Maradona has officially arrived in EA FC 25, marking one of the most exciting moments in the game’s history. Players who log in today will receive a free Maradona card. However, the excitement extends beyond that. The Grassroots Great promo has gained attention due to leaks about upcoming Squad Building Challenges (SBCs). With many leaked SBCs, the impact on the market is a major topic of discussion, especially with Maradona’s release.

Free Evolutions and Paid Upgrades in EA FC 25

Three separate free evolutions allow players to choose how to develop Maradona’s card. A paid evolution is also available with a fixed upgrade path. Each 89-rated version transitions into a 92-rated version with identical boosts: +2 in pace, shooting, passing, and dribbling, no increase in defending, and +4 in physicality. The final upgrade requires an additional cost.

The upgraded Maradona card offers multiple options. A right-wing version features Technical and Finesse playstyles, 91 pace, and 95 dribbling. The central attacking midfielder variant comes with Incisive and Finesse traits, plus 92 passing. The striker version has Power Shot and Finesse, making it a strong choice. Whether these versions will have alternate positions remains unclear. More details will be available after release.

Expected Cost for the Paid Maradona Evolution

The paid evolution’s cost remains a hot topic. The most expensive evolution so far was the Team of the Year upgrade, which cost 500,000 coins. No evolution has ever exceeded this price, so a similar range is expected. Estimates suggest a cost between 300,000 and 500,000 coins.

Maradona’s market value would likely be over 1 to 2 million coins for a 92-rated version. That makes this evolution a great investment. As with previous evolutions, FC points will likely be an alternative payment option. However, spending coins remains the preferred approach for free-to-play players.

Grassroots Great Promo: Leaked Players and Chemistry Boost

The initial reaction to the Grassroots Great promo was mixed due to underwhelming leaks. However, excitement grew after additional SBC and promo card leaks. Several high-profile players are set to feature, including Paulo Dybala, Alexis Mac Allister, and Franck Ribéry.

Dybala’s attributes closely resemble Maradona’s, featuring Technical and Finesse playstyles. Mac Allister appears to be a top-tier box-to-box midfielder. Ribéry receives significant dribbling and pace boosts, making him highly desirable.

Other confirmed players include Ian Wright, Didier Drogba, Bruno Fernandes, and Roy Keane. Some cards in this promo will feature 99-rated attributes. Pascal Groß receives 99 pace, while Jamie Vardy boasts 99 pace and Power Shot Plus.

A surprising new feature is chemistry-boosted cards. Similar to the Radioactive promo in FC 24, these cards will provide double chemistry points for nation, league, and club links. This addition makes squad-building easier and more flexible.

SBC Leaks: Mendy, N’Golo Kanté, and Carlos Alberto

A highly anticipated SBC involves  Mendy. He has been a staple in FIFA history. However, his gold version has seen less popularity this year. If his upgrade includes defensive playstyles such as Jockey, Intercept, and Anticipate, it could be a game-changer. The expected price is around 750,000 coins, which may be too expensive for some players.

Another leaked SBC features N’Golo Kanté, a longtime fan-favorite defensive midfielder. This new version does not offer drastic improvements over his previous Globe Trotter card, but it remains valuable depending on cost. A price of around 200,000 coins would make this a solid choice.

Icon SBCs are making a return, with Carlos Alberto confirmed. He could be available as either a center-back or defensive midfielder. Following the leak, his market price dropped from 1.6 million to 1.2 million coins. Stoichkov is another leaked icon SBC. His card always ranks among the most meta options, though his three-star weak foot remains a drawback.