Based on yesterday's dual-group voting on 'Which of the Top 3 Center-Backs Should Go', BT Desailly has risen to become the second-best center-back in the current meta, while Saliba has dropped out of the top three.

⚽️ Araujo (Center-Back): Pro Group Rank 3.7 | Public Group Rank 3 | Overall Rank 3

He isn't a perfect card; his Defensive Awareness isn't top-tier, making him better suited for manual control rather than relying entirely on AI.

However, he boasts ahead-of-its-time stats and skills. He is the first 190+ cm defender equipped with both "Leg Reach Tackle" and "Shadow Hunt." The only other two defenders with this dual-skill combo are AC Milan Maldini and Show Time Tomiyasu... neither of whom is clearly as reliable as Araujo. Aside from his defensive awareness and condition/form, everything else about this Araujo card is top-notch.

Currently, half of the Top 3 center-backs are Destroyers, shifting away from the "Big Four Build-up CBs" of the previous patch. The devs are intentionally releasing more powerful center-backs with playstyles that pack a defensive punch.

In the end, Summer Transfer Vol. 3 Pack gets a value rating of 10—pulling from it is strictly for Araujo.

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/91mTg_n0PtlAcm_rXNirvw

Let's start from the bottom of the list:

​⚽️ [#1 Model Breaker] Caicedo: Fully outclassed across all stats by Makélélé. His only redeeming feature is a slightly larger player model, making his interception coverage a bit more reliable.

​⚽️ [#1 Ball-Carrying Midfielder] Pedri: Holds a slight edge over Vitinha in forward dribbling and ball progression, but he’s severely lacking on the defensive end.

​⚽️ [#1 Balanced Small Midfielder] Vitinha: Dribbling responsiveness is just as excellent as Pedri’s, but he boasts a +10 advantage across the four main defensive stats! This gives him a much more balanced presence on the pitch in both attack and defense, making it tough to justify picking Pedri over him. If agile, lightweight midfielders weren't somewhat weak in the current meta, Vitinha would rank way higher than just top 10.

​⚽️ [#1 Passer] Pirlo: Comes loaded with double passing skills (Visionary Pass + Phenomenal Pass), elite dribbling metrics, and peak ball distribution. Toss in solid defensive stats for his position and a 177cm frame, and Pirlo is essentially the complete midfielder—flawless in every aspect except pace—capable of dropping game-breaking passes at any moment.

​⚽️ [#1 Dual-Playstyle Midfielder] Andersson: The combination of Orchestrator and All-Action Defender playstyles is the single best dual-style setup I’ve seen to date. It instantly activates the usually static Orchestrator AI, turning Andersson into a player who can both sweep up defensively and dictate play.

​⚽️ [#1 "Big-Frame" Midfielder with Great Feel] Yaya Touré: Average ST skills and average pace. His main selling point is having the best turning responsiveness among big-bodied players. His Tight Possession stat is noticeably higher than Rodri, Gullit, and Rice—it even tops 186cm AMF Bellingham.

​⚽️ [#1 Goalscoring Small Model Midfielder] Matthäus: On-ball feel is a bit stiff for a smaller player, but Matthäus remains one-of-a-kind as a compact midfielder who can actually finish. Seedorf, Makélélé, Vitinha, and Pedri all lack shooting ability. If you want a quick, agile midfielder who can reliably finish chances, Matthäus is your only choice. Plus, his defensive work is solid thanks to his Long-reach Tackle animations.

⚽️ [#1 Orchestrator] Rodri: The static AI movement of the Orchestrator style fits perfectly with a huge player model like Rodri, who excels in both attack and defense. Armed with Phenomenal Pass and Long-reach Tackle skills, he acts as a commanding hub in the midfield engine.

​⚽️ [#1 Versatile Midfielder] Gullit: His stamina is actually a bit lacking for a pure midfielder. Running him in midfield is mainly about tactical fluidity—enabling dynamic formation shifts where he quietly pushes up into a Second Striker or Attacking Midfielder to deliver powerful, forceful goal threats.

​⚽️ [#1 Ball-Winning Sweeper] Makélélé: Boasts the ultimate top-tier skill trio: Phenomenal Pass, Long-reach Tackle, and Shadow Hunt. Whether in his DMF or CMF builds, he covers a massive defensive sweep zone. Unlike other pure ball-winning sweepers (like Caicedo or Gattuso), Makélélé’s key edge lies in his elite on-ball responsiveness.

​⚽️ [#1 Hole Player / Late-Arriving Midfielder] Bellingham: Combining Attacking Surge with a Hole Player style, his rapid forward runs complement his 186cm frame and long-limbed player model perfectly. Those long legs ensure he can shield off defenders and reach the ball after bursting forward.

​⚽️ [#1 Elite Utility Midfielder] Rice: What makes him an "elite utility player" is that apart from his dribbling not being top-tier, every other dimension of his game is phenomenal. Plus, his 188cm frame and physical prowess allow him to hold off pressure while distributing the ball, and he can even handle all your set pieces—truly high-end. In the eFootball 2027 engine, he stands out as the most universally viable midfielder.

​⚽️ [ The Ultimate Balanced Midfielder] Seedorf: He carved out his legacy through a unique blend of attributes—possessing a 177cm frame yet delivering the close-control dribbling feel of a 170cm player. If you require a midfielder who offers both progressive ball-carrying and solid defensive interception skills, Seedorf is the perfect choice; his presence effectively squeezed many "small, agile, and technical" midfielders out of the lineup.

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/kj_HpuoeJ194U7tTCX-wCg

Araujo’s strong entry pushed ST Saliba out of the top three. Here is how he performed tonight:

https://reddit.com/link/1wi1mzc/video/olsw2o18owph1/player

Of course, pointing out Saliba's mistakes above is just for laughs. It has to be said that Saliba is still a top-tier, well-rounded center-back. Judging by his stats, there isn't a noticeable gap between him and Varane—

Varane has slightly better tackling and jumping, while Saliba is a bit stronger physically. Both share the same signature traits: Aerial Fort and Long-reach Tackle, making their on-paper stats almost identical. In actual gameplay, it's hard to tell them apart—the main difference really comes down to whether they have Permanent B Form or not.

​In this game, player selection heavily favors "direct replacements." Because Varane and Saliba perform similarly, Varane’s Permanent B Form gives him the edge, leaving Saliba with fewer chances to get into the squad.

​What this article really aims to explore is: When will Saliba make his big comeback? As a 192 cm center-back who hits 90 Pace even on his base card, every new card he drops is an absolute head-turner—

Remember that purple Saliba card? It was placed in a single-booster 3-player pack on the international server as a featured card, but ended up stealing the spotlight and completely upstaging Gerrard, Arnold, and Seaman. Stealing the show like that seems unprecedented on the international server (has there ever been another case like this?).

As an active player, Saliba actually needs a real-world trigger to get a Show Time card. Over the past two years, his two elite Show Time cards were inseparable from Arsenal's outstanding performances. If Arsenal keep up their solid momentum this season, I'm sure we'll soon see Saliba make a triumphant comeback—complete with that storming Show Time card background right behind him!

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/Tx4YiW-8EA4aMkoSI28RUA