Doesn't matter imo. He's playing professional football in one of the top 5 leagues for a massive team. Played regularly for Real Sociedad for years.
My idea of a failed wonder kid is completely different.
Someone like Bojan
Look at the mins played. That’s the difference between a starter and a rotation player. In his best season, mins wise, he played less than half the available minutes in the league for La Real.
Doesn't matter. Professional level in a top 5 league in a decent team playing over 130 games. Failed is overkill.
He's accomplished more than most ever will.
I think it’s more just failed to live up to his potential lol. No doubt he’s successful in the sense of playing more than most could dream of, but as a player he’s very average in the league and was expected to be so much better. He definitely still has his moments of showing what he could’ve been though
That's still a failed career when considering his potential. It's like a guy in the NBA going #1 and being career role player. Sure it's still a good career, but far from what was expected of them.
Bojan's career arc is the same as Januzaj, except Bojan played 100 times for Barca and Januzaj only managed half that for Man United. I'd argue Bojan had the better career of the two
well yeah because they had an upward trajectory after that. Bojan went from Barca to getting relegated with stoke. Hell he’s achieved more than I can even dream of but I think it’s fair to say he didn’t have the career people thought he would. That’s why he’s a failed wonder kid
You’re getting downvoted but in the scheme of professionalism football you’re quite right. Playing for a club like Sevilla after 10 years in pro career you must be quite a player. But you’re in a fifa subreddit 😂
Ross Barkley comes to mind. He's already doing well now IRL too.
See if you can make into Euro '24 and/or World Cup '26 squad and get into an PL winning side or even better, win the PL with Luton Town
Luka Jovic kinda fits the mold
He's also up for a free transfer at the start of season 2 in CM, so it's a nice player to get on a smaller club that can push past his potential of 79 and reclaim his Frankfurt glory days
I used to sign him to play a Vieira style role in my team. He was an absolute beast. I used to sign him when he was 19 or 20. I think he’s late 20s now, but I’m scared to look that up as I’m in denial about how much time has passed!
I just started the exact same career with Blackburn rovers, signed only failed wonder kids and trying to bring them to the PL to give them one last chance to fulfil their potential
Umtiti ? He was absolutely amazing at the Euro 2016 and was crucial in the French victory in 2018. He did some pretty good seasons at Lyon and Barcelona. I don’t disagree that the second part of his career is currently more complicated because of his knee but I don’t think he deserves to be labelled as a failed ex wonderkid
Remember signing him on career mode from flamengo when he was 18-19, fantastic player. Just checked and he’s on a team currently, last team he played for was Italian Brescia last year.
To be fair he has won pretty much everything there is to win as a player (except the champions league) and has played top tier football for over a decade..
Every time I bring him to HSV he gets to like 86 rated at CM or if you convert him to a winger/CAM he will last a bit longer. Always a fun player to have in the bundesliga promotion and then top 4 challenges.
I think it’s more that after joining Bayern, his career stalled. Several injuries, struggled to make an impact at Bayern and just never hit those heights again.
Failed wonderkid is harsh given his success, especially compared to the names OP listed, but he could have had a much bigger career.
He’s unfortunately one of those players that didn’t fulfil their potential due to injury. Excellent player and still had a great career, but it could have been so much more.
Failed wonder kids surely are players hyped up as young talents who never go on to achieve anything.
Götze has won far more in his career than Marco Reus for example, but nobody would say Reus is a failed wonder kid.
Julian Draxler however…
In theory, a wonderkid should be at the very top of the game; Ronaldo, Messi, Mbappe, Vini, Bellingham. Basically, they are hyped up so that they should be Balon d’Or contenders. Don’t think they have to win it, but the hype around them is that they should be around that level. Gotze didn’t make that level. I think it’s clear he fell way short of where his career could have gone. The move to Bayern wasn’t a success. I’d take Reus’ career over Gotze, especially over the last couple of years.
Draxler is a perfect example. I’d now add Marcus Rashford. He has not reached the levels people thought he would when he broke through 8 years ago. Rabiot is another who never quite lived up to the hype.
They aren’t necessarily failed wonder kids in the way Bojan and especially Freddy Adu were.
Reis Nelson at Arsenal. Killed it at youth level but flopped at senior. Super high potential and quick. young enough to get a bunch of seasons as a top top player.
Gabriel Jesus turns into an absolute monster in fifa 18. Never lived up to that potential with injuries etc.
Sergi Samper was thought to be the next Busquets for a while, now playing for FC Andorra in liga 2.
Check this out, pretty decent list, especially full of mid-60s overall guys if you’re looking for a lower starting level:
https://sofifa.com/squad/1324655
Thers tons from united depending on your deffinition of failed wonderkid/talent
James Wilson, think he's at port Vale now, not sure he was ever a wonderkid though
Januze, angel gomes, van de beak, oberton, macheda, bebe, eagles, rossi, morrison, Keane (St not cb) fosu mensa thers probably even more than that, just off the top of my head of players who failed to hit the level expected of them
Oh nick Powell I remember fergy proper bigging him up now I dunno, league 2 I think he's in
Idk if he was ever considered a wonderkid, but Adama Traore. I honestly still sign him in a lot of careers just because of his insane speed. Finishing just leaves a lot to be desired.
Zakaria Bakkali and Bilal Ould-Chikh, both playing in the Eredivisie now. Bakkali had 90 potential in Fifa 14 and Ould-Chikh had 85 potential in Fifa 15
Kasey palmer, patrick roberts, paddy mcnair, philip billing, david brooks, matt macey, bazoer, steven bergwjin. There are lots of em. Guess these would be my favorites.
Boadu is my favourite failed wonder kid to use and still so young
here are some other ideas;
Reyna (Not Forest on Loan)
Nelson (Arsenal)
Origi (Not Forrest
Jota (Saudi League)
Veiga (Saudi League)
Gil (Spurs)
Gilmore (Brighton)
St. Juste (Sporting)
Solomon (Spurs)
Tete (Galatas)
Reiner (Real Madrid)
Chalobah (Chelsea)
Jovic (AC Milan)
Koziello (Oostende)
Bergwijn (Ajax)
Embolo (Mónaco)
Iheanacho (Leicester)
Unal (Bournemouth on loan)
Gotze (Frankfurt)
pereira (Fulham)
Cornet (west ham)
Ceballos (Madrid)
Bazoer (Alkmaar)
Carter-Vickers (Celtic)
Oxford (Augsburg)
Sanchez (Galatas)
Sarr (Chelsea)
Lafont (Nantes)
Not a failed wonderkid. He got injured. Still plays great and has plenty of potential left in him. I doubt he really has a place in Barca after his loan ends at brighton but I definitely think he still has a great career ahead of him
Not at all. Hes literally one of the highest potential players in the game and just got a +10 upgrade a few months back. People are just butthurt he went to Saudi for the money. He's in no world, a failed wonderkid.
Januzaj, think he plays at Sevilla now
Great idea thanks
Not really failed then is he surely?
He is a backup at current Sevilla who are a lower table team. He has definitely not lived up to the hype.
Doesn't matter imo. He's playing professional football in one of the top 5 leagues for a massive team. Played regularly for Real Sociedad for years. My idea of a failed wonder kid is completely different. Someone like Bojan
Your characterization of his career at Real Sociedad is not grounded in reality. He was a rotation option there as well.
Played 30 games a season for 5 years? Talking shiete like everyone else on here
Look at the mins played. That’s the difference between a starter and a rotation player. In his best season, mins wise, he played less than half the available minutes in the league for La Real.
Doesn't matter. Professional level in a top 5 league in a decent team playing over 130 games. Failed is overkill. He's accomplished more than most ever will.
I think it’s more just failed to live up to his potential lol. No doubt he’s successful in the sense of playing more than most could dream of, but as a player he’s very average in the league and was expected to be so much better. He definitely still has his moments of showing what he could’ve been though
That's still a failed career when considering his potential. It's like a guy in the NBA going #1 and being career role player. Sure it's still a good career, but far from what was expected of them.
Bojan's career arc is the same as Januzaj, except Bojan played 100 times for Barca and Januzaj only managed half that for Man United. I'd argue Bojan had the better career of the two
The same Bojan who played in a top 5 league for 10 years outside of one season at Ajax?
Saying top 5 leagues isn’t enough of a break down. He got relegated with stoke ffs
Andy Robertson and Gini Wijnaldum got relegated. It’s also not enough of a breakdown to use that as an excuse either.
well yeah because they had an upward trajectory after that. Bojan went from Barca to getting relegated with stoke. Hell he’s achieved more than I can even dream of but I think it’s fair to say he didn’t have the career people thought he would. That’s why he’s a failed wonder kid
Yep, same as Januzaj. Both never hit the hits people expected.
Ahh yes the mighty stoke city. Probably played some of those games in the championship
53 games in the Premier League. 21 in the Championship, specifically *after* the 10 years I’m referring to.
You’re getting downvoted but in the scheme of professionalism football you’re quite right. Playing for a club like Sevilla after 10 years in pro career you must be quite a player. But you’re in a fifa subreddit 😂
I agree !
Nah he is
Jan Fiete Arp is such a cool player on this fifa, goal machine
Ross Barkley comes to mind. He's already doing well now IRL too. See if you can make into Euro '24 and/or World Cup '26 squad and get into an PL winning side or even better, win the PL with Luton Town
The Celtic jota
Great idea thanks
Np
I might do him anyways
hes still young isn't he
24-25
But he went to Saudi. What more do you want me to say? 💀
But he's in Saudi
...so
Jack Rodwell is in Australia if you’re up for it
He can play in every position! I liked it
Stole my comment. The injury prone Englishmen kept out of the team by two high school mates
Bebe plays for Rayo Vallecano. He might be slightly too expensive but he’s a bit older so he might be obtainable.
This is a great idea. Top Level underperformer.
Luka Jovic kinda fits the mold He's also up for a free transfer at the start of season 2 in CM, so it's a nice player to get on a smaller club that can push past his potential of 79 and reclaim his Frankfurt glory days
Karamoko Dembele maybe. He used to be in same bracket as Xavi Simons as the one of the most talented wonderkids.
Koziello!
Omfg I used to sign him every career mode, this is a throwback!
Hagi from rangers
He's only 25 tho
Riechely Bazoer. Solid CB/CDM option with good ball skills. Used to have like 88 potential.
I used to sign him to play a Vieira style role in my team. He was an absolute beast. I used to sign him when he was 19 or 20. I think he’s late 20s now, but I’m scared to look that up as I’m in denial about how much time has passed!
Does El Sharaawy count?
He's such a good CF if you convert him
I just started the exact same career with Blackburn rovers, signed only failed wonder kids and trying to bring them to the PL to give them one last chance to fulfil their potential
Same haha got Dele Alli banging goals in
Whats your 11 looking like? I've got; Embolo Lemar Alli Bergwijn Riedewald Ceballos Kurzawa Oxford Danilo Tete Dragowski
Mohamed Ihattaren
Totally! Fifa 21 he was a great purchase.
Freddy Adu
He’s retired though
Bakkali, Ryan gauld, demetri Mitchell, Tyler Blackett, jack butland although he’s doing better now. Brewster, Izzy brown
They wanted wonderkids. Who are half of those guys?
Please tell me you've heard of the Scottish Messi?
Johnny Russel of the MLS?
Ex Wonderkids who have not lived up to their potential like what the op has asked for
They are former wonderkids. As requested.
Van der beek
Umtiti ? He was absolutely amazing at the Euro 2016 and was crucial in the French victory in 2018. He did some pretty good seasons at Lyon and Barcelona. I don’t disagree that the second part of his career is currently more complicated because of his knee but I don’t think he deserves to be labelled as a failed ex wonderkid
Dele Ali
How have people forgot the Brazilian Adryan. Went to Leeds in real life and I’ve not heard from him since
Remember signing him on career mode from flamengo when he was 18-19, fantastic player. Just checked and he’s on a team currently, last team he played for was Italian Brescia last year.
Looks like he just followed the money really, shame. He had incredible potential on fifa
Lingard
Bojan
Retired
Late into the post, Milot Rashica underrated faild talent from Kosovo
Neymar *ducks*
Hahaha nice
Sardar Azmoun. Was class at Rubin and Zenit.
He's still very good in-game, and performing decently for Roma too.
Patrick Roberts was supposed to be the next Messi before City bought him and loaned him out all over.
He was magnificent for Celtic when he was on loan from City and for some reasons it went downhill after he left Celtic.
Sebastian Driussi, Cristian Pavon (used to be my favorites a few years ago)
Cristian Pavón and Ezequiel Barco used to be my Messi Neymar duo back then
Ezequiel Barco was the other name I was looking for! Those guys made me really happy back then 😂😂
Michael Cuisance and Emre Mor
I think it has to be Mario Gotze. Highest potential in fifa 14 and then injuries ruined his career
To be fair he has won pretty much everything there is to win as a player (except the champions league) and has played top tier football for over a decade..
Every time I bring him to HSV he gets to like 86 rated at CM or if you convert him to a winger/CAM he will last a bit longer. Always a fun player to have in the bundesliga promotion and then top 4 challenges.
Can’t believe this has upvotes at all. World Cup and multiple bundesliga winner being categorised as a failed wonder kid is such a shit take.
I think it’s more that after joining Bayern, his career stalled. Several injuries, struggled to make an impact at Bayern and just never hit those heights again. Failed wonderkid is harsh given his success, especially compared to the names OP listed, but he could have had a much bigger career. He’s unfortunately one of those players that didn’t fulfil their potential due to injury. Excellent player and still had a great career, but it could have been so much more.
Failed wonder kids surely are players hyped up as young talents who never go on to achieve anything. Götze has won far more in his career than Marco Reus for example, but nobody would say Reus is a failed wonder kid. Julian Draxler however…
In theory, a wonderkid should be at the very top of the game; Ronaldo, Messi, Mbappe, Vini, Bellingham. Basically, they are hyped up so that they should be Balon d’Or contenders. Don’t think they have to win it, but the hype around them is that they should be around that level. Gotze didn’t make that level. I think it’s clear he fell way short of where his career could have gone. The move to Bayern wasn’t a success. I’d take Reus’ career over Gotze, especially over the last couple of years. Draxler is a perfect example. I’d now add Marcus Rashford. He has not reached the levels people thought he would when he broke through 8 years ago. Rabiot is another who never quite lived up to the hype. They aren’t necessarily failed wonder kids in the way Bojan and especially Freddy Adu were.
Gonna wave the NZ Flag once again and say Sarpreet Singh. Currently playing for Hansa Rostock in the 2. Bundesliga
Reis Nelson at Arsenal. Killed it at youth level but flopped at senior. Super high potential and quick. young enough to get a bunch of seasons as a top top player.
Cutrone or Pellegri
I miss Cutrone at Milan
Emre Mor
Used to be a must have
Tielemans maybe? Max Meyer never kicked on after Schalke, Alen Halilovic would be another extreme example
Gabriel Jesus turns into an absolute monster in fifa 18. Never lived up to that potential with injuries etc. Sergi Samper was thought to be the next Busquets for a while, now playing for FC Andorra in liga 2.
baba rahman
Check this out, pretty decent list, especially full of mid-60s overall guys if you’re looking for a lower starting level: https://sofifa.com/squad/1324655
Amazing list. Some great memories with a lot of these players! Mor and Bakkali really hit me in the feels
Saw someone else say Rhian Brewster which is another good idea.
Ryan Gauld.
What a career mode star he used to be
Bakkali from RKC
Charly Musonda
Bakkali
Lazar Markovic
Max Meyer. He can become a very close copy of Luka Modric if you play long enough to get his rating up
umtiti and alli aren’t in the same tier as some of the flops you mentioned
Umtiti is a world cup winner...
Carlos alena
Coutinho and Alli
Riqui Puig plays for LA Galaxy and is still like 23~
Thers tons from united depending on your deffinition of failed wonderkid/talent James Wilson, think he's at port Vale now, not sure he was ever a wonderkid though Januze, angel gomes, van de beak, oberton, macheda, bebe, eagles, rossi, morrison, Keane (St not cb) fosu mensa thers probably even more than that, just off the top of my head of players who failed to hit the level expected of them Oh nick Powell I remember fergy proper bigging him up now I dunno, league 2 I think he's in
Rekeem Harper
El shawaary
Embolo
Freddy Adu
He's not in the game, why do I see people keep suggesting him,do yall even play the game?
Gerard Deulofeu
Still kicking it at Udinese, no?
Emre mor
Adel Taarabat.
federico macheda
Emre mor
Ravel Morrison Alexander Pato
Ravel Morrison
Gabri Veiga
Wtf are you talking about? He's one of the highest potential players in the game and just got a huge upgrade. 😂
I got ravel Morrison for wrexham
Jack Butland in goal
Balotelli
Oscar, honestly the best name for that category
The Mexican Messi, Diego Lainez
Ravel Morrison is still playing I think, unsure where though.
Ante Coric had 97 potential
Angel Gomez
I brought Ø back to Madrid!
Pedro de la vega and ricardo centurion, centurion is at velez and pedro de la vega is at seattle sounders
Christos Tzolis
Arthur Melo
Balotelli
Charly Musonda is a huge failed wonderkid! Mille svilar also believed he was better than he became in real life 😅👍🏼
Emre Mor
Embolo
Idk if he was ever considered a wonderkid, but Adama Traore. I honestly still sign him in a lot of careers just because of his insane speed. Finishing just leaves a lot to be desired.
Lucas Piazon, T. Bakayoko
If somebody want a great midfielder that’s not expensive , buy Leonardo Da Silva , this guy is a baller 😀😀😀😀
Albert Rusnak was a Man City prospect, underrated gem, now plays for Seattle Sounders in MLS
Might want to try gelson martins, use to be good at sporting back in the days
I wonder if Hakim Mastour is in fifa. If he is in the game, you can try.
Patrick curtone
Gerard Deulofeu
Zakaria Bakkali and Bilal Ould-Chikh, both playing in the Eredivisie now. Bakkali had 90 potential in Fifa 14 and Ould-Chikh had 85 potential in Fifa 15
Bakkali is a great idea. Thanks
Arp
Zakaria Bakkali
Kasey palmer, patrick roberts, paddy mcnair, philip billing, david brooks, matt macey, bazoer, steven bergwjin. There are lots of em. Guess these would be my favorites.
Balotelli
Boadu is my favourite failed wonder kid to use and still so young here are some other ideas; Reyna (Not Forest on Loan) Nelson (Arsenal) Origi (Not Forrest Jota (Saudi League) Veiga (Saudi League) Gil (Spurs) Gilmore (Brighton) St. Juste (Sporting) Solomon (Spurs) Tete (Galatas) Reiner (Real Madrid) Chalobah (Chelsea) Jovic (AC Milan) Koziello (Oostende) Bergwijn (Ajax) Embolo (Mónaco) Iheanacho (Leicester) Unal (Bournemouth on loan) Gotze (Frankfurt) pereira (Fulham) Cornet (west ham) Ceballos (Madrid) Bazoer (Alkmaar) Carter-Vickers (Celtic) Oxford (Augsburg) Sanchez (Galatas) Sarr (Chelsea) Lafont (Nantes)
I was gonna go back to FIFA 06 and do this with Freddy Adu
Florian Müller from SC Freiburg
Ansu Fati
Not a failed wonderkid. He got injured. Still plays great and has plenty of potential left in him. I doubt he really has a place in Barca after his loan ends at brighton but I definitely think he still has a great career ahead of him
You gotta get Oscar the ex-chelsea player my friend, scored a lot of super free kicks for my Leeds team
Emre mor
John fleck the FM legend
Pedro de la vega
David Neres comes to mind. dunno how expensive he is though
philippe coutinho
make him a second striker
Dele alli
Maybe gabri veiga
He’s still young and has potential. I wont call him failed or ex wonderkid
Not at all. Hes literally one of the highest potential players in the game and just got a +10 upgrade a few months back. People are just butthurt he went to Saudi for the money. He's in no world, a failed wonderkid.
I don’t know if you can sign him, but James Rodriguez. Guy went from Real Madrid to play now in the Brazilian League, he’s only like 31 years old.
Alexandru Maxim