There's nothing quite like unearthing a gem on FIFA.
The feeling of plucking a youngster from obscurity and having them become the focal point of your team is unrivalled. It is no guarantee that reality will reflect your simulation, but their endeavours in computer game form will have you rooting for them until the bitter end.
With this in mind, we've taken a look at the last decade of FIFA games to tell you the best wonderkid from each one. Their ranking is based on their in-game potential, with their overall rating at the start of the game and their age coming into play. This 'exact' science means that only players that were 18 and younger for the respective games were eligible.
With further ado, here are the best wonderkids from each FIFA from the last decade.
FIFA 11 - Romelu Lukaku
Overall - 74
Potential - 88
One of the more well-known names on the list, Romelu Lukaku was on the radar of most of Europe's major clubs by the time FIFA 11 rolled around.
Lukaku wins out by virtue of his youth, with Neymar, Jack Wilshere and Christian Eriksen all having identical potentials on FIFA 11.
The Belgian striker had become a regular in the Anderlecht side during the 09-10 season when he was just 16 years old. Chelsea finally won the race to secure his signature in 2011, although Lukaku never really settled at Stamford Bridge.
Prolific loan spells at West Brom and Everton eventually lead to a permanent move to the Toffees. Lukaku's goalscoring exploits continued at Goodison Park, before he signed for Manchester United for a fee of £75 million.
The Belgian, who is his country's all-time leading scorer, moved to Inter Milan in 2019 for a club record €80m fee.
FIFA 12 - Gabriel
Overall - 66
Potential - 88
Gabriel, a Brazilian-Portuguese midfielder who at the time was on the books of Juventus, was one of several players who had potential to reach 88 overall on FIFA 12.
Lukaku again was eligible, as was former Bournemouth loanee Juan Manuel Iturbe. In the running also was a Dutchman, in the same vein as Barry Maguire, who had an exceedingly Irish name in Adam Maher. However, due to having the lowest overall rating, Gabriel wins.
The midfielder never played in the league for Juve, instead being shipped out on six separate loan spells. His final loan to Leganes in La Liga eventually lead to a permanent move. He moved once again in 2018 to Benfica, where he is still currently on the books.
FIFA 13 - Tonny Vilhena
Photo Credit: kivnl / Shutterstock.com
Overall - 73
Potential - 87
Former Feyenoord midfielder Tonny Vilhena was the wonderkid of choice on FIFA 13, although he faced stiff competition from the likes of French duo M'Baye Niang and Kurt Zouma.
Vilhena spent seven years in Rotterdam at his boyhood club, eventually leaving in 2019 to sign for Russian side FC Krasnodar.
Vilhena was called up to the Netherlands senior side for the first time in 2013, but he had to wait three years to make his debut. Currently, he has 15 caps for the Dutch national side.
FIFA 14 - Simone Scuffet
Overall - 72
Potential - 88
Goalkeeper Simone Scuffet was the man you wanted to mind your goal on FIFA 14, but he was ran close by Anthony Martial for the moniker of the game's best wonderkid.
The Italian had the best season of his career in 2013-14, making 16 appearances in Serie A for Udinese. He's still on the books of the Udin side, although he's spent time on loan in Turkey at Kasimpasa and with Serie B side Spezia, but is now back at his parent club where he appears to be completely out in the cold.
FIFA 15 - Hachim Mastour
Overall - 66
Potential - 88
On FIFA 15, current Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans had the same potential as Hachim Mastour, but the Moroccan takes the title due to his age.
The creative midfielder was lauded as one of football's future stars in 2014, but it hasn't been an easy ride since. Mastour was on the books of AC Milan at the time, but struggled for first-team football at the San Siro, as well as in loan spells at Malaga and Zwolle.
The one-time Moroccan international made the move to Greek side Lamia in 2018, playing just six times. Mastour is currently on the books of Serie B side Reggina, playing on loan at Carpi in the division below.
FIFA 16 - Alban Lafont
Overall - 70
Potential - 86
There could have been another AC Milan youngster earmarked as a FIFA wonderkid, but Gianluigi Donnarumma's 73 overall means that he just misses out.
Another goalkeeper takes his place, however, as France U21 international Alban Lafont takes the title. Lafont made the grade at Toulouse, becoming the youngest goalkeeper to make their debut in Ligue 1.
Lafont went from strength to strength, eventually signing for Fiorentina for €7 million in 2018. However, Lafont has spent the last two seasons on loan at Nantes having lost his place in the Fiorentina team, and has yet to be capped by France at senior level.
FIFA 17 - Kylian Mbappe
Overall - 72
Potential - 92
What else is there to say about Kylian Mbappe?
The French attacker burst on the scene in the Champions League for Monaco, starring in a side that stopped PSG's domestic dominance in France by winning Ligue 1. He then moved to Paris for a near world record fee, continuing to showcase his talents as one of the world's best players.
Not only that, but Mbappe played a major role in France winning the World Cup for the second time in their history. It is safe to say that FIFA 17 got it right.
FIFA 18 - Ryan Sessegnon
Overall - 74
Potential - 88
The likes of Ferran Torres and Alphonso Davies were close to assuming the mantle on FIFA 18, but Ryan Sessegnon just pipped them to the post.
That season, Sessegnon was the star man as Fulham were promoted to the Premier League. His form on the left side of the pitch in his debut Premier League season lead to Tottenham signing him for a fee of £25 million plus Josh Onomah. However, injuries curtailed his first season in North London and he's now playing on the Bundesliga on loan at Hoffenheim.
FIFA 19 - Callum Hudson-Odoi
Overall - 71
Potential - 89
Future Arsenal centre-back William Saliba is just pipped to the post by Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi on FIFA 19.
The England international burst on the scene during the 2018-19 season, garnering interest from Bayern Munich due to a contract stalemate. Hudson-Odoi eventually signed a long-term deal at Chelsea, and has gotten more game time this season.
FIFA 20 - Ansu Fati
Overall - 73
Potential - 90
The most recent player on this list is Barcelona starlet Ansu Fati.
The winger became the youngest player in La Liga history when he came on against Valencia last season, and has gone from strength to strength. Fati, who was born in Guinea-Bissau, has already been capped by Spain, has been earmarked as a future Ballon D'Or winner.
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