If you love creative, technically gifted midfielders that can turn a tight match with one perfect pass or silky dribble, you’ve probably already been searching for how to get ISCO in eFootball. The former Real Madrid playmaker has one of the most well-rounded skill sets in the game, with 5-star skill moves, 90+ dribbling stats on his higher-rated variants, and the vision to pick out passes that most other players can’t even see. I’ve spent over 200 hours playing eFootball this year, and ISCO is one of the few midfielders I refuse to take out of my starting 11, no matter what new featured players drop. This guide only covers methods that actually work right now, no fake hacks, no clickbait, just clear steps you can follow to add him to your squad.
How to Get ISCO in eFootball via Free In-Game Events
The vast majority of players unlock ISCO without spending a single cent, thanks to Konami’s regular themed in-game events. ISCO is usually featured in La Liga legacy events, Spanish player spotlights, and occasional creative midfielder focused events that run every 2-3 months. All these events have completely free challenges you can complete in a few hours of casual play, no premium currency required.
- Log in for 7 consecutive days during La Liga legacy themed events to earn the 4-star base version of ISCO, with a 78 overall rating that works perfectly for newer squads
- Win 12 online matches against users with a squad rating of 2300 or higher to claim the 4.5-star featured ISCO card, which comes with boosted dribbling and passing stats
- Complete 3 low-difficulty squad building challenges (SBCs) requiring 2 La Liga midfielders and 1 Spanish rare player to unlock his 5-star epic variant for free, no coins needed
You don't need to spend any coins to complete these challenges, as long as you have a small pool of spare players in your reserve squad to use for SBCs. I got my epic ISCO last month from the SBC challenge, only had to swap 3 unneeded rare players I had sitting in my reserves from previous weekly rewards. One thing to note: free ISCO variants usually have a 30-day expiration unless you use a contract renewal item, which you can also earn for free from weekly division rewards and login bonuses.
Paid Routes to Unlock High-Rated ISCO Variants
If you don’t want to wait 2-3 months for the next ISCO themed event, you can unlock higher-rated, permanent variants of him via the in-game store’s paid packs and bundles. These are a good option if you’re building a competitive squad and want his 5-star epic or legendary version that has maxed out skill stats.
Featured player packs are the most reliable paid method when ISCO is listed as the headline player in the weekly rotation. These packs cost between 250 and 1000 coins, and have a 12% pull rate for his featured card when he’s the spotlight player, which is much higher than the 1% or lower rate for non-spotlight featured players. If you want a guaranteed ISCO without the randomness of packs, keep an eye out for limited-time epic bundles that include a guaranteed 5-star ISCO for 2000 coins, plus extra contract renewal items and skill boosts to upgrade him immediately.
Avoid third-party sites selling ISCO accounts or cheap player codes at all costs. These are almost always scams, and Konami will permanently ban your account if they detect you purchased an account or used an unauthorized code to get players. It’s not worth losing your entire squad just to get ISCO a little faster. If you do plan to buy coins, wait for the monthly discount bundles that come with 30% extra free coins, that will cut the cost of ISCO packs almost in half.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Trying to Get ISCO
Even with clear steps, a lot of players miss out on ISCO because of small, avoidable mistakes that cost them the chance to unlock him before events end. These are the most common mistakes I see players make every time ISCO events run.
First, ignoring event end dates. Most ISCO events only run for 7 days, and a lot of players start the match challenges halfway through, then forget to finish them before the event closes. Set a phone reminder for 24 hours before the event ends if you’re halfway through completing the challenges, that way you don’t miss out even if you get busy with other things. Second, wasting high-value players on SBCs for ISCO. The SBC requirements for free ISCO are super flexible, you don’t need to use your 4-star or higher players that you already use in your squad. You can use low-rated rare Spanish players that you get from free reward packs, no need to sacrifice your good players.
Third, falling for fake “ISCO generator” sites that pop up when you search for ways to get him for free. There is no way to generate a free ISCO card outside of official in-game events, and any site that asks for your eFootball login details to send you the player will steal your account immediately. Just stick to the official in-game challenges, they’re easy enough to complete without risking your account.
How to Make the Most of ISCO Once You Unlock Him
Once you add ISCO to your squad, you’ll want to set him up properly to get the most out of his unique skill set. He’s not a fit for every playstyle, but if you use him right, he’ll be the best playmaker on your team by a wide margin.
First, position him as a central attacking midfielder (CAM) in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation, that’s where his 88+ passing and 92+ dribbling stats shine the most. Don’t waste him on the wing or as a defensive midfielder, he doesn’t have the pace for the wing or the defensive work rate for deeper positions. Equip him with the "through pass" and "technical dribble" skill boosts first, those will amplify his strongest natural skills and make him even harder for opponents to defend against. He’s perfect for tiki-taka playstyles that rely on short, quick passes and slow build-up play, so if that’s how you like to play, he’ll fit right in.
ISCO does have weaknesses you need to account for, too. He’s not very fast, and he has a low defensive work rate, so pair him with a strong defensive midfielder like Casemiro or Rodri to cover the space he leaves behind when he pushes forward. I’ve been using him in my squad for 2 months now, and he’s got more assists than any other player on my team, even my 94 rated wingers. His ability to hold onto the ball in tight spaces and pick out perfect through balls behind defensive lines is unmatched by almost any other midfielder in the game under 90 overall.
Whether you prefer to grind for free via events or spend a few coins to get his highest-rated variant right away, learning how to get ISCO in eFootball is totally worth it for any player who loves creative, technical play. Just remember to check the event tab every Tuesday when new content drops, so you don’t miss the next ISCO themed event, and avoid the common scams and mistakes we covered. Once you get him in your squad and set him up correctly, you’ll wonder how you ever played without him.