eFootball 2026 Epic Spanish League Guardians (Varane, Márquez, Bronckhorst) pack review

The latest update to eFootball 2026 highlights strong defensive players with the new Epic Spanish League Guardians pack. The pack is headlined by the debut of Raphaël Varane, and is completed by Rafael Márquez and Giovanni van Bronckhorst, forming a powerful defensive lineup.

Raphaël Varane’s first appearance is certainly exciting, but is the hype around him actually deserved? Let’s examine the details.

eFootball 2026 Epic Spanish League Guardians players

Raphaël Varane

Position: CB
Playing Style: Build Up
Showtime Skill: Long Reach Tackle and Aerial Fort

Raphaël Varane has received a fantastic upgraded card that truly showcases his quality as a top-tier defender. As a ‘Build Up’ center back, this version of Varane immediately places him among the best in the game.

The player model is really tall and has long legs, and with the new Long-Reach Tackle ability, this combination will likely be very powerful. If it works as expected, interceptions should be much more frequent and impactful in the game.

When people discuss the best center-backs currently, names like Saliba, Ferdinand, and Van Dijk often come up. Based on his current form, Varane appears to be playing at that same level. He doesn’t have any obvious weaknesses, although he’s not necessarily known for his passing ability. However, his statistics are outstanding and clearly demonstrate his quality.

Suggested Skills: Sliding Tackle, One Touch Pass, Captaincy

Suggested Booster(s): Stealing

Suggested Progression Points Allocation for Raphaël Varane

Shooting	Passing	Dribbling	Dexterity	Lower Body Strength	Aerial Strength	Defending	GK 1/2/3
0	0	0	10	6	8	12	0

🎉 Monday’s special card release is here! 🎉

Raphael Varane is the standout player this week. Could he be a better build-up option than Ferdinand? Let us know what you think! 👇 #eFootball

— Efootball Tribe (29.1.26) (@efootballTribe) February 19, 2026

Rafael Márquez

Position: CB
Playing Style: Build Up
Showtime Skill: Fortress

As a Barcelona supporter, I’ve always hoped to see a player emerge who embodies the qualities of Rafael Márquez. He was such a graceful and composed defender – skillful with the ball, intelligent in anticipating plays, and dominant in the air. I was looking for someone who could bring that same level of distinctiveness to the team.

He’s a decent defensive player, but doesn’t really stand out from the crowd. While he’s perfectly solid, dependable, and likely performs consistently, he doesn’t quite measure up when compared to other options like Varane – it feels like a missed opportunity.

Both players have a similar style of play, and their speed and defensive stats are solid. He was even given passing opportunities comparable to Varane, which wasn’t ideal. Overall, it doesn’t really inspire confidence, and a key factor seems to be the ‘Show Time’ ability.

Fortress is decent, but ideally, he should have unlocked either Aerial Fortitude or Long Reach Tackle using the Visionary Pass. It’s a shame players missed out on a strong secondary ability.

Suggested Skills: Acrobatic Clearance, Fighting Spirit

Suggested Booster(s): Shutdown

Suggested Progression Points Allocation for Rafael Márquez

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

G. van Bronckhorst

Position: LB
Playing Style: Offensive Fullback
Showtime Skill: Long Reach Tackle and Phenomenal Pass

Giovanni van Bronckhorst stands out as a solid choice. He’s not particularly showy, but he seems like a very practical player. As an offensive fullback with good stamina, giving him the ability to make long tackles is a clever move, effectively addressing a common defensive weakness in that position.

Phenomenal Pass is decent, particularly with a wide-based strategy, but Edged Crossing is generally more effective. He’s not really suited to playing as a traditional, attacking winger. If you need a player to consistently run down the line and create chances, there are more dynamic and inventive options available.

I think he could work well as a temporary defensive midfielder, especially if played alongside a taller player to compensate for his weakness in the air. His stats look promising in that position, and you can really take advantage of his special abilities there. If you decide to use him, you’ll know exactly how to build your strategy.

Suggested Skills: Heading, Sliding Tackle, Low Lofted Pass, Double Touch, Fighting Spirit

Suggested Booster(s): Crossing

Suggested Progression Points Allocation for G. van Bronckhorst

Shooting	Passing	Dribbling	Dexterity	Lower Body Strength	Aerial Strength	Defending	GK 1/2/3
0	8	4	8	12	4	8	0

Best pick from the Epic Spanish League Guardians players pack in eFootball 2026

This pack is all about Varane – I think he’s one of the very best players available. The other two cards aren’t as strong, and I’m a little let down by how they designed Márquez’s card. Van Bronckhorst seems okay, but if you already have great center backs, you might not need Varane.

If you didn’t get one of the top three defensive cards and are still looking for a strong option, this is it. Honestly, even before it’s officially out, this card feels like one people will wish they had after playing against it online, especially against Varane. Of course, a little luck always helps!

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

Tier	Players
SSS (Endgame)	Raphaël Varane
SS (Excellent)	Rafael Márquez, Giovanni van Bronckhorst
S (Strong)	None
A (Good)	None
B (Average)	None
C (Below Average)	None

Pack Rating: 3.5 out of 5

2026-02-22 10:13