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MMOexp-EA FC26: Busquets EOAE Review – Elite Passing, Icon Chemistry, and PlayStyle Perfection

The first End of an Era card of EA FC 26 has officially dropped, and it's a big one-Sergio Busquets, the iconic Spanish midfielder who defined tiki-taka football. Now finishing his glittering career in Miami alongside Messi and Jordi Alba, EA has honored the legend with one of the most complete defensive midfield cards of the year. The card design alone-pink glow, dynamic image, and "Ticky Tacker+" PlayStyle-sets the tone for a true farewell special FC 26 Coins.

But the question every Ultimate Team player is asking: Is Busquets worth the 390K SBC price tag? Let's dive deep into the stats, PlayStyles, gameplay feel, and where this card fits in your FC26 squad.

A Legendary Farewell

Few midfielders in football history have commanded a game like Sergio Busquets. His vision, composure, and control shaped an entire generation of Spanish and Barcelona football. Now, his End of an Era (EOAE) card brings that same identity into EA FC 26-and surprisingly, he's meta too.

This version of Busquets comes with:

 6'2" height

 Medium/High work rates

 3★ Skill Moves / 3★ Weak Foot

 Center Mid (CM), CDM, and CB alternate positions

 Deep Lying Playmaker+ and Ticky Tacker+ PlayStyles

While the freestyle/freestyle combo won't excite the five-star dribblers of FUT Champs, don't let that fool you. Busquets is built for control, rhythm, and structure. He's not the fastest, but he feels composed and secure on the ball in ways few defensive mids can match.

The Stats Breakdown

Busquets' raw numbers are excellent across the board:

 85 Pace (with Anchor)

 93 Passing (97 Vision, 96 Short Pass, 94 Long Pass)

 91 Defending (93 Interceptions, 94 Defensive Awareness)

 90 Physical (93 Strength, 88 Stamina)

 86 Dribbling (89 Ball Control, 91 Composure)

He's built to dominate possession from deep. Even though his speed isn't explosive, the Anchor chem style gives him just enough acceleration and strength to hold his ground against quicker attackers.

Passing is near perfection. He can ping long diagonals or short tiki-taka triangles effortlessly-and that Ticky Tacker+ PlayStyle makes first-touch passes faster and more accurate. When you combine that with Press Proven and Long Ball Pass, it's like watching vintage Barcelona football in motion.

Defensively, his awareness and reach are his biggest assets. At 6'2" with lengthy animations, Busquets intercepts passes and breaks up play like a magnet. He may lack the Intercept PlayStyle, but Anticipate makes him sharp in tight duels, while his strength lets him shoulder attackers off the ball with ease.

PlayStyles-The True Game Changer

PlayStyles+ are what define elite players in EA FC 26, and Busquets is stacked where it matters:

 Ticky Tacker+-Speeds up one-touch passing and makes him automatic in tight possession.

 Deep Lying Playmaker+-Keeps him positioned perfectly between defense and midfield to dictate the tempo.

 Anticipate-Improves his defensive reaction when intercepting passes.

 Press Proven-Gives him better resistance under pressure, vital for holding midfielders.

 Long Ball Pass-Enhances lofted through balls and driven passes from deep.

He's basically a midfield quarterback-part regista, part destroyer. In a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, he's the ultimate pivot.

How He Feels In-Game

Let's talk gameplay. Busquets is smooth, secure, and annoyingly good at recovering the ball. While you won't mistake him for Mbappé on acceleration, his control sprint feels sharp thanks to strong balance and composure stats.

When defending, his long legs and physical presence stand out immediately. He wins 50/50s cleanly, often poking the ball away without overcommitting. You can feel the benefit of his Ticky Tacker+ PlayStyle when transitioning from defense to attack-his first-time passes consistently split pressing lines, keeping the tempo high.

As a CDM, he shines brightest. The Deep Lying Playmaker+ trait ensures he stays back when needed, but also drifts into smart passing pockets when you're in possession. He can carry the ball out of danger with calm dribbles and even chip in with accurate forward passes on his weaker left foot.

Speaking of his 3★ weak foot, it's surprisingly unproblematic. Thanks to high passing stats and Ticky Tacker+, left-foot passes land cleanly more often than not. You'll only really notice the limitation if you're taking long shots or switching play from tight angles.Recommended Chem Styles

Depending on your formation and preference, here are two strong chem style routes:

 Anchor: Boosts Pace (+4 Acceleration / +8 Sprint), Defending (+4), and Physical (+4). Perfect if you want a true defensive anchor with some extra muscle.

 Engine: Boosts Agility, Balance, and Acceleration, making him smoother on the turn while maintaining elite passing. Ideal for possession-heavy players.

 For most squads, Anchor is the play. It transforms him into a wall in front of the back line without compromising his distribution.

Center Back Option? Tempting, but Not Optimal

Yes, Busquets can play CB, and with his height and defending, he's more than capable. But his lack of top-end pace (especially on recovery runs) makes him risky against explosive strikers.

In a 3-back formation (like 3-5-2), he could work as the central CB-distributing from deep and sweeping up through balls. But as a CDM, he's unmatched. If you're crafting a tiki-taka, possession-based side, playing him at center back wastes his biggest strength: his ability to dictate tempo.

SBC Price and Value

The Sergio Busquets SBC currently sits around 390K–400K coins, requiring:

 1x 87-rated squad

 3x 86-rated squads

With fodder prices inflated due to new Icon SBCs and upcoming promos (like Ultimate Scream Pogba and rumored End of an Era Jordi Alba), the cost stings a bit. Ideally, this should have been a 300K SBC, but given the chemistry links and overall performance, it's not outrageous.

Remember, this card has Icon Chemistry, linking perfectly with Messi, Alba, and any LaLiga or Spanish player. That flexibility alone makes him valuable in hybrid squads.

How He Compares

Let's put Busquets in context:

 Versus Rodri (TOTW): Busquets is smoother and more technical, but Rodri has the edge in pure tackling and stamina.

 Versus Casemiro: Busquets wins on passing, composure, and AI positioning.

 Versus Pogba (Scream Leak): Pogba will likely offer better dribbling and 5★ flair, but Busquets' discipline and balance make him the safer choice for competitive play.

He may not be the flashiest midfielder in EA FC 26, but for players who love tactical control, few cards perform as consistently.

Ideal Team Fit

Busquets works perfectly in:

 4-2-3-1 as the stay-back CDM next to a box-to-box player like Valverde or Barella.

 4-3-3 (5) as the holding midfielder controlling build-up play.

 4-4-2 as the defensive pivot who recycles possession and releases wingers with long diagonals.

Pair him with a mobile partner-someone with high stamina and defensive work rate, like Ugarte, De Jong, or Tchouaméni.

Verdict-The Maestro Returns

Let's be honest-no one expected a Busquets card to feel this good in 2025. But EA FC 26's PlayStyle system has transformed him into a legitimate elite-tier CDM. Between his ball-winning, press resistance, and laser-sharp passing, he captures everything that made the real Busquets a genius.

He's not for everyone, though. If your playstyle revolves around pace and chaos, you might prefer a more dynamic midfielder. But if you enjoy control, structure, and composure, this SBC delivers everything you'd want.

At ~390K, he's fairly priced for what he offers, especially considering the Icon chemistry. He's a luxury SBC-not essential, but deeply satisfying for players who value tactical football.

Final Rating EA FC 26 Coins

 Overall: 9/10

 Value: 8/10

 Passing: 10/10

 Defending: 9/10

 Physicality: 9/10

 Dribbling/Control: 8.5/10

 Weak Foot Impact: Minimal

 Best Position: CDM (Deep Lying Playmaker+)

 Chem Style: Anchor or Engine

Final Thoughts

Sergio Busquets' End of an Era card is a nostalgic masterpiece-elegant, intelligent, and quietly dominant. Whether you're linking him to Messi in Miami pink or using him as the foundation of a LaLiga setup, he brings something few cards can: pure control.

If you've got the fodder and enjoy possession-based play, complete him now. If not, maybe wait for Pogba's SBC to drop and compare-but don't underestimate how special this Busquets card truly feels in-game.