FIFA 21 Headliners guide: big boosts for Son, Haaland and Benzema

(Image credit: EA)

FIFA 21 Headliners Team 2 is live, with Son Heung-Min and Erling Haaland joining the first big promo event of 2021. Team 1 delivered upgradable Joao Felix and Fabinho cards to FIFA 21 – to name two – as part of a campaign which began on New Year's Day. Every player in the featured squads gets upgraded when they receive a TOTW item – making those already boosted stats even more deadly. Venture onward into our FIFA 21 Headliners guide for full details on how it all works.

What are FIFA 21 Headliners?

Much like FIFA 21 OTW (Ones To Watch) cards, FIFA 21 Headliners are dynamic items which update based on real-life player performances. These items already have bolstered stats; they’re then boosted further when the corresponding player scores a TOTW, MOTM, Hero or Team Of The Group Stage item.

However, they’re even better than OTW cards in one specific way: the card always stays one OVR point ahead of that player’s latest in-form. So if next week Fabinho gets a TOTW item rated 88, his Headliners item leaps to 89. Swish.

Sounds cool. Any other cunning FIFA 21 Headliners twists?

Yes, as it goes. Did I say ‘one specific way’, in the paragraph above? Make that two. Over to EA for an explanation: “FUT 21 Headliners will also receive an additional one-time permanent upgrade if their club achieves four back to back wins during the remainder of the domestic league season. If this occurs, the Headliners item will remain two In-Forms ahead of their last performance based In-Form throughout FUT 21.”

So using the above example, Fabinho would leap again, to an OVR of 90, on the back of four Liverpool wins – assuming he's already picked up a TOTW item en route.

Who is in FIFA 21 Headliners Team 1?

Some big, big names. Best of the bunch in terms of overall rating is Bruno Fernandes (CAM, Manchester United, 91). He’s one of two players currently retailing for seven figures or more. As I write this Fernandes sets you back 1.8 million, while Wissam Ben Yedder (ST, AS Monaco, 87) is going for 1.2 million.

We’ve mentioned Joao Felix (CF, 86, Atletico Madrid) and Fabinho (CB, Liverpool, 88), while other names include Wilfried Zaha (ST, Crystal Palace, 87), Henrikh Mkhitaryan (CF, Roma FC, 86) and Jordan Amavi (LB, Marseille, 84). A full list of players is at the foot of this guide.

Liverpool fans will, quite rightly, be quick to point out that Fabinho has had a position switch to centre-back for this campaign, making his card all the more sought after. As I write this it's selling for around 280,000 coins.

Who is in FIFA 21 Headliners Team 2?

All additions from FIFA 21 Headliners Team 2 can be found at the bottom of this page, but the big hitters are Karim Benzema (CF, Real Madrid, 92), Erling Haaland (ST, Dortmund, 89) and Son Heung-Min (LM, Tottenham, 89). Despite a max price of 1.5 million coins, as I write this the Son card is extinct, while Haaland's is a hefty 660,000 coins. Danny Ings (ST, Southampton, 85) and Rafinha (CM, Paris, 84) are your budget options from FIFA 21 Headliners Team 2.

How can I get FIFA 21 Headliners?

FIFA 21 Headliners Team 1 was available in packs until Friday 8 January, and on the transfer market from now until FIFA 22 and beyond. FIFA 21 Headliners Team 2 then took over.

Also available, without having to go anywhere near the transfer market, is Matheus Cunha (CAM, Hertha Berlin, 84). The skilful Brazilian is unlockable by completing five sets of gameplay objectives in the LIVE FUT Friendlies: Headliners Challenge – such as racking up four wins, and scoring in ten separate matches using Bundesliga players. A grind, but these objectives have become typical of this year’s FIFA promos. Plus it's something different to forking out coins, so still a welcome inclusion.

Two FIFA 21 Headliners are unlockable through Squad Building Challenges (SBCs). The puzzle for Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (CM, Lazio, 88) expires on Saturday 9 January, so act fast. You have another five days after that to take on the Riyad Mahrez challenge, for an 87-rated version of the Manchester City winger.

What happens if a FIFA 21 Headliners player moves clubs in the January transfer window?

Over to EA again on this one: “If a Headliners player transfers/goes on loan during the season the Headliners item will remain at their previous club until they either receive an IF at their new club or their new club achieves a club winning streak from the time the player joins onwards. At that point the Headliners item will be updated with the player's new club.”

Is there a full list of FIFA 21 Headliners cards?

As ever here at GamesRadar, computer says yes. Below is the full set of FIFA 21 Headliners cards available, as of 10.30pm UK time on Friday 8 January 2021.

Karim Benzema (CF, Read Madrid) - 92
Bruno Fernandes (CAM, Manchester United) - 91
Erling Haaland (ST, Dortmund) - 89
Son Heung-Min (LM, Tottenham) - 89
Fabinho (CB, Liverpool) - 88
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (CM, Napoli) - 88 [SBC only]
Wissam Ben Yedder (ST, AS Monaco) - 87
Wilfried Zaha (ST, Crystal Palace) - 87
Oyarzabal (LW, Real Sociedad) - 87
Hirving Lozano (RW, Napoli) - 87
Theo Hernandez (LB, Milan) - 87
Leon Goretzka (CM, Bayern) - 87
Riyad Mahrez (RW, Manchester City) - 87 [SBC only]
Jonathan Bamba (LM, LOSC) - 86
Henrikh Mkhitaryan (CF, Roma FC) - 86
Lukas Hradecky (GK, Leverkusen) - 86
Joao Felix (CF, Atletico Madrid) - 86
Diego Carlos (CB, Sevilla) - 86
Martin Hinteregger (CB, Frankfurt) - 85
Danny Ings (ST, Southampton) - 85
Jordan Amavi (LB, Marseille) - 84
Dayot Upamecano (CB, RB Leipzig) - 84
Karl Toko-Ekambi (LW, Lyon) - 84
Rafinha (CM, Paris) - 84
Matheus Cunha (CAM, Hertha Berlin, 84) [Objectives only]