Age: 21 | Position: F C / AM L
If you spent your 2006/07 season staring at a flickering spreadsheet of player attributes, you know that wasn't just a game—it was a scouting revolution. This was the era before every 16-year-old had a YouTube highlight reel, making the discovery of a "Wonderkid" feel like uncovering a state secret.
(Let us know if you preferred Carlos Vela at Celta Vigo or Giovani dos Santos at Barcelona B).
While Messi and Agüero destroyed defenders, Fàbregas dismantled them with his brain. With a "Passing" rating of 19, "Creativity" of 20, and "Decisions" of 18, he was the ultimate deep-lying playmaker. If you played a 4-1-2-2-1 formation, Fàbregas was the heartbeat. He also had the "Dictates Tempo" hidden trait years before it was cool. wonderkid fm 2007
Age: 20 | Position: D C, DM
In FM07 , good young keepers were rarer than a clean sheet with a high defensive line. Lloris was the exception. At 19, his reflexes (18), agility (17), and one-on-ones (19) meant he saved shots he had no right to save. For £3m, he was your number one for 15 seasons.
"Wonderkid" status is usually reserved for players in Europe, but Agüero was the jewel of South America. In the early patches, he started at Independiente. He was relatively cheap (for a wonderkid), and his stats were absurd. Low center of gravity, 18+ finishing, pace, and flair. He was the ultimate "Advanced Forward." If you got him early, he would score 40 goals a season for ten years straight. Age: 21 | Position: F C / AM
Fernando Gago was the poor man's Xavi. "Passing" (18), "Tackling" (17). He wasn't flashy, but his "Anticipation" (19) meant he intercepted everything. He had low "Aggression," so he never got carded. A perfect Regista.
Looking back, the FM 2007 wonderkid list is a fascinating mix of hits and misses. It correctly identified (then a left-back at Southampton) and Karim Benzema (Lyon) as future superstars. However, for every Benzema, there was a Bogdan Stancu —a player who dominated our virtual worlds but remained a cult hero known only to the most dedicated FM veterans.
Even in 2006, Messi was good in real life, but FM 2007 turned him into a cheat code. With a random potential ability that could hit 199 (out of 200), Messi was untouchable. His dribbling (20), agility (20), and balance (19) meant he would slalom through entire defenses. The only downside? His release clause was astronomical (€150m+). In 2007, that was truly unthinkable money. He also had the "Dictates Tempo" hidden trait
In the pantheon of Football Manager (and Championship Manager) history, few editions hold the same legendary status as (FM 2007). Released in late 2006, it sits at a fascinating intersection of football history—just before the dawn of the Messi/Ronaldo absolute peak era, but after the retirement of the old guard.
In FM07 , the term "wonderkid" wasn't just a label; it was a prophecy. These were the teenagers who could turn a mid-table Championship side into Champions League winners within four seasons. Here is the definitive hall of fame.
: The undisputed king of FM07. A Colombian attacking midfielder you could sign for less than £1m who would eventually outperform Ronaldinho. Lebohang Mokoena