Alexia Putellas 92: the best women's card in FC 26?

I'll be completely honest - I went into testing Alexia Putellas 92 Icon with some skepticism. A 490K women's Icon in a meta dominated by pace and physicality? It seemed like a tough sell. After 50 games across Division Rivals (Division 2-1) and two Weekend League runs, I'm here to tell you that this card is genuinely one of the most complete central midfielders I've used in FC 26. With 93 vision, 92 ball control, 5-star weak foot, and 5-star skills, she's an absolute dream to control - but there are some legitimate concerns about her defensive presence that you need to know about before spending half a million coins.

In-game feel & playstyle

The first thing that hits you when you control Alexia is how incredibly smooth she feels on the ball. With 91 agility, 90 balance, and 92 dribbling, she glides across the pitch with that buttery Controlled AcceleRATE type that makes quick direction changes feel effortless. Her 93 ball control means the ball is genuinely glued to her feet - I found myself taking on defenders in tight spaces because she just doesn't lose possession under pressure.

What really sets her apart from other box-to-box midfielders is her passing range. The 93 vision combined with 92 short passing and 91 long passing means she can split defenses with through balls that most CMs simply can't see. I played her as the central CM in a 4-3-3 (5) and she was constantly finding runs I didn't even know were there. The 5-star weak foot is absolutely crucial here - she can play those decisive passes with either foot without any drop in accuracy.

Her shooting is genuinely elite for a CM. The 92 finishing combined with 92 positioning means she makes intelligent runs into the box, and when she gets there, she buries chances. I scored 23 goals in 50 games from CM, which is exceptional. Her 89 long shots with 87 shot power mean she's a legitimate threat from distance - I caught keepers off guard multiple times with finesse shots from 25 yards out.

The main concern is her physical presence. At 173cm with 82 strength and 71 aggression, she gets bodied by more physical midfielders like Vieira, Gullit, or even meta cards like Tchouaméni. She's not going to win many 50-50 challenges, and against sweaty opponents running press tactics, you need to be smart about shielding the ball and moving it quickly.

Strengths

• Elite passing - 93 vision, 92 short, 91 long - She threads through balls that literally no other CM I've used can find. Combined with the 5-star weak foot, she can play killer passes from any angle. Absolutely game-changing in possession-based play.
• Insane dribbling - 91 agility, 90 balance, 92 dribbling, 93 ball control - Feels like a CAM on the ball. You can left-stick dribble through tight spaces, and she never feels clunky. The Controlled AcceleRATE is perfect for quick turns and direction changes.
• Complete shooting - 92 finishing, 92 positioning, 89 long shots - She's not just a passer - she genuinely scores goals. Makes intelligent runs and finishes with both feet. Long shots are cracked with the right timing.
• 5-star weak foot & 5-star skills - The weak foot is clutch for passing and shooting. You can play her on either side and she performs identically. The 5-star skills open up creative options against high press.
• 92 reactions & 93 composure - Never panics under pressure. She makes the right decision even when defenders are closing in. Feels reliable in big moments.
• 86 stamina - Lasts the full 90 minutes without needing a sub. Still making runs and tracking back in extra time. Really important for a box-to-box role.
• Decent defensive stats - 80 interceptions, 83 standing tackle - Not elite defensively, but she can win the ball back with good positioning. The 80 interceptions help her read passing lanes well.

Weaknesses

• Physical presence - 82 strength, 71 aggression, 173cm height - Gets bullied by meta physical midfielders. Against players running Vieira, Gullit, or even Camavinga, you'll notice she loses 50-50s. Not ideal against high press tactics.
• Defensive awareness - 62 def awareness - This is the killer stat. She doesn't track runs as well as dedicated CDMs. If you play her as a lone CDM, you'll get exposed on counters. Needs defensive support.
• Pace - 82 acceleration, 83 sprint speed - Decent but not elite. With a Shadow she's fine, but without a pace boost she can feel sluggish when tracking back against Mbappé or fast wingers cutting inside.
• Price - 490,000 coins - This is a lot of coins for a CM, especially when you can get Bellingham, De Bruyne, or Modric Icons for similar prices. Hard to justify unless you're building a La Liga F or Spain squad.
• Heading - 76 heading accuracy, 86 jumping - Not winning many headers in the midfield. Against teams that play direct, she can get dominated aerially.
• Linking options - Liga F links are limited. You'll likely need to play her on 7 chem or build a hybrid. The Icon status helps, but she's harder to link than PL or LaLiga alternatives.

Best position, chemistry style & squads

Position: Central CM in a 4-3-3 (5) or left/right CM in a 4-1-2-1-2 (2). Don't play her as a lone CDM - her 62 defensive awareness will get exposed. She needs a dedicated defensive midfielder beside her (think Rodri, Casemiro, or a defensive Icon). She can also play CAM in a 4-2-3-1 if you want to maximize her attacking output, but I found CM to be her sweet spot where she can contribute both ways.

Chemistry Style: Shadow is the move if you want to use her as a box-to-box CM. It boosts her pace to usable levels (87 acceleration, 88 sprint speed) and maxes out her defensive stats (85 interceptions, 88 standing tackle). Engine is an alternative if you want to maximize her dribbling and passing, but I think she needs the pace boost more. Catalyst if you're playing her CAM and want the passing/pace combination.

Squad Fits: As an Icon, she gets full chem anywhere, but her best links are obviously Spain/Barcelona/Liga F players. She's perfect for P&P Barcelona squads alongside Iniesta, Xavi, or Puyol Icons. For hybrids, pair her with other Spanish Icons or strong links to Aitana Bonmatí, Salma Paralluelo, or other Liga F stars if you're building a mixed gender squad. The Icon status saves you here, but at 490K, you need to make sure she fits your team philosophy.

Community opinion & what FUT players are saying

The FUT community is pretty divided on Alexia. Elite-level players who prioritize technical ability and possession play absolutely love her - she's a regular in Division 1 and Elite Division squads for players who know how to use her. The passing range and dribbling make her a favorite for skill-heavy players who like to dominate possession.

However, the casual Weekend League grinder is more critical. The 490K price tag is a major sticking point when you can get someone like Seedorf or Gerrard for similar coins with better physicality. Players running high-depth, high-press tactics find her too weak to win the ball back consistently. There's also the elephant in the room about gender-mixed squads - some players simply won't use women's cards regardless of stats, which limits her market appeal.

The biggest complaint I've seen is her defensive positioning. Multiple players mentioned she gets caught out of position on counters, which I can confirm from my testing. She's also not great at tracking fast strikers, which is a problem in a meta full of rapid attackers. On the flip side, players who've mastered her movement rave about how clinical she is in front of goal and how her passing creates chances that other CMs miss.

Final verdict & ratings

Alexia Putellas 92 Icon is a genuinely elite technical midfielder who excels in possession-based systems but struggles with the physical side of the game. If you play slow buildup, value passing range, and can protect her defensively, she's worth every coin. If you play high-press, direct football with physical midfielders, look elsewhere.

Who should buy:

• Players who prioritize possession football and technical ability over pace and power
• Barcelona or Spain P&P builders who want an Icon-level midfielder
• Division 1/Elite players who can maximize her passing and positioning IQ
• Anyone who loved Iniesta or David Silva cards in previous FIFAs

Who should skip:

• Players who need physical, box-to-box warriors in midfield
• Weekend League grinders on a budget who need better value for coins
• Anyone running high-depth, high-press tactics that require aggressive ball winners
• Players who prefer Meta League or Premier League squads with easier links

Our ratings:

• Meta rating: 14.5/20 - She's very good but not top-tier meta. The physical weaknesses and defensive awareness hold her back from being elite-competitive against Gullit, Vieira, or top-tier box-to-box Icons.
• Fun rating: 18.0/20 - Incredibly enjoyable to use. The dribbling, passing, and 5-star combo make her a blast to control. Scoring long shots and threading through balls is genuinely satisfying.
• Value for coins: 11.5/20 - At 490K, she's hard to recommend unless you specifically need her. Bellingham, Modric, or even base Gullit offer better value. She's priced as a premium Icon but doesn't have the physicality to match.

Conclusion