My Top Picks for EA Sports FC 25's First Team of the Week

Hey everyone, it's 2026, and EA Sports FC 25 has been out for a while now, but I still vividly remember the excitement around that first Team of the Week release. It's always a special one, setting the tone for the Ultimate Team cycle. I spent a lot of time back then analyzing early-season performances, trying to predict who would get those coveted, boosted cards. Based on the incredible starts these players had, I was convinced they were absolute locks for TOTW 1. Let me walk you through my top seven picks and why I thought they deserved the honor.

Kicking things off at number one for me was Lamine Yamal. Honestly, what this kid was doing at just 17 years old was beyond belief. He wasn't just playing for Barcelona and Spain; he was dominating. In those early La Liga matches, he was electric, bagging goals and consistently being one of the best players on the pitch. His in-game card was already exciting with 86 Dribbling and 85 Pace, but a TOTW version? That would have been a must-have early-game item. He was the definition of a wonderkid carrying his form straight into the virtual pitch.

Right behind him, and it feels almost nostalgic to say now, was Lionel Messi. Age seemed irrelevant to him, even then. His move to Inter Miami and Major League Soccer was supposed to be a relaxing semi-retirement. Instead, he was putting on a masterclass. He was weaving through defenses, scoring incredible goals, and averaging a ridiculous 9.1 match rating. His FC 25 base card was a work of art—93 Dribbling, 89 Curve, 86 Vision—and you just knew a TOTW version would have had those playstyles turned up to 11. He was proving that pure footballing genius transcends leagues.

In the third spot, I had Harry Kane. His transition to Bayern Munich had already been prolific, but the start to the 2024/25 season was something else. He was the definition of a clinical finisher. A perfect 10.0 match rating is almost unheard of, and with three goals and an assist already, he was simply unplayable. His base card was a 91-rated monster, and a potential TOTW item would have undoubtedly been one of the most sought-after striker cards in the game's early weeks. You just wanted that card for its composure and finishing alone.

My fourth pick was the Bundesliga's rising force, Victor Boniface. After helping Bayer Leverkusen make history, he started the new campaign with a point to prove. And prove it he did, immediately finding the net with powerful finishes. With two goals and an assist, his average match rating was an 8.5. His FC 25 stats were perfect for a TOTW boost: 86 Shooting and 84 Physicality. He was the kind of powerful, all-around striker that could have bullied defenders in the first few weeks of Ultimate Team.

Coming in at number five was a defender who caught everyone's attention—Matthijs de Ligt. His move to Manchester United was a headline-grabber, and he instantly justified the hype. He wasn't just sitting back; he was a force, even popping up with a crucial goal. An 8.5 average match rating for a central defender is insane. It just showed his complete command of the backline. His base card's best attributes, 87 Defending and 85 Physicality, would have been transformed into elite-tier numbers on a TOTW item, making him a dream center-back partnership builder.

I had Denis Zakaria in sixth place. Watching him for Monaco, I was struck by how he redefined the modern defensive midfielder role. He wasn't just a destroyer; he had this incredible engine and surprising attacking skills that directly contributed to his team's victories. Scoring once and providing an assist in his first few matches showed a complete skillset. His card stats were a perfect blend for a TOTW CDM: 87 Physicality for that presence, 83 Pace to recover, and 81 Defending for solid positioning.

And finally, rounding out my predicted list for TOTW 1 was Karim Adeyemi. My goodness, he was terrifying to play against in the Bundesliga back then. His pace on the left flank for Borussia Dortmund was simply unstoppable. Every game, he was a constant threat, averaging an 8.5 match rating. With two goals and an assist already, he was the perfect candidate for a TOTW LM card. The best part? His FC 25 base card already had a blistering 97 Pace. Can you imagine that on a boosted item? He would have been everyone's first-week secret weapon, terrorizing full-backs before most people had even figured out their meta defenses.

So, there you have it—my personal shortlist for the first Team of the Week in EA Sports FC 25. Looking back from 2026, it's funny how right (and sometimes wrong!) you can be about these predictions. Some of these players, like Yamal, have gone on to become global superstars, while others have had incredible journeys since. It was all about recognizing that early-season form and translating it into the virtual game. Who were you hoping to see in that first TOTW release? Let me know in the comments!