Gianluigi Donnarumma was the joint-highest rated wonderkid in FIFA 17, with a potential rating of 92. At 27, he has lived up to that promise more than most. The second-youngest goalkeeper to debut in Serie A, Donnarumma played over 250 times for AC Milan before moving on to PSG. There he won four Ligue 1 titles in as many seasons, lifted the Champions League trophy, and claimed the European Championship with Italy. He also holds the Yashin Trophy for the world’s best goalkeeper. Next on his list are a Premier League title with Manchester City and leading Italy back to the World Cup.
Timothy Fosu-Mensah was another standout in FIFA 17, backed by Louis van Gaal during his time at Manchester United. But after Van Gaal’s departure, Fosu-Mensah struggled to secure regular playing time. Loan spells at Crystal Palace and Fulham failed to kickstart his career. A serious knee ligament injury soon after joining Bayer Leverkusen ended any hopes of steady progress. He left the Bundesliga club in summer 2024 and remains without a club. He has not announced retirement, but his professional future looks bleak.
Malang Sarr’s career took a less straightforward path after leaving Nice for Chelsea in 2020. Despite four years at Stamford Bridge, he never broke into the first team and spent time on unremarkable loans. Returning to Ligue 1, he impressed for Lens during a season when they challenged PSG for the title and secured Champions League qualification. However, his latest move to Neom FC in the Saudi Pro League has drawn criticism for chasing financial rewards over sporting ambition.
Matthijs de Ligt has won league titles in Italy, Germany, and England, and came close to a Champions League final with Ajax. He has represented Juventus, Bayern Munich, and Manchester United, but his time at these clubs has been inconsistent. Juventus and Bayern offloaded him after form and fitness issues, while his spell in England has yet to reach the heights expected since his breakthrough nearly ten years ago. At 24, there remains time for a resurgence, but doubts linger.
Theo Hernandez’s journey began in Spain’s Atletico Madrid academy, despite being born in Marseille. He was on loan at Alaves when FIFA 17 launched and had yet to play for Marseille. Hernandez joined Real Madrid in 2017 but never became a first-team regular, leaving with a Champions League winner’s medal from his sole season there. Unlike his older brother Lucas, he missed France’s 2018 World Cup win and debuted internationally only in 2021. He starred for AC Milan’s surprise 2021-22 Serie A title before moving to Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal in his mid-twenties.
Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans, just shy of 30, has had a steady career. He broke through at Anderlecht with over 100 appearances by age 18. Tielemans has collected an FA Cup with Leicester City, a Europa League with Aston Villa, and helped Belgium to a third-place finish at the World Cup. Now at Manchester United, he faces the biggest challenge of his career, with hopes he can sustain his level for a few more years.
Argentine Esequiel Barco has never reached the same heights as some of his contemporaries. After starring for Independiente, he joined Atlanta United in MLS for a record $15 million in 2018. He won an MLS Cup, returned to Argentina to claim a Primera Division title with River Plate, and currently plays for Spartak Moscow, having lifted the Russian Cup last season. Despite intermittent silverware, Barco remains a lesser-known name on the global stage.
Gabriel Jesus was just arriving at Manchester City when FIFA 17 was released. Initially seen as a versatile forward able to play across the front line, he was deployed on the right wing in the game. His career since then includes multiple Premier League titles and domestic cups with City. He has also become a regular for Brazil, though his best position and role have been topics of debate. He remains an important figure in world football but has yet to reach the iconic status some predicted nearly a decade ago.
FIFA 17’s wonderkids offer a mix of fulfilled promise, stalled progress, and unexpected detours. Some, like Donnarumma, have risen to the top, while others, including Fosu-Mensah and Sarr, have struggled to find stability. The next few years will be crucial for players like De Ligt and Tielemans, who still have time to reshape their legacies.
According to Planet Football.