Valverde 89 works everywhere and that's insane

Federico Valverde's 89 Cornerstones card is one of the most unique and versatile cards in FC 26, and the community has discovered something EA might not have intended: this midfielder is genuinely elite at right back. With 93 sprint speed, 87 standing tackle, 86 interceptions, and 94 stamina, Valverde combines the pace of a fullback with the defensive awareness of a CDM and the box-to-box engine of a top-tier midfielder. At 1.35 million coins, he's expensive but offers genuine three-position flexibility that few cards can match.

In-game feel & playstyle

Valverde's Controlled AcceleRATE type with 85 acceleration and 93 sprint speed makes him feel rapid in open space, though he lacks the explosive first step of Lengthy or Explosive players. The 182cm frame with 83 strength gives him a solid physical presence without being overly aggressive, while his 89 reactions and 88 ball control ensure he's always in position to win back possession or carry the ball forward. The standout feature is his engine - 94 stamina means he's still sprinting in the 90th minute while your opponent's midfield is gasping for air.

Dribbling-wise, 77 agility and 70 balance make him feel a bit clunky in tight spaces compared to pure playmakers, but his 84 dribbling stat and 3-star skills are sufficient for simple moves and quick turns. He's not a skill merchant, but he won't lose the ball under pressure. The 4-star weak foot is crucial for his versatility - whether shooting rockets from outside the box (91 shot power, 91 long shots) or playing accurate passes with both feet (89 short passing, 89 long passing), he's equally effective on either side.

Defensively, this is where Valverde truly shines. The combination of 86 interceptions, 82 defensive awareness, 87 standing tackle, and 86 sliding tackle puts him in elite defensive midfielder territory. His AI positioning is exceptional - he intercepts passing lanes automatically and makes last-ditch tackles that save goals. Whether you're playing him at CM with stay back instructions, CDM, or even right back, his defensive contributions are game-changing.

Strengths

• Elite stamina (94) - Never stops running - In Weekend League, having a player with 94 stamina is a massive advantage. Valverde will press for 120 minutes without slowing down, making him perfect for constant pressure tactics or box-to-box roles where he needs to cover the entire pitch.
• Genuine three-position versatility (CM/CDM/RB) - This is Valverde's unique selling point. You can start him at CM for chemistry, move him to CDM in-game for defensive stability, or even switch him to RB where his pace and defending make him genuinely competitive against meta wingers. The Long Ball Pass+ PlayStyle adds even more value at RB.
• Outstanding long shots (91 shot power, 91 long shots) - Valverde is a genuine goal threat from 25+ yards. The combination of 91 shot power and 91 long shots means finesse shots from distance regularly find the top corner. He's scored more longshots for me than some dedicated strikers.
• Elite defensive stats for a midfielder (87 standing, 86 interceptions) - These are CDM-level defensive stats on a card with CM pace and passing. The 87 standing tackle wins the ball cleanly in 50-50s, while 86 interceptions mean he's constantly cutting out passes before they reach the opponent's attackers.
• 93 sprint speed with Controlled AcceleRATE - Covers ground rapidly - Once Valverde gets going, he's genuinely rapid. The 93 sprint speed allows him to track back against counter-attacks or bomb forward on overlapping runs. Controlled acceleration means he maintains top speed well even if the initial burst isn't explosive.
• Perfect passing (89 short, 89 long, 87 vision) - His passing is clinical. Whether playing quick one-twos in midfield or switching play with 40-yard cross-field balls, the accuracy is consistently high. The 87 vision means he sees passes others miss.
• Real Madrid links - Perfect for LaLiga hybrids - Strong link to Bellingham, Vinícius, Mbappé, Rodrygo, and every other Real Madrid meta card. Also provides easy links to LaLiga players and Uruguay icons like Luis Suárez or Diego Forlán.
• 4-star weak foot - Equally effective on both feet - The 4-star weak foot is crucial for a midfielder who needs to shoot and pass in all directions. You never feel restricted by which foot the ball is on.

Weaknesses

• Price (1.35M) - Expensive for a non-attacker - 1.35 million coins is a significant investment for a midfielder, especially when cards like Camavinga or Tchouaméni offer similar defensive quality at a fraction of the price. You're paying a premium for the versatility and Cornerstones rarity.
• Only 3-star skills - Limited dribbling options - In a meta dominated by skill moves, being restricted to basic tricks is a noticeable limitation. You can't La Croqueta or Rainbow Flick past defenders, which limits his effectiveness in the final third.
• Clunky agility (77) and balance (70) in tight spaces - When pressed aggressively in midfield, Valverde can feel heavy and slow to turn. The 70 balance means he gets knocked off the ball more easily than elite dribblers, and the 77 agility makes quick direction changes sluggish.
• Low heading accuracy (63) despite decent jumping (83) - For a player with 83 jumping and 182cm height, the 63 heading accuracy is disappointing. He wins aerial duels positionally but often heads the ball straight at the keeper or over the bar.
• Mediocre penalties (59) - Don't trust him from the spot - If you're in a shootout or get a penalty with Valverde on the ball, seriously consider switching to another taker. The 59 penalty stat is genuinely terrible for an 89-rated card.
• Work rates not disclosed - Potentially problematic positioning - EA hasn't listed work rates on this card, which is frustrating. Some users report he sometimes pushes too far forward at CDM or sits too deep at CM, requiring manual instructions to fix.
• Better value alternatives exist (Camavinga, Tchouaméni, De Jong) - If you only need him as a pure CDM or CM, cards like Camavinga (500K), Tchouaméni (300K), or De Jong (200K) offer 80% of the performance for a fraction of the price.

Best position, chemistry style & squads

Position: Start him at CM in a 4-3-3 or 4-1-2-1-2 for full chemistry, then move him to your preferred role in-game. The three best positions are:

• CDM in 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 Hold - Stay back while attacking, cover center. This maximizes his defensive impact while allowing him to spray long balls forward. Use Shadow chem style here.
• Box-to-box CM in 4-1-2-1-2 or 4-4-2 - Balanced attack, cover center. This unleashes his stamina and lets him contribute both defensively and offensively. Use Engine or Shadow.
• Right back in 4-4-2 or 5-2-1-2 - Stay back, overlap. This is the secret meta tactic - his Long Ball Pass+ PlayStyle makes him exceptional at launching counters, while his defensive stats handle even Mbappé and Vinícius. Use Shadow chem style.

Chemistry Style: Shadow is the optimal choice for 95% of Valverde users. It boosts his 85 acceleration to 95, maxes out his already elite defensive stats (99 interceptions, 99 standing tackle), and improves his pace to 99 sprint speed. This turns him into an absolute monster at any position. If you're using him as a pure box-to-box CM and want better dribbling, Engine is a viable alternative, boosting agility to 82, balance to 75, and passing to near-perfect levels.

Squad Fits: Valverde is perfect for:

• LaLiga/Real Madrid hybrids - Strong links to Bellingham, Vinícius, Mbappé, Rodrygo, Courtois, Rudiger
• Icon teams - Soft links to any icon, allowing you to play him alongside Gullit, Vieira, or Zidane
• Uruguay P&P - Strong link to Darwin Núñez, Luis Suárez, Diego Forlán
• South American hybrids - Links to Argentinian and Brazilian players through nationality/league

Community opinion & what FUT players are saying

The FUT community is split on Valverde, but the debate is interesting: nobody questions his in-game performance - the disagreement is purely about value for coins. Elite Division players who've used him at right back are convinced he's one of the most underrated cards in the game, with many saying he's genuinely better than Walker or Frimpong at RB due to his superior passing and attacking contributions. The Long Ball Pass+ PlayStyle makes him exceptional at starting counters from deep positions.

However, Weekend League grinders who primarily need a stay-back CDM often argue that Camavinga or Tchouaméni offer 80-90% of Valverde's defensive quality at less than half the price. The consensus is that if you're using him in multiple positions or at right back, the 1.35M is justified. If you're playing him exclusively as a CDM and never moving him, you're probably overpaying.

The biggest surprise in community testing has been his effectiveness at right back. Multiple pro players and content creators have experimented with this and reported that his defensive AI, pace, and stamina make him genuinely competitive against meta wingers. The 4-star weak foot means he can pass out of pressure on either side, and his long shots make him a threat on cut-inside runs. Some players even prefer him to traditional fullbacks because he never gets caught out of position.

One common complaint is the lack of 5-star skills and the clunky dribbling in tight spaces. In an attacking sense, Valverde is straightforward - he's not going to dribble through three defenders or pull off fancy skills. His value is in winning the ball back, covering ground, and contributing with passes and long shots rather than individual dribbling brilliance.

Final verdict & ratings

Who should buy:

• Players who need genuine positional versatility and plan to use him at CM, CDM, or RB depending on opponent and tactics
• Real Madrid/LaLiga squad builders who need an elite midfielder with perfect links to Bellingham, Vinícius, and Mbappé
• Right back experimenters looking for a meta option with elite defending, pace, and the ability to launch attacks with Long Ball Pass+
• Weekend League competitors who value stamina and defensive contributions over flashy dribbling

Who should skip:

• Players on a budget who only need a stay-back CDM - Camavinga, Tchouaméni, and De Jong offer better value
• Skill move merchants who want 5-star skills and silky dribbling - Valverde is direct and workmanlike, not a flair player
• Players who already have elite midfielders and don't need the RB flexibility
• Anyone expecting him to play like Gullit or Bellingham in attack - he's defensively elite but limited offensively beyond long shots

Our ratings:

• Meta rating: 16.5/20 - Elite defensive midfielder with genuine versatility across three positions. The RB option and 94 stamina elevate him above standard CMs, though the price and lack of 5-star skills prevent a higher rating.
• Fun rating: 14.0/20 - Satisfying to use due to his engine and long shot ability, but the 3-star skills and clunky dribbling limit creativity. He's effective rather than exciting.
• Value for coins: 13.5/20 - At 1.35M, he's expensive for what you get. The versatility justifies the price if you're using him in multiple roles, but pure CDM users should look at cheaper alternatives. Will likely drop to 800-900K within 2-3 months.

Conclusion