Achieving a 98-rated squad in EA Sports FC 25 Ultimate Team isn’t just a flex — it’s a statement. It means you've crafted an elite roster featuring top-tier players, mastered chemistry and positioning, and likely invested serious time (or coins). While building a 90+ squad is already difficult, pushing into the 98-rated range requires deliberate choices across every position, from the goalkeeper to EA FC 25 Coins the final substitute. In this guide, we break down exactly how to build the first 98-rated Ultimate Team in FC 25.

1. Understand the Squad Rating Formula
Before we dive into the players, it's crucial to understand how EA calculates squad rating:

Overall Squad Rating is determined by the average rating of your starting XI and substitutes. Reserves don’t matter.

Positioning matters — playing players out of position will negatively affect chemistry, which indirectly can lower your team performance.

Chemistry and squad rating are now separated, so you can theoretically hit a 98-rated team with zero chemistry, but it’s not recommended.

2. Start with a 4-2-4 or 4-3-3 Formation
To reach 98, you’ll need 11 starting players and 7 subs with ratings of 97+ or very close. Using a formation like 4-2-4 gives you more attackers and fewer defenders — ideal for stacking more high-rated cards (since attackers often have higher base OVRs).

Suggested formations:

4-2-4 (4 attackers)

4-3-3 (to allow attacking midfielders)

3-4-2-1 (loads of space for wingers)

3. Focus on TOTS and Special Promo Cards
Only the highest-rated cards in FC 25 will help you break 98 overall. The most relevant promos to target:

Team of the Season (TOTS): Regularly features 96–99 OVR cards.

FUT Fantasy FC, Shapeshifters, FUT Birthday Icons, and Team of the Year (TOTY): These contain multiple players rated 95+.

Evolutions: Some Evolutions paths (like Golden Generation or Triple Threat Evo) can push lower-rated cards into the 95–97 range.

Stack your squad with as many 97–99-rated players as possible — even among substitutes.

4. The 98-Rated Player Core – Ideal Picks
Here’s a blueprint for what your 98-rated team might include (assuming late-game content availability):

🧤 Goalkeeper:
TOTY Alisson (97) or TOTS Courtois (96)
Or upgrade to:

FUT Champions Icon Yashin (98) if available

🛡️ Defenders:
RB: Shapeshifter Cafu (98) / TOTS Hakimi (97)

CBs: TOTS van Dijk (98), TOTY Éder Militão (98), or FUT Fantasy Saliba (97)

LB: FUT Birthday Icons Maldini (97) / Shapeshifter Davies (98)

🧠 Midfielders:
CM/CDM/CAMs:

TOTY Jude Bellingham (98)

TOTS Pedri (98)

Icon Gullit (Prime or Moments 97–98)

Shapeshifter Foden (97+)

⚔️ Attackers:
RW: FUT Fantasy Messi (99) / TOTS Saka (97)

ST: TOTY Mbappé (99), TOTS Haaland (98)

LW: TOTS Vinicius Jr. (99), FUT Birthday Neymar (98)

Substitutes must also be 96+ to maintain the overall squad rating. Think of cards like:

Prime Ronaldinho (97)

TOTS Salah (98)

TOTY Kane (97)

Icon Pelé (98)

Shapeshifter R9 (99)

5. Evolutions: Push Players to 97+
FC 25 continues the popular Evolutions mechanic. Use them wisely:

Select base cards like 89-rated TOTY Honourable Mentions or Promo players and push them to 97–98 via high-end Evolutions.

Examples:

Start with 89-rated Arda Güler and use three EVO paths to reach 97 OVR.

Use Club Legends or Attacking Overdrive Evolution on a 91-rated winger to hit 98 OVR.

These evolutions give flexibility if you can’t afford every meta player.

6. Pay Attention to Chemistry for In-Game Fluidity
Even though chemistry doesn’t affect squad rating directly, you’ll want to hit full chem (33/33) to get full boosts on your players.

Use:

Players from same clubs or leagues (Real Madrid, PSG, Premier League)

Icon and Hero players (they offer universal chemistry)

Loyalty boosts from repeated use

Position change items to ensure green links

7. Manager and Bench Boosts
To keep the rating at 98:

Use a manager from the same nation/league as your dominant player set

Don’t include any 94 or lower-rated cards on the bench

You can use low-stamina but high-rated cards (like GK or defenders) in sub spots just for rating purposes

8. Grind or Buy – How to Get These Cards
🔁 Grind Method:
Weekend League: Rank 1–3 rewards give TOTS picks and packs

Squad Battles: Low effort but can still reward decent packs

Objectives + SBCs: Complete daily content for XP, TOTS packs, and Evolution upgrades

💸 Buy Method:
Top 98-rated players can cost 2 to 8 million coins each

Use market flips, Bronze Pack Method, or buy coins from third-party sites (note: at your own risk)

9. Example 98-Rated Squad (Hypothetical)
Position    Player    OVR
GK    Icon Yashin (98)    98
LB    TOTS Davies    98
CB    TOTS Van Dijk    98
CB    TOTY Militão    98
RB    Shapeshifter Cafu    98
CM    TOTY Bellingham    98
CM    Icon Gullit    97
CAM    TOTS Pedri    98
LW    TOTS Vinicius Jr.    99
ST    TOTY Mbappé    99
RW    FUT Fantasy Messi    99
Bench    All 96–99 rated    

Final Thoughts
Building a 98-rated Ultimate Team in FC 25 is the ultimate endgame goal for most players. It’s a combination of patience, elite card knowledge, market mastery, and grind dedication. Whether you get there through Weekend League dominance, sniping on the market, buy EAFC 25 Coins or spending coins, this squad becomes a badge of honor. With evolving promos and new Evolutions being added, staying on top of content drops is the key to reaching and maintaining that elite 98 rating.

Now go build it — and dominate the pitch.