FC 26 Thunderstruck Upgrade Tracker

Like a bolt from the blue, FC 26’s Thunderstruck promo returns with not just godly versions of already great players, but one of the best card designs across the game’s year-long lifecycle.

Thunderstruck cards are special because they’re not done upgrading yet. Over the course of a player’s team’s next 5 domestic matches, if certain requirements are met then their card will receive further boosts in the form of upgraded Roles and extra PlayStyles.

To help you keep track of which FC 26 Thunderstruck cards are getting upgraded and when, we’ve put together this list of every Thunderstruck card in FC 26 and all of the boosts they’re in line to receive.

How do FC 26 Thunderstruck cards get upgrades?

In FC 26, Thunderstruck players have the potential to receive further boosts based on the real-life performance of their team.

It’s a mechanic that’s been used before in EA Sports FC, however, this time around the requirements have been tweaked to focus on whole team performance exclusively. This is probably because in the past players have gotten injured or suspended and it’s taken the fun out of the promo.

FC 26 Thunderstruck players receive the following boosts if their teams fulfil the following requirements:

• Win/Draw 2 of the next 5 domestic games = +1 additional regular PlayStyle
• Win/Draw 3 of the next 5 domestic games = all Roles upgraded to “++”
• Team scores 10 goals in next 5 domestic games = +1 PlayStyle+, OR if player already has a PlayStyle+ then +1 additional regular PlayStyle

There are various FC promos which take into account real-life performance, including FUT Fantasy and Road to the Final cards, but in previous years they’ve brought stat boosts to already juiced cards. In an effort to slow the power curve for FC 26, it looks like EA has decided to focus on Roles and PlayStyles to keep a little bit tighter of a lid on power creep.

So for example, if Real Madrid win or draw 1 more game after their 1-1 draw with relegation-treatened Girona, then Thunderstruck Jude Bellingham will receive another regular PlayStyle.

If they win or draw another game after that to take the total to 3, then Jude will have all of his Roles in his positions upgraded to “++”.

But if Real Madrid can score 10 goals collectively (so 9 more in their remaining 4 matches) then Jude will receive a further additional PlayStyle because he already has Tiki Taka+. As mentioned, Thunderstruck players who don’t already have a PlayStyle+ will get one if they satisfy this final requirement.

Thunderstruck Icons have their upgrades tied to a team from their illustrious careers, which is a good thing because they all played for top clubs around the world who’re likely to win games and score goals.

However, it’s not always the team you’d expect or most associate with the Icon who they represent. For example, while Franz Beckenbauer obviously gets his upgrades from German champions Bayern, Dennis Bergkamp gets his from his first club, Ajax, rather than Arsenal.

Unfortunately for Gareth Bale though, he can’t have his upgrades tied to the current PGA Golf tour or Wales’ World Cup qualifiers, or even Real Madrid, so he’ll have to settle for Spurs.

Weirdly though, some Icons have their upgrades tied to teams who don’t exist. Paolo Maldini famously played more than 900 games for AC Milan, but FC 26 lost the rights to the Rossoneri, who exclusively appear in Konami’s eFootball. If you’re waiting for “Milano FC” to win a match as Maldini’s card says then you’ll be waiting for a long time, but luckily it is actually tied to AC Milan’s (currently table-topping) form, even if it doesn’t say so in-game.

FC 26 Thunderstruck Upgrade Tracker

For more on how to get the most out of these new players, check out our page on the best formations in FC 26 with tactics codes. Or if you fancy a switch to Career Mode, then here are the best FC 26 Wonderkids to sign.