FIFA 16 Wonderkids to Propel Your Career Mode Team to Stardom

As if there were every any lingering doubt, the sports season is upon us ladies and gentlemen, and now that EA Sports has debuted the latest instalment in its soccer juggernaut with FIFA 16, fans of the evergreen simulator have had time to acclimatize to the various tweaks and gameplay changes.

Boasting an overhauled dribbling system, enhanced graphics and one of the best single-player modes in the business, it’s little wonder why the latest entry in the series nailed a 9.0 in our glowing review.

But now that we’ve dabbled with the frighteningly addictive Career Mode and yelled at our TV more than we care to admit, what players resonated with us the most? Indeed if we were to future-proof our chosen soccer team with a roster of young wonderkids, who would top the list?

Fear not: we’ve sifted through the vast swathes of players across the four corners of the footballing world and selected 7 candidates that could either walk straight into your team, or be coached into a bona fide world-beater.

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Time to Break the Bank!
Michy Batshuayi (ST)

Age: 22

Rating: 78

Best Attribute: Jumping - 83

It’s truly staggering that, at 22, Marseille’s Michy Batshuayi takes home the ‘Oldest Player’ award on our list (is that really an award?), but there’s no question that the striker has benefited from the additional experience on the pitch.

Before being drafted into the French league, Batshuayi whipped up a storm at Standard Liege, netting 40 in just north of 90 appearances — a sound record, no doubt. One of the Belgian’s defining qualities has been coming off the bench to score late in games. Every team needs a Super Sub, and you’ll search far and wide for a more effective, efficient and explosive striker than Batshuayi.
Martin Odegaard (CAM)

Age: 16

Rating: 69

Best Attribute: Agility - 82

At the ripe old age of 16, Martin Odegaard fast became one of the most-talked about players in world football earlier this year when he sealed a deal to join the biggest team on the planet: Real Madrid. When Madrid dumped close to $12 million on an adolescent youngster, it’s worth standing up and taking notice.

Harboring the potential to become a footballing prodigy, the Norweigean has already represented his country on the pitch, and notched up an impressive goal tally from midfield. Back in May, Odegaard made his first appearance in Real Madrid’s famous white shirt, becoming the youngest debutant in the club’s history. We get the feeling that won’t be the only record he’ll be breaking across his long and fruitful career. Yes, you might have to settle for a loan spell to lure him away from the Bernabeu, but oh what a season that could be for your team.
Ruben Neves (CM)

Age: 18

Rating: 74

Best Attribute: Passing - 78

One of the golden rules of the beautiful game is that, no matter how good a striker is, it's often the playmaker behind them that allows them to shine. Think David Beckham and Van Nistelrooy or Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, fantastic partnerships that would strike fear in any defender.

And so, if you're looking for that instrumental youngster to help galvanize your squad, look no further than Portuguese midfielder, Ruben Neves.

Among his many promising talents, Neves' USP is undoubtedly his passing ability, allowing him to sweep the ball across the pitch with relative ease.

Having a rating of 74 at only 18 years of age is no mistake, and we'd heartily recommend him for your squad.
Daniele Rugani (CB)

Age: 20

Rating: 78

Best Attribute: Interceptions - 83

Now, while we’ve spotlighted some of the best talent available at the top end of the pitch, it’s time to beef up the defence — you can’t have an unbalanced team now, can you? Having served as a reliable rock for Juventus since joining the club’s youth team in 2012, Rugani certainly fits the bill.

An Italian through and through, Rugani has been likened to the country’s most seasoned defenders including Nesta, Paolo Maldini and the feisty Fabio Cannavaro. His physicality and pace are arguably the two areas of his game that need fine-tuning, but at only 20, the Juventus starlet is a reliable and sturdy addition to help form the spine of your squad.
Raheem Sterling (CAM)

Age: 20

Rating: 82

Best Attribute: Pace - 93

Liverpool fans, look away now. Yes, after serving in Brendan Rodgers’ nail-biting league campaign that almost -- almost -- clinched the league title in 2013/14, the English speedster transfered to Manchester City to much backlash. But there’s a reason the Blues forked out an eye-watering £49 million for Sterling, and that reason makes him an indispensable purchase for your team.

Boasting a blistering 93 pace attribute, Sterling is one of the fastest players in the entire game, and his forward runs can be devastating in the right hands. As one of the more high-profile stars among our picks, pursuing the speedster could mean breaking the bank. But for a 20-year-old proven winger, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone better.
Simone Scuffet (GK)

Age: 19

Rating: 72

Best Attribute: Reflexes - 83

Unless you’re a loyal advocate of the Italian league Serie A, chances are you’ve never heard of Simone Scuffet — but here’s why you should. This is a keeper that’s often discussed in the same breath as the near-incomparable Gianluigi Buffon, with the legendary stopper even singling out Scuffet as one to keep an eye on for the future.

Currently enjoying a loan spell to Como from Udinese, the 19-year-old shot-stopper isn’t the finished article just yet, with dividing, handling and kicking all areas that need worked on. Even still, goalkeepers are the players in soccer than can remain between the sticks long into their late 30s and early 40s. For Scuffet, his career is only beginning. Besides, if Buffon’s recommended him, then surely he’s a must-buy, right?
Memphis Depay (LW)

Age: 21

Rating: 81

Best Attribute: Pace - 90

For all intents and purposes, Manchester United fans were walking in Memphis when the English giant announced the signing of Dutch international starlet during the summer. Arriving in North East England for a fee in the region of $38 million, Depay is, much like Sterling before him, one of the more starry names on the list.

What separates him from the City man, though, is his brute strength. With 85 dribbling and that all-important 90 pace stat, Depay can terrorise the left flank with relative ease, and if you’re wanting to cause your opposition problems from the wings, he’s the perfect addition. Far from the finished product, regular coaching can improve key weaknesses such as crossing and heading, nurturing the Dutch international into a real star.