eFootball 2026 Epic National Midfielders (Ribery, Gattuso, Karembeu) pack review: Strong picks yet not endgame

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The latest update for eFootball 2026 introduces a new set of themed packs, focusing on top midfielders. The ‘Epic National Midfielders’ pack features standout players like Franck Ribéry, Gennaro Gattuso, and Christian Karembeu.

This midfield trio looks good on paper – Ribéry offers creative dribbling, Gattuso is a strong defender, and Karembeu is an all-rounder. However, the key question is whether they’ll actually make your team’s midfield better when they’re on the field. Let’s examine their potential.

eFootball 2026 Epic National Midfielders players

Franck Ribéry

  • Position: LMF
  • Playing Style: Cross Specialist
  • Showtime Skill: Momentum Dribbling and Edged Crossing

This card looks great on paper. It’s a clear improvement over his last version, which focused on creative playmaking. Now, as a left midfielder specializing in crosses – particularly with the ‘Edged Crossing’ ability – he’s designed to deliver balls from the wings.

This player excels at passing, particularly when creating chances for others, which is a major strength. They also maintain excellent dribbling skills, confirming their strong technical ability.

Removing Acceleration Burst and adding Momentum Dribbling changes the gameplay a bit, and I think it’s a step backward. Acceleration Burst was a really effective skill that had a big impact. Also, the player isn’t particularly strong physically, so that’s a factor to consider.

Okay, so to really max out this card, you’re gonna need skill tokens – at least five of them, seriously. And it’s great that he doesn’t have a weak foot, because it means I can use him on either side of the field, which is super versatile.

Suggested Skills: One Touch Pass, Sole Control, Marseille Turn, Long Range Shooting, Fighting Spirit

Suggested Booster(s): Ball Protection

Suggested Progression Points Allocation for Franck Ribéry

Shooting Passing Dribbling Dexterity Lower Body Strength Aerial Strength Defending GK 1/2/3
5 6 8 9 11 0 0 0

Exciting news for eFootball fans! We’re anticipating a reveal of top midfielders coming this Monday. Is the game launching soon? Stay tuned for updates! #eFootball #eFootball2026 #eFootballMobile #イーフト #イーフト2026

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— Pro-eFootball (@pro_efootballTG) March 26, 2026

Gennaro Gattuso

  • Position: DMF
  • Playing Style: Destroyer
  • Showtime Skill: Fortress and Long Reach Tackle

This card perfectly embodies the classic Gennaro Gattuso player style. It heavily emphasizes defense, boasting exceptional awareness, work rate, tackling ability, and aggression. Despite not being particularly tall or having long legs naturally, the player benefits from the ‘Long Reach Tackle’ trait, which carried over from a previous card.

From a distance, this player doesn’t seem like a major threat, which is something to keep in mind. But up close, he’s very impressive, and I’m confident he’ll play with a lot of intensity and deliver strong results.

Lofted passes aren’t a major strength, but that’s alright because short passing is reliable for building up play. I’ve noticed, playing as his AC Milan version, that he presses aggressively, which can leave spaces in midfield. So, I’ve included the ‘Track Back’ skill in my team build to compensate. If you’ve seen the same thing, feel free to do the same when the game officially launches.

Suggested Skills: Track Back, Double Touch, One Touch Pass, Through Passing, Heading

Suggested Booster(s): Shutdown, Duelling, Defending, Physicality

Suggested Progression Points Allocation for Gennaro Gattuso

Shooting Passing Dribbling Dexterity Lower Body Strength Aerial Strength Defending GK 1/2/3
0 8 6 7 8 5 9 0

Christian Karembeu

  • Position: RMF
  • Playing Style: Box to Box
  • Showtime Skill: Fortress and Low Screamer

This player is a promising new addition and appears to be a well-rounded midfielder. While officially listed as a right midfielder, his statistics suggest he could also excel in a more central role, particularly due to his strong defensive capabilities and balanced skillset.

He appears to be a solid defensive player with a good ability to pass and dribble, giving him the qualities of a well-rounded midfielder. His overall skillset is somewhat reminiscent of Lothar Matthäus.

It’s not a one-to-one comparison, but this player can contribute in many areas, even if they don’t excel in scoring goals or winning aerial battles. Their dribbling skills are good enough to improve the team’s ability to hold onto the ball and control the game in midfield.

As this is his debut card, it might take some getting used to compared to other well-known cards, but it generally appears to be a good, versatile player for the midfield.

Suggested Skills: Through Passing, One Touch Pass, Heading, Long Range Shooting, Pinpoint Crossing

Suggested Booster(s): Duelling

Suggested Progression Points Allocation for Christian Karembeu

Shooting Passing Dribbling Dexterity Lower Body Strength Aerial Strength Defending GK 1/2/3
0 10 8 4 10 0 8 0

Best pick from the Epic National Midfielders pack in eFootball 2026

While these cards are all decent choices, they’re not quite strong enough to be considered top-tier. I recommend skipping them for now, as even better options are likely to become available soon.

Here’s my final cards tier list and pack rating.

Tier Players
SSS (Endgame) None
SS (Excellent) Franck Ribéry, Gennaro Gattuso, Christian Karembeu
S (Strong) None
A (Good) None
B (Average) None
C (Below Average) None

Pack Rating: 2.5 out of 5

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2026-03-27 11:44