Football fans know it. Gamers know it. And anyone who has ever picked up a controller and jumped into an Ultimate Team match knows it too. Pace runs the show.
Be it you’re building a starter squad from scratch or piecing together a Champions-ready side full of chemistry and special cards, speed remains the one attribute that tilts games in your favor. It doesn’t matter if you’re running down the wing, hitting a quick counterattack, or trying to recover after a defensive mistake.
A player’s ability to sprint past defenders can change the flow of a match instantly.
EA Sports, now under the EAFC name after bidding farewell to the FIFA license, has kept that tradition alive. And in EAFC 26, once again, it’s the sprinters and speed demons who stand out the most.
Harry Kane is the perfect example of why pace is so central to the meta. The English striker is world-class in real life, deadly in front of goal, and arguably one of the best finishers of his generation.
But when his base card shows only 64 Pace, he rarely survives beyond the first few weeks of Ultimate Team. Players crave someone who can glide past defenders and get into space, and Kane simply doesn’t offer that burst.
In contrast, there are twenty-one players in EAFC 26 who begin the game with at least 94 Pace.
That’s a remarkable threshold, one that only a select few achieve each year. These cards are not limited to superstars at the top of the game; they also include hidden gems, silver-level players, and new arrivals who become cult favorites in Ultimate Team.
This list focuses purely on base cards available from the start.
That means no ICONs, no Heroes, and no special upgraded cards. Just the standard versions you’ll find in packs, in Career Mode, and at the start of Ultimate Team.
So, who are the fastest players in EAFC 26?
Let’s walk through them, from the pack-fillers who might surprise you to the global superstar who continues to define speed on the virtual pitch.
- The 94 Pace Club
- Inaki Williams – Athletic Bilbao
- Nishan Velupillay – Melbourne Victory
- Milan van Ewijk – Coventry City
- Mitchell van Bergen – Sparta Rotterdam
- Adama Traoré – Fulham
- Ernest Poku – Bayer Leverkusen
- Yankuba Minteh – Brighton & Hove Albion
- Rosemonde Kouassi – Washington Spirit
- Daniel James – Leeds United
- Jeremie Frimpong – Liverpool
- Alphonso Davies – Bayern Munich
- Tabitha Chawinga – Lyon
- Jean-Matteo Bahoya – Eintracht Frankfurt
- The 95 Pace Group
- The 96 Pace Duo
- The King of Pace – Kylian Mbappé
- How These Players Shape Ultimate Team
- The Ongoing Debate: Pace vs. Skill
The 94 Pace Club
This is the largest group in the ranking, a cluster of players tied at 94 Pace. For many of them, speed is their single defining trait.
For others, it’s a complement to dribbling or a weapon that boosts their overall usefulness in-game.
Inaki Williams – Athletic Bilbao
At 31 years old, Inaki Williams is still one of the fastest players in the game.
Usually, EAFC downgrades a player’s speed as they age, but Williams has somehow held on to his trademark acceleration. He’s sat at 94 Pace for seven straight editions, making him one of the most consistent speedsters across EA history.
And if that wasn’t enough, he also gets bragging rights over his younger brother Nico, who comes in with “just” 93 Pace this year.
Nishan Velupillay – Melbourne Victory
From La Liga to Australia’s A-League, the list stretches far and wide.
Velupillay has enjoyed an upgrade from EAFC 25, moving his overall from 64 to 65 and turning into a Silver card. More importantly, his pace rose from 92 to 94, making him one of those hidden players you might not know much about but who suddenly becomes useful in Silver Lounge objectives.
Milan van Ewijk – Coventry City
The Championship isn’t usually the home of blistering pace merchants, but Milan van Ewijk is an exception.
Now at 94 Pace, he’s officially the fastest player in England’s second division. His overall hasn’t moved much, but in a squad-building context, that speed makes him attractive for budget teams and themed challenges.
Mitchell van Bergen – Sparta Rotterdam
Some upgrades are modest. Others are dramatic. For Mitchell van Bergen, it’s the latter.
His pace leaped from 88 to 94 in EAFC 26, instantly transforming him into one of the fastest silver-level wingers you’ll find. With 70 Dribbling, he may not be elite, but he’ll be a useful option in objectives and cheaper sides.
Adama Traoré – Fulham
Adama is practically synonymous with pace. For years, he’s been one of the poster boys for raw speed in football, both in real life and in the game.
Interestingly, last year he was only at 93 Pace, falling just short of the top bracket. EA has corrected that in EAFC 26, restoring him to 94 Pace. Pair that with his trademark strength, and he remains a fan-favorite card for those who love direct, powerful wingers.
Ernest Poku – Bayer Leverkusen
Ernest Poku’s transfer from AZ Alkmaar to Bayer Leverkusen has come with more than just a new league. He’s enjoyed a +3 overall boost and a leap in speed from 92 to 94.
Young, energetic, and now at one of Germany’s most exciting clubs, he’s a player to watch both in-game and on the pitch.
Yankuba Minteh – Brighton & Hove Albion
Pace can fluctuate across editions, and Yankuba Minteh has felt that swing.
He jumped from 88 to 95 last year but has now settled back to 94 in EAFC 26. Still rapid, still dangerous, but perhaps EA felt he needed a slight correction after his move to Brighton.
Rosemonde Kouassi – Washington Spirit
Women’s football continues to grow in EAFC, and Rosemonde Kouassi is one of the fastest female players available.
She’s held steady at 94 Pace for three straight editions, pairing it with 80 Dribbling and an overall of 80. That makes her a balanced but speedy option in Ultimate Team.
Daniel James – Leeds United
The Welsh winger is back in the Premier League with Leeds, and his trademark speed remains his calling card. James has climbed from 93 to 94 Pace, giving Leeds one of the most rapid players in England’s top flight.
Jeremie Frimpong – Liverpool
One of the more exciting transfers in EAFC 26 sees Jeremie Frimpong joining Liverpool. Known for his electric bursts as a wing-back at Bayer Leverkusen, he’s been bumped back up to 94 Pace.
His addition gives Liverpool another weapon out wide, and Ultimate Team players another rapid full-back option.
Alphonso Davies – Bayern Munich
For many, Alphonso Davies is the first name that comes to mind when thinking about fast defenders.
This year, he’s 84-rated overall after regaining some lost ground. But interestingly, his pace has actually dropped slightly, settling at 94. Still, Davies remains one of the most reliable left-backs in the game, combining acceleration with defensive awareness.
Tabitha Chawinga – Lyon
Chawinga is enjoying her second season at Lyon, and she’s carried her pace rating forward once again.
With 94 Pace and an overall of 85, she’s a strong option for anyone looking to build a top-tier women’s squad.
Jean-Matteo Bahoya – Eintracht Frankfurt
Sometimes, EA underestimates a player when they first arrive.
That was the case with Bahoya, who had just 76 Pace last year. Fast forward to EAFC 26, and he’s been corrected to 94 Pace, with his overall climbing to 75. He now ranks among the game’s elite sprinters.
The 95 Pace Group
A smaller but even more dangerous set of players sit at 95 Pace.
These are the ones who dominate wing play, burn past full-backs, and bring that unstoppable edge to counters.
Nuno Mendes – PSG
One of the biggest winners this year, Nuno Mendes leaps from 89 Pace to 95.
That’s a massive upgrade, turning him into one of the fastest defenders in the game. At 86 overall, he’s not only lightning quick but also now one of the top 100 players in EAFC 26.
Lois Openda – Juventus
Moving to Juventus has been a mixed bag for Openda.
His overall has dropped from 85 to 83, but his pace has surged from 93 to 95. In practice, most players will happily trade those overall points for the added speed, especially when deploying him as a striker on quick breaks.
Moussa Diaby – Al Ittihad
The Saudi Pro League has become a magnet for stars, and Moussa Diaby continues to represent the speedsters there. His pace remains fixed at 95, unchanged from last year, but still lethal. For FUT players exploring the Saudi league route, Diaby is an invaluable card.
Vinícius Jr – Real Madrid
Perhaps the most famous dribbler-speed combination in the world, Vinícius Jr remains electric.
His overall has dipped from 90 to 89, but his 95 Pace is untouched. It’s a stat he has carried since FIFA 21, highlighting how EA values his speed as much as fans do.
Sirlord Conteh – Heidenheim
The cult favorite returns. Known among FUT enthusiasts for being ridiculously fast despite a low overall, Conteh is back at 95 Pace. He briefly dipped to 93 last year, but EA has restored him to his EAFC 24 glory. At 69 overall, he’s the definition of a pace merchant.
The 96 Pace Duo
At 96 Pace, we find two players who consistently rank among the fastest year after year.
Gabriel Silva – Santa Clara
Sometimes upgrades feel almost unfair in size. Gabriel Silva had just 76 Pace last year. Now he’s shot up to 96, a twenty-point boost, making him one of the most explosive risers in EAFC 26. At 74 overall, he’s still a budget option but one you’ll see everywhere in pace-heavy squads.
Karim Adeyemi – Borussia Dortmund
Karim Adeyemi has cemented his place as one of EAFC’s fastest.
For the third straight year, he’s locked in as the second-fastest player in the game, this time sharing the honor with Silva. His overall climbs to 81, giving him more balance, but the 96 Pace is what FUT fans care about most.
The King of Pace – Kylian Mbappé
No surprises here. For the fifth edition in a row, Kylian Mbappé leads the rankings with 97 Pace. From FIFA 19 through FIFA 21, he had 96. Since FIFA 22, he’s been fixed at 97, and that crown isn’t leaving his head anytime soon.
This year, Mbappé has officially joined Real Madrid, and that move alone makes him one of the most hyped cards in Ultimate Team history.
With a pace stat like his, he’ll continue to be the ultimate dream pull for anyone opening packs. The catch, as always, is how few players will actually manage to afford him early in the game.
How These Players Shape Ultimate Team
Having speedsters is about more than running in straight lines. Here’s how pace impacts gameplay and strategy:
- Counterattack Playstyles – Players like Adeyemi, Sarr, and Becker thrive when your squad sits deep and launches balls into space. Their acceleration punishes high defensive lines.
- Wide Overloads – With Dembélé, Traore, or Rodman, stretching the pitch wide becomes natural. This forces defenses to spread out, creating gaps for central attackers.
- Full-Back Recovery Runs – Alphonso Davies and Frimpong aren’t just about attacking. Their pace allows them to recover when beaten, giving squads a defensive safety net.
- Market Dynamics – The fastest players almost always dominate transfer market values. Even with mediocre shooting or passing, pace-heavy cards sell for more because of how game-changing they are.
- Objective Squads – Silver and lower-league cards like Van Bergen or Velupillay might not headline weekend league squads, but they become crucial in objectives requiring specific leagues or ratings. Their pace makes otherwise difficult challenges more manageable.
The Ongoing Debate: Pace vs. Skill
While pace is king, EAFC 26 continues the ongoing balancing act of rewarding skillful play. Players who rely too heavily on sprinting often find themselves neutralized by opponents who know how to jockey, intercept, and position defenders.
Yet, the fastest players always offer a safety valve.
Even if your buildup play struggles, you can rely on a pacey striker to latch onto a single long ball and change the outcome of a match. This safety net is why pace will always dominate the conversation, no matter how much EA tries to fine-tune balance.
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