Football fans are feeling really old after discovering who is becoming an ICON card in EAFC 26

Football fans of a certain age have been left stunned after the list of Icons was released for EAFC 26 Ultimate Team.

Icons were initially released back in FIFA 14 as Legends cards, with each player given a rating that corresponded to their prime years in football.

Legends have since evolved to become Icon cards, with each player given three different cards of the course of the game cycle that represents different periods of their careers.

They are also included in special promos and SBCs and even have position changes so that FC26 players can experience an alternate reality.

Women's Icons, meanwhile, were added to the game from FC24 onwards,

Most of the current set of Icons have been in the game for a number of years, with the likes of Ronaldo, Pele and Zinedine Zidane all long-time stalwarts of the franchise.

Diego Maradona, meanwhile, was briefly removed from the game over a likeness row following his deat in 2020 before returning to the series.

In recent years, the likes of Wayne Rooney, Gareth Bale and Robin van Persie have all been added.

But the latest reveal has left fans that grew up with the FIFA franchise in the late 2000s and 2010s feel slightly older this morning.

Real Madrid legend Marcelo has been leaked as making a return to the game after retiring from professional football earlier this year.

The Brazilian won five Champions League titles with Los Blancos before returning to his homeland with Fluminense. He called time in his legendary career in February, 12 months after adding a Copa Libertadores title to his prestigious trophy cabinet.

He is not the only relatively recent retiree to be included, however.

As per FUT Sheriff, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Andres Iniesta, Arjen Robben, Toni Kroos and Giorgio Chiellini will all achieve Iconic status in EA FC 26.

Image: Twitter/@FutSheriff

On the women's side, Alex Morgan will also be added.

The American striker was included in EA FC 25 but only as a limited-time SBC after announcing her retirement weeks before the game released in September.

Given that the Brazilian league is no longer in EA FC for Marcelo to be included, Morgan is the only new Icon that was playable in EA FC 25 Ultimate Team.

EA are yet to officially announce the Icons for FC 26, with an official reveal set to be made in the upcoming weeks.

Reacting to the new Icons, one fan wrote: "Players you grew up watching are now becoming ICONs in FIFA."

Image: Twitter/@EAFC26News

A second wrote: "We're actually uncs now... how are these guys Icons?"

A third added: "I watched Marcelo growing up man I am officially unc status."

And a fourth agreed: "Used to get him in TOTY now an icon where did all the time go?"