Marquinhos 88 TOTY Honourable Mentions Review: Elite 90 DEF, but Controlled Accel Holds It to Tier C in FC 26

In-game feel & playstyle

This 88-rated TOTY Honourable Mentions Marquinhos plays exactly like the real Marcos Aoás Corrêa: a disciplined, reading-the-game centre-back rather than a sprinting man-marker. The numbers back it up with 90 defending, 90 interceptions, 91 defensive awareness and 90 standing tackle, so he sits in the right spot and wins the ball cleanly. The catch is the Controlled acceleration type paired with 81 pace, which means he ramps up smoothly but never bursts, so you feel him a step behind on through-balls against fast meta strikers. At 82 physical he can lean and hold, just not bully.

Strengths

• ✅ 90 DEF, top-end overall defending that wins one-on-one duels reliably
• ✅ 91 defensive awareness, jockeys and covers space without you micromanaging him
• ✅ 90 interceptions, cuts passing lanes and reads the build-up well
• ✅ 90 heading, a genuine aerial threat on corners and a wall against crosses
• ✅ 90 standing tackle, clean takes that avoid cheap fouls near the box

Weaknesses

• ❌ Controlled accel, no explosive burst, so he gets caught flat-footed by quick attackers
• ❌ 81 pace, fine for a positional CB but you will want a Shadow to push it higher
• ❌ 3-star weak foot, limits switching feet when playing out from the back
• ❌ 3-star skills, not that he needs flair, but it caps any ball-carrying upside
• ❌ metaScore 77.2 (tier C), solid but outclassed by faster, more explosive CB options this year

Best position, chemistry style & squads

Play him at his natural CB. The clear pick is a Shadow chem style to lift that 81 pace and stack his already-elite 90 defending, which directly attacks his only real flaw. If you are fully covered for pace by your fullbacks, an Anchor is the safer call, adding pace plus the 82 physical for balance and durability across a full match. Links come from Brazil on nation and Ligue 1 McDonald's on league, so he slots cleanly into a PSG or Brazil-core backline alongside other Ligue 1 or Brazilian defenders.

Final verdict & ratings

Buy him if you want a calm, aerially dominant CB for a Ligue 1 or Brazil squad and you can hand him a Shadow to mask the Controlled accel. Skip him if you chase explosive, lengthy defenders who can recover against the fastest forwards, since the lack of burst is the difference between this card and the tier A CBs. At 54,000 coins he is a fair, affordable upgrade rather than a meta must-have.

Conclusion

A rock-solid, true-to-life defender with elite reading and heading, just one acceleration type short of the top tier. Great value for a Ligue 1 or Brazil project, not a chase card.