The FC 27 best players are spread wider across the pitch than last year, with 91-rated options up front, a 90-rated anchor in midfield, and an 89 at left back. This guide picks the strongest card at every position from the official launch ratings, plus a cheaper alternative you can realistically afford in the first weeks, when coins are scarce and prices are at their most volatile.
Goalkeeper: Courtois, With Value Below
Thibaut Courtois is the number one at 90, and Gianluigi Donnarumma sits one point behind. The budget answer is Jan Oblak at 88, who has historically gone for a fraction of the price of the two above him despite nearly identical shot-stopping in game. Unless you have coins to burn, Oblak is where launch-week money should go.
Defense: An 89 at Three of Four Spots
Center back is the strongest it has been in years. Gabriel and Willian Pacho share the top at 89, with Virgil van Dijk at 88 still offering the best pure physical profile of the three. On a budget, Pau Cubarsí at 86 comes off a +4 upgrade and plays a passing style that suits the new meta.
Left back belongs to Nuno Mendes at 89, a three-point gap over Federico Dimarco and Marc Cucurella at 86. That gap will show in his price, so the two 86s are the realistic picks for most starter squads. On the right, Achraf Hakimi's 88 leads Jules Koundé's 86, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Marcos Llorente, and Konrad Laimer stacked at 85 as cheap options with very different profiles: crossing, engine, and pace respectively.
In the women's game, Mapi León's 88 makes her the standout defender for mixed squads.
Midfield: Rodri Anchors, Pedri Creates
Rodri at 90 is the best holding midfielder in the game, with Declan Rice and Joshua Kimmich both at 88 behind him. Rice tends to be the sensible buy of the three: similar defensive output, lower price tag.
In the center, three players share 90: Pedri, Vitinha, and Jude Bellingham. João Neves at 88 is the budget version of the same idea, a press-resistant passer who covers ground. At the ten, Lionel Messi and Bruno Fernandes both sit at 89, and Fernandes will be the far more buyable card of the pair. For a genuinely cheap creative option, Rayan Cherki's 86 after a +5 upgrade is the card to watch in the launch market.
Attack: Two 91s and a Crowded Wing
Striker is the simplest call: Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland at 91, pick your preferred style. Ousmane Dembélé and Harry Kane follow at 90. The budget tier is deep this year, with Alexander Isak, Julián Álvarez, Viktor Gyökeres, and Victor Osimhen all at 86 and Lautaro Martínez a point above them at 87. Any of those five can lead a starter squad without embarrassment.
On the wings, Lamine Yamal and Michael Olise lead at 90, with Vinícius Júnior and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia at 89 and Raphinha and Luis Díaz at 88. Rating is only half the story out wide: raw pace decides how these cards feel, and our FC 27 fastest players ranking shows which of them actually run past defenders. Temwa Chawinga at 89 and Barbra Banda at 88 are the strongest wide options from the women's leagues.
What to Buy First
The launch market rewards patience at the top and speed at the bottom. Cards rated 90+ open at inflated prices and fall for weeks, so chasing Rodri or Yamal on day one burns coins. The 85 to 87 tier is the opposite: cards like Cherki, Isak, and Cubarsí are cheap early, get bought up as SBC Points fodder, and climb. Full context on the upgrades behind these numbers is in our FC 27 top 100 ratings breakdown. If you want to move on that window with a funded balance, you can top up your PS5 club before early access opens on September 18.
FAQ
Q: Who is the best CB in FC 27?
A: Gabriel and Willian Pacho lead at 89, with Virgil van Dijk at 88. Pau Cubarsí at 86 is the best budget option.
Q: Who is the best LB in FC 27?
A: Nuno Mendes at 89, by a clear three-point margin. Dimarco and Cucurella at 86 are the affordable picks.
Q: What is the best starter team in FC 27?
A: Build around the 86 to 88 tier: Oblak in goal, Cubarsí and van Dijk centrally, Rice holding, Cherki creating, and an 86-rated striker such as Isak or Gyökeres up front. Save the 90+ buys for later in the cycle.
Q: Are the new ICONs better than these gold cards?
A: The new ICON class tops out at 91 with Christine Sinclair. Ratings and PlayStyles for all ten are in our FC 27 ICONs guide.
Conclusion
The FC 27 best players split cleanly into two shopping lists: the 90+ cards you buy after prices settle, and the upgraded mid-tier that is worth grabbing the moment the market opens. Position by position, the gap between the top pick and the budget pick is smaller than it has been in years. When you are ready to build, visit FUTCOIN and start the season with coins in hand.
