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The cheapest FIFA Icons to get for your coins
With EA's Legends becoming Icons, who should you save your coins for?
We’ve all done it. We’ve all browsed that Xbox FIFA Ultimate Team market for George Best and Pele. We’ve looked longingly at them and thought “I could win every time if I had them in my team”. But when you actually go deeper into the system, you’ll find there are players that can be affordable if you just save hard enough, and play often enough.
With FIFA 18 having Icons (previously Xbox only, and called Legends) we’ve decided to take a look at the transfer market as it stands now, and work out the best deals. These still aren’t cheap players, because no Icons (or Legends) ever are, but these are at least affordable, and worth saving for.
Gianfranco Zola (CAM)
Handsome as the day is long, Gianfranco Zola can be filed in the “how on God’s green earth is he this cheap?!” folder. For around 130,000 coins (at the time of writing), his Icon card is currently resting on the Ultimate Team transfer market as a Legend with 89 dribbling, 84 passing, 82 shooting, and 85 pace. Basically, he’s a one man attacking midfield machine that can pass, shoot, and run rings around people. Sure, there are better midfielders out there as Icons, but not for this money. Bargain.
Robbie Fowler (ST)
Although Fowler spent most of (not all) of his playing career in the UK, he’s known the world over because of how prolific he was in front of goal. He has 186 goals in 460 club appearances, and his current Legend card has 83 shooting and 83 pace. The best thing, though, is that we found a Robbie Fowler card with a buy it now price of 105,000 coins. It doesn’t seem Fowler appears too often on the market for this price, so this is one to check for on the regular, because although no Legend is cheap, for the quality, this is one of the best you’ll buy for the price.
Everyone’s favourite pundit for around 100,000
© EA Sports
Gary Neville (RB)
Sticking with the Premier League for a second, one of the best right backs the league has ever produced can be grabbed for a cool 108,000 coins. Gary Neville boasts 80 pace (though we don’t remember him being that quick), 81 physical, and 84 defence. Again, like Fowler, his price for his stats and quality, let alone status, make him a bargain. There are plenty of Neville cards on the market, too, so if you can save for him, he’s a terrific buy.
Deco (CAM)
With an overall rating of 87, Deco can be grabbed for around 115,000 coins. Yet another European player that, in his time, was regarded as a phenomenal player, he has 89 passing, 83 pace, and 88 dribbling. The cards we were looking at ranged from CM to CAM position, but we’d be happy with him in either spot. He’s the kind of player you build a team around.
Vítor Baía (GK)
We all want Peter Schmeichel. Who wouldn’t? But Vitor Baia is an affordable (though we use that term loosely) replacement. 90 diving, 88 reflexes, 88 handling, 83 positioning: he’s a brilliant keeper, really, with an overall rating of 87. We’ve found him, currently, in FIFA 17 for 122,000 coins or so. If you want to push nearer the 200,000 coins mark though, you might be able to find a bargain Schmeichel. But shh, don’t spread that around too much.
Freddie Ljungberg (RM)
As far as right side midfielders go, Ljungberg is a cracker. For less than 120,000 coins you can pick his 86 rated Legend (soon to be Icon) card up. For your money you’ll be getting a fast (85 pace) player who can dribble and shoot (83 and 81 respectively), who’s also got a great shot on him (80). As part of the “invincibles” squad at Arsenal, he went a full season unbeaten in his team. Eventually he spent a season at West Ham before leaving for the USA, and after a few more clubs he eventually settled as the assistant manager of German team Wolfsburg.
88 defending is well worth the 120,000 coins
© EA Sports
Frank de Boer (CB)
While his brother Ronald spent his career as an attacking player, Frank was a defender. The pair played together at Ajax and Barcelona, before Frank then went his own way for a season at Galatasaray. With an overall rating of 86 in FIFA 17, his brilliant 88 defence will help you keep the ball away from your keeper, but he’ll only cost you 123,000 coins for the privilege.
Jari Litmanen (CM)
Similarly to Deco, Litmanen is a reasonably cheap legend at 121,000 coins, but hit shooting and pace (87 and 82) combined with his passing (83) make him a great attacking midfielder. You’ll likely have to choose between Jari and Deco, and although Litmanen’s career was riddled with injury, he still made a name for himself playing for Ajax, Barcelona, and Liverpool.
Pauleta (ST)
At an overall rating of 87, Pauleta is the best striker on our list. He’s well known for his volleying ability and finishing (in general), but his stats are backed up with an 82 pace, making him quick and deadly. For around 108,000 he’s also one of our cheapest players, which makes him an ideal Icon to save for. He may not be as much of a romantic choice as having the likes of Zola in your team, but if you just want to win matches, he’s a great shout.
