'll try a few spins?
Amadeusz: But you won't clear the pack, right?
Juninho: I won't even spin once.)

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/Tps5M9XSzuu5-icwBXhTRA

https://preview.redd.it/0gb0rot9t2ah1.jpg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ec76f57c5ce6acf745432c78991457c206eb1e45

⚽️ France Varane: Both the pro group and the public group agree that he is slightly inferior to the Real Madrid Varane. In reality, they are very similar cards; the France version has better ground defending, while the Real Madrid version has better aerial defending, making him a more complete defender. Furthermore, the Real Madrid version's slightly higher Stamina makes it easier to hit the manager boost thresholds.

⚽️ Kompany & Benatia; Pro Group: Nesta > van de Ven > Pepe > Thuram > Kompany > Benatia | Public Group: The exact same ranking as the pro group; there is a high degree of consensus between the two groups.

Commentary: Kompany can defend well head-on thanks to his large player model and the Long-reach Tackle ST skill, but as a Destroyer, he is too clunky. Benatia doesn't have any fatal flaws in his mobility or player model, but he lacks the Long-reach Tackle ST skill and doesn't have many other standout features; overall, he is a balanced but mediocre card. Nesta has moved up in the rankings because the 5.5.0 engine requires better defense against through balls, placing a higher value on a defender's AI positioning.

https://preview.redd.it/lqr597wbt2ah1.jpg?width=1024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a0674f9a7a93b3b37f01c37eca78d66ff9522afd

Ultimately, this three-CB pack of Varane/Benatia/Kompany contains one Top 3 player and two Top 10 players, totaling a value of 16 points. It's one of the better new packs we've seen in the last two months, especially suitable for new accounts looking to quickly accumulate strong defender options.

Overall Tier List below. Please note: The tier list for different positions are merely a comprehensive reference for a player's universal applicability. A card's actual in-game strength ultimately depends on each player's individual tactical preferences and operational habits.

https://preview.redd.it/s4uaeq6et2ah1.jpg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0698835bcd8766edc9ec7bf9c05920750adb18d5

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/qOUg9KXImaq_xGp_2q8Bgw

https://preview.redd.it/bpcohq4xm2ah1.jpg?width=2000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=25429d24a9284e947344445f7ce85b3a05674d69

⚽️ Rating: He'd struggle to even make the Top 20 for AMFs; he's just a regular T0

⚽️ Kaká: 6-4-8-9-11-4-0 + Breakthrough

Added Skills: Outside Curler

Compared to the previous AC Milan version, this new card's playstyle has changed from Creative Playmaker to Dummy Runner. The advantages are ↑2 to the three core dribbling stats, ↑2 to the dual passing stats, and ↑5 to Balance. The disadvantages are ↓3 Speed, ↓3 Physical Contact, and ↓3 Stamina. In reality, regardless of the playstyle, the stat panel is also a bit of a negative power creep.

However, in the highly unpopular niche of Dummy Runners ⬇️, this Kaká card is clearly the #1 player. But after playing him in-game, I don't think Kaká's stat panel is enough to save this playstyle.

https://preview.redd.it/g7vi2o50n2ah1.jpg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=451d4b5bbb8fbb341aa7b668e7bb08d17df507e4

See the gameplay:

https://reddit.com/link/1ui5o1a/video/i5c6ywe1n2ah1/player

Kaká's specific characteristics mean that only the Hole Player playstyle is truly suited for him. Among his three core dribbling stats, his Dribbling value; which affects high-speed dribbling, is the most prominent. Among his speed stats, his Speed is significantly higher than his Acceleration. These traits mean his value can only be truly realized during high-speed forward runs or when dribbling at pace.

Furthermore, Kaká's 185cm large-model feel means he isn't good at sharp, sudden changes of direction. He excels at the subtle techniques of dribbling in tight circles after he has penetrated deep into enemy territory, and his large player model allows him to hold off defenders. This determines that Kaká is best utilized with the Hole Player AI, making runs into dangerous areas to receive the ball. He is somewhat similar to the Hole Player version of Bellingham; making forward runs deep into the opponent's half is where he is most threatening offensively.

A Dummy Runner, on the other hand, excels at diagonal runs, being unpredictable, and drifting wide to act as a decoy. Having Kaká on the ball in positions too far away from the center of the pitch poses no threat.

In fact, the Dummy Runner, with its highly unpredictable nature, has always had poor universal applicability in the game. If you put him in the center, he'll run to the wing; if you put him on the wing, he'll run to the center, which ends up disrupting his teammates' positioning as well.

Strangely enough, an AMF Dummy Runner is surprisingly helpful on defense, but for an offensive midfielder, that doesn't add many points to his overall evaluation.

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/tnAal3DMOKF6M2_8pEYSHA

https://preview.redd.it/qrotee8eh2ah1.jpg?width=1883&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=966be2f1815ed836d2bbbbd112894d3f62f94b2c

With the dust settling on the third round of the group stage, a surprise 100-player Showtime pack dropped on the international server today. It features a Prolific Winger version of Dembélé, equipped with Magnetic Feet and Blitz Curler. His stat panel is virtually indistinguishable from the Ballon d'Or Dembélé, aside from the Curl stat. Also worth noting is Caicedo, whose Finishing has been buffed and who comes equipped with the Long-reach Tackle ST skill.

My evaluation is this: at this stage of the game, no matter how overpowered a winger they release, their ultimate fate is to be played out of position as a CF with an inactivated playstyle, just like Kvaratskhelia. This Dembélé card doesn't seem very appealing.

https://preview.redd.it/9tpn885kh2ah1.jpg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=374356a335a1d44e76d97c9e246c98bd234e5162

Also, today's POTD (Player of the Day) players are shown above. The Showtime pack stat panels and builds have been added at the end of this post.

https://preview.redd.it/brn80n8mh2ah1.jpg?width=2000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d8330b79f77d3d613adfcb971fb920a4429aaf3f

Caicedo has, to some extent, power-crept his previous Showtime card, so he will definitely make the Top 10 list.

https://preview.redd.it/8z2lrzunh2ah1.jpg?width=3897&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=221da514c39143683543dcbf41b57dbcf28e1ba9

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/cfXo1huLm7SeZD1UlsoUKQ

https://preview.redd.it/xjm8czi6qv9h1.jpg?width=2000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=16233e90118a3e0ab1d493385c770ef7a314024f

Kompany and Benatia have been out for five days (coming to the Chinese server later), and the dual-group rating has begun.

Both of these players are Destroyers, but in comparison, Kompany still has a unique niche. The good thing about Benatia is that his Speed/Acceleration isn't a fatal flaw, but he really doesn't have any standout features—

https://preview.redd.it/2eq3kts5qv9h1.jpg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0e656de3bb24e21b9a9cac3db51bd2488e857cac

Pro Player Group Comments—

No.	Opinion Text (Kompany)
5	Very strong head-on defending, basically wins the ball every time he steps up.
9	Slightly worse than Nesta, but still very strong.
11	Makes up for a lack of Acceleration with his player model, solid in the air. Actually, it feels a bit weird; if a Destroyer is handling the aerial defense, then pair him with a high-speed Build Up player (Varane or Saliba).
13	Pass
18	Captain don't shoot!

No.	Opinion Text (Benatia)
5	A very standard Destroyer with no obvious flaws.
13	Pass
18	A CB without Long-reach Tackle is like a bird without wings.

https://preview.redd.it/yvuvuql4qv9h1.jpg?width=610&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=276e1be1170e676a1cf944030ae3a91a85d2bc7a

⬆️ The pro player group discussion confirmed that Kompany and Benatia fall somewhere between the Top 5 and the top of the Top 10. Therefore, this time we directly re-ranked the players in this specific range:

Pro Player Group Opinion: Nesta > van de Ven > Pepe > Thuram > Kompany > Benatia

Option	Composite Score	1st Place	2nd Place	3rd Place
Nesta	5.05	12 (66.67%)	5 (27.78%)	1 (5.56%)
van de Ven	3.25	3 (23.08%)	7 (53.85%)	3 (23.08%)
Pepe	2.75	0 (0%)	3 (23.08%)	10 (76.92%)
Thuram	1.3	2 (40%)	2 (40%)	1 (20%)
Kompany	1.15	1 (20%)	1 (20%)	3 (60%)
Benatia	0	0 (0%)	0 (0%)	0 (0%)

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/ShcJaAxkx044XLSXfXHRdg

https://preview.redd.it/yaftfepviv9h1.jpg?width=2000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=83fc8c451abc9514e6c78740daeb8d412b767735

(The pro player group has finished voting. It was very tight, and the result is a bit surprising 😅)

The new Varane has been out for five days (coming to the Chinese server later), and the dual-group rating has begun.

Two key takeaways:

1️⃣ If you have the old one, there's no need to pull for the new one.

2️⃣ The new Varane specializes in ground defending / The old card is better in the air and more all-around.

Pro Player Group Comments:

No.	Opinion Text
5	A flawless ground-defending CB. With the Fortress buff after taking the lead, he's even more terrifying.
11	A steady, all-around player, specifically designed to handle all-around forwards like Rummenigge or Shevchenko. But he's still uncomfortable dealing with Haaland and Ibrahimović contesting headers. I recommend pairing him with VVD, Ferdinand, or perhaps Pepe.
13	Pass.
14	The new card is fierce on the ground; the old card is fierce on corners and anti-air.
18	Basically just a "catch-up card" for those who missed previous meta CBs.

In-Game Performance:

https://reddit.com/link/1uhb1zx/video/81rxp40uiv9h1/player

Pro Player Group Verdict: Slightly more people think the Real Madrid version of Varane is better, as it's more balanced between ground and aerial defending.

Question 1: France Varane (New) or Real Madrid Varane (Old)? [Single Choice]

Option	Count	Percentage
France Varane	6	30%
Real Madrid Varane	8	40%
Honestly about the same, can't choose	6	30%
Pass / Abstain	0	0%
Number of valid responses	20

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/UaZnnZKL3Z3IMVA_kn7rNA

Today, I noticed a clip of a "Rainbow Flick into a Scissor Kick." I was lucky enough to get in touch with the uploader and got my hands on the full video—

https://reddit.com/link/1uhah9x/video/5alrg17lev9h1/player

I originally thought this was a once-in-a-century random event, but I never expected that it could actually be triggered quite consistently—

https://reddit.com/link/1uhah9x/video/2fz28l3nev9h1/player

The core method to trigger it is this: execute a Rainbow Flick while facing slightly away from the goal at a certain angle, and then immediately input the shoot command. After testing, I found that players who have the Phenomenal Finishing ST skill will have a much higher goal-scoring rate when using this trick.

This move is essentially a physics-defying bug. C. Ronaldo seamlessly transitions from the Rainbow Flick animation straight into an Scissor Kick animation mid-air.

(Thanks to Secret and Half-Sugar with Ice)

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/XUDdROYkeTTL2SEUOJHE7A

https://preview.redd.it/ceb6a03c9v9h1.jpg?width=2000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=16fedcde273ac924e4009f263f37209a136c1f61

⚽️ Rating: AMF T0 Top 5 / SS T0

🇧🇷 Ronaldinho: 7-1-7-10-11-4-0 + Off the Ball

Added Skills: Long-range Shooting, One-touch Pass, First-time Shot

Compared to the Hole Player Ronaldinho: Offensive Awareness ↑3, both passing stats ↑3, Finishing ↑2, with minor power creep to other stats. His playstyle has changed to Creative Playmaker. While Hole Player is definitely better for other players, for a player like Ronaldinho who is suited to playing with the ball at his feet, Creative Playmaker is actually a better fit for his performance at AMF.

BT Ronaldinho's Blitz Curler animation set is special. More accurately, other players' Blitz Curlers are different from their normal curling shot animations and become a "power shot" animation (bottom left image below). Ronaldinho, however, maintains his own exclusive curling shot animation, which gives him two advantages: 1. His point of contact with the ball is further away from his torso, making it easier to curl the ball around opponents. 2. When using a Blitz Curler during a high-speed dribble, the Blitz Curler shot will be executed 8-10 frames faster.

https://preview.redd.it/put4r3kn9v9h1.jpg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5cdb8d6d4be31a7e88bd9900a08578eda0ee8d6f

In-Game Experience:

https://reddit.com/link/1uh9t3v/video/5avzsd6p9v9h1/player

My impressions are as follows:

1️⃣ Forward Run Speed: The pleasant surprise is that when Ronaldinho triggers a long-distance forward run, his overall off-the-ball mobility is astonishing. Opponents often can't catch him. This is because Ronaldinho is a classic "High Acceleration + Average Speed" type. According to my previous research, after the acceleration phase was extended to 15m, this high-acceleration archetype has a huge advantage:

https://preview.redd.it/2an6v4du9v9h1.jpg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b153489a8b39e77a865042fd7fe5ceb3bded54c1

With the new card's Offensive Awareness boosted to nearly 90, this high-acceleration advantage is even more apparent.

2️⃣ Dribbling: It's the familiar Ronaldinho feel. Those who like the feel of Hazard or Best will definitely find him clunky. But Ronaldinho's ability to hold off defenders while turning + his skill moves + his wide-ranging skill move animations still have their admirers. I think Ronaldinho's feel is close to Kvaratskhelia and Semenyo, but with a bit more delicate skill moves added on top.

3️⃣ The "Curl or Pass" Dilemma: Ronaldinho is a Creative Playmaker (likes to appear at the corners of the penalty area) + has good Lofted Pass + can hit Blitz Curlers, so you can play this combo. However, it's a slight regret that his weak foot isn't quite top-tier. In terms of pure Blitz Curler ability, this Ronaldinho card isn't in the highest tier, but his special Blitz Curler animation set provides better space to get the shot off.

Conclusion: The Hole Player Ronaldinho sits at the bottom of the AMF Top 5, and his recent usage rate hasn't been high. I think this new Ronaldinho is an improvement over his previous version.

https://preview.redd.it/squatygy9v9h1.jpg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=84d02455f13a02502f899998c4f77e718a407999

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/8iZKmQj_6d9A8djJ6J-siA

https://preview.redd.it/fkxhh21kln9h1.jpg?width=2000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bf3dfa56c4294de746b1d210e9471c583499086d

⚽️ Rating: CF T0 Bottom of the Top 10

⚽️ Showtime David: 8-0-9-9-10-2

Added Skills: Through Passing, Heading, Acrobatic Finishing

David, whose previous versions have always been considered god-tier F2P cards due to their great in-game feel, has finally gotten a Showtime card with end-game strength. Why do I call him a high-speed version of Suárez? Please check the gameplay—

https://reddit.com/link/1ugbmw5/video/renoek1nln9h1/player

As shown in the gameplay video, this kind of Goal Poacher; who can hold off defenders, has a wide model, and feels great on the ball; gives you that exact Suárez feeling! This is the magic of player models and their impact on game feel in eFootball. The ultimate effect of Suárez's 182cm player model combined with Momentum Dribbling is very similar to the 177cm David without Momentum Dribbling.

David's player model is also quite interesting: 12 arm length / 11 shoulder width / 10 leg length + 177cm height. He's a powerful little tank CF with an excellent on-the-ball feel, and he's not afraid at all even when a long-legged CB is stuck right behind him. I feel like he's the kind of player whose actual in-game performance > his stat panel.

【However, please note】His real-life form is currently poor. As a Showtime card, he is heavily dependent on the weekly Live Updates. Because he isn't playing well, he will likely be a Live Update victim who frequently receives unplayable D or E forms, meaning he might only be viable for a couple of weeks. I do not recommend pulling for him. If you do happen to pull him, just treat him as an unexpected bonus and use him while you can.

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/Fwfn2YiFcDfF9J3dTPoqsA

https://preview.redd.it/tk83lzvegn9h1.jpg?width=2000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=adb1c9c3ccdf4a98b66e0081a4912d33f2e02d43

⚽️ Rating: LWF/RWF T0 / CF T0 Top 20

⚽️ Gakpo: 7-1-10-10-9-4 (National Team Boost +1, this review is based on this) 

Added Skills: Long-range Shooting, Outside Curler, Heading, Acrobatic Finishing, Fighting Spirit

A large-model dribbler with Magnetic Feet, he is perfectly suited for brushing past defenders and holding them off while on the ball. 93 Kicking Power and a Very High accuracy / Occasionally weak foot usage make him suitable for the current meta where you can blast a shot at any time.

In actual gameplay, I found that Gakpo is still better suited as a CF. Even though his three core dribbling stats are good, a 193cm player model is still not capable of handling the delicate on-the-ball situations required on the wing. Relying on a large player model to execute wide-ranging skill moves/feints to get past players is very suitable; his feel is somewhere between Ibrahimović and Cantona. For forwards who rely on wide-ranging moves to beat players, when you get the hang of them, they can produce highlight-reel moments. But when things aren't going well, it feels like even just turning with the ball with them is too slow.

See the gameplay—

https://reddit.com/link/1ugajam/video/sze4p6keen9h1/player

When playing as a CF, his long arms and legs + Magnetic Feet allow him to be a good ground pivot. However, he is completely useless as an aerial pivot; there are actually many of these tall CFs over 1.9 meters who lack jumping ability in the game. Essentially, they are all "Gullit fragments": they possess some of Gullit's characteristics by functioning well as a ground pivot, but they lack his complete all-roundness, specifically his aerial ability.

To summarize, this Gakpo card can be evaluated in three words: "Eccentric Talent Pivot." "Eccentric talent" means his feel and ability to hold off players are both at a certain level, but neither is taken to the extreme. If you really try to use him purely to hold off players, he's not tough enough; to put it bluntly, he's a jack of all trades, master of none.

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/dh8EQMVhyJoFXGtsya_DmA