The Team of the Year (TOTY) cycle is always one of the most anticipated periods in Ultimate Team, but FC 26 has already delivered a twist that is sending shockwaves through the community. The announcement that players like Lamine Yamal, Michael Olise, Raphinha, Mohamed Salah, Nico Williams, Riyad Mahrez, Grimaldo, and Luis Díaz are arriving as TOTY Nominee Midfielders rather than attackers fundamentally alters the FUT landscape. Squad building logic, chemistry planning, SBC value, and even pack-opening strategies are all affected by this positional reclassification.

This isn't just a cosmetic change. It reshapes how these cards fit into FC 26 Coins teams, how valuable they are, and how the meta could evolve during and after TOTY.

Understanding TOTY Nominees in FC 26

TOTY Nominees are special boosted cards released during the Team of the Year promo that recognize elite performers who narrowly missed the final TOTY XI. While they don't receive the same stat ceiling as full TOTY cards, Nominees are still top-tier items, often rivaling Icons and endgame SBC players.

Historically, Nominees have been slotted into obvious positions: wingers as attackers, wide mids as midfielders, and defenders staying put. FC 26 breaks that pattern decisively by classifying several traditionally attacking wide players as midfielders, despite their real-life roles.

This decision is deliberate-and its implications are massive.

Why EA Moving These Players to Midfield Matters

Positional Scarcity in Ultimate Team

In most FUT cycles, elite attackers are oversaturated, while elite wide midfielders are rare. By moving Salah, Yamal, Raphinha, and Olise into midfield slots, EA has instantly increased their value and relevance.

Wide midfield positions:

Are harder to fill with elite pace + dribbling

Offer better defensive contribution in certain formations

Enable hybrid chemistry setups more easily

This change turns already popular players into even more desirable assets.

Key Players Reclassified as Midfielders

Mohamed Salah (RM - 91)

Salah being listed as a Right Midfielder instead of a Right Winger or Right Forward is arguably the biggest bombshell.

Why it's huge:

Elite pace, finishing, and dribbling at RM is rare

Fits perfectly into 4-4-2, 3-5-2, and 4-2-3-1 wide roles

Makes Premier League squads even more dominant

Salah at RM becomes a meta-defining card, especially for players who rely on wide midfielders to cut inside rather than hug the touchline.

Lamine Yamal (RM - 89)

Yamal's inclusion as a midfielder is especially impactful given his age and agility-based playstyle.

Strengths:

Explosive acceleration

Exceptional close control

High attacking AI

As an RM, Yamal can:

Play as a pseudo-winger

Drift centrally without cheap EAFC 26 Coins chemistry penalties

Offer flexibility between wide play and CAM-like movement

This positioning massively boosts his FUT viability.