From FIFA Wonderkids to Real-Life Legends: Who Lived Up to the Hype?

FIFA Wonderkids: Who Lived Up to the Hype?

Every season, several young players burst onto the scene, exciting football fans about the future of the sport. In the last two decades, we’ve seen the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo develop from young, exciting players into the best players in the world, breaking records, raising standards and competing for the world’s biggest prizes. In more recent years, we’ve seen Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland take the torch, achieving some phenomenal things at a young age.

In 2018, the Kopa Trophy was introduced to officially celebrate and award some of the most exciting young talents in football. However, the excitement of young footballers has been around for a while, and video games like FIFA and Football Manager have escalated this excitement, with people trying to find the next best players. But how have some of these wonderkids fared in real life?

The experts at Betting Lounge wanted to find out whether FIFA’s wonderkids lived up to their potential. We’ve taken the top 10 players under 20 years old with the highest potential from every FIFA/EASFC game since FIFA 10. We’ve then taken each player's highest rating to reveal those who didn’t live up to the expectations and those who exceeded them.

FIFA’s Most Successful Wonderkids

1. Neymar Jr. - Four Ratings Between Potential and Highest Overall Rating

Neymar Jr. takes the top spot, exceeding his FIFA 11 potential by four ratings. The Brazilian winger was tipped to be one of the best players in the world. His meteoric rise at Santos caught the eye of football fans all over the world, as well as the scouts at Barcelona, where he earned himself a £70 million move to Catalonia.

In his second season at the Camp Nou, Neymar formed a formidable partnership with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, an attacking trio considered one of the best in football history. It was during this season that Neymar showed the world his true capabilities, scoring 39 goals and registering 20 assists in all competitions, including the third goal in a 3-1 victory against Juventus in the UEFA Champions League final. 

Neymar continued his electric form, which encouraged Paris Saint-Germain to trigger his £200 million release clause, a transfer fee that remains the highest in football history. Neymar would go on to be an important player for PSG, winning multiple Ligue 1 titles. Despite this success, football fans are divided as to whether Neymar truly hit his potential.

2. Thibaut Courtois - Three Ratings Between Potential and Highest Overall Rating

Thibaut Courtois has been one of the best goalkeepers in the world for the last few years. The Belgian signed for Chelsea in 2011 before going straight out on loan to Atletico Madrid for three years. Courtois impressed greatly in his three seasons for Atletico, and in 2014, he was deemed ready to succeed Chelsea Legend Petr Cech.

The two-metre-tall goalkeeper continued to be an unbeatable force between the sticks, and his performances earned him a move to Real Madrid. Here, he would go on to win three La Liga titles and two UEFA Champions Leagues. Courtois excelled in the first of his two Champions League finals, winning player of the match with a truly unbeatable display against Liverpool in 2022. Liverpool had 24 shots in total, testing Courtois on nine occasions to prevent 1.98 expected goals (xG).

It was a performance considered one of the best by a goalkeeper in a Champions League final. After this season, Courtois earned his highest overall rating of 90, exceeding his potential by three ratings to earn second place on our list. 

3. Raheem Sterling - Three Ratings Between Potential and Highest Overall Rating

Sharing second place with Thibaut Courtois is Raheem Sterling, whose highest overall rating exceeded his potential by three ratings. After winning the Golden Boy award in 2014 with Liverpool, Sterling earned a £50 million move to Manchester City, where he would go on to win four Premier League titles, five League Cups, and one FA Cup.

The Englishman had a slow start at Man City, scoring just six goals in 31 Premier League games. However, Sterling began to really excel under Pep Guardiola, reaching a peak market value of £133 million and a highest overall rating of 89.

Sterling moved to Chelsea in 2022 and struggled to find his feet, scoring 19 goals in 81 games. After two mediocre seasons in West London, Sterling moved on loan to North London’s Arsenal, becoming the first player to represent Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Arsenal.

The Top 10 Failed Wonderkids

1. Alexander Merkel - 13 Ratings Between the Highest Overall Rating and Potential

In first place Alexander Merkel, with 13 ratings between his highest overall rating and potential. Merkel was raised through AC Milan’s academy before making six appearances for the Rossoneri. He then moved to Genoa, where he was pipped to achieve an 88 rating in his future.

However, 12 clubs later, including a loan move to Watford in 2014, Merkel found himself playing in the Persian Gulf Pro League for Nassaji Mazandaran. Despite representing Germany at youth level, Merkel represented his birth country, Kazakhstan, on three occasions.

2. Sotiris Ninis - 13 Ratings Between the Highest Overall Rating and Potential

Sharing the top spot is Sotiris Ninis, whose highest overall rating was 77, 13 lower than his potential. The former Greek international started his career at Panathinaikos, where he made 100 appearances and earned his 90 potential.

Ninis then moved to Parma, where he struggled to live up to his promise. After just 14 goalless appearances, Ninis returned to Greece to play for PAOK on loan. After another 12 goalless appearances, Ninis returned to his first professional club, hoping to recapture his form.

Unfortunately, Ninis was never able to live up to the hype, and his spell at Parma in the Serie A was his only opportunity in a top-five European league.

3. Fabio Miretti - 13 Ratings Between the Highest Overall Rating and Potential

The final player whose highest overall rating was 13 less than his potential is Fabio Miretti. The Italian is one of the youngest players in our top 10, meaning he still has plenty of time to reach his potential. Miretti made his first team debut for Juventus in the 2021/22 season against Salernitana.

Despite just playing one minute in this game, the 21-year-old went on to make five more appearances, all in the last five games of the Serie A season, playing more than 74 minutes in the last four games.

In the next two seasons, Miretti featured regularly for Juventus, playing 52 times in Serie A. However, after a lack of assurances over a first-team place, Miretti moved to Genoa on loan.

The Top 10 Wonderkids on EASFC 25

1. Lamine Yamal - 94 EASFC Potential

The player with the highest potential on EASFC 25 is Lamine Yamal, expected to rise to a rating of 94. The Spanish winger is the epitome of a wonderkid, making his professional debut for Barcelona at just 15 years old, one of the youngest debutants in La Liga history. 

His career so far has been nothing short of meteoric. At just 16 years old, he featured heavily in Barcelona’s 2023/24 season, making 50 appearances in all competitions, playing in all but one game in La Liga, scoring five goals and assisting seven times. He followed that by featuring in every game for Spain at Euro 2024, even assisting four times, including the opening goal in the final. Yamal’s performances at this tournament also earned him the Young Player of the Tournament just one day after turning 17. 

Yamal also won the 2024 Kopa Trophy, becoming the youngest player ever to win the award. His excellent form has continued into the 2024/25 season, cementing his position in the Barça line-up.

2. Endrick - 91 EASFC Potential

In second place is Endrick, with a potential of 91. The young Brazilian is just 18 years old and is already worth an estimated £50.1 million. At just 16 years old, Real Madrid bought Endrick from Palmeiras in December 2022 for an estimated £40 million, with the agreement that he would join in July 2024 in order to gain more experience. Endrick did just that, and in the following season, he scored 11 goals in 31 Brazil Serie A games at just 17 years old.

The Brazilian forward's performances earned him a call-up to the national team, becoming the fourth-youngest player to play for Brazil. On just his third appearance for his national team, he became the fourth-youngest goalscorer in Brazil’s history after his winning goal at Wembley in a friendly against England. Despite featuring sporadically for Real Madrid so far, Endrick has already scored twice and assisted once in just 10 games.

3. Warren Zaire-Emery - 90 EASFC Potential

Completing our top three is Warren Zaire-Emery, who has a potential of 90. The French midfielder came through the ranks at Paris Saint-Germain’s academy before making his professional debut in 2022 at just 16 years old to become the club's youngest-ever player. He also became the youngest player to appear and start in the Champions League for PSG and the youngest debutant for France since 1914.

Since his professional debut, Zaire-Emery has quickly established himself as a key player for PSG, making 52 appearances in Ligue 1 across the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons. The midfielder is worth an estimated £50.1 million and is contracted to the French Champions until 2029.

The Highest-Rated Players on EASFC25 and Their Potential

1. Lautaro Martinez - 18 Ratings Higher Than Initial Potential

Taking the top spot is Lautaro Martinez, whose highest overall rating is 89, 18 ratings higher than his potential in his first FIFA. The Argentinian has been one of the top strikers in the Serie A for the last five years, scoring 108 goals and assisting 36 times in 217 Serie A appearances. The striker is still only 27 years old, but it’s safe to say that Inter Milan’s captain has lived up to his promise so far, winning two Serie A titles, two Copa Americas, and a World Cup.

2. Kevin De Bruyne - 16 Ratings Higher Than Initial Potential

Kevin De Bruyne takes second place, with his highest overall rating of 91, exceeding his potential by 16 ratings. The Manchester City midfielder has not only exceeded his potential on FIFA but he’s also regarded as one of the Premier League’s best midfielders ever. The Belgian has been a key player for a dominant Man City, winning six Premier League titles, five League Cups, two FA Cups, and a Champions League. 

De Bruyne also has the second-highest number of assists in Premier League history with 113, with only Ryan Giggs assisting more times. Not only has De Bruyne equalled the record for most assists in a season, with 20 assists, but the 33-year-old has won the Playmaker of the Season award on three occasions.

2. Virgil Van Dijk - 16 Ratings Higher Than Initial Potential

Virgil Van Dijk also exceeded his potential by 16 ratings, meaning he shares second place with Kevin De Bruyne. Van Dijk has been regarded as one of the best defenders in the world since 2019, when he placed second in the Ballon d’Or rankings, falling short to Lionel Messi. Since then, he’s continued to perform at an elite level and is regarded as one of the best defenders of his generation. However, his rise to the top took a little more time. 

After joining Celtic in 2013 for under £2 million, he impressed scouts at Southampton, who paid a reported fee of £13 million in 2015. The Dutchman continued to impress, and two and a half seasons later, he moved to Liverpool in a deal that made him the most expensive defender of all time. Van Dijk would go on to win everything available to him, including a Premier League title, a Champions League, an FA Cup, a Super Cup, a Club World Cup, and two League cups, scoring the winning goal in his second League Cup final with Liverpool.

2. Alisson Becker - 16 Ratings Higher Than Initial Potential

Another Liverpool player shares second place, with Alisson Becker exceeding his potential by 16 ratings. Alisson Becker is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, winning everything possible during his time at Liverpool.

He was a key reason for Liverpool's Champions League final win in 2019, keeping a clean sheet in the final and making eight saves against Tottenham Hotspur. Although the record was broken just weeks after, Alisson became the most expensive goalkeeper in history, commanding a fee of £66.8 million when he joined Liverpool from Roma.

2. Rodri - 16 Ratings Higher Than Initial Potential

Rodri is the final player sharing second place, exceeding his initial potential by 16 ratings. Rodri started at Atletico Madrid’s youth setup before moving to Villarreal’s academy to continue his development. After making his professional debut for the Yellow Submarine, Atletico Madrid paid over £15 million to bring him back to the club. Just one season later, Manchester City activated his £62.5 million release clause where he would establish himself as one of the best players in the world.

Despite a difficult start in the Premier League, Rodri eventually became a household name and a crucial player in the Citizen’s lineup. The Spanish midfielder was a key player in City’s historic treble, peaking in the Champions League final when he scored the winning goal against Inter Milan.

In addition to four Premier League titles, Rodri has also won the Intercontinental treble with City, the Euros with Spain, and most recently, the Ballon d’Or, beating superstars Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior to the coveted prize.

Methodology

We used SoFifa to create a seeding list of players between FIFA 10 and EASFC 24. We used the beginning of each game for our seeding list. We used players aged below 20 and with a minimum rating of 75 to get 10 players for each edition of the game. If a player featured in the top 10 for two or more editions of the games, we would use the next player in the list.

Once we collected our seeding list, we then collected each player’s potential, highest overall rating, and most recent overall rating. We then calculated the difference between the player's highest overall rating and their potential.

We then used the same filters to reveal EASFC 25’s top 10 wonderkids at the start of the game.

Finally, we used EASFC 25’s highest-rated players who were not included in our initial seeding list and revealed the difference between their highest overall rating and their initial potential when first included in the game.

Real-life statistics were taken from Transfermarkt, and currencies were converted from EUR (€) to GBP (£) on 19.11.2024 using XE.