The Best Player in Every Football Manager Title: FM05 – FM26

Ready to take a trip back down memory lane? I’ve researched the best player (in terms of current ability) and the wonderkid with the highest potential (in terms of potential ability). Football Manager is known as the world’s best archive of football data, but how often have they got it right? We’ll start off with the most recent editions and go all the way back to 2005. The year when YouTube was launched, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was released as a film and the Xbox 360 was released. Feel old yet? Massive thanks has to go to The Mad Scientist – the Football Manager communities expert on retro databases – who managed to help me with some of the trickier older editions. But, without further ado, let’s start with the most recent edition of the game. 

So, besides Callum Wilson, here are the best players in every Football Manager title

 

FM26 

 

CA – Kylian Mbappe 

PA – Lamine Yamal 

 

No surprises here. Lamine Yamal is the best wonderkid in the world and it’s not particularly close. I guess you could argue for Erling Haaland being the best player in the world – but I wouldn’t say Kylian Mbappe being top is particularly controversial.

 

 

FM24 

 

CA – Kevin de Bruyne

PA – Endrick 

 

FM23 

 

CA – Kevin de Bruyne 

PA – Endrick 

 

Endrick has been hyped by Football Manager for a long time. He might not have reached the explosive heights of Lamine Yamal just yet, but there’s no doubt he’s going to be an incredible talent.

 

 

FM 22 

 

CA – Lionel Messi 

PA – Erling Haaland 

 

FM 21

CA – Lionel Messi 

PA – Youssoufa Moukoko 

 

Who remembers how good Youssoufa Moukoko was?! He’s currently playing in Denmark for FC Copenhagen and hasn’t quite met the incredible heights we thought he was going to. 

 

 

FM 20 

CA – Lionel Messi 

PA – Kylian Mbappe 

 

 

FM19 

CA – Lionel Messi 

PA – Kylian Mbappe 

 

This is probably the peak for how good both the players are. Kylian Mbappe was one of the scariest teenagers on the planet and Lionel Messi needs no explanation. 

 

 

FM18 

CA – Cristiano Ronaldo 

PA – Gianluigi Donnarumma 

 

But we can’t talk about Lionel Messi without bringing in his GOAT rival Cristiano Ronaldo. It’s not the first time he’s been the best player in the world according to Football Manager as well. Shoutout to Gianluigi Donnarumma who makes the list twice as well – one of the only goalkeepers/defenders on the list. 

 

 

FM17 

CA – Lionel Messi 

PA – Gianluigi Donnarumma 

 

 

FM16 

CA – Lionel Messi 

PA – Anthony Martial 

 

With hindsight, this is absolutely wild. But at the time he was genuinely thought to be one of the best young players in the world and was incredibly exciting. He was so good that he had a Ballon d’Or clause put in his contract. Now he plays for Monterrey in Mexico. 

 

 

FM15  

CA – Lionel Messi 

PA – Martin Odegaard 

 

Martin Odegaard was a sensation when everyone found out about him. He also had to get written permission from his dad to appear in Football Manager the first time as he was too young. I thought he was going to burnout and not reach the heights expected but he’s developed into a brilliant player. 

 

 

FM14

Highest CA – Lionel Messi

Highest PA – Neymar

 

 

FM13

Highest CA – Lionel Messi

Highest PA – Neymar

Neymar. Indisputably the most exciting wonderkid of all time. It’s crazy that he might not have even reached his potential… and he’ll still go down as one of the greatest players ever. Additionally, you’ll notice that Lionel Messi features a lot more than Cristiano Ronaldo. 

 

 

FM12

Highest CA – Lionel Messi

Highest PA – Sergio Aguero

It’s wild to think of Sergio Aguero as a wonderkid – but back in 2012, that’s exactly what he was. 

 

 

FM11

Highest CA – Lionel Messi

Highest PA – Alphonse Areola

Along with Anthony Martial, this is probably the wildest name on this list. He’s obviously had a decent career. However, the best wonderkid in the whole game?! Crazy. 

 

 

FM10

Highest CA – Cristiano Ronaldo

Highest PA – Sergio Agüero

 

 

FM09

Highest CA – Kaka

Highest PA – Sergio Agüero

Finally, we’re out of the Lionel Messi/Cristiano Ronaldo domination era. Kaka definitely ruled as the best player in the world for a few years before those two burst onto the scene.

 

 

FM08

Highest CA – Kaka

Highest PA – Lionel Messi

I don’t think many in 2008 realised just how ridiculous this up and coming wonderkid called Lionel Messi would be over his career. 

 

 

FM07

Highest CA – Kaka

Highest PA – Wayne Rooney

 

 

FM06

Highest CA – Ronaldinho

Highest PA – Wayne Rooney

After Neymar, Wayne Rooney has got to be one of the most exciting wonderkids. He burst onto the scene and looked like a monster from the age of 17. Everyone remembers that iconic FIFA cover with Ronaldinho and Wayne Rooney on. I wish there was a way of knowing you were in the good old days, whilst you were still in them 

 

 

FM05

Highest CA – Ronaldinho

Highest PA – Wayne Rooney

 

 

Conclusion 

So there you have it. The best player and wonderkid going back 20 years. Are there any inclusions that shocked you?! Which players do you think should have got in instead?! Let me know in the comments!

 

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