EA FC 25 continues to evolve, offering players more content and grindable rewards than ever. Among the latest highlights is the Immortality League, which gives players a chance to unlock some seriously high-tier cards through a unique and fast-paced “Golden Goal” format. One of the ultimate prizes in this event? A special version of Paolo Maldini, the Italian icon known for his legendary defending. In this article, we'll break down everything from the grind to get him Fut 25 Coins, to how he performs both as a left back and a center back — and whether he's worth the effort.

The Grind: 25 Wins to Glory

The Immortality League challenge requires 25 wins in the Golden Goal friendly mode to unlock Maldini. The beauty of this mode is its efficiency: games can be over in mere minutes. But here's a caveat — EA seems to have implemented some soft limits on the number of games you can play in a short period. Some players, like many in the community, have experienced issues where after too many games in quick succession, the game won't allow more matches, effectively soft-banning progress for a bit. So if you're close to finishing the grind, slow it down to make sure your last wins count.

Once you hit that 25-win milestone though? It's all worth it. You can click “Claim All” and Paolo Maldini — the big man himself — is yours to try out.

Maldini: The Card Stats & First Impressions

Let's get into the nitty gritty of what this version of Maldini offers:

    Position: Default LB (Left Back), but also available as a CB (Center Back).

    Height: 6'1", which is tall for a left back, more standard for a center back.

    PlayStyles+: Base Aerial, Defender+, and Fullback+. These PlayStyles+ are ideal for his defensive role.

    Other Key PlayStyles: Quick Step, Rapid, Slide Tackle, Whipped Pass, Pinged Pass.

    Skill Moves / Weak Foot: 4-star / 4-star

    Dribbling: Decent overall, but his agility and balance are not elite.

    Pace: 93 Base Pace – yes, you read that right.

From the jump, Maldini feels like a defensive force — his speed, strength, and animations make him immediately noticeable on the pitch. Many cards feel good on paper, but Maldini? He feels like an icon, and that jammy, premium feel shines through in gameplay.

Chem Style Recommendation: Anchor

To get the best out of Maldini, especially if you're playing him as a center back, the Anchor chemistry style is ideal. It boosts his already solid pace, physicality, and defensive stats — making him an absolute unit at the back. And given how rapid this card already feels, the Anchor just sharpens every key stat to an elite level.

Center Back Performance: Iconic Impact

Most players will find Maldini fits better as a center back. His height, defensive animations, and raw pace allow him to dominate opposing attackers. Paired with someone like William Saliba, Maldini can truly shine.

Despite not having the gold “Anticipate+” PlayStyle, his base-level anticipation is still solid, and his jockeying is smooth and responsive. If your opponent is spamming through balls or using rapid forwards like Torres or Mbappé, Maldini's quick step and top-end speed allow him to recover effortlessly. He eats up ground in transition, shuts down fast breaks, and has the power to bully even elite strikers off the ball.

He also excels in:

    Interceptions: Sharp, reactive.

    Tackling: Even without “Bruiser+,” Maldini wins duels with ease.

    Passing: His “Pinged Pass” and “Whipped Pass” PlayStyles make him surprisingly reliable at starting plays from the back — a rare trait for a center back.

Left Back Trial: Speed Demon with Limitations

Switching him to LB, Maldini offers elite recovery pace and strength, but this is where the trade-offs start to show. His lack of elite agility and balance becomes more apparent when you're trying to involve your fullbacks in the build-up or attack.

If you play like many competitive players do — keeping your fullbacks defensive and rarely bombing them forward — Maldini is a top-tier defensive LB. But if you want your left back to overlap, whip in crosses, or contribute to the offense like a modern-day wingback (think Alphonso Davies or Theo Hernández), Maldini may feel clunkier and less involved.

That said, his Quick Step+ gives him a jetpack effect when sprinting, and in some situations, you can send him flying up the wing for a dangerous overlap.

The “Icon Jam”: Real or Myth?

There's a long-standing theory among the FIFA community that icons — especially legends like Maldini — have some sort of hidden “jam” or advantage. While it's hard to prove objectively, it's easy to feel when using Maldini.

He seems to win 50-50 challenges more often, his blocks come off cleaner, and he recovers faster than his stats would even suggest. In one match, he even scored a jammy goal after a deflection fell perfectly to him — typical icon behavior.

Comparing Maldini to Other CBs and LBs

Vs. William Saliba: Saliba feels more secure in tackles due to his Anticipate+ PlayStyle. You can overcommit with Saliba and get away with it. With Maldini, you need to be a little more calculated — but he makes up for it in recovery speed and tackling reach.

Vs. Capt. Devia: If you love using your fullbacks in attack, Devia is more well-rounded. Maldini lacks a bit in offensive ability but offers more raw defensive dominance.

Vs. Gabrielo: Gabrielo may feel a little stronger in direct tackles, but Maldini wins out with elite speed and fluidity. It really comes down to play style.

Verdict: Worth the Grind?

Absolutely. Even if you're not aiming for Maldini specifically, grinding the Immortality League is worth it. You get solid rewards, chances at pack pulls, and a fun game mode that shakes up the usual grindy feel of FUT. The “Golden Goal” format keeps things fresh and snappy — perfect for testing new players and completing multiple objectives simultaneously.

And Maldini? He's a W card in every sense. Whether you stick him at CB or LB, he's going to improve your defense. His speed alone makes him game-changing, and his icon animations give him that special sauce.

Final Thoughts

EA FC 25 continues to deliver in Ultimate Team content, and the Immortality League Maldini objective is one of the best grinds we've seen. This isn't just some mid-tier promo card — this is a legitimate starting XI beast who can hang with the best defenders in the game.

If you can carve out the time to grind 25 wins, Paolo Maldini is well worth the effort. Play him as a center back for maximum impact, but if you're in need of a rock-solid fullback who can match anyone stride for stride Fut 25 Coins for sale, he'll hold his own out wide too.