Football Manager 2023 wonderkids are some of the best discoveries in the game.

These are the best young players available at the start of the new season in the game. and finding these players makes you feel like you immediately have the upper hand.

The only way you’re ever going to lead your team to championship glory in Football Manager - even if you’re taking over the likes of Barcelona and Manchester City - is by building a squad with long-term ambitions. That means having to use your scouting system to find the most talented players in the world.

We’ve gone through the efforts of finding these young and future greats, and collected 50 of the best young players and wonderkids in FM23.

Football Manager 2023 wonderkids and best young players list

Here is our recommendation for the top 50 wonderkids and best players in Football Manager 2023:

RankNamePositionCurrent abilityPotential abilityAgeClub1Kylian MbappeAM (RL), ST (C)18819723Paris Saint-Germain2Erling HaalandST (C)18519522Manchester City3Junior ViniciusAM (RL)17418422Real Madrid4Kai HavertzAM (C), ST (C)16718023Chelsea5Phil FodenM (C), AM (RLC)16318022Manchester City6Wesley FofanaD (C)16118021Chelsea7Aurelien TchouameniDM, M (C)15918022Real Madrid8Jamal MusialaM (C), AM (RLC)15518019Bayern Munich9Eduardo CamavingaDM/M (C)14718019Real Madrid10Declan RiceD/DM/M (C)16217823West Ham United11Gianluigi DonnarummaGK16217823Paris Saint-Germain12Martin OdegaardM/AM (C)16017823Arsenal13Bukayo SakaAM (RL)16117720Arsenal14Joao FelixAM (RLC), ST (C)15917722Atletico Madrid15Jadon SanchoM/AM (RL)15517722Manchester United16Rafael LeaoAM (L), ST (C)16317623AC Milan17PedriM (C), AM (RLC)15917619Barcelona18Matthijs de LigtD (C)15817622Bayern Munich19Jules KoundeD (RC), WB (R)16217523Barcelona20RodrygoAM (RL), ST (C)15217521Real Madrid21William SalibaD (C)14517521Arsenal22Jurrien TimberD (RC), WB (R), DM14917521AFC Ajax23Trent Alexander-ArnoldD/WB (R), M (C)16017423Liverpool24Ronald AraujoD (C)16017423Barcelona25Khvicha KvaratskheliaAM (RLC)15317421Parthenope26Diogo CostaGK15017422FC Porto27Gabriel MartinelliAM (RL), ST (C)14817421Arsenal28VitinhaDM, M (C)15017322Paris Saint-Germain29Achraf HakimiD/WB/M (R)16017223Paris Saint-Germain30Alphonso DaviesD/WB/M/AM (L)16017221Bayern Munich31Sandro TonaliDM/M (C)15617222AC Milan32Unai VencedorDM, M (C)14517221Athletic Bilbao33Jude BellinghamDM/M (C)155160-19019Borussia Dortmund34Ansu FatiAM (RL), ST (C)149160-19019Barcelona35GaviDM, M/AM (C)148160-19017Barcelona36Youssoufa MoukokoST (C)121160-19017Borussia Dortmund37Florian WirtzM/AM (C)143150-18019Bayer Leverkusen38Nico WilliamsM/AM (RL)139150-18019Athletic Bilbao39Domink SzoboszlaiM/AM (LC)143150-18021RB Leipzig40Giovanni ReynaM/AM (LC)140150-18019Borussia Dortmund41Josko GvardiolD (LC)139150-18020RB Leipzig42Michael OliseAM (RC)138150-18020Crystal Palace43Nuno MendesD/WB (L)149150-18020Paris Saint-Germain44Tino LivramentoD/WB (R)134150-18019Southampton45Ryan GravenberchDM, M/AM (C)138150-18020Bayern Munich46Joao PedroAM (RLC), ST (C)133150-18020Watford47Noni MaduekeM (RL), AM (RLC)139150-18020PSV Eindhoven48Destiny UdogieD/WB/M (L)142150-18019Tottenham Hotspur49Mathys TelAM (RL), ST (C)120150-18017Bayern Munich50Benjamin SeskoST (C)133150-18019Salzburg

You’re probably wondering why there are two player ratings in our wonderkids list. This is because the game’s first season starts with each player’s current ability rating based on all of their player attributes you see in the game.

These include things like tackling skills, passing, leadership, fatigue - every thing that’s important in an athlete’s overall standing.

However, there is a hidden player rating system within the game, based on a score out of 200. This is known as the ability rating.

However, each player also has a potential ability rating (also scored out of 200), meaning with the right squad and training setup, they can achieve even greater results for your team that excels their starting quality.

We’ve set an age limit of 23 to make sure you’re able to pick up players that are starting to prove themselves, and won’t break the bank at the start of your new game save in the first season.

This list includes global stars like Kylian Mbappe from PSG, as well as newcomers like 17-year-old Youssoufa Moukoko from Borussia Dortmund.

Diogo Costa is a new young goalie included in this year’s list, so snapping him up from Porto might be the first thing you have to do in your new managerial reign.

Looking for more help? We have an explainer on the best free agents and bargain players as well as how to install kits and logo packs in Football Manager 2023.