It’s almost time for the FUT Birthday event in FC 25, one of fans’ favorite Ultimate Team promos in the soccer sim series. As ever, there’ll be a swathe of upgraded cards for players already in the game, whether they be active players or Icons and Heroes. However, in a very rare move, EA Sports is reviving three now-retired players as part of the new promo that aren’t already in the existing Icon or Hero lineup, and what’s even more exciting is that they are three of the most popular cards in Ultimate Team history.
If, like me, you’ve been playing Ultimate Team in the FIFA and EA FC games since the very beginning, there are some names that’ll forever spark equal amounts of joy and fear. Back when the sports game’s approach to balance was more loose, overpowered or ‘sweaty’ players were the norm, and they were often very affordable and common. As a result, you would be regularly terrorized by them in online matches – or you’d be slamming goals past opponents with them for yourself. Three of the most notorious and beloved players – Gervinho, Seydou Doumbia, and Victor Ibarbo – are now making an unprecedented comeback as part of the upcoming FC 25 FUT Birthday promo.
Back in the early days of Ultimate Team – we’re talking in the era between FIFA 12 and FIFA 16, here – Gervinho, Doumbia, and Ibarbo were some of the most popular attacking players thanks to their high pace stats, skill move ratings, and effectiveness in front of goal, all while being very cheap to buy on the Transfer Market. For a period in FIFA 15, all three even played for the same team, AS Roma in the Italian top division, meaning they also gave each other loads of valuable chemistry too.
It’s party time.
Celebrate 16 years of Ultimate Team starting tomorrow, and get ready as past legends return during FUT Birthday: https://t.co/VLJZcHVVZh #FC25 pic.twitter.com/ORfWK1kz8W
— EA SPORTS FC (@EASPORTSFC) March 6, 2025
For FC 25’s FUT Birthday promo, they are back. EA says that “the Roma Trio will feature through Objectives and Evolutions, with FUT Birthday Hero versions also being available in the Ultimate Team pool of players for packs.”
It’s been several years since we last got the chance to play as these iconic speedsters in FUT. Gervinho was last seen in FIFA 22, Doumbia in FIFA 20, and Ibarbo all the way back in FIFA 19. It’s great to see them returning – whether they can still dominate the meta is another thing. Gervinho, Doumbia, and Ibarbo will arrive with the FC 25 FUT Birthday promo on Friday, March 14.
It sounds like these are the only three throwback players being added to FC 25 at the moment, but it certainly sets a precedent for more cult classic Ultimate Team players to return as part of promos.
If you find yourself drifting from FC 25, why not check out some other excellent multiplayer games instead. Or if you want to see what’s dropping in the near future, head to our upcoming PC games guide.
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