FIFA 20 best young players: Career mode’s top strikers, midfielders, defenders and goalkeepers | Goal.com

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

Career Mode has been revamped and upgraded for FIFA 20, with the player database also getting a refresh for the launch of the new game.

This will give FIFA fans the chance to start a new career with their favourite team, turning them into league and continental champions thanks to clever moves on the transfer market and astute management to develop young players into superstars.

Goal has compiled a list of the best young players in FIFA 20, selecting those aged 20 or under who have the highest potential rating. The lists below are sorted by potential and current ability and also divided by position.

Each player is listed by their primary position, but all the positions they can play in are shown. This means that Chelsea’s Ethan Ampadu, currently on loan at RB Leipzig, is in the defenders section but can play both centre-back and as a defensive midfielder.

Every player with a high potential rating is shown here, including many lesser-known stars who may be willing to move to smaller clubs if you are playing a long career by starting outside the top flight. Players will need plenty of gametime to develop and reach their full potential. Substitutes and reserves are unlikely to improve if they are not playing.

PO. = Position(s)

CR = Current Rating

PR = Potential Rating

VA. = Value

*Clubs listed are the clubs the players are assigned to in FIFA 20 Career Mode, while ages shown are the age at the start of Career Mode

FIFA 20: Best Young Goalkeepers

NameAgeClubPO.CRPRVA.G Donnarumma20AC MilanGK8592£35.6mA Lunin20Real MadridGK7688£9.7mA Lafont20FiorentinaGK7987£13.1mLuis Maximiano20Sporting CPGK7686£9mM Vandevoort17GenkGK6585£875kL Chevalier17LilleGK6184£428kC Fruchtl19Bayern Munich IIGK6683£1.1mS Ngapandouetnbu16MarseilleGK5882£200kJ Markovic17Slavia PrahaGK6782£1.2mM Carnesecchi19AtalantaGK6682£1.1mG Bazunu17Man CityGK5982£250kDiogo Costa19PortoGK7082£2.3mI Meslier19LorientGK6882£1.4mA Plizzari19AC MilanGK6682£1.1mS Bajic17Saint-EtienneGK6281£450kI Martinez17OsasunaGK6081£350kK Grabara20LiverpoolGK6781£1.3mGabriel Brazao18InterGK6581£800kK Scherpen19AjaxGK6781£1.3mL Plogmann19Werder BremenGK6481£750kN Shinton18Club BruggeGK6280£450kL Unbehaun18Borussia DortmundGK6080£300kAltube19Real MadridGK6380£600kD Kotarski19AjaxGK6580£900kJ Schendelaar18AZ AlkmaarGK6580£800kA Muric20Man CityGK6879£1.1mDani Martin20Real BetisGK6979£1.2mG Poussin20BordeauxGK6679£925kR Vodisek20GenoaGK6679£925kR Majecki19Legia WarsawGK6679£900kInaki Pena20BarcelonaGK6579£900kMoha Ramos19BirminghamGK6479£750kJoao Virginia19EvertonGK6379£600kA Akbulut18TrabzonsporGK6379£575kA Trubin17Shakhtar DonetskGK5979£250kM Roffo19Boca JuniorsGK6479£750kP Dahlberg20WatfordGK6878£1mG Couke20GenkGK6778£950kM Svilar19BenficaGK6778£900kM Travers20BournemouthGK6478£775kC Sanchez19Sporting GijonGK6378£600kR Hoffmann20Bayern MunichGK6378£600kD Horkas20Dinamo ZagrebGK6278£525kM Bulka19PSGGK6078£350kK Klaesson18ValerengaGK6078£325kE Balcombe19BrentfordGK6078£350kS Laiton19AuxerreGK6078£350kL Ntumba18DijonGK5878£200kL Ingolotti19AldosiviGK5878£200kT Vettorel18CittadellaGK5878£200kJ Blazquez19TalleresGK5878£200kL Kasten19WolfsburgGK5878£200k

Gianluigi Donnarumma starts FIFA 20 as an excellent shot-stopper but can develop into the world’s best after a few years. His potential rating of 92 is higher than the best current ability of any other goalkeeper in the game, with Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak rated 91 in this year’s version.

Porto’s Diogo Costa had been one of the best bargains at the goalkeeper position as he could become 86 rated at the launch of FIFA 20, but recent database updates have seen him receive a downgrade to his potential ability, meaning 82 overall is his target potential. An excellent option could be Manchester City’s Gavin Bazunu, who may be available to teams outside the top division due to his low current ability and age.

FIFA 20: Best Young Defenders

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NameAgeClubPO.CRPRVA.M de Ligt19JuventusCB8592£42.8mT Alexander-Arnold20LiverpoolRB8590£41.4mD Upamecano20RB LeipzigCB8089£18.9mI Konate20RB LeipzigCB7988£15mA Davies18Bayern MunichLB, RM, LM7788£11.3mW Saliba18ArsenalCB7588£9.9mR James19ChelseaRB, CDM7587£9.5mD Zagadou20Borussia DortmundCB, LB7986£14.4mJ Kounde20SevillaCB7786£12.6mO Kabak19SchalkeCB7786£10.8mE Tapsoba20Bayer LeverkusenCB7686£10,4mZ Vanheusden19Standard LiegeCB7586£9mJ Todibo19BarcelonaCB, CDM7386£6.3mM Simakan19StrasbourgCB, RB7286£5.4mM Kumbulla19Hellas VeronaCB, RB7286£5.4mB Williams18Man UtdLB, LWB7186£4.1mE Ampadu18ChelseaCB, CDM6886£1.5mM Kana16AnderlechtCB, CDM6686£1.1mL Stergiou17St GallenCB6386£675kA Bastoni20InterCB7585£9mDiogo Dalot20Man UtdRB, LB7585£9mE N’Dicka19Eintracht FrankfurtLB, CB7585£8.6mEmerson20Real BetisRB, RM, RWB7585£9mM Salisu20Real ValladolidCB7585£9mM Aarons19NorwichRB7385£5.9mL Pellegrini20CagliariLB7185£4.3mR Ait Nouri18AngersLB7085£3.1mEric Garcia18Man CityCB6985£1.8mJ Frimpong18CelticRB, RWB6885£1.5mJ Gvardiol17Dinamo ZagrebCB, LB6785£1.3mJ Vagnoman18HamburgRB, LM, LB6685£1.1mA Bella-Kotchap17BochumCB6385£675kP Retsos20Bayer LeverkusenCB, RB, LB7584£8.6mO Wijndal19AZ AlkmaarLB7484£7.2mN Perez19Atletico MadridCB7484£7.2mTomas Tavares18BenficaRB7284£4.2mNuno Tavares19BenficaLB, RB7184£3.7mD Popov20Dynamo KyivCB7184£3.8mJ Tanganga20SpursCB, RB, LB6984£2mTiago Djalo19LilleCB6984£1.9mN Katterbach18KolnLB6784£1.4mS van der Berg17LiverpoolCB6684£1mN Armini18LazioCB6684£1.1mN Collins18StokeCB6384£700kK Hoever17LiverpoolRB, CB6284£550kS Bornauw20KolnCB7583£8.1mV Mykolenko20Dynamo KyivLB7483£7.2mP Schuurs19AjaxCB7483£6.8mD Bradaric19LilleLB7383£5mPedro Porro19Man CityRB, RWB, RM7383£5mR van Drongelen20HamburgCB7383£5.4mDiogo Leite20PortoCB7283£4.2mB Sutalo19AtalantaCB7283£4.3mT Tomiyasu20BolognaRB, CB7283£4.4mL Cacace18Wellington PhoenixLB, LWB7283£4.1mT Kouassi17PSGCB, CDM7183£3.1mJ Bogle18DerbyRB7183£3.2mD Maresic19ReimsCB7183£3.4mI Diveev19CSKA MoscowCB7083£2.8mMujaid19Deportivo La CorunaRB, CB6983£1.9mA Chindris20BotosaniCB6983£2mN Ferguson18West BromRB, LB, CB6883£1.5mL Balerdi20Borussia DortmundCB6883£1.6mA Bernabei20LanusLB, LW, LM6783£1.4mJ Beyer19Borussia M’gladbachRB, CB6783£1.3mK Sardella17AnderlechtRB, LB6583£900kE Laird17Man UtdRB6583£900kManu Sanchez18Atletico MadridLB6483£800kT Harwood-Bellis17Man CityCB6083£400kL Matheson16RochdaleRB6083£400k

New Piemonte Calcio signing Matthijs de Ligt has a current and potential ability to match his real-life price tag and is unlikely to be put up for sale by the Old Lady in FIFA 20 Career Mode.

The Serie A side is referred to Piemonte Calcio in FIFA 20 due to an exclusive naming rights deal the club has with EA Sports’ rivals Konami for Pro Evolution Soccer. 

RB Leipzig centre-back pairing Ibahima Konate and Dayot Upamecano may be more willing to move clubs in Career Mode, while Dan-Axel Zagadou’s versatility makes the Borussia Dortmund defender an interesting target.

Eintracht Franfkurt’s Evan N’Dicka is similarly appealing as he can play in a number of positions across the backline, but is the same price as Manchester United’s Diogo Dalot and may be out of some club’s budgets. Benfica’s Nuno Tavares is a more affordable option with a value of £3.7 million.

Bayer Leverkusen’s Panagiotis Retsos and Sputs’ Japhet Tanganga are two versatile and relatively cheap options if you can convince their clubs to sell. Both players can reach 84 overall and can play in all three defensive positions.

FIFA 20: Best Young Midfielders

NameAgeClubPO.CRPRVA.J Sancho19Borussia DortmundRM, LM, CAM8694£57.2mK Havertz20Bayer LeverkusenCAM, RM8493£43.7mS Tonali19BresciaCDM, CM7791£16.2mF Valverde20Real MadridCM, CDM8290£29.3mP Foden19Man CityCAM, CM7789£14.5mB Saka17ArsenalLM, RM7489£9.9mPedri16Las PalmasLM, CAM7289£5.4mM Odegaard20Real MadridCAM, RM, CM8288£27.5mFerran Torres19ValenciaRM, LM, CF7988£17.1mCucurella20GetafeLM, LB7988£17.6mE Palacios20Bayer LeverkusenCM, RM, CAM7888£14.9mJ David19GentCAM, ST7788£13.5mM Ihatteren17PSVCAM, RW7688£10.8mA Hlozek16Sparta PrahaRM, ST, LM7488£9.9mT Almada18Velez SarsfieldCAM, CM, LW7288£10.4mA Hakimi20Real MadridRM, RB, LB8287£27mM Mount20ChelseaCAM, CM, RW7987£16.7mB Kamara19MarseilleCDM, CB7887£13.1mM Diaby19Bayer LeverkusenLM7887£14mN Zaniolo19RomaCAM, RM7787£12.6mD Szoboszlai18Red Bull SalzburgLM, RM, CAM7487£9mM Caqueret19LyonCM, CDM7387£7.7mRomario Baro19PortoRM, CAM7387£7.7mY Verschaeren17AnderlechtCAM, CM, RW7387£7.2mT Kubo18Real MadridRM, CM, CAM7187£4.4mRiqui Puig19BarcelonaCM7187£4.4mR Gravenberch17AjaxCM, CDM7087£3.2mD Rice20West HamCDM, CB, CM7886£12.6mD McNeil19BurnleyLM7786£12.2mK Diatta20Club BruggeRM, LM7786£12.6mS Chukwueze20VillarrealRM7786£12.6mM Guendouzi20ArsenalCM, CDM7786£11.3mT Adams20RB LeipzigCDM, RWB7686£10.4mKangin Lee18ValenciaCAM, LM, RM7686£11mFlorentino19BenficaCDM, CM7686£9.9mW McKennie20SchalkeCM, CB, CAM7686£11mA Mac Allister20BrightonCAM, CM7586£11.3mR Sessegnon19SpursLM, LW, LB7586£9.7mE Camavinga16RennesCM7586£9mGustavo Assuncao19FamalicaoCDM7486£8.1mPaulinho18Bayer LeverkusenRM, CAM7486£8.6mTete19Shakhtar DonetskRM, CAM7386£6.8mM Solomon19Shakhtar DonetskRM, LM, CAM7186£4.5mH Traore19EmpoliCAM, CM7186£4.5mA Urzi19BanfieldLM, CM, RM7186£4.5mF Pellestri17PenarolRM, RW7086£3.2mD Caceido19Deportivo CaliRM6886£1.7mR Matondo18SchalkeLM, ST, RM6886£1.6mG Reyna16Borussia DortmundLM, CAM6686£1.2mB Gilmour18ChelseaCM, CAM6686£1.2m

The Bundesliga’s top two young players are also FIFA 20’s best midfield prospects. Jadon Sancho can reach 94 overall and Kai Havertz has a potential rating of 93, but have pricetags to match their high ceiling and clubs will need to break the bank to sign them.

Thiago Almada was linked to Man City in real life as one of South America’s most exciting young players. He will also be hugely in demand in FIFA 20 as the 18-year-old midfielder can also play up front and on the wing and is valued at just over £10m at the start of Career Mode.

Adam Hlozek is just 16 when you begin a new career and despite costing £9.9m for a 74-rated player, has the potential to become one of the best midfielders in the game. The Sparta Prague teenager can play on either side of midfield as well as a central striker.

FIFA 20: Best Young Forwards

NameAgeClubPO.CRPRVA.K Mbappe20PSGST, RW8995£84.2mJoao Felix19Atletico MadridCF, ST, LM8093£25.2mVinicius Jr18Real MadridLW7992£20.3mRodrygo18Real MadridRW, LW7891£16.7mE Haland18Red Bull SalzburgST8090£20.3mAnsu Fati16BarcelonaLW, RW7390£7.2mRenier17Real MadridCF, CAM7290£5.4mB Saka17ArsenalLW, LB, RW7489£9.9mM Greenwood17Man UtdST, RM7389£7.2mV Osimhen20LilleST7888£15.3mF Trincao19BragaRW, LW7588£11.3mM Boadu18AZ AlkmaarST7588£10.8mC Hudson-Odoi18ChelseaRW, LW7488£10.4mGabriel Martinelli18ArsenalLW, LM, ST7488£10.4mJ Doku17AnderlechtRW, LW6987£1.9mS Esposito16InterST6787£1.4mH Elliott16LiverpoolRW6487£900kC Pulisic20ChelseaLW, RW, LM8086£18.5mA Isak19Real SociedadST7886£13.5mD Malen20PSVST, LW7786£12.6mC Stengs20AZ AlkmaarRW7786£12.6mRafael Leao20LilleST7586£10.1mBrahim19Real MadridLW, RW7486£9mD Kulusevski19ParmaRW, CAM7386£6.8mRafael Camacho19Sporting CPRW7186£4.5mM Kudus18NordsjaellandCF, CM7186£4.4mFabio Silva16PortoST7086£3.2mJoao Pedro17WatfordST, LM7086£3.2mMoise Kean18EvertonST7585£9.5mM Cunha20RB LeipzigST, CAM7585£9.9mB Mbueno19BrentfordRW, ST, RM7485£8.6mE Barco20Atalanta UnitedLW, CF7485£8.6mP De la Vega18LanusRW7185£4.4mJ Alvarez19River PlateST, RW7185£4.5mE Nketiah20ArsenalST7085£3.5mA Gouiri19LyonST6985£2.1mA Kutucu19SchalkeST, CF, RW6885£1.7mK Adeyemi17RB SalzburgST, LW, RW6785£1.4mN Madueke17PSVRW, CAM6685£1.2mT Parrott17SpursST6485£900kK Dembele16CelticRW6485£875kP Daka20RB SalzburgST7584£9.5mL Sinisterra20FeyenoordLW, RW, ST7484£8.1mPedro Mendes19Sporting CPST7284£5mG Plata18Sporting CPLW, RW7284£4.5mJ Macias19GuadalajaraST7284£5mPedro Neto19WolvesLW, CF7184£4mA Gaich20San LorenzoST7184£4.1mH Evjen19AZ AlkmaarRW, CAM7184£4mI Aliseda19Chicago FireLW, RW, ST7084£3.4mAbel Ruiz19BarcelonaST, LW7084£3.4mT Weah19LilleST, LM6984£2mA Marin18Dinamo ZagrebLW, RW, CAM6684£1.4mJ Zirkzee18Bayern MunichST, CAM, CF6684£1.2mF Correia18AZ AlkmaarRW, LW6684£1.2mA Idah18NorwichST6584£1mR Piccoli18AtalantaST6484£900k

Once again, Kylian Mbappe is one of the best players in the game and has the potential ability to match. He’s rated 89 overall at the start of Career Mode, so will be expensive or almost impossible to buy for nearly every club.

Joao Felix is a new arrival at Atletico Madrid for 2019-20 and thus they will not be willing to sell him during the first transfer window, but Manchester United’s Mason Greenwood may be available for a more reasonable fee and can be developed into one of the best strikers in FIFA 20.

When FIFA 20 was launched, new Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland was a Career Mode bargain and had an asking price of less than £2m, but recent database changes have seen his current and potential ability improve massively and he’s now worth more than £20m.

There is great value to be had in many of the strikers with 86 potential ability, especially if you are willing to throw them in at the deep end early in the game despite their relatively low current ratings. 

FIFA 20: Top 20 Wonderkids

#NameAgeClubPO.CRPRVA.1K Mbappe20PSGST, RW8995£84.2m2J Sancho19Borussia DortmundRM, LM, CAM8694£57.2m3Joao Felix19Atletico MadridCF, ST, LM8093£25.2m4K Havertz20Bayer LeverkusenCAM, RM8493£43.7m5Vinicius Jr18Real MadridLW7992£20.3m6M de Ligt19JuventusCB8592£42.8m7G Donnarumma20AC MilanGK8592£35.6m8Rodrygo18Real MadridRW, LW7891£16.7m9S Tonali19BresciaCDM, CM7791£16.2m10F Valverde20Real MadridCM, CDM8290£29.3m11T Alexander-Arnold20LiverpoolRB8590£41.4m12E Haland18Red Bull SalzburgST8090£20.3m13Ansu Fati16BarcelonaLW, RW7390£7.2m14Renier17Real MadridCF, CAM7290£5.4m15D Upamecano20RB LeipzigCB8089£18.9m16P Foden19Man CityCAM, CM7789£14.5m17B Saka17ArsenalLM, RM7489£9.9m18Pedri16Las PalmasLM, CAM7289£5.4m19B Saka17ArsenalLW, LB, RW7489£9.9m20M Greenwood17Man UtdST, RM7389£7.2m

Unsurprisingly, Kylian Mbappe is the best wonderkid in FIFA 20, but Jadon Sancho comes close behind. The PSG forward can reach 95 overall, which is a higher rating than Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo start at – or can reach – in Career Mode.

Real Madrid have three of the top 10 wonderkids in FIFA 20, with Vincius Jr, Rodrygo and Federico Valverde all able to reach a rating of 90 or higher. The trio also have high current ratings, meaning that they can be first-team players from the very outset and form the core of Los Blancos’ XI for more than a decade.

Ansu Fati and Pedri are both 16 at the start of Career Mode, meaning they will have very long careers in the game with the Las Palmas midfielder having a relatively low pricetag when you begin your managerial career.