2025 was a busy 12 months for EA’s soccer franchise in-game and on stage, as each aggressive stability and the esports ecosystem have been flipped on their heads whereas the collection transitioned from EA SPORTS FC 25 to 26.
Amidst the chaos, one of many high gamers that stood out final 12 months was PSG.Vitality’s Brice ‘Brice‘ Masson, a long-time competitor who lastly stepped out of the shadows and made his mark on the scene through the FC Professional 25 World Championship.
Because the scene prepares for one more 12 months of intense soccer motion, Esports Insider spoke with the French professional participant forward of the FC Professional 26 Open to debate the accolades of his profession, his ideas on the sport’s aggressive state, and recommendation for aspiring athletes.
“We Now Have to Adapt”: The State of EA Sports activities FC 26 Gameplay and Stability
EA SPORTS FC 26 formally launched on September twenty sixth, 2025, bringing main modifications to the game simulator franchise. Along with introducing Genuine and Aggressive gameplay presets, the sport additionally strived to refine the core gameplay expertise.
Following its launch, many followers and gamers have been curious to see how EA SPORTS FC 26 would impression the informal {and professional} scenes.
“Probably the most vital modifications are the elimination of Time End,” Brice commented. “Which has improved the consistency of ending, and the elimination of the long-shot trivela, which was beforehand very highly effective. Consequently, we now have to adapt and determine new methods to create and convert taking pictures alternatives successfully.”
How EA SPORTS FC 26 May Enhance and Develop into Extra Aggressive
Even in 2026, followers proceed to precise issues surrounding new options similar to auto-defence in public boards. Within the recreation, choices similar to auto-clearances, legacy defending, and pass-block help permit gamers to carry out actions mechanically or with minimal enter, giving gamers an added benefit.
Esports Insider was curious to gauge Brice’s ideas on EA SPORTS FC 26’s gameplay and the way it compares to earlier instalments.
“Personally, my expertise with the sport hasn’t been the perfect,” the professional participant shared. “Whereas the general gameplay feels coherent, the automated defence, which manages defending with out manually switching gamers, is much too robust and shouldn’t be as dominant.
“I hope the energy of the automated defence might be decreased. For me, handbook defending and the timing it requires is a key talent issue of the sport, and dialling again the automated defence would assist protect that aggressive depth.”
“The Season Was Very Profitable for Me”: Brice Displays on His EA SPORTS FC Profession
Brice is a veteran within the EA SPORTS FC esports scene, with a few of his earliest skilled matches relationship again to 2021. Nevertheless, 2025 noticed the participant make a splash within the scene following the launch of the 2025 version of the sports activities simulator recreation.
One of many highlights of his profession befell final August, through the EA SPORTS FC 25 season. The French professional participant positioned runners-up on the FC Professional 25 World Championship through the Esports World Cup after securing a spot by way of the eLique 1 2025 associate league.
Regardless of shedding to Staff Liquid’s Manuel ‘ManuBachoore’ Bachoore within the Grand Closing peaking at 109,000 viewers, Brice took residence $150,000 (~£108,830) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the very best quantity earned in his profession to this point.
“I’d say that competing on this World Cup, which was my first, was already an amazing supply of delight,” Brice added. Ending within the high two on this planet is a good higher accomplishment, even when my purpose was to take first place.
“General, the season was very profitable for me, marked by persistently robust efficiency in each match.”
Wanting Forward in 2026
Following the highs of the 2025 season, Brice has confronted varied challenges in 2026.Lately, the participant positioned between seventeenth and twentieth within the FC Professional 26 Open, lacking out on the spots provided for the FC Professional 27 Open and this 12 months’s FC Professional 26 World Championship.
Nevertheless, he’s not out of the race simply but. Brice is ready to compete in eLigue 1 2026 beneath Paris Saint Germain (PSG), an organisation that has considerably expanded its esports department’s presence lately. The league affords the top-performing crew a spot on the FC Professional 26 World Championship.
When requested about how he’ll method future occasions to attain higher outcomes, Brice shared that he plans to concentrate on ‘in-game decision-making’ to enhance ‘total efficiency.’
“I By no means Needed to Let Them Down”: Brice’s Journey with Staff Vitality and Recommendation for Aspiring Gamers
Brice first joined French esports organisation Staff Vitality again in June 2024. Since then, he has represented the model throughout a number of high-profile EA FC occasions, together with DreamHack Summer time 2024, the FC Professional 25 circuit, and the eChampions League 2025.
Final September, Staff Vitality additionally entered right into a long-term partnership with PSG’s esports division, rebranding its EA Sports activities FC roster to PSG.Vitality.
“I consider they’ve performed a significant function in my growth,” Brice acknowledged “Being a part of this organisation was one in every of my goals, and I by no means needed to allow them to down, so I’ve all the time given my finest to honour the belief they positioned in me.
“Once I heard that Vitality and PSG have been partnering, I used to be thrilled as a result of PSG is my favorite soccer membership. I couldn’t think about a greater organisation to symbolize.”
Ought to Brice attain the FC Professional 26 World Championship, he’s a contender to look out for. That mentioned, solely time will inform whether or not he can go all the way in which and safe the champion title this 12 months.
With probably 1000’s of viewers watching the FC Professional circuit unfold this 12 months, Esports Insider requested what recommendation Brice would give to any aspiring gamers who dream of competing professionally in EA FC 26 and future instalments.
“My recommendation isn’t to surrender and consider in your self and the work you place in,” he mentioned. “What really makes the distinction is each the amount and high quality of your apply.
“Not everybody has the pure expertise of a world primary, however success involves those that persistently work onerous, keep able to seize alternatives, adapt shortly, and develop a deep understanding of the sport on the highest stage.”
