Because of their potential, young players are so full of energy and excitement. Hope is one of the most marketable tools in all sports and it’s no different in FIFA 23.
The Athletic The rule has been run over the top FIFA 23 players to help you identify the young stars with the greatest potential to succeed in the game. The lowest potential rating is 89. The highest rating is 95.
At the moment, we are focusing on those who have the potential to be the best in the entire world. As more information becomes available, we will update this article with information on high-growth players.
You can also browse other articles written before FIFA 23 was launched here.
Kylian Mbappe
- Age: 23
- Position: ST
- Rated as an initial rating 91
- Potential rating 95
MbappeHe is one of five players with a starting overall rating above 91. In other words, he’s one of the best FIFA 23 players. Signing him on career mode won’t be cheap but if you can raise the finances, you need to get a deal done. You’ll be bringing in a 23-year-old with the ability to end up head and shoulders above just about every other player in the game.
Erling Haaland
- Age: 22
- Position: ST
- Rated as an initial rating 88
- Potential rating 94
Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester United all missed the opportunity to sign Haaland.Over the years. Don’t make the same mistake. His strength (87), pace (89), and shooting (91) qualities are all among the most impressive of all strikers in this game. He is likely to be better than Mbappe for FIFA 23 because he’s taller and stronger than the Frenchman. There is nothing the video-game version of Haaland won’t be able to do once he reaches his full potential.
The prolific Erling Haaland has a potential rating of 94 in FIFA 23’s career mode (Photo: James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
Pedri
- Age: 19
- Position: CM
- Rated as an initial rating 85
- Potential rating 93
FIFA 23 has rated Pedri as the top-rated player under 21 years old. He could, with the right career development, become the best midfielder of the game. The Barcelona youngster has drawn comparisons to Spanish legend and Camp Nou predecessor Andres Iniesta, and if you can nurture him so he reaches his 93 potential rating, you’ll soon have someone who unlocks defences with ease — just like Iniesta seemed to do on a weekly basis.
Phil Foden
- Age: 22
- Position: LW
- Rated as an initial rating 85
- Potential rating 92
Foden is just 22 years old. However, FIFA 23 is already his sixth appearance in the game. He was a raw prospect with a 65 overall rating in FIFA 18, the first year he was included, but in this year’s edition, he starts with a respectable 85 overall rating and plenty of potential to grow.
Vinicius Junior
- Age: 22
- Position: LW
- Rated as an initial rating 86
- Potential rating 92
There isn’t too much difference between Foden and Vinicius Junioras career-mode options in FIFA 23. Both players are of the same age (Foden less than two months earlier), have the same primary position and a potential overall rating for 92. Because I’m a self-confessed pace merchant when playing FIFA, I’d pick Vinicius over Foden, because he’s faster. You may be asking, “How much faster?” Allow me to defer to Carlos Abrantes, one of the Brazilian’s youth coaches at Flamengo, to answer that question: “They used to say that the only way to catch Vinicius was with a motorbike.”
Gianluigi Donnarumma
- Age: 23
- Position: GK
- Rated as an initial rating 88
- Potential rating 92
Manuel Neuer, Thibaut Courois EdersonJan Oblak AlissonAll have higher ratings than Donnarumma in FIFA 23 — but the man who saved the penalties that won the European Championship final for ItalyHe has the potential of surpassing all his fellow goalkeepers in career mode last summer. Italy coach Roberto Mancini once referred to Donnarumma as “the strongest goalkeeper in the world”. His in-game rating doesn’t back up that suggestion just yet but it could with the right development over time.
Kai Havertz
- Age: 23
- Position: CAM
- Rated as an initial rating 84
- Potential rating 91
Havertz joined ChelseaHe was optimistic that he would enjoy the attacking style of football played by Frank Lampard in September 2020. Scoring the winner in that season’s Champions LeagueFinal was able to support that belief in a significant way, but there is still a sense that some of his potential remains untapped, even though he has been with two managers. In FIFA 23 career mode, that shouldn’t prove too difficult.
Florian Wirtz
- Age: 19
- Position: CAM
- Rated as an initial rating 82
- Potential rating 91
Wirtz’s stock continues to rise as one of the Bundesliga’s brightest lights and the attacking midfielder has the quality to increase his overall rating by nine points in career mode. WirtzIf they achieve their full potential in FIFA 23, Havertz and his German compatriot Wirtz will be able to be rated 91/100. Wirtz is a professional football player. Bayer Leverkusen, the club Havertz left for his move to west London two years ago, he would typically be the cheaper option than trying to prise away one of Chelsea’s most expensive assets.
Dusan Vlahovic
- Age: 22
- Position: ST
- Rated as an initial rating 84
- Potential rating 91
Before he joined JuventusFiorentina fans called Vlahovic in January a “hunchback”, a derogatory term they used for players who left the club to play for the Turin giants. However, if you have a striker in your team who Can score any goal imaginable and is still young, it’s only a matter of time before a bigger club swoop in. In FIFA 23, that means Vlahovic won’t be as cheap as he was in earlier editions now he plays for Juventus, but the Serbian is worth the investment as a cheaper alternative to Haaland or Mbappe.
Juventus splashed the cash to reap the rewards of Vlahovic’s potential – and you could too (Photo: Giuliano Marchisciano/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images)
Jude Bellingham
- Age: 19
- Position: CM
- Rated as an initial rating 84
- Potential rating 91
It seems inevitable BellinghamOne day, we will follow the lead of Jadon SanchoErling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund to the Premier League. For now though, the Englishman is still on Dortmund’s books, which means his asking price in FIFA 23 won’t be as high as it perhaps should be considering how good he already he is and how good he could become in a few seasons.
Ansu Fati
- Age: 19
- Position: LW
- Rated as an initial rating 79
- Potential rating 90
“The first thing to say is that Ansu is still young. Let’s see where he is when he is 24 or 25.” Those are the words of former BarcelonaAlbert Puig was a youth coach when Fati described herself as a 17-year old in 2020. FIFA 23 allows you to speed up these forecasts by signing a player who will, according the video-game franchise, become one of top wingers around the world within the next six years.
Jamal Musiala
- Age: 19
- Position: CM
- Rated as an initial rating 81
- Potential rating 90
MusialaFoden is an example of his in that he has won numerous league titles and played at major international tournaments. Being able to cope with the demands of playing at a high level isn’t a factor in FIFA 23 but if it was, you’d have an excellent dribbler on your books who can also operate further forward in a No 10 role.
Rafael Leao
- Age: 23
- Position: LW
- Rated as an initial rating 84
- Potential rating 90
This Portuguese winger was last season’s Serie AMVP is described by his AC Milan manager Stefano Pioli as a player who “has everything”. Leao’s 84 overall rating means he’d have no problem holding down a starting role in career mode and his 91 pace rating is music to the ears of anyone who refuses to operate with slow attacking players when they play FIFA.
Joao Felix
- Age: 22
- Position: SS
- Rated as an initial rating 84
- Potential rating 90
FelixHe has been a player who thrives in large games, which Atletico Madrid eventually lost to. His €127million (£111m, $126m today) move to the Spanish capital from Benfica in 2019 has had its ups and downs, but his potential is there for all to see. If you think you can unlock his true ability in FIFA 23, he’s worth a punt in career mode though he may come at a steep price.
Joao Felix won’t come cheap but has plenty of potential to still unlock (Photo: Berengui/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Sandro Tonali
- Age: 22
- Position: CDM
- Rated as an initial rating 84
- Potential rating 90
Tonali is often referred to as the next Andrea Pirlo, but the AC Milan midfielder at 22 has a fluid style and can play in a variety of roles. He can pick a pass and has enough speed and physicality to make sure he isn’t caught out too often. He is a high growth prospect who has been in the spotlight since his time at Brescia. Having moved on to Milan in 2020, he is now more of a complete player — but also someone who will cost more money to sign in FIFA 23.
Alessandro Bastoni
- Age: 23
- Position: CB
- Rated as an initial rating 84
- Potential rating 90
Bastoni was a lifelong Inter Milan lover and was involved in a move to Tottenham HotspurThis summer, he decided to remain at the club that he grew-up supporting. He is one of Italy’s best defenders and still only 23, which makes him an ideal signing in career mode in FIFA 23. Bastoni offers a cheaper option than going after the likes Virgil van Dijk Ruben Dias.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
- Age: 23
- Position: RB
- Rated as an initial rating 87
- Potential rating 90
Alexander-Arnold is currently the highest-rated right back in FIFA 23. He still has some points to improve his ranking. He won’t be cheap but that is to be expected given he’s won every trophy possible with Liverpool.
Ryan Gravenberch
- Age: 20
- Position: CM
- Rated as an initial rating 79
- Potential rating 89
“Ryan Gravenberch is a young, highly interesting player who lots of Europe’s top clubs would’ve liked to have signed,” said Bayern Munich chief executive Oliver Kahn upon Gravenberch’s arrival at the Allianz Arena this summer. Kahn is absolutely right in suggesting that other clubs wanted to sign the midfielder, who was played over 100 times at Ajax under Erik ten Ha, to their team.
Bayern’s Ryan Gravenberch won’t come cheap but can increase his rating in career mode by 10 points (Photo: Boris Streubel/Getty Images)
Eduardo Camavinga
- Age: 19
- Position: CM
- Rated as an initial rating 79
- Potential rating 89
Camavinga needs little introduction after Real Madrid was the eventual winner of the Champions League thanks to his efforts in this competition.Last season. The Frenchman is a formidable tackler who can effortlessly pass opponents when he’s in possession of the ball. It shouldn’t be difficult for him to become one the most respected midfielders in FIFA 23, within a few years.
Gavi
- Age: 18
- Position: CM
- Rated as an initial rating 79
- Potential rating 89
If I had to choose between signing one of the young midfielders prodigies from the Real Madrid and Barcelona squads, I’d try for Camavinga, who is three inches (9cm) taller than Gavi and also has the higher physicality rating in FIFA 23. Still, you could do a lot worse than choosing to sign Gavi — a player who, once all is said and done, will be in the conversation for the best midfielder in the game within a few seasons on career mode.
Vitinha
- Age: 22
- Position: CM
- Rated as an initial rating 79
- Potential rating 89
Wolves had the chance to sign Vitinha for £17million ($19m) a year ago but They chose not to exercise the option they had with PortoAfter signing him as a loan. Paris Saint-Germain was able to land him for twice that amount this summer. He’s been compared to Joao Moutinho and is a player of immense promise — as that potential rating of 89 in FIFA 23 would suggest.
(Top photos left to right; Rafael Leao. Phil Foden. Florian Wirtz. Getty Images.
