The Do it Like Yaya Evolution turns an eligible central midfielder into a press-resistant box-to-box card in FC 26 Ultimate Team. You unlock it by finishing the Côte d’Ivoire objective inside Journey of Nations: Africa, then apply it to any card that fits the entry rules. The upgrade runs across five levels and pushes a midfielder up to a 93 overall with elite passing, physicality, and shooting.
Quick answer: Pick a natural CM rated 91 or lower, with no more than 10 PlayStyles and 3 PlayStyle+, that is not a World Tour Silver Stars card. Toni Kroos Ultimate Birthday, Cambiasso Prime Hero, and Fabian Ruiz Showdown are the strongest bases because they already carry top passing and body presence that the boosts amplify.
Do it Like Yaya Evolution requirements
A card must satisfy every condition below to be eligible. If even one value is exceeded, the EVO will not accept the player.
| Requirement | Limit |
|---|---|
| Overall | Max 91 |
| PlayStyle | Max 10 |
| PlayStyle+ | Max 3 |
| Rarity | Not World Tour Silver Stars |
| Position | CM |
The position must be a natural CM. A card converted to CM through a chemistry position change will not qualify, so check the base position before committing.
All Do it Like Yaya upgrades by level
Each of the five levels unlocks a fixed set of stat increases plus PlayStyle additions. The final values stack into one of the most complete midfield profiles available from a free Evolution.
| Level | Upgrades |
|---|---|
| 1 | Overall 93, Reactions 94, Short Passing 96, Shot Power 94, Stamina 96, PlayStyles+: Incisive Pass, Pinged Pass |
| 2 | Acceleration 90, Ball control 94, Long Passing 94, Long Shots 95, Strength 96, PlayStyle: Power Shot |
| 3 | Aggression 95, Curve 92, Dribbling 93, Penalties 92, Sprint Speed 90, Stand Tackle 94 |
| 4 | Agility 90, Heading Acc. 90, Def. Aware 91, Positioning 93, Vision 96, Composure 92 |
| 5 | Balance 90, Finishing 92, Interceptions 92, Jumping 92, Free Kick 92, Slide Tackle 91 |
By the end of the chain the card reaches roughly 90 Pace, 88 Shooting, 99 Passing, 90 Dribbling, 92 Defending, and 96 Physical depending on the base, with Short Passing capped at 96 and Strength and Stamina sitting at 96. The trade-off is the only PlayStyle added is Power Shot, which limits attacking variety.
How to complete each level
The objectives are simple and identical at every stage, so progress depends only on getting the active EVO card onto the pitch.
You know it worked when the card shows the upgraded stats and the new PlayStyle+ items after each level, and the Evolution is marked complete once Level 5 is cleared.
Best players for Do it Like Yaya Evolution
Because the boosts heavily favor passing, physicality, and tempo control, the best results come from cards that already pass well and have a strong frame. The picks below scale cleanly into the Yaya-style midfield profile.
| Card | Why it fits |
|---|---|
| Toni Kroos Ultimate Birthday | Elite passing base that maxes out the vision and long passing boosts |
| Cambiasso Prime Hero | Strong all-round CDM/CM body that becomes a complete engine |
| Fabian Ruiz Showdown | Smooth passer with size, ideal for the strength and composure gains |
| Bergvall Showdown | Young, chainable midfielder with good growth potential |
| Sithole World Tour | Flexible option for squads built around the World Tour theme |
| Wouter Burger Ultimate Birthday | Best combined with other Evolutions for stacked value |
| Ounahi Showdown | Agile profile that benefits from the dribbling and pace boosts |
| Doumbia TOTS Breakthrough | Physical TOTS base that turns into a midfield bully |
| Hjulmand TOTS HM | Reliable defensive midfielder with strong passing output |
| Gilberto Silva Prime Hero | Holding profile that gains attacking and passing range |
| Garner TOTS Breakthrough | Box-to-box option with good work rate and physicality |
To squeeze the most out of the upgrade, look for a card you can run through additional Evolutions if any are open in your club. Wouter Burger in particular is highlighted as a base worth chaining with multiple Evolutions for a much higher final rating.
How to choose the right base card
The final rating can flatter a weak card, so judge the base by how it will feel in-game rather than the number it lands on. Prioritize a midfielder that already has high base passing and a sturdy body type, since those traits combine best with the Strength 96, Short Passing 96, and Vision 96 caps.
- Confirm the card is a natural CM, not a repositioned one.
- Favor strong passers so the passing boosts are not wasted.
- Check league and nation links so the card stays useful in future squads.
- Pick a card you can chain with other Evolutions where possible.
The biggest limitation is the single Power Shot PlayStyle, which means this EVO rewards midfielders who control tempo and break up play rather than ones you expect to score regularly. Choose a card that already passes and holds the ball well, and the Do it Like Yaya upgrade becomes one of the most reliable free midfield options to anchor your team.
