In short: eFootball playing styles
- How many there are: 22 playing styles, across 41,559 cards
- What they do: a playing style changes how the AI moves the player when you are not controlling them — where they run, when they drop in, whether they stay back
- They only trigger at certain positions. Play the card anywhere else and the behaviour does not appear
- Every style has its own ranking below, with the full card list at each one
What playing styles are
A playing style decides what a player does when the ball is somewhere else. A Goal Poacher runs the last line; an Anchor Man stays in front of the back four; a Cross Specialist gets to the byline. It is the single setting that changes how a card feels in a match more than any stat.
Each style only works at certain positions, listed below. If the card is played somewhere else the style does nothing, so the position matters as much as the style itself.
Forwards (5)
5 playing styles for this area of the pitch.
Goal PoacherCF2,961 cards
Goal Poacher makes more runs into the space behind the defensive line, right on the edge of offside. The player reacts to through balls and bursts into the box, which turns into a steady supply of clear chances. The higher the Speed and Finishing, the more you get out of it.
Best Goal Poacher playersFox In The BoxCF1,101 cards
Fox In The Box keeps the player inside the penalty area, reacting quickly to loose balls and crosses to score. A goal-hunter type built on movement in the box and finishing. It fits tactics that produce a lot of crosses and second balls.
Best Fox In The Box playersDummy RunnerAMF/CF/SS520 cards
Dummy Runner makes the player act as a decoy, dragging defenders away and opening space for team-mates. A selfless type built on space creation and link-up movement.
Best Dummy Runner playersTarget ManCF792 cards
Target Man holds the ball up front and waits for the team to push forward. Built on height, physicality and ball control, it works as the target for long-ball and wing attacks.
Best Target Man playersDeep-Lying ForwardCF/SS850 cards
Deep-Lying Forward drops into midfield to receive and link attacks. A forward who joins the build-up and adds depth to possession.
Best Deep-Lying Forward playersWingers (3)
3 playing styles for this area of the pitch.
Prolific WingerLWF/RWF3,209 cards
Prolific Winger cuts inside from the flank and takes the shot. A high-scoring winger built on dribbling, pace and finishing.
Best Prolific Winger playersRoaming FlankLMF/LWF/RMF/RWF1,433 cards
Roaming Flank drifts from the flank into central areas to get on the ball. A free-roaming winger or side midfielder who varies the attack by appearing both inside and outside.
Best Roaming Flank playersCross SpecialistLMF/LWF/RMF/RWF610 cards
Cross Specialist pushes into the wide areas near the byline and delivers accurate crosses. It is at its strongest combined with wing attacks and a target man.
Best Cross Specialist playersAttacking midfield (3)
3 playing styles for this area of the pitch.
Creative PlaymakerAMF/LMF/LWF/RMF/RWF/SS2,543 cards
Creative Playmaker roams freely in the final third and creates chances with passes and dribbles. A playmaker type that becomes the starting point of the attack, built on Attacking Awareness and passing.
Best Creative Playmaker playersClassic No. 10AMF/SS350 cards
Classic No. 10 sits behind the striker and builds the attack with the final pass. The classic number 10, built on Attacking Awareness and passing.
Best Classic No. 10 playersHole PlayerAMF/CMF/LMF/RMF/SS2,697 cards
Hole Player breaks forward from the second line into the gaps and gets on the end of moves. Well-timed runs and finishing make it a scoring threat from midfield.
Best Hole Player playersCentral midfield (4)
4 playing styles for this area of the pitch.
Box To BoxCMF/DMF/LMF/RMF3,587 cards
Box To Box covers the whole pitch in both attack and defence. Stamina, duels and drive make it an all-rounder who can carry a midfield on its own.
Best Box To Box playersOrchestratorCMF/DMF2,028 cards
Orchestrator builds the attack with passes from the base of midfield. A regista type that becomes the starting point of possession, built on passing and vision.
Best Orchestrator playersAnchor ManDMF1,347 cards
Anchor Man sits at the base of midfield, keeping the defensive balance while winning the ball. A holding midfielder that shields the back line.
Best Anchor Man playersDestroyerCB/CMF/DMF3,303 cards
Destroyer wins the ball back with hard pressing and strength in duels. A high defensive line of engagement makes it a destroyer of the opponent's build-up.
Best Destroyer playersDefenders (5)
5 playing styles for this area of the pitch.
Build UpCB3,464 cards
Build Up carries the ball out of the back line and builds the attack from deep. A ball-playing centre-back built on technique and passing.
Best Build Up playersExtra FrontmanCB902 cards
Extra Frontman sends the centre-back forward in attack to create an overload. An attacking centre-back that joins the attack.
Best Extra Frontman playersOffensive WingbackLB/RB3,992 cards
Offensive Wingback pushes up the flank aggressively to join the attack. Pace and stamina let it get up and down the line and get involved in crosses.
Best Offensive Wingback playersDefensive Full-backLB/RB1,110 cards
Defensive Full-back prioritises defending the flank and keeps the space behind covered. A defensive full-back built on duels and covering.
Best Defensive Full-back playersFull-back FinisherLB/RB482 cards
Full-back Finisher runs forward through the inside lane and gets involved in the finish or the final pass. An underlapping full-back with a high attacking sense.
Best Full-back Finisher playersGoalkeepers (2)
2 playing styles for this area of the pitch.
Offensive GoalkeeperGK2,686 cards
Offensive Goalkeeper takes a higher position and starts attacks with distribution. An attacking goalkeeper built on ball control and throwing.
Best Offensive Goalkeeper playersDefensive GoalkeeperGK1,592 cards
Defensive Goalkeeper concentrates on keeping the ball out. A traditional goalkeeper built on reactions and catching, aimed at conceding fewer goals.
Best Defensive Goalkeeper playersEvery playing style compared
All 22 styles by how many cards carry them, with the strongest card of each.
| Playing style | Positions | Cards | Best card |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offensive Wingback | LB/RB | 3,992 | Philipp Lahm (102) |
| Box To Box | CMF/DMF/LMF/RMF | 3,587 | Lothar Matthaus (102) |
| Build Up | CB | 3,464 | Paolo Maldini (104) |
| Destroyer | CB/CMF/DMF | 3,303 | Fabio Cannavaro (103) |
| Prolific Winger | LWF/RWF | 3,209 | Eden Hazard (104) |
| Goal Poacher | CF | 2,961 | Cristiano Ronaldo (104) |
| Hole Player | AMF/CMF/LMF/RMF/SS | 2,697 | Eden Hazard (104) |
| Offensive Goalkeeper | GK | 2,686 | Manuel Neuer (103) |
| Creative Playmaker | AMF/LMF/LWF/RMF/RWF/SS | 2,543 | Lionel Messi (105) |
| Orchestrator | CMF/DMF | 2,028 | Rodri (103) |
| Defensive Goalkeeper | GK | 1,592 | Suzuki Zion (102) |
| Roaming Flank | LMF/LWF/RMF/RWF | 1,433 | Neymar Jr (102) |
| Anchor Man | DMF | 1,347 | Makoto Hasebe (101) |
| Defensive Full-back | LB/RB | 1,110 | Lilian Thuram (102) |
| Fox In The Box | CF | 1,101 | Diego Costa (104) |
| Extra Frontman | CB | 902 | Danilo (97) |
| Deep-Lying Forward | CF/SS | 850 | Lionel Messi (106) |
| Target Man | CF | 792 | Erling Haaland (102) |
| Cross Specialist | LMF/LWF/RMF/RWF | 610 | Luis Figo (102) |
| Dummy Runner | AMF/CF/SS | 520 | Julian Alvarez (102) |
| Full-back Finisher | LB/RB | 482 | Marcelo (100) |
| Classic No. 10 | AMF/SS | 350 | Roberto Baggio (102) |
Summary
✓Summary
- There are 22 playing styles across 41,559 cards.
- A style only triggers at the positions listed — the position matters as much as the style.
- Each style has its own ranking with the full card list.
