Zlatan Ibrahimović is a living legend. You can currently see the Swedish former football star Zlatan Ibrahimović on the official cover of the EA SPORTS FC 26: Team of the Year (TOTY) Edition.
He was photographed by Mattia Balsamini, and post-production was handled by ONE HUNDRED BERLIN.
After retiring from professional football, Zlatan Ibrahimović made his illustrious return this season as an official Ultimate Team Icon in FC 26. This means that players can unlock Zlatan Ibrahimović as one of the legendary "Icon" cards (formerly "Icons" or "Legends") in the "Football Ultimate Team" (FUT) game mode and include him in their own virtual squad.
In January 2026, he was finally named the main face of the exclusive mid-season edition. Video games like EA SPORTS FC 26 are typically released in September. In January – right in the middle of the European football season (mid-season) – EA Sports will release a new retail version, the Mid-Season Edition.
After his real-life retirement in the summer of 2023, Zlatan was removed from the FIFA/FC games because EA Sports no longer held the licensing rights for him as an active player. For EA SPORTS FC 26, EA Sports then signed a new, exclusive contract with him. As a result, he doesn't return as a regular, current player, but has been ceremoniously inducted into the exclusive circle of "Icons," the legendary players.
The mid-season release coincides perfectly with the popular "Team of the Year" (TOTY) event. Anyone buying the game in January will naturally opt for this edition, as it comes with extra bonus content and packs for the event.
TEAM
Photographer: Mattia Balsamini @mattiabalsamini
Finishing: One-Hundred Berlin @onehundredberlin
Featuring: Zlatan @zlatan
EA SPORTS @easportsofficial
Creative Agency @thenewcompany
Production: Twentyfour Seven @twentyfourseven
Creative Director: Steven Olimpio @stevenolimpio
Executive Producer: Helena Corzan @corzan
Co-Founder, ECD: Matthew Luckhurst @mattluckhurst
President: Seth Mroczka
Production Designer: Shawn Trudeau