Season 3 just dropped in EA FC 26 Ultimate Team, and honestly, this might be the most exciting batch of Icons we’ve seen yet. EA decided to build the entire season around the 1982 FIFA World Cup, which means we’re getting some absolute legends from that tournament. We’re talking Maradona, Zico, and Socrates, players who defined an era of football.
The season kicked off on Thursday, November 27, 2025, and with it came six Silver Superstar Icons that you can grind for. Now, if you’ve been playing Ultimate Team for a while, you know these Icon objectives can get pretty tedious. The grind is real.
However, there’s actually a smart way to knock out most of these objectives without losing your mind in the process.
Let me walk you through everything you need to know about unlocking these Icons, and more importantly, how to do it efficiently so you’re not still grinding in February.
The Icons Up for Grabs
Before we dive into the methods, let’s talk about who you’re actually working toward. EA has given us six Icons this season, each with its own set of objectives that range from straightforward to downright annoying.
Socrates
The Brazilian midfielder was a maestro on the pitch, and to get him, you need to either assist a goal in 35 separate Squad Battles matches on at least Semi-Pro difficulty while having two Silver players in your starting XI.
You can also do this in Rivals, Champions, or Live Events. The alternative route is winning 30 matches with at least one Brazilian midfielder in your starting lineup.
Pretty manageable, all things considered.
Diego Maradona
This one requires a bit more commitment. You need to score in 65 separate matches using an Argentinian CAM, and it has to be their preferred position; no position changes allowed.
Or you can win 40 matches while fielding at least six Argentinian players in your starting XI. Either way, you’re putting in work for arguably the best player available this season.
Kenny Dalglish
He represents Scotland in this lineup. For him, you need to score in 50 separate matches using a striker in their preferred position, or win 25 matches with at least two Scottish players in your team.
The striker route seems simple enough, but finding good Scottish players to build around can be tricky.
Zico
There is another Brazilian legend on offer. His objective mirrors Maradona’s structure but with Brazilian players instead. Score in 60 separate matches using a Brazilian CAM in their preferred position, or win 30 matches with five Brazilian players in your starting XI.
Brazil has deeper squads in Ultimate Team, so this one might feel a bit easier than Maradona despite the similar numbers.
Włodzimierz Smolarek
He is probably the name casual fans are least familiar with, but he was a Polish striker who had a solid tournament in 1982.
To unlock him, score in 30 separate matches using a Polish player, or win 20 matches with two Polish players in your starting XI. This is actually one of the quicker grinds if you tackle it solo.
Franco Baresi
The Italian defensive legend requires you to either play 25 Squad Battles matches on at least Semi-Pro difficulty with two Italian defenders in your starting XI, or win 20 matches under those same conditions.
Notice this one just says “play,” not even win, which makes it the most forgiving objective of the bunch.
Why You Should Not Do These One at a Time
Here’s where most people mess up. They see these objectives and think, “Cool, I’ll knock out Smolarek first, then move on to Dalglish, then tackle Maradona.”
Look, that works. You’ll get all six Icons eventually. But you’ll also play something like 250+ matches to get there, and unless you have unlimited free time, that’s just not realistic for most of us.
The beauty of how EA structured these objectives is that they can overlap.
You can make progress on multiple Icons in a single match if you build your squad correctly. This is where the real strategy comes in.
The Fastest Method: Build One Team, Knock Out Five Icons
After testing different combinations and doing the math, I’ve found the most efficient route to unlock five of the six Icons in just 60 matches. That’s less than a quarter of what you’d play doing them individually.
Here’s exactly how it works.
First, you need to build a starting XI that meets very specific requirements. This is where it gets a bit complicated, but stick with me because this is the foundation of the entire strategy.
Your starting lineup needs to have one Polish player, two Italian defenders, two Scottish players, six Argentinian players, and at least two Silver-rated players. Yes, that’s a lot of boxes to check, and of course, finding players who fit multiple criteria will save you headaches.
On your bench, you need one Brazilian CAM in their preferred position. This player is crucial because you’ll be subbing them in every single match.
Once you’ve got your squad sorted, here’s what you need to do in each match.
- Score with your Polish player. That’s objective number one.
- Make sure your Silver players get an assist. That’s objective number two.
- Then sub on your Brazilian CAM and score with them. That’s objective number three.
By doing all three of these things in each match, you’re making progress on multiple objectives simultaneously.
Let me break down exactly what this accomplishes.
- Scoring with the Polish player in 30 matches unlocks Smolarek.
- Getting assists with Silver players in 35 matches unlocks Socrates.
- Subbing on and scoring with the Brazilian CAM in 40 matches unlocks Maradona (because remember, you need six Argentinian players in your starting XI, which this squad has).
- The two Italian defenders playing 25 matches unlock Baresi. And having two Scottish players in your team for 25 wins unlocks Dalglish.
That’s five Icons from one optimised squad setup. The only one this method doesn’t cover is Zico.
Getting Zico: The Extra 20 Matches
To unlock Zico, you need to keep going with your Brazilian CAM for an additional 20 matches beyond the 40 needed for Maradona. So in total, you’re looking at 60 matches where you score with that Brazilian CAM, which means your full grind extends to 60 matches total.
Once you hit that 60-match mark, you’ll have all six Icons unlocked. Compare that to the alternative of doing each objective separately, which could easily push you past 200 matches, and the time savings become obvious.
Squad Building Tips
Building a competitive squad under these restrictions is probably the biggest challenge you’ll face. You need to satisfy so many nationality and position requirements that your team will almost certainly have some weak links.
For the Polish player, you have a few options depending on your budget. Robert Lewandowski is the obvious choice if you can afford him. Otherwise, look for cheaper Polish forwards or midfielders who can still contribute.
The Italian defenders should be easier to sort out. Serie A has plenty of solid options at various price points. You want defenders who can actually defend because you’ll be playing 60 matches with this squad.
Scottish players are where things get trickier. There are not a ton of meta Scottish cards in Ultimate Team. Andy Robertson is probably your best bet if you can get him, but expect to use some lower-rated players here. The good news is you only need two of them.
The six Argentinian players form the backbone of your squad. This is actually workable because Argentina has decent depth. Obviously, if you have the coins, players like Lionel Messi or Paulo Dybala make this easier. But even on a budget, you can find solid Argentinian options across most positions.
The two Silver players can overlap with your other requirements, which helps. Look for Silver-rated Polish, Scottish, Italian, or Argentinian players to kill two birds with one stone.
Your Brazilian CAM on the bench is your super sub every match. This player needs to be reliable because they’re going to score 60 goals for you. Budget options exist, but investing in a quality player here will make your grind so much smoother.
Where to Complete These Objectives
EA allows you to complete most of these objectives in Squad Battles, Rivals, Champions, or Live Events. My strong recommendation is Squad Battles on Semi-Pro difficulty, at a minimum.
Why Squad Battles?
Because you control the difficulty and the pace. In Rivals or Champions, you’re at the mercy of your opponents. You might face someone who parks the bus, making it impossible to score with specific players. Or you might get destroyed and not accomplish any of your objectives.
Squad Battles lets you guarantee progress. Semi-Pro difficulty is easy enough that even with a suboptimal squad, you should win consistently. You can focus on completing your specific tasks, scoring with the Polish player, assisting with Silvers, and subbing on the Brazilian CAM without worrying too much about the result.
Some people prefer doing these in Rivals because the matches feel more engaging. That’s totally fair. Just know that it will probably take you longer because you won’t have as much control over how matches play out.
Managing the Grind
Sixty matches is still a lot of football. Even at 12-15 minutes per match, you’re looking at 12-15 hours of gameplay minimum. Spread that out over the season, and it becomes manageable. Try to knock out 5-10 matches per week, and you’ll have all six Icons well before Season 3 ends.
Keep track of your progress in the objectives menu.
EA shows you exactly where you stand with each Icon, so you can adjust your strategy if needed. If you’re ahead on Baresi but behind on Smolarek, you can be more aggressive about scoring with your Polish player in the next few matches.
The psychological aspect matters too.
Sixty matches can feel overwhelming if you think about it as one massive grind. Break it into chunks. Tell yourself you’re going to play five matches tonight. Then do it again tomorrow. Before you know it, you’re halfway there.
Is This Worth It?
That depends on what you value. These are Silver Superstar Icons, which means they’re lower-rated versions of the full Icons. They’re not going to be meta cards that dominate Division 1 Rivals. But they’re free, they’re fun to use, and they have sentimental value for a lot of players.
Maradona and Zico, even in Silver form, are going to be enjoyable cards. Socrates has always been a fan favourite because of his unique body type and skill set. If you’re someone who appreciates football history and likes collecting special cards, this grind is absolutely worth it.
The efficiency method I’ve outlined makes it realistic for players who have jobs, families, and other commitments. You’re not sacrificing your entire life for virtual football cards. You’re just being smart about how you approach the objectives.
By the time you unlock all six Icons, you’ll have a pretty cool squad of legends from one of football’s most memorable World Cups. And you’ll have done it in a fraction of the time it would have taken going the traditional route.
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