FIFA 23 career mode wonderkids: The best young players with potential
Discover wonderkids and the best young players in FIFA 23 career mode
Looking for the best young players and wonderkids in FIFA 23 career mode? If you’re trying to get ahead in FIFA 23 career mode, you’ll want to include some wonderkids in your squad. Sure, starting with the best players in FIFA 23 might make you feel secure, but eventually those players will retire. To avoid falling into a pattern of catastrophic defeat as your squad ages off the pitch, you’ll want to train some career mode wonderkids to take their place.
In this guide, we’ve got a full list of FIFA 23 career mode wonderkids that you need in your squad, including the best young players with the highest overall rating potential and the best wonderkids with the highest potential growth. We'll also provide a list of wonderkids for each position who you should aim to hire if you're lacking in a particular area of the pitch.
On this page:
- Best young players in FIFA 23
- FIFA 23 wonderkids with the highest potential growth
- How to improve FIFA 23 wonderkids
- Best FIFA 23 wonderkids attackers
- Best FIFA 23 wonderkids midfielders
- Best FIFA 23 wonderkids defenders
- Best FIFA 23 wonderkids goalkeepers
Best young players in FIFA 23
The best young players in FIFA 23 might be expensive, but they're well worth the money. If you want to shoot to the top of the league table and remain a champion for seasons to come, then you'll need players who're young and highly-skilled. That's where we come in, as we've got a list of the best young players in FIFA 23. They all start with a minimum overall rating of 79 and have plenty of room to grow over the years, and they're all younger than 23.
Below, you can find a list of the best young players in FIFA 23, organised by their overall potential rating:
| Name | Age | Starting Rating | Potential Rating | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erling Haaland | 21 | 88 | 94 | ST | Manchester City |
| Pedri | 19 | 85 | 93 | CM | Barcelona |
| Vinicius Jr | 22 | 86 | 92 | LW | Real Madrid |
| Phil Foden | 22 | 85 | 92 | CAM, CF, LW | Manchester City |
| Jude Bellingham | 19 | 84 | 91 | CM | Borussia Dortmund |
| Dusan Vlahovic | 22 | 84 | 91 | ST | Juventus |
| Florian Wirtz | 19 | 82 | 91 | CAM, CM | Bayer Leverkusen |
| Joao Felix | 22 | 84 | 90 | CF, ST | Atletico Madrid |
| Sandro Tonali | 22 | 84 | 90 | CM, CDM | AC Milan |
| Jamal Musiala | 19 | 81 | 90 | CAM, CM, LM | Bayern Munich |
| Ansu Fati | 19 | 79 | 90 | LW | Barcelona |
| Matthijs De Light | 22 | 85 | 89 | CB | Bayern Munich |
| Alphonso Davies | 21 | 84 | 89 | LB, LM | Bayern Munich |
| Aurelien Tchouameni | 22 | 82 | 89 | CDM, CM | Real Madrid |
| Bukayo Saka | 20 | 82 | 89 | LM, RM | Arsenal |
| Josko Gvardiol | 20 | 81 | 89 | CB, LB | RB Leipzig |
| Ryan Gravenberch | 20 | 79 | 89 | CM | Bayern Munich |
| Eduardo Camavinga | 19 | 79 | 89 | CM | Real Madrid |
| Gavi | 18 | 79 | 89 | CM | Barcelona |
| Vitinha | 22 | 79 | 89 | CM | PSG |
| Jadon Sancho | 22 | 84 | 88 | LW, LM, RW | Manchester United |
| Moussa Diaby | 22 | 84 | 88 | LW, LM, RM | Bayer Leverkusen |
| Reece James | 22 | 84 | 88 | RB, RWB | Chelsea |
| Anthony | 22 | 82 | 88 | CAM, RW | Manchester United |
| Nico Schlotterbeck | 22 | 82 | 88 | CB | Borussia Dortmund |
| Ferran Torres | 22 | 82 | 88 | ST, LW | Barcelona |
| Rodrygo | 21 | 81 | 88 | RW | Real Madrid |
| Nicolo Zaniolo | 22 | 81 | 88 | CAM, CF, RW | Roma |
| Jurrien Timber | 21 | 80 | 88 | CB, RB | Ajax |
| Nuno Mendes | 20 | 80 | 88 | LB, LWB | PSG |
| William Saliba | 21 | 80 | 87 | CB | Arsenal |
| Emile Smith Rowe | 21 | 80 | 87 | CAM, LM | Arsenal |
| Jeremie Frimpong | 21 | 80 | 86 | RB, RWB | Bayer Leverkusen |
| Evan Ndicka | 22 | 81 | 85 | CB | Eintracht Frankfurt |
FIFA 23 wonderkids with the highest potential growth
The best young players are expensive in FIFA 23, but there is a set of players with massive potential that you can get cheap. These FIFA 23 career mode wonderkids start at a lower overall rating than those listed above, but they have massive potential growth. If you give them plenty of match time over a couple of seasons, these FIFA 23 wonderkids could become some of the best players on the pitch.
Below, you’ll find a list of the best FIFA 23 wonderkids with the highest potential growth, organised by their overall potential rating:
| Name | Age | Starting Rating | Potential Rating | Position | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luke Harris | 17 | 61 | 84 | CAM | Fulham |
| Laurin Ulrich | 17 | 60 | 83 | CM | VfB Stuttgart |
| Cristian Riquelme | 18 | 60 | 83 | LB | Everton de Vina del Mar |
| Fabio Chiarodia | 17 | 60 | 83 | CB | Werder Bremen |
| Alfie Devine | 18 | 60 | 83 | CAM | Tottenham Hotspur |
| Ashley Phillips | 17 | 59 | 82 | CB | Blackburn Rovers |
| Guillaume Restes | 17 | 58 | 81 | GK | Toulouse FC |
| Ben Chrisene | 18 | 58 | 81 | LB | Aston Villa |
| Joshua Feeney | 17 | 55 | 80 | CB | Aston Villa |
| Darko Gyabi | 18 | 57 | 80 | CM | Leeds United |
| Serge Ngoma | 17 | 56 | 79 | RW | New York Red Bulls |
| Diogo Monteiro | 17 | 54 | 78 | CB | Servette FC |
| Oliwier Slawinski | 17 | 54 | 77 | ST | Zaglebie Lubin |
| Eirik Blikstad | 18 | 54 | 77 | CB | Stromsgodset Toppfotball |
| Gavin Beavers | 17 | 52 | 76 | GK | Real Salt Lake |
| Felipe Valencia | 17 | 50 | 75 | RM | Inter Miami |
| Attilio Morosoli | 17 | 51 | 75 | GK | FC Lugano |
| Andres Brinzea | 17 | 48 | 72 | GK | Chindia Targoviste |
How to improve FIFA 23 wonderkids
To improve wonderkids in FIFA 23, you need to play them during matches. This can be as part of your starting XI or as a substitute, but they need to be on the pitch long enough to have an impact on the game. This will help them earn a good match score (the decimal scoring system that ranks players out of 10), which then ensures growth towards their potential. You won't see an immediate improvement, but your wonderkids should improve plenty and reach their full potential over a couple of seasons.
Of course, you need to think about how you're using wonderkids on the pitch to ensure proper growth. If you use them recklessly to make unsuccessful tackles or poor shots, they aren't going to improve. Consistent goals and clean sheets, on the other hand, will cause your wonderkids' overall ratings to skyrocket quickly.
Best FIFA 23 wonderkids attackers
If you want to build a strong offensive strategy that can cut through your opponent's defense and find the net every time, then you'll want the best strikers and wingers on your team. Below, you can find our list of the best FIFA 23 wonderkids attackers.
Ansu Fati - Barcelona (LW)
Ansu Fati ranked on our list of the best young players in FIFA 23, and for good reason. At just 19 years old, Fati is teetering on the edge of excellence with an overall rating of 79. With plenty of playtime, he can reach a whopping 90 OVR, which propels him to become one of the best wingers in FIFA 23. With a 4-star skill rating, he's able to trick defenders easily and make countless scoring opportunities for your attackers.
Antonio Nusa - Brugge (LW)
Antonio Nusa is available for just under £3 million, but has an incredible pace score of 86. This makes him a top winger out of the gate, despite his low overall rating of 68. Fortunately, Nusa has high potential and can grow to an 88 OVR rated LW, which will make him an obvious pick for any team. Nusa is also excellent on the counterattack, combining his pace with a high dribbling stat that's sure to help him break past any defenders.
Charles de Ketelaere - Milan (ST)
Charles de Ketelaere is a well-rounded player, with high stats in almost every area (other than defending, as you'd expect) and an overall rating of 78. That makes him quite expensive, costing just under £30 million to transfer to your team. However, with potential to grow to an overall rating of 88, his worth could easily become much higher. Ketelaere has the potential to become one of the top players on your team, making him well worth the investment.
Youssoufa Moukoko - Borussia Dortmund (ST)
If you're looking for a cheaper striker who you can nurture to a similar level, make sure to get Youssoufa Moukoko. Moukoko starts at a very low overall rating of 69, but this makes him incredibly cheap. At just £3 million, you could bag a striker who has the potential to grow to an overall rating of 88, just like Ketelaere. Sure, it might take more time to perfect this player, but Moukoko can become a phenomenal striker.
Rodrygo - Real Madrid (RW)
Rodrygo is a blisteringly fast right winger, and also comes with high stats in shooting, passing, and dribbling. This gives him an overall starting rating of 81, meaning you'll need to dump a hefty sum of around £50 million to get Rodrygo on your team. However, he's well worth the money, with the potential to grow to an overall rating of 88.
Kayky - Pacos de Ferreira (RW)
Kayky is just starting to find his feet when career mode begins, with an overall rating of 66. However, a few seasons on the pitch could give him some huge improvements, with his overall potential rating sitting at 86. That's a lot of work, but it's offset by his incredibly low cost of just above £2 million. After a few seasons, Kayky could be one of the best wingers in FIFA 23, and you'll have only paid a fraction of his full worth.
Best FIFA 23 wonderkids midfielders
The best midfielders in FIFA 23 are able to break past defenders with top notch dribbling and passing, setting up your attackers for success. Below, you can find our list of the best FIFA 23 wonderkids midfielders.
Nicolo Rovella - Monza (CM)
Sure, Rovella might not be up there with the likes of Bellingham or Pedri, but neither is his value. Costing around £12 million, Rovella starts at an overall rating of 75. However, he has plenty of potential, and could rival the greats with an overall potential rating of 88. With high pace, passing, and dribbling from the offset, some time on the pitch could turn Rovella into one of the best midfielders in FIFA 23.
Fabio Miretti - Juventus (CM)
If you want to put in a bit more work and spend less cash, Miretti is another fine choice. Starting at 72 OVR, Miretti costs around £5 million. That's incredibly low, and is an absolute steal when you consider his potential overall rating of 87. Like Rovella, Miretti starts with high pace, passing, and dribbling, making him a great foundation for a truly excellent player in later seasons.
Moleiro - Las Palmas (LM)
Moleiro starts with an overall rating of 75, but don't let him get lost amongst the crowd. With an overall potential rating of 90 and a cost of just £12 million, you need to nab Moleiro as soon as possible. He's an incredible LM, with high pace, passing, and dribbling scores that start in the seventies. With some match time, Moleiro could become one of the top midfielders in the world in your FIFA 23 career mode.
Jamie Bynoe-Gittens - Borussia Dortmund (LM)
If you're looking to spend a little less, consider picking up Jamie Bynoe-Gittens from Borussia Dortmund. This LM starts at just 67 OVR, but could grow 20 points to reach 87. With his pace starting at an already admirable 82, you could see Bynoe-Gittens become one of the fastest midfielders in FIFA 23 with a bit of coaching.
Gabriel Veron - Porto (RM)
On the other side of the pitch, Gabriel Veron is an RM starting with an overall rating of 75. That's already pretty good, and his high pace and dribbling scores are sure to make him worth playing on your squad. However, with some coaching and time on the pitch, Veron can grow to an overall rating of 87. At just £12 million, Veron could be an absolute steal of a wonderkid midfielder for your FIFA 23 career mode team.
Marquinhos - Arsenal (RM)
Marquinhos might be young, but he's already making a name for himself at Arsenal. Fortunately, you can bag this 73 OVR RM for yourself for just under £7 million. With lightning fast pace and admirable dribbling, Marquinhos will make an excellent addition to any squad. With plenty of match time over the early seasons, Marquinhos could grow to an overall potential rating of 86. That's a huge improvement for such a cheap player, making him well worth the small investment early on.
Best FIFA 23 wonderkids defenders
The best defenders in FIFA 23 are fast and strong, able to keep up with lightning-fast counterattacks and wrestle the ball away from top attackers. Below, you can find our list of the best FIFA 23 wonderkids defenders.
Tanguy Nianzou - Sevilla (CB)
Nianzou might not be a big name right now, but he certainly has the potential to become a star in your FIFA 23 career mode save. This wonderkid starts with a 73 OVR rating at just 20 years old, and can grow to 85 overall after a few seasons on the pitch. Most teams will be able to snap Nianzou up early since he only costs £6 million, which is a bargain considering his overall potential.
Giorgio Scalvini - Atalanta (CB)
Scalvini might start at a slightly lower overall of 70, but at just 18 years old, this CB is bound to become a crucial part of your defense. Valued at just under £1.5 million, Scalvini has a potential overall rating of 86, meaning that he could grow to become one of the best in his position.
Alphonso Davies - Bayern Munich (LB)
If you're starting with a big team and have plenty of cash to throw around, Alphonso Davies is already one of the top defenders in FIFA 23. At just 21, Davies currently has an 84 OVR rating, which can potentially grow to 89. He's a top player that you'll absolutely want on your team, but he comes at a hefty cost of just under £55 million. He's well worth the money, but that might be too expensive for most career mode teams.
Luca Netz - M'gladbach (LB)
If you're looking for a player with similar star power at a much lower price, consider paying £6 million for Luca Netz. This LB starts at a lower overall of 73, but has the potential to grow to 85. It'll take lots of match time to reach that number, but it's well worth the effort. You'll see his value skyrocket after a few seasons, and he's bound to become an important part of your starting XI.
Aaron Hickey - Brentford (RB)
Aaron Hickey is one of two rightbacks who are absolute steals when considering their overall potential rating. Hickey starts at an already admirable overall of 75, but can reach a potential of 85. Gaining those ten points will take plenty of match time, but it's worth the effort if you want to see Hickey become one of the best RBs around. Valued at just over £10 million, Hickey should also be affordable for most career mode teams.
Malo Gusto - Lyon (RB)
Malo Gusto is in almost the exact same position as Aaron Hickey, with the only difference being one year in age. At just 19, Gusto has an overall rating of 75 and a potential of 85 OVR. Like Hickey, Gusto starts off valued at around £10 million, but that number will easily grow after a few successful seasons. If you want to train some of the best young players in FIFA 23, you need Malo Gusto and Aaron Hickey on your squad.
Best FIFA 23 wonderkids goalkeepers
The best goalkeepers in FIFA 23 are often your last line of defense, ready to pounce towards the ball if the opposition break past your defense. Below, you can find our list of the best FIFA 23 wonderkids goalkeepers.
Diogo Costa - Porto (GK)
Costa is almost ready to leave the wonderkids bracket at 22 years old, but he's poised to become a star. With an overall rating of 79, Costa is already an excellent goalkeeper when career mode begins. Of course, that means he's going to be reasonably expensive, he'll set you back around £27 million. However, with an overall potential rating of 86, Costa is well worth the money. He's got plenty of room to grow in the role, and his value will increase alongside his OVR to make Costa worth the early investment.
Luis Maximiano - Lazio (GK)
If you're looking to spend a little less, consider dropping £20 million on Luis Maximiano. He also starts at 79 OVR, and has the potential to grow to an overall rating of 85. That's one point lower than Costa, but it'll save you around £7 million which you could invest into some other wonderkids.
Gavin Bazunu - Southampton (GK)
If you're really strapped for cash, Gavin Bazunu might be an easier investment. Starting at 70 OVR, Bazunu costs just £3 million, a tiny lump of cash when compared to Maximiano and Costa. However, Bazunu has similar potential, as he is able to grow to an overall rating of 85. That means Bazunu can match Maximiano and Costa at his best, but it'll take longer to reach that potential. Bazunu will be a long term improvement, and will need to be playing on your team for many seasons to come if you want him to reach his full potential.
That wraps up our FIFA 23 career mode wonderkids guide, but that’s only the beginning. If you’re also trying to build a top Ultimate Team squad, take a look at our Around the World, First XI, Seven League Boots, and Puzzle Master SBC solution guides. To improve OTW cards in Ultimate Team, take a look at our FIFA 23 Ones to Watch tracker. For other top cards, check out our FIFA 23 TOTW predictions and lineup guide.