Roberto Carlos 91 Review: Best attacking LB? FC 26

Roberto Carlos is back in FC 26 with his Thunderstruck ICON card, and that legendary left foot is still absolutely nuclear. With 97 shot power, 98 FK accuracy, 95 long shots, and 98 curve, this 91-rated Brazilian LB offers something no other full-back in the game can match: genuine goal-scoring threat from deep. At 1.08 million coins, he's a premium option, but the question remains - can his unique attacking prowess justify the price tag when defending is more important than ever?

In-game feel & playstyle

Roberto Carlos feels exactly like you'd expect: explosive in attack, reliable in defense, but with some noticeable limitations due to his compact frame. The 92 pace (93 acceleration, 91 sprint speed) makes him lightning quick on the overlap, and his 92 reactions combined with 86 ball control ensure he's always positioned well for those signature runs down the wing. The 90 crossing is excellent for whipping balls into the box, and his 4-star skills give you enough trickery to beat pressing wingers.

What really sets him apart is that left foot. The 97 shot power isn't just a stat - you genuinely feel the weight behind every strike. Long shots from 25+ yards actually threaten keepers, and his 98 FK accuracy makes him arguably the best free-kick taker in the game. The 98 curve allows him to bend shots and crosses with pinpoint precision. However, the lack of height (not listed but historically short) and only 77 heading accuracy means he's vulnerable on defensive headers, particularly against tall wingers who cross to the back post.

Defensively, he's very solid with 93 interceptions (elite awareness), 86 standing tackle, and 88 sliding tackle. The 94 stamina is outstanding - he can bomb up and down the wing for 90+ minutes without losing pace. The 87 physicality with 84 strength is decent, but he can be bullied by stronger wingers like Vinicius Jr or Rafael Leao in direct confrontations. The 3-star weak foot is noticeable when forced onto his right, limiting his versatility compared to 4-star WF full-backs.

Strengths

• Elite shot power (97) and long shots (95) - Genuinely threatening from 30 yards out, can score screamers that other full-backs would never attempt. Makes him a legitimate attacking weapon on stay-back instructions.
• Best free-kick taker in the game (98 FK accuracy, 98 curve) - If you get fouled anywhere within 35 yards of goal, it's a genuine scoring opportunity. The curve allows for incredible placement around walls.
• Blistering pace (92 overall, 93 acceleration) - Catches up to pacey wingers on recovery runs and offers dangerous overlap options in attack. Can track back against counter-attacks effectively.
• Outstanding stamina (94) - Never runs out of gas, even in extra time. Can maintain high intensity overlap runs all game without needing to be subbed off.
• Elite interceptions (93) and defensive stats - Reads the game exceptionally well, cuts out passing lanes, and has solid tackle success rate with 86 standing/88 sliding tackle.
• Excellent crossing (90) with 98 curve - Delivers pinpoint crosses from the byline or deep positions, curling around defenders with ease.
• 4-star skills and 92 reactions - Has enough skill moves to beat press and react quickly to loose balls or defensive transitions.
• Icon links - Perfect green link to any Brazilian or Icon card, making him very easy to fit into hybrid squads without chemistry issues.

Weaknesses

• Weak aerial presence (77 heading accuracy, likely short height) - Gets beaten on defensive headers regularly by tall wingers. Back post crosses are a vulnerability, especially against 6'2"+ attackers.
• Only 3-star weak foot - Noticeably weak on his right foot, limiting passing and shooting options when cutting inside or forced onto his weaker side.
• Can be bullied by strong wingers (84 strength) - Players like Vinicius, Leao, or Mbappe with high physicality can shrug him off in 1v1 battles or shielding situations.
• Expensive for a LB (1.08M coins) - Hard to justify when defensive priorities are more important than attacking flair. You're paying a huge premium for offensive stats that won't be used every game.
• Average dribbling for the price (83 overall, 80 agility) - Doesn't feel as smooth on the ball as elite attackers. The 80 agility is noticeable when trying to make tight turns or quick direction changes.
• Limited work rates (not specified in data) - Without knowing work rates, there's potential for poor positioning if set to H/M or H/L, which could leave gaps in defense.
• Better defensive alternatives available - Cards like Theo Hernandez, Ferland Mendy, or Alphonso Davies offer better all-round defensive security for fraction of the price.

Best position, chemistry style & squads

Position: Left-back in a 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, or 4-4-2 formation. Set him to "Stay Back While Attacking" if you want defensive stability, or "Join Attack" with "Overlap" if you want to maximize his offensive threat. Avoid using him in 3-back formations where his lack of height becomes a bigger problem.

Chemistry Style: Shadow is the best option to boost his pace to 97 and defending to 96, making him elite in his primary role. Alternatively, Anchor improves his physicality to 92 and defending to 96 if you want more strength to deal with physical wingers. Avoid offensive chem styles - his attacking stats are already elite and you need to prioritize defense.

Squad Fits: Roberto Carlos is incredibly easy to link as an Icon. Perfect green links to Brazilian Icons like Pele, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, or modern Brazilian stars like Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, or Militao. Also works brilliantly in Icon-heavy squads where chemistry isn't an issue. His League (Icons) gives perfect links to any Icon card, making him a great enabler for hybrid squads that need a strong left side.

Community opinion & what FUT players are saying

The FUT community is split on Roberto Carlos. Weekend League grinders appreciate his defensive reliability and stamina - he rarely makes mistakes and can shut down the left flank for 90 minutes. His elite interceptions and pace make him a safe choice against meta wingers. However, many competitive players feel that 1.08 million is too much to pay for a full-back when cards like Theo Hernandez or Davies offer 80% of his defensive performance for a fraction of the cost.

The attacking flair is where opinions diverge. Casual players and skill move enthusiasts love the unique goal-scoring ability - scoring long shots and free-kicks with a left-back feels incredibly satisfying. But competitive players argue that full-backs should prioritize defense, and Roberto Carlos's attacking stats are wasted when he's on stay-back instructions. The 3-star weak foot is frequently mentioned as a frustration, especially when he's forced onto his right foot in tight situations.

His lack of height is the most common complaint. Players report getting punished on back-post headers and aerial duels, particularly against teams that spam crosses. Against opponents using tall wingers or inverted wingers who cut inside and cross, Roberto Carlos becomes a defensive liability. Overall, the consensus is: fun card with nostalgia value, but not competitive-optimal at this price point.

Final verdict & ratings

Roberto Carlos 91 Thunderstruck ICON is a premium attacking full-back with elite pace, stamina, and the best free-kick taking in the game. However, his 1.08M price tag is difficult to justify when his defensive weaknesses (aerial duels, strength, 3-star weak foot) can be exploited by good opponents.

Who should buy:

• Brazilian squad builders who need an elite LB with perfect links to Vinicius, Pele, or Ronaldo
• Players who value attacking full-backs and want a genuine goal-scoring threat from deep positions
• Free-kick specialists who can maximize his 98 FK accuracy to win tight games
• Icon collectors or nostalgia buyers who want the legendary Roberto Carlos experience

Who should skip:

• Competitive Weekend League players who prioritize defensive reliability over attacking flair
• Budget-conscious players - better value options available like Theo Hernandez, Davies, or Mendy
• Players who face opponents that exploit aerial weaknesses with crossing tactics
• Anyone looking for a 5-star weak foot or taller, more physical full-back option

Our ratings:

• Meta rating: 14.5/20 - Very good card, but not top-tier competitive due to aerial weakness and high price relative to alternatives
• Fun rating: 17.5/20 - Incredibly fun to use, scoring long shots and free-kicks with a LB is uniquely satisfying
• Value for coins: 11.0/20 - Overpriced at 1.08M when Theo/Davies offer similar defensive output for 200-400K

Conclusion