ICON Matthäus (91) Review

When it comes to pack luck I can’t really complain… but I will anyway.  This year my pack luck has actually been insane as long as the players are untradeable.  If you follow me on Twitter: @MaeNine_ then you might have witnessed some of these packs… with more to come on my brand new YouTube channel: MaeNine (make sure you legends sub for more to come). The issue is that I honestly can’t remember the last time I packed a card over 10k that I could sell.  However, when it comes to untradeables the list of CR7, Mbappe, Mane, Salah, VVD, Varane & Mendy makes me cringe with how lucky I have been. Then you add Gullit in the Base Icon pack and 90 Petit in the ICON Player Pick and really I have been rather fortunate this year.  Finally, the focus of our review today, in the Mid/Prime ICON Pack I was lucky again with the arrival of 91 rated Mid Lothar Matthäus to the squad.  In FIFA 20 I used 88 Base Matthäus as a CM, despite being a CB, for a large portion of the year with a lot of success.  I was hoping that this quality would transfer over to FIFA 21 and after about 70 games experience I feel like I can certainly suggest that it has.  The two pictures you see are simply to break down this past weekend as I shifted my focus more towards Matthäus in order to write this review.  The application of the SHADOW chemistry was easy enough as I played Matthaus as the CDM in my 4-2-2-2 and 4-2-3-1 formations all weekend long. Lothar Matthäus was the German engineering precision all weekend in the following squad: 


Starting Formation:

Overall

Rating: 9.5/10
Pace Rating: 9.5/10
Dribbling Rating: 9/10
Shooting Rating: 9.5/10
Passing Rating: 9.5/10
Physical Rating: 10/10
Defending Rating: 10/10

To say that this card is a boss in the midfield is like saying Messi and Ronaldo are really good at football.  It goes without saying.  However, for me, it is the consistency in performances that really sets Matthäus apart from a lot of cards in the game.  In slower gameplay, Matthäus is a beast.  In fast gameplay, Matthäus dominates.  In an attacking midfielder role, Matthäus produces.  In defensive rolls… you get the point.  The key here is that this card does not have any notable weaknesses … while at the same time has some standout statistics that separate him from other midfield challengers.  Let’s dive in and take a look.

Main Attribute – Physical

Physical Rating: 10/10
Pace Rating: 9.5/10
Height: 174cm | 5’9
Work Rate: High | High

This card is a rock in the midfield and truly lives up to his SOLID PLAYER trait in the way that he operates.  Matthäus has some cracked statistics that only a handful of cards in FIFA 21 can match … and although the 77 Dribbling omits Lothar from the Gullit Gang, he is right there in terms of quality.  The key to this card comes in the form of the Pace… what good is a physical midfield presence if they can never lay a glove on anyone as a result of poor pace?  Thankfully the 99 ACCELERATION & 94 SPRINT SPEED after the SHADOW application has this card flying around the pitch.  At one point I was slightly concerned about the size of this card, but 75 STRENGTH was more than enough as Matthäus bullies opponents time and time again.  While I played the German as a CDM with Balanced Attack so he joined in on the fun at times, you could easily play this card box to box as the HIGH/HIGH work rates and 90 STAMINA mix beautifully.

Main Attribute – 4 STAR WEAK FOOT

Shooting Rating: 9.5/10
Weak Foot: ****
My mate has been using 88 Matthäus for a while in the midfield this year, and after packing 91 Matthäus his immediate question was, “have you tried the long shots.”  Match after match pestering me if I had, the answer always no.  Until I did, and now I am addicted and mad at myself that it took 30+ games to start.  This review, in particular, I was hell bent on demonstrating the shooting ability of this card and I think the clips do it some justice… but in the end, I think you have to feel this one for yourself.  It just feels like this card harnesses the exact power you input and translates that into thunderbolts towards goal.  Definitely some hidden ICON statistics with this card as 77 FINISHING, 92 SHOT POWER & 93 LONG SHOTS should not be producing what Matthäus does at a consistent rate. Oh, and the 90 FREE KICK ACCURACY is no joke either.

Value/Coins & Good vs. Bad 

Value/Coins Rating: 5/5
Good vs Bad Rating: 5/5

I realize that for 1.8 million coins this card will be beyond some FUT budgets and therefore is a read only review.  However, if you have the coins or have been trying other midfield options that just don’t seem worth it, then this card is 100% one to try.  I truly feel like if I hadn’t packed this card and just purchased it, that I would be more than happy with the hard earned coins spent, he can literally do it all.

Having not touched on the Defending or Passing I think it is worth noting the key statistics that make this card a legitimate weapon in the corner of the pitch.  99 INTERCEPTIONS, 99 STANDING TACKLE, 99 SLIDING TACKLE, 87 SHORT PASSING & 90 LONG PASSING just to name a few… and all feel as good, if not better than they suggest.  This leaves only the dribbling and honestly the area I thought this card would struggle the most.  I had the ENGINE chemistry style locked and loaded to intervene if the weekend was not going well, but I never needed to even consider pulling the trigger.  This card feels incredibly balanced in the turn, agile in the dribble & maybe best of all, never out of control while sprinting with the ball always a small touch away even in full flight.  

Closing Words

Nothing more to see here folks.  Just an iconic FUT card doing iconic FUT things.  I think we could have all guessed this card would be good and there were no surprises there.  However, I would be lying if I thought Matthäus would outperform so many key areas during the weekend review. The hidden statistics are real with this one; a fantastic, consistent, game changing addition to any squad with the coins. Hoping you are all safe and well… Thank you to anyone who has checked out my YouTube, absolute legends on there.  Cheers for reading.

Game Stats:
 

Game Highlights: