The 87s: Strong But With One Snub
The next bracket contains some heavy hitters:
David Raya
Bruno Fernandes
Moisés Caicedo
William Saliba
Cole Palmer
Martin Ødegaard
Alexis Mac Allister
Victor Gyökeres
Declan Rice
Goldbridge praised this group as one of FC 26 Coins the most balanced in the ratings. Palmer's rise to 87 feels deserved after a breakout season at Chelsea, and Ødegaard, Mac Allister, and Caicedo all look accurate.
The main complaint? Declan Rice. Goldbridge argued Rice belongs in the 88 category alongside the league's very best midfielders. Given his transformative impact at Arsenal and role in England's midfield, many fans agree this rating is a touch low.
The 88s: The Real Difference-Makers
The 88-rated club includes:
Gabriel Magalhães
Bukayo Saka
Alexander Isak
Goldbridge once again circled back to the Rice debate here. If Gabriel can sit at 88, why is Saliba at 87? Statistically and stylistically, many would argue Saliba has surpassed his Arsenal teammate.
That said, Saka absolutely deserves his 88, continuing his upward trajectory as Arsenal's most dangerous attacker. Isak also looks fairly rated after a stellar season leading Newcastle's attack.
The 89s: Controversy Arrives
The 89 group features a fascinating mix:
Alisson Becker
Gianluigi Donnarumma
Florian Wirtz
Alisson is widely accepted as the best goalkeeper in the Premier League, so no debates there. But the inclusion of Donnarumma and Wirtz raised eyebrows.
Neither has played in the Premier League yet, with Donnarumma rated off his Champions League exploits with PSG and Wirtz boosted by a sensational season at Bayer Leverkusen. Their cards look fantastic, but Goldbridge questioned whether it's fair to EA FC Coins place them above established Premier League stars like Rice, Saka, or Ødegaard.