FIFA 19 best young players: Career mode’s top strikers, midfielders, defenders and goalkeepers | Goal.com US

Goal takes a look at the potential abilities of some of the world’s best wonderkids in Career Mode on the latest version of the football game

There is nothing that gets a club’s fan base more excited than the prospect of having a wonderkid on their books, a game-changing player who can define the team for years to come and propel them to silverware at home and in continental competition.

FIFA 19 is no different, with an astute signing of a young player turning your Career Mode team from also-rans into genuine contenders. There are loads of talented young players from around the world that end up becoming superstars with the right tuition and game time, including many bargains that may even be willing to sign for teams outside the top flight.

Goal compiles all the wonderkids in FIFA 19, listing the players with the highest potential rating under 20 in the game. This list is ordered by position, with the players separated into the category of their primary position. For example, Kylian Mbappe’s preferred position is on the wing, so he is listed as a forward, but he’s also the best young midfielder in the game too as he’s just so talented, he can play almost everywhere!

PO. = Position(s)

CR = Current Rating

PR = Potential Rating

VA. = Value

*Clubs listed are the clubs the players are assigned to in FIFA 19 Career Mode, while ages shown are the age at the start of Career Mode

FIFA 19: BEST YOUNG GOALKEEPERS

NAMEAGECLUBPO.CRPRVA.G Donnarumma19AC MilanGK8293£25.5mA Lafont19FiorentinaGK7789£10.6mA Lunin19Real MadridGK7688£9.2mC Fruchtl18Bayern MunichGK6586£900kM Svilar18BenficaGK6785£1.1mA Plizzari18AC MilanGK6684£950kW Farinez20MillonariosGK7383£4.4mJ Biljow20FeyenoordGK7282£3.4mB Dragowski20FiorentinaGK7182£2.8mF Uzoho19DeportivoGK6882£1.4mF Muller20MainzGK6782£1.2mDiogo Costa18PortoGK6682£950kO Mandanda19BordeauxGK6482£700kY Diouf18TroyesGK6282£400kS Laiton18AuxerreGK6082£350kG Kobel20HoffenheimGK6681£1mL Plogmann18Werder BremenGK6081£350kA Semper20Chievo VeronaGK6780£1mM Schubert20Dynamo DresdenGK6780£1mP Dahlberg19WatfordGK6780£1mA Muric19Man CityGK6180£400kL Ingolotti18Atletico AldosiviGK5880£200k

Once again, AC Milan and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma is the best young shot-stopper in the game, reflecting his real-life status where he won Goal’s NxGn in 2017 and finished as runner-up in 2018. Donnarumma’s price in FIFA 19 will probably scare off many potential suitors, but he is the only young goalkeeper who ends up with a rating over 90.

Andriy Lunin starts Career Mode on loan from Real Madrid, so is not an option in the first transfer window, but value can be had if you look to Bayern Munich’s Christian Fruchtl or Benfica’s Mile Svilar, who impressed last season against Manchester United in the Europa League despite conceding an own goal.

Those two will probably not get into your team straight away, with the vast majority of talented young goalkeepers having ratings less than 70 at the start of the game.

FIFA 19: BEST YOUNG DEFENDERS

NAMEAGECLUBPO.CRPRVA.M de Ligt18AjaxCB8091£18mT Alexander-Arnold19LiverpoolRB7888£12.3mD Upamecano19RB LeipzigCB7688£10.6mDiogo Liete19PortoCB7487£8.4mB Kamara18MarseilleCB,CDM7187£3.9mA Bastoni19InterCB6787£1.3mPablo Maffeo20StuttgartRWB,RM7886£11.4mN Mukiele20RB LeipzigCB,RB,RWB7786£10.6mEder Militao20PortoRB,CB7586£8.8mJ Kounde19BordeauxCB7386£5.7mE Ampadu17ChelseaCB,CDM6386£650kM Saracchi20RB LeipzigLB7585£8.4mA Hakimi19Real MadridRB,LB7585£7.9mP Restos19Bayer LeverkusenCB,RB,LB7585£7.9mJ Foyth20SpursCB7085£3.1mM Varnier20CittadellaCB7085£3.1mG Itter19WolfsburgLB6785£1.3mF Benkovic20LeicesterCB7684£8.8mT Herndandez20Real MadridLB,LWB7684£8.4mF Udokhai20WolfsburgCB7684£8.8mLato20ValenciaLB,LWB,LM7584£7.9mT Fosu-Mensah20Man UtdRB,CB7484£7mI Konate19RB LeipzigCB7384£5.3mD Maresic18Sturm GrazCB7284£4mDiogo Dalot19Man UtdRB,LB7284£4.1mDodo19Vitoria GuimaraesRB7184£3.4mN Perez18Argentinos JuniorsCB7084£2.9mC Carter-Vickers20SpursCB6984£1.8mN Cozza19MontpellierCB,LWB6884£1.5mR Gummy20Lech PoznanRB6884£1.6mK Ruegg19ZurichRB,CM6784£1.3mL Mai18Bayern MunichCB6484£750kR James18WiganRB,CB6484£725k

Ajax defender Matthijs de Ligt is one of the most in-demand defenders in world football, but is surprisingly affordable in FIFA 19 – if you have that budget that is! He has a current rating of 80, meaning he’s probably good enough to be a starter at most clubs before getting better and better each season.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s breakthrough season at Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp has earned him the prize of the best young full-back in FIFA 19. It’s not quite a trophy, but with an opening value of just over £12 million, you may be able to tempt him away from Anfield to win silverware elsewhere.

Wales international Ethan Ampadu is a versatile defender, having already played for his country in midfield, and is available relatively cheaply at the start of the game. If you can sign him in the first transfer window, you’ll be greatly rewarded as he develops into a brilliant talent on and off the ball.

FIFA 19: BEST YOUNG MIDFIELDERS

NAMEAGECLUBPO.CRPRVA.L Bailey20Bayer LeverkusenLM,RM8289£27.7mE Barco19Atlanta UnitedLM,CAM,ST7489£10.6mC Pulisic19Borussia DortmundRM,LM,RW,LW7988£16.7mH Aouar20LyonCM,LW,CAM7888£14.5mK Havertz19Bayer LeverkusenCAM,RM,CF7988£16.7mP Foden18Man CityCAM,CM7388£7mRiqui Puig18BarcelonaCM6888£1.6mS Tonali18BresciaCDM,CM6688£1.2mA Diawara20NapoliCM,CDM7787£12.3mI Sarr20RennesLM,RM,ST7687£11.9mY Karamoh19InterRM,RW7387£7.5mJ Sancho18Borussia DortmundLM,LW7287£5.7mA Davies17Vancouver WhitecapsLM,RM7287£5.3mSergio Gomez17Borussia DortmundCAM,CM6887£1.6mA Gomes17Man UtdCAM,LW6687£1.2mA Dabo17NantesLM,CM6387£700kV Tsygankov20Dynamo KyivRM,LM7986£15.8mWendel20Sporting CPCM7586£10.1mS Berge20GenkCDM,CM7586£8.8mGedson Fernandes19BenficaCM7486£8.4mFerran Torres18ValenciaRM,RW,LM7386£6.2mJovane Cabral20Sporting CPRM,LM7386£6.6mPaulinho17Bayer LeverkusenRM7186£4.1mKangin Lee17ValenciaCAM,LM,RM7086£3.1mS Diop18MonacoCAM6586£1.1mAlfa Semedo20BenficaCDM,CM,CB7685£9.2mDani Olmo20Dinamo ZagrebLM,CAM7585£9.7mM Locatelli20AC MilanCDM7585£8.4mBruno Xadas20BragaRM7485£8.4mM Mount19ChelseaCAM7485£8.4mG Chakvetadze18GentCAM7285£4.8mA Maier19Hertha BerlinCM,CDM7285£5.3mM Cuisance18Borussia M’gladbachCM7285£4.8mM Zaracho20RC AvellanedaRM,CM,CAM7285£5.3mA Tchouameni18BordeauxCDM,CM7185£3.9mS Ozcan20KolnCM,CDM7085£3.4mM Sharapenko19Dynamo KyivCM,CDM,CAM6985£2mB Woodburn18LiverpoolCAM,LW,ST6885£1.6mM Edwards19SpursRM,CAM6685£1.2mT Kubo17TokyoCAM,RM,ST,LM6385£700k

Bundesliga duo Leon Bailey and Christian Pulisic are well known around the world already and their values in FIFA 19 reflect this. They’re both first-team ready at the start of the game, just like Bailey’s team-mate Kai Havertz, who is the perfect young player to support the attack through the middle.

Manchester City’s Phil Foden is available for half the price of the German-based players, and with excellent ball control and passing, he can be a midfield anchor for many years. Most of the midfielders have multiple positions, with attacking midfielder Takefusa Kubo capable of playing anywhere across midfield or even in attack. He’s a very affordable option as he starts the game on loan at J-League club Yokohama F Marinos. Oh, and he’s also nicknamed the ‘Japanese Messi’. Who wouldn’t want him in their team?

Aside from Kubo, there are number of talented 17-year-olds available at reasonable prices, but they will need plenty of game time to reach their potential. Luckily you can train them in FIFA 19 or even better, give them game time.

FIFA 19: BEST YOUNG FORWARDS

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NAMEAGECLUBPO.CRPRVA.K Mbappe19PSGRW,ST,RM8795£63.4mVinicius Junior17Real MadridLW,RW7792£15.4mM Rashford20Man UtdLW,ST,LM8189£23.3mP Cutrone20AC MilanST7789£14.1mR Sessegnon18FulhamLW,LB7588£10.6mJ Arp18HamburgST6988£1.9mC Under20RomaRW,LW7787£12.8mM Kean18JuventusST7287£5.7mJoao Felix18BenficaLW,CAM7087£3.2mC Hudson-Odoi17ChelseaLW,CAM,RW6887£1.6mP Pellegri17MonacoST6787£1.3mL Martinez20InterST7986£15.8mF Chiesa20FiorentinaRW,CF7786£12.3mJ Kluivert19RomaLW,RW7586£9.7mRafael Leao19LilleST,LM7286£5.7mC Kouame20GenoaST,CF7186£4.4mT Weah18PSGST,LW6986£1.9mBrahim Diaz18Man CityLW,RW,CAM6986£1.9mA Gouiri18LyonST6786£1.4mW Geubbels16MonacoST6486£900kS Bergwijn20PSVLW,RW7785£11.4mK Dolberg20AjaxST7685£10.6mE Mor20Celta VigoLW,RW,ST,CF7485£8.4mT Abraham20ChelseaST7485£8.8mD Rossi20Los Angeles FCLW,ST,RW7285£5.3mO Okwonkwo20BolognaLW,CAM7085£3.4mM Romero19PSVST7085£3.4mM Maolida19NiceLW,ST,LM7085£3.3mJ David18GentST6885£1.6mMatheus Cunha19RB LeipzigST,RM,CF6785£1.4mM Boadu17AZ AlkmaarST6685£1.1mV Supriaga18Dynamo KyivST6685£1.2mR Nelson18ArsenalRW6585£980kT Chong18Man UtdRW,LW,CAM6585£980kM Odegaard19Real MadridRW7484£7.9mE Dennis20Club BruggeST,RM,LM7384£6.2mH Bande19AjaxLW,ST7284£4.8mD Solanke20LiverpoolST7084£3.5mC Stengs19AZ AlkmaarRW6984£2mLeo Jaba19PAOKST,LM6984£2mHan Kwang Song19CagliariST6884£1.7mE Haland17MoldeST6784£1.3mM Sylla18MonacoST6584£990kG Middleton18RangersLW6484£810kJ Sargent18Werder BremenST6484£840kE Nketiah19ArsenalST6484£860kR Brewster18LiverpoolST6284£620kR Griffiths18LyonST6184£500k

It’s no surprise that Kylian Mbappe is the highest rated young player in FIFA 19 as well as the teenager with the highest potential. The PSG superstar starts off at 87 rated but can reach as high as 95 – which is better than both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s current ratings!

Unfortunately signing Mbappe is all but impossible for the vast majority of clubs, so you will likely have to look elsewhere to find your talismanic frontman. Hamburg teenager Jann-Fiete Arp can become an 88-rated striker while Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi is a brilliant young winger who can also play through the middle.

Two young Americans who start off relatively cheap and low-rated are PSG’s Timothy Weah and Werder Bremen’s Josh Sargent, but both can become an unstoppable force by the time the 2026 World Cup in North America rolls around.