Football fans across the country have seen their social media feeds become overrun by talk of 38-0, the next viral game following in the footsteps of Wordle. The game gives fans the chance to chase the ultimate Premier League Holy Grail: a flawless, perfect season. No draws. No defeats. Just 38 wins from 38 matches.
While it may sound simple, it is clearly a goal just out of reach for many, with social media awash with frustrated attempts. Here is everything you need to know about the viral sensation and exactly how you can build a team capable of achieving legendary status.
What actually is the 38-0 game?
The game offers an addictive blend of nostalgia, luck, and tactical drafting. Players are tasked with choosing a system, then spinning the wheel to draft in players from a Premier League club in a specific era. For example, you could get someone from the all-conquering Arsenal side of the 2000s or the Manchester United team that dominated the 1990s.
You then choose one player from that specific squad to slot into your team, with each player backed by FIFA-style performance ratings across key stats like pace, shooting, passing, dribbling, defending, and physicality. When you have finally picked your team, you hit Simulate. The game then calculates your squad's overall strength and balance and gives you a final 38-game record.
Your fate is revealed with ratings ranging from Relegation Battle or a respectable Champions League finish, all the way up to the Invincibles and, finally, the GOAT stats, which is bestowed on the lucky few that manage the elusive 38-0-0 record.
How to pick the best team: 4 tips for going 38-0-0
Secure a good spine
Many players will be tempted to throw in a flashy winger or striker carrying a 90 rating on their first spin, but it is actually a good idea to focus more on the foundations of the team. The algorithm seemingly punishes teams with weak central defenders or low-physicality defensive midfielders. If you land a top team on one of your spins, it is a good idea to focus on centre-backs and defensive midfielders before crafting your attacking line-up.
Look out for hidden gems
If you land on a weaker team, it is good to look closely at their squad as there is usually at least one decent star in there. Think Dimitri Payet at West Ham or Christian Benteke at Aston Villa. Bagging that lone star will help keep your overall team rating steady.
Don't skip the goalkeeper
Leaving your goalkeeper until the 11th pick is a schoolboy error. If your final spin forces you to pick a keeper from a struggling team with a low rating, you will concede goals in the simulation and completely ruin your chances of a clean sheet streak. Make sure you pick up an elite keeper early on in your draft.
What does a winning team look like?
There are not many out there, but a few players have shared some teams that have gone on to complete the elusive 38-0. One user on Reddit posted his winning team, which is as follows: De Gea (90); Zabaleta (82), van Dijk (90), Laporte (87), Targett (76); Ndidi (85), de Bruyne (91), Payet (86); Salah (90), Hazard (91), Ronaldo (91).
