In FC 26 Ultimate Team, the vast majority of players have multiple card versions. Take Messi, for example—even if you don't count the leaked Summer Stars cards, he's already got 11 different cards so far. These cards have totally different stats, OVRs, Playstyles, and some even have different positions.
Messi 90+ OVR Cards Breakdown
Festival of Football: Glory Hunters 97 OVR
This is currently his most expensive card on the market, as well as his highest OVR. Right now, this card is going for well over 2.5 million coins. Since Messi's Argentina beat England to advance to the final, the value of all Messi cards has been steadily climbing. On top of that, the face stats on this card are absolutely cracked. His PAC, SHO, PAS, and DRI are all 96+, while his PHY sits at 81. For an attacker, these stats are absolute top-tier. If you're lucky enough to pack or buy this card, put him in your starting XI immediately—he's a game-changer.
Festival of Football: Star Performer 96 OVR
This one isn't too different from the 97 version on paper, but it's missing one key PlayStyle+. Because of that, it's way cheaper, sitting at around 1.8 million coins right now. He might not be the absolute best Messi card out there, but this is easily one of the most value-packed meta cards you can get.
Team of the Season Champions 96 OVR
With the same OVR as the previous card, this version boasts 4 PlayStyle+ playstyles. However, because it's pretty hard to acquire, you don't see too many people running him.
Team of the Season 96 OVR Another insanely high-value meta card. 4 PlayStyle+ playstyles for under 60k is an absolute steal, plus he can play on the wing. For a lot of Messi fans, this is the first card they save up coins to buy.
TOTY Honourable Mentions 90 OVR
This is his TOTY HM card, and it has a pretty broken Evolution path. Before evolving, his face stats don't quite match up to the higher-rated versions, and since he's pack-only, he's incredibly hard to get. Even so, this remains an incredibly popular card.
Time Warp 90 OVR
Even though the stats on this card don't look amazing on paper and he only has one PlayStyle+, he's still top-tier. Plus, you can evolve him into a cracked 96+ beast later on. Because he was so hard to get when the promo first dropped, his price has stayed sky-high, sitting steadily around 3 million coins all year.
Which card should you choose?
Right now, there are 6 main Messi cards meta players are using: Glory Hunters, TOTS, TOTY HM, Time Warp, TOTS Champions, and Gold Rare.
- If you've got the budget, go for the 97 OVR Glory Hunters or the 96 OVR TOTS card. Both are absolute end-game cards, so you won't have to worry about them falling out of the meta anytime soon.
- If you're looking for the absolute best value for your coins, the 90 OVR TOTY HM card is a great shout. It's budget-friendly and gives you that coveted 5-star weak foot.
- If you're completely strapped for cash, you can just grab his 86 OVR Gold Rare card off the transfer market for around 1,500 Coins, and run him through the TOTS Career Path Evolution. This will boost him to a 91 OVR beast with 5★ Skills and a 5★ Weak Foot. His in-game feel and performance are easily on par with those 90+ meta cards mentioned above.
