Everyone knows that you can simply pick your FIFA Career Mode wonderkids by looking at the players with the top-rated potential. But where’s the fun in that?
You can trawl through the websites that give you absolutely no satisfaction when your player reaches the very top, or you can go out and find them yourself and feel like a world class scout!
But sometimes you need something in between. You want the top-rated players in your team, you just want to make sure your team isn’t overrun with players you aren’t using to their full potential.
With that in mind, here is a list of 30 FIFA CM wonderkids with a little descriptions of their strengths and weaknesses. That way you can find a player who will fit perfectly into your squad and your system.
These aren’t necessarily the best rated players in the overall stat stakes, some are also included because you can buy them with a lower league club, so no one is left out…
Raheem Sterling
Perhaps the most obvious wonderkid given his obvious ability in real life and the prolonged and controversial transfer saga surrounding him this summer. If you want a pacey winger – and come on, ‘course ya do – then really you should be looking no further than Sterling.
Pace, dribbling ability, ball control, train him up to finish and you’ll have a world beater for the entire span of your career mode… so that should be all of six seasons before you get bored and start again. Just enough to get Sterling to his peak!
Be careful though, he’s recently moved to Manchester City and won’t be available in the first transfer window unless you throw stupid money at City. Even after the first window you’ll probably need to spend your transfer budget to sign him.
Aymeric Laporte
A commanding centre back already, Aymeric Laporte will grow into one of the best in the game. He’s already of the level to slot into the best teams in the game, but over time he’ll just get better and better.
The only thing he lacks is pace, so pair him with a speedy partner. But train him up focusing on his short passing and ball control and you’ll have a world class centre back with all the skills of a midfield general too.
Oliver Torres
You’ve always wanted to manage Andres Iniesta, haven’t you? The guy who just picks the ball from deep, jinks past defenders and lays the expert through ball in behind the defence for your ultra quick striker to run on to.
FIFA is a simple game when you have players like Oliver Torres. He’s a fresh, young Iniesta in the game and will grow into a world beater. Don’t expect him to be a prolific goalscorer or to be crashing a thunderbolt from distance. If you buy Ollie, be prepared to play with class.
Mateo Kovacic
The ultimate in modern box-to-box technology. Mateo Kovacic recently moved from Inter Milan, so probably isn’t an option in the first summer transfer window. After the first January, however, Kovacic will be available, and you may be able to get him cheap.
He’s a box to box player who is a classy passer, he has pace and stamina right from the start of the game, and will only grow over time. Be careful with his tackling ability, though. He’s a lot more effective going forward than he is defending. But thankfully FIFA 16 career mode has a player development function – maybe the defensive side of his game is something to work on.
Corentin Tolisso
A perfect all-rounder, the only thing Tolisso excels in at the very start of the game is jumping! But equally, his only stat that goes below 70 at the start of the game (apart from goalkeeping stats) is volleys.
Tolisso won’t be crazy expensive as he comes from Lyon, nor will his wages be astronomical. If you’re looking for a box-to-box player who will do a job in your midfield for years to come without breaking the bank, then Tolisso is a man to think about.
What’s even more tempting is that, as a great all-rounder, you can focus on one area to train him up. His passing and tackling are already very good and will grow, but you can choose to help them on their way or even add some long shots to his game. With Tolisso, you have infinite possibilities!
Samu Castillejo
Castillejo is a wide player who I wouldn’t really class as an out-and-out winger. Although he isn’t slow, if you want electric pace and some serious dribbling ability it might be a good idea to look elsewhere – or try to add the dribbling to his game in training.
But if you want a classy wide player who can cut inside and pick a pass as well as being perfectly competent to take on defenders out wide and cross accurately then Castillejo is for you. You also have to remember that he’ll grow over the seasons and those stats will get better.
He won’t come too cheap given that his overall is already high and he’s a big player for his club, Villarreal. But he will grow into a very highly-rated winger who is more than simply a pacey dribbler.
Pair him with a quick full-back who overlaps so that Castillejo can use his passing ability to send the runner in behind or use his crossing ability to pick out a big striker in the box.
Kurt Zouma
An absolute beast of a centre back, Zouma has been a career mode hero for a few years now, and in real life he’s blossoming at Chelsea into the defender FIFA told you he’d become.
So sign him again, let him protect your defence with his beastly body and he’ll make sure that no matter how recklessly you attack, you’ll always have his pace, strength and tackling ability to bail you out later on!
Luke Shaw
The obvious contender for left-back in your team of the future. If you’re lazy, yet still want the illusion of having built your team from scratch then Luke Shaw will be your man.
Stick him straight into your team – he’s already 77 rated overall – but his potential will go through the roof.
Give him your time and energy in the player development section too and you’ll have the world’s best left-back for the entirety of your career mode adventure. Definitely a signing for the couch potato.
Luciano Vietto
Recently arrived from Villarreal, Vietto is a man you’re going to have to prize away from Atletico Madrid, just like Gimenez, Oliver Torres and Angel Correa.
In fact, maybe you should just start your career mode at Atleti and save yourself big wads of cash, you know you’ll only end up buying their players anyway!
Vietto is a striker who is obscenely good on the ball. He can pass, he can dribble, his control is expert and he can finish.
He also has stamina and a great overall to begin with. You’ll fall in love with this guy because he’ll play week after week and bang in the goals.
Jose Maria Gimenez
Another Atletico Madrid wonder kid who is already very highly rated, Gimenez is already a commanding centre back. So imagine how commanding he’ll be when he grows up eight points!
He’s another strong centre back who is a great tackler, but lacks speed and passing ability. If you’re hoping to do a Barcelona and pass your way up from the back starting with your classy defender, then Gimenez may not be for you.
If you’re looking to play on the counter and don’t care about your centre backs passing the ball very often, then Gimenez is one of the best players in the game after a few years.
Hirving Lozano
Sometimes you just have to start off small. Sometimes your club just doesn’t have the resources to bring in the top young – and old – talent from big clubs and you have to make do with picking from the smaller leagues.
If that’s your position, and you’re in need of a pacey, passy winger, then look to Mexico for Hirving Lozano.
At only 74 overall at the start of the game, he won’t be a signing for the bigger clubs, and even the mid-level Premier League clubs will have better rated wingers. But give him a chance to grow and he’ll do you proud.
He’s only 19, has pace to burn, he’s a good passer and he has stamina! Many’s a time I have turned down a player because his stamina is too low, especially at smaller clubs who have less money and fewer good players.
Lozano ticks all the boxes, and what’s more is he’ll grow into a damn good player too.
Samuel Umtiti
Another young Lyon player who is good enough to start in the big leagues already, but will grow into a world class centre back over the next few years.
Umtiti is a centre back of average pace and average strength, but his tackling ability is great, as is his aerial ability. In fact, Umtiti is also surprisingly good with the ball at his feet.
He can pass – and if that’s your thing you can make him an even better passer in training – and his ball control is surprisingly good too.
Timo Werner
A pacey striker who is good with the ball at his feet and who can finish.
Timo Werner isn’t a world beater at the start of the game, he won’t walk into your Premier League team’s starting lineup unless you have an injury crisis, but Werner will grow into a wonderful striker over time.
Sign him up if you’re a smaller club, or buy him and train him up / loan him out if you’re a bigger team. He’ll be worth your time and effort.
Johannes Geis
Another player who might not be on the list for a really big club, Geis plays for Schalke and will start for them.
His overall is already pretty high making him a good player for any Premier League club, but he might not grow as highly as some of the other players on this list.
The reason he’s included is his position. It’s hard to find a defensive midfielder who can act as a playmaker or even a box to box player.
He is a phenomenal passer and tackler, but his engine makes it possible to play Geis as a box to box midfielder too. Use him as a Pirlo or a Steven Gerrard. It’s rare to find a player who can do both adequately.
John Stones
Another of the potentially obvious signings to make on FIFA 16 career mode.
Stones now has a name and a reputation as a potential world class full back, and this season’s edition of FIFA has recognised this with a healthy overall rating.
But Stones will grow into a superb full back who is tall, is a good defender and who is also a very good passer.
Stones is the perfect defender if you’re looking for solidity and style from your centre back.
Niklas Sule
Sometimes a good defender is hard to find. But with Sule, you’ll get a very good defender.
He won’t offer you passing expertise or comfort on the ball. He’s not a defender you want joining the attack unless you’re planning to play an aerial ball.
However, if you have a corner, pump it over to his head and watch him enter Beast Mode.
Max Meyer
He’s been a FIFA career mode hero for a while now, and this season is no different.
The guys at FIFA seem to think that Meyer will be a star, and i’m happy to take their word for it. At least for the team i’m managing!
Meyer is a tricky little attacking midfielder who can play as your number 10 or even as a wide player in your front three.
He’s not pacey, but he’s very good on the ball and will grow into one of the most feared players in the game.
Danilo
Full backs aren’t easy on FIFA, especially as most of them don’t seem to be very highly rated.
Having one reach 83/84 overall would make him one of the very best in the game, whereas there are quite a few central midfielders and wingers with stats that high.
Danilo is one of those full backs. He’ll grow that highly, but he also possesses what you’re likely to want, and that’s attacking flair.
He’s pacey, good on the ball and able to cross too. Mobility is key for a modern full back, and Danilo has it in spades.
Martin Odegaard
Well, he is the wonderkid of the year! Odegaard has played for his country and for Real Madrid, and he’s only 16!
Yet FIFA hasn’t rated him as highly as they might have done. Perhaps that’s a wise decision given his age.
But it does mean that your lower league club with tons of ambition might have a chance at landing him. And if that’s the case, you won’t be too worried about his low starting overall rating.
He will grow, he will get better, and the more games he plays and weeks he spends training his attributes the better he’ll get. So bear this one in mind.
Youri Tielemans
Another player who has been on CM players radars for a while is Tielemans.
The youngster at Anderlecht is starting to catch the eye of Europe’s big clubs and it might not be long before he gets his move.
But for now, he’s certainly a player you can buy on FIFA without really breaking the bank.
That’s not to say he’ll come cheap though. His club know he’ll be one of the best midfielders in the game, and he’s likely to cost you some dough.
If you’re a lower league club he might not be possible for you, but if you have the cash snap him up. He’ll be the complete midfielder for you who can pass, tackle, dribble and run.
Goncalo Guedes
You know you want a bit of this Benfica winger. He starts with a reasonable overall, but he won’t start for the bigger European clubs.
But that just means you’ll get the satisfaction of watching him become one of the best players in the world.
He’s quick, he’s a dribbler and he has a shot on him too. Train him up at finishing and you could have a new Cristiano Ronaldo on your hands, because his strength will grow too.
Marco Asensio
Asensio is only 19, but already his passing, vision and ball control are great! The only problem you’ll have is trying to sign him in the first season.
He starts off at Espanyol, but is on loan from Real Madrid. He’ll be available on loan to buy from the second season, or you could just buy him outright.
He’ll be a phenomenal playmaker who will grow into a great overall. He’s the man who can pick out your striker with through balls time after time!
Angel Correa
Correa is listed as a striker on the game, but his pace and dribbling ability make him an excellent choice on the wing, too.
He is lacking a bit in strength and finishing ability, but if he can grow in both these areas you might just have a new Cristiano Ronaldo on your hands.
He’s sharp, direct and quick, train him up to finish and you’ll have a 20 goal a season man easily.
Jairo Riedewald
What’s nice about Riedewald is that he’s a mix of the strong defender and the classy defender.
He’s only 19, so you’re looking at the stats that are currently in the mid-high 70s, and hoping that they’ll grow over time.
For Riedewald, he sprint speed and defensive attributes as strength, passing and ball control all around this area.
Riedewald will grow into a wonderful centre back whichever club you choose, and what’s more, he’ll be a fabulous all-round centre back
Vaclav Cerny
The ultimate small-club buy. Cerny is young and not yet formed. His overall is low at the start of the game – only 66 – but he will grow to an obscene level with a mix of game time, form and training.
His low overall and the fact that he’s not a first team player at Ajax make him a cheap buy and won’t cost you the earth in terms of wages either.
He’s already incredibly quick and has good ball control and dribbling, but be careful – his stamina and strength are so low as to be almost-non existent.
Physically he’s nothing without his speed, but given his stamina is so low, playing him for a whole game could be tough let alone building your team around him!
Ryan Gauld
The very exotic Ryan Gauld is the new Scottish sensation! Plucked from Dundee United and placed into the loving bosom of Sporting Portugal in Lisbon, Gauld will benefit from the youth development that spawned the likes of Joao Moutinho, Cristiano Ronaldo and, er… Nani.
He’s already a decent young attacking midfielder given his age, his agility and balance make him feel very good on the ball whilst his ball control and dribbling stats are already decent, but will also grow.
He’s young, cheap, and a player you can play already. What’s not to love?
Daniele Rugani
Rugani is another very good young centre back in the sense that he’s a great defender.
His tackling stats are already very high and his strength isn’t bad either.
What lets Rugani down is his quality on the ball, but for many FIFA CM managers that’s not a huge problem.
Although Rugani isn’t awful on the ball, stick him in there and get him to make the tackles, then give it to your more gifted technical players to launch your attack!
Dani Ceballos
As a young winger, dribbling and ball control are a must, but a lot of people may think pace is too.
For Ceballos, his pace is perhaps a drawback if you’re looking to play him as an out-and-out winger, but given his quality on the ball – dribbling, ball control, agility and also his passing – playing him as a wide man who cuts inside or help him out with a pacey full-back who overlaps seems like a good option.
Hachim Mastour
This kid is only 17, but he has marvellous potential.
Another one of those players you buy as a smaller club and let him get some game time.
Once he hits 22, you’ll have a world class attacking midfielder, and if you’re stuck for cash, selling him will let you build your club into a force without him.
Or keep him and build a team around him. Either way he’ll be an asset.
Gaya
Young full-backs are the holy grail in FIFA CM squad-building.
You’ll find that decent midfielders are ten a penny, centre backs aren’t hard to find and wingers are as abundant as Manchester United fans in London. But really good young full backs who will grow to become world class players are very rare.
Gaya is already rated 80 overall – so he certainly won’t come cheap – but his defensive stats are great, he’s pacey and he can dribble and cross.
He’s the perfect overlapping full back, but equally he can sit back and play passes inside or over the top to his winger.
As a full-back he has everything, the attacking and the defensive abilities as well as a killer overall rating. Break the bank for this kid – you won’t be sorry!