March 11 – Franz Beckenbauer is set to make his long-awaited return to Football Ultimate Team, joining the ICON ranks in EA Sports FC for the first time. His posthumous comeback follows in the footsteps of Diego Maradona, whose likeness was recently reinstated in the game after a three-year legal battle.
Beckenbauer’s illustrious career saw him win three consecutive European Cups, two Ballon d’Or awards and a World Cup, securing his place among football’s all-time greats. He will be available in Ultimate Team packs from March 21 as part of the UEFA Dreamchasers campaign, with a special version arriving on April 4 under the FUT Immortals banner.
The legendary German previously featured in EA Sports’ older FIFA titles, boasting a 93 overall rating before being removed in FIFA 18. His disappearance was linked to an investigation into suspected corruption surrounding Germany’s 2006 World Cup bid.
However, with no formal charges brought against him before his death, EA has now reinstated him in the game’s growing ICON pool.
His return comes amid a turbulent time for EA Sports FC, which has struggled to maintain the dominance of its predecessor.
Maradona’s comeback last month was a major win for the franchise, ending a lengthy dispute over his image rights that had kept him out of FIFA 22 and beyond. EA had initially lost control of his likeness to Sattvica, a company owned by his former lawyer, before a ruling by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) paved the way for negotiations with his heirs.
Despite these high-profile additions, EA’s football franchise has faced mounting challenges. A sharp decline in stock price and underwhelming EA Sports FC 25 sales led to a fiscal forecast downgrade, forcing the company into damage control.
A January gameplay update helped stabilise engagement, with Ultimate Team player numbers surging past two million, but competition is heating up. Free-to-play challenger UFL, backed by Cristiano Ronaldo, and Konami’s improving eFootball are pushing into EA’s market share.
Bringing Beckenbauer and Maradona back into the fold is a PR win, but whether it can sustain EA’s dominance remains to be seen. For now, though, Ultimate Team players can enjoy the return of two of football’s most legendary figures. Just don’t expect them to fix the game’s deeper issues on their own.
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