All eFootball Link up Playstyles Explained: Best Managers and Players

eFootball 26 elevated the role of managers in the game by introducing the 'Link Up' system. The new mechanic allowed the managers to be more involved in the in-game performance of the players, rather than just a means of boosting the ratings of the cards. Ever since its release, Konami has dropped multiple types of Link Up play styles with new managers who have redefined the meta of the game.

From the long ball meta of Fabio Capello to the cross spamming trend of Gattuso, it's the Link Up play style which has been the most exploited thing in the game after smart assist. We have compiled a guide for all the active Link Up playstyles in eFootball that will help you learn about how and when to use them.

All eFootball Link Up Playstyles

There are 7 different eFootball Link Up Playstyles active in the game right now. Each of them can be played under various managers who excel in a specific playing style. The link-up playstyle activates some special abilities of two players in your dream team, improving their passing, trapping and finishing accuracy.

These two players are known as 'Centre Piece' and 'Key Man'. The Centre piece is the player who initiates the attack with their pass, cross or through balls. The Key Man is the player who receives the pass and tries to score the goal. Here is the list of all eFootball Link Up Playstyles:

• Diagonal Long Pass A
• Diagonal Long Pass B
• Aggressive Centring A
• Over-the-Top Pass A
• Over-the-Top Pass B
• Breakthrough Pass A

Diagonal Long Pass A

Diagonal Long Pass A was the first Link Up play style introduced in eFootball. Currently, you can use this link up in 3 different playstyles under 3 different managers. The link-up gets activated when your centre piece player has the ball in the opponent's half.

When the centre piece is in possession, the key man makes aggressive runs. You need to either chip a through ball or play a normal pass to find the key man. The link-up will improve the trapping skills of the key man and help create scoring chances. You need a ‘creative playmaker’ centre piece and a /Hole Player' Key man to utilise this play style.

• Best Centre Piece Choices: Kaka, Zico, Totti.
• Best Key Man Choices: Neymar, Figo, Salah.

Diagonal Long Pass B

This Link Up Playstyle is for those who like to play Attacking Fullbacks. These full-backs constantly overload on the flanks, creating offensive threats for the opposition. In this link-up style, the keyman (a Full back) makes offensive runs whenever the Central piece has the ball. If you play a through ball or even chip it, the key man has better chances to trap it and spam dangerous crosses in the box. You can check the best LBs in eFootball to find your key man for this style.

• Best Centre Piece Choices: Kaka, Zico, Francesco Totti.
• Best Key Man Choices: Roberto Carlos, Cafu, and Philip Lahm.

Aggressive Centring A

This is the ideal eFootball Link Up Playstyle for cross spammers. If you love to score and win matches by headers, this should be your go-to play style. For the link up to get activated, you will need a 'Fox in the Box' CF as the Key man and 'Cross Specialist' as your Centre piece.

Whenever the Centre piece enters the final thirds of the opponent, his crosses will get more accurate, and so will the shots of the key man. Ideally you should choose tall and physically strong CFs for playing this. Check the best CFs in eFootball to get your pick.

• Best Centre Piece Choices: David Beckham, Ivan Perisic, and Luis Figo
• Best Key Man Choices: Marco Van Basten, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Erling Haaland.

Over-the-Top Pass A

This is the meta Link Up Playstyle in eFootball right now. You need a 'goal poacher' CF as the key man and an 'Orchestrator' DMF to unlock this. Whenever the DMF holds the ball in your half, the Key Man (CF) will make line-breaking runs, which you can exploit by playing long through balls. Don't forget to check the list of best DMFs in eFootball to pick the best card.

Both the quality of the passes or through balls and the trapping abilities of your CF will be better than usual in link-up. Currently, only two managers can run this eFootball link-up style.

• Best Centre Piece Choices: Joshua Kimmich, Pirlo, Rijkaard
• Best Key Man Choices: Kylian Mbappe, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, and Luis Suarez.

Over-the-Top Pass B

This link-up play style is very similar to the last one, with the only difference in the roles of Centre piece and Key man. For Over the top Pass B, you will need an 'Orchestrator' CMF and a Prolific Winger who makes either vertical or diagonal offensive runs into the spaces

The link-up play is activated when your CMF plays a chipped or flat long through ball to the winger from your defensive half. The winger has better accuracy in trapping the ball and progressing it. You will require explosive wingers with good speed, acceleration, ball control and dribbling abilities to fully exploit this style, so check the best RWFs in eFootball.

• Best Centre Piece Choices: Rodri, Pedri, Vitinha.
• Best Key Man Choices: Neymar, Lionel Messi, Lamine Yamal.

Breakthrough Pass A

This is the latest addition to the list of eFootball Link Up playstyles, and it will excite all the through-ball spammers. In this, you have a 'Creative Playmaker' as the centre piece whose through balls and passes (chipped or grounded) have better accuracy of reaching the Key Man who are 'Goal Poachers.'

Whenever your centre piece has the ball in the attacking half, the key man makes aggressive runs from behind the defence lines. The link-up improves the first touch of CFs and also their finishing accuracy. It's better to use the speed merchant CFs for this link-up, one who cannot be caught once left unmarked.

• Best Centre Piece Choices: Kevin De Bruyne, Zico, Francesco Totti.
• Best Key Man Choices: Mbappe, Samuel Eto.

This list will be updated whenever Konami announces a new eFootball Link Up Playstyle. For all the other eFootball news, analysis, builds and updates, make sure to bookmark us.