Nuno Mendes 92 OVR - FC 26 Team of the Season

Pin support players and attack outside shoulder repeatedly so the defender must turn and recover.

Use a bounce pass then diagonal release behind the line to punish delayed body orientation.

Slow-to-fast touches before contact create micro-separation against tackle timing windows.

Trigger front-post decoys, then recycle to cutback zones where tackle momentum is weakest.

Give him one short pivot and one advanced lane so he can step in, pass through pressure, and still keep rest-defense stable.

Use a holding midfielder close enough to sweep knockdowns and cover the space if he steps out to engage.

Fast wide players and overlap support make his diagonal switches and recovery defending more valuable.

Attack corners and defend aerial restarts with him as the primary first-contact presence.