Player potential drives long-term squad building in EA Sports FC 26 Career Mode. Databases and curated lists agree on a few key themes: Lamine Yamal leads the next generation with a 95 potential rating, a cluster of elite teenagers sit in the high‑80s to low‑90s, and there are still value picks you can loan or develop into starters. Below is a concise, position‑led view of the standouts and what their numbers mean in context.

How “OVR”, “POT”, and “Growth” appear in FC 26 lists

  • OVR: a player’s current overall rating at the start of Career Mode.
  • POT: the ceiling that player can reach with development in your save.
  • Growth: the gap between OVR and POT — a quick signal of headroom.

You’ll often also see basic bio fields (age, position, contract year) alongside skill‑move/weak‑foot info in public databases. Treat POT as directional rather than a guarantee; development plans, minutes, and form still matter in your save.

Highest potential players overall (selected)

These are established stars and top prospects with the largest ceilings at the start of FC 26 Career Mode.

Player Club Position Age POT
Lamine Yamal FC Barcelona RM 18 95
Kylian Mbappé Real Madrid ST 26 94
Jude Bellingham Real Madrid CAM 22 94
Erling Haaland Manchester City ST 25 92
Mohamed Salah Liverpool RM 33 91
Rodri Manchester City CDM 29 90
Ousmane Dembélé Paris Saint‑Germain ST 28 90
Virgil van Dijk Liverpool CB 34 90

Best young strikers (high POT, varied budgets)

Forwards here combine accessible fees with room to grow. Expect to train finishing, off‑the‑ball movement, and strength to accelerate development.

Player Club Positions OVR POT Age
Francesco Camarda Lecce ST 65 87 17
Mathys Tel Tottenham ST, LW, CAM 77 86 20
Eli Junior Kroupi AFC Bournemouth ST 74 85 19
Conrad Harder RB Leipzig ST, CAM, LW, CM 74 85 20
Charalampos Kostoulas Brighton ST, CAM, RM 72 85 18
Marc Guiu Chelsea ST 71 84 20
Francesco Pio Esposito Lombardia FC ST 72 84 20
Jerónimo Domina Unión de Santa Fe ST 70 84 19
Nelson Weiper 1. FSV Mainz 05 ST, CAM, CM 70 84 20
Chido Obi Manchester United ST 65 84 17

Note: Endrick is a widely recommended pickup among forwards thanks to a 91 ceiling paired with a serviceable starting OVR.

Best young wide players (wingers and wide mids)

Wide attackers with high POT and flexible position coverage are ideal for systems that swap flanks or invert wingers.

Player Club Positions OVR POT
Lamine Yamal FC Barcelona RM, RW 89 95
Desire Doué Paris Saint‑Germain RW, LW, RM 85 91
Estevão Chelsea RM, RW 78 89
Arda Güler Real Madrid RM, RW 81 89
Geovany Quenda Sporting CP RM, LM, LW, RW 76 88
Antonio Nusa RB Leipzig LW, LM 76 88
Rio Ngumoha Liverpool LM, LW 68 88
Julien Duranville Borussia Dortmund RM, LM, ST, RW 72 87
Pablo García Real Betis RM, LM, RW 68 87
Maher Carrizo Vélez Sarsfield RM, CAM, ST, RW 72 86
Leo Sauer Feyenoord LW, CAM, LM 72 86
Chemsdine Talbi Sunderland RM, LM, RW 73 86

Best young central midfielders and CAMs

These are the standout central options with high ceilings. They range from box‑to‑box profiles to pure creators and deeper playmakers.

Player Club Role OVR POT
João Neves Paris Saint‑Germain CM 85 90
Franco Mastantuono Real Madrid CAM 77 88
Lucas Bergvall Tottenham CM/CDM/CAM 77 87
Warren Zaïre‑Emery Paris Saint‑Germain CM/CDM 80 87
Kees Smit AZ CAM/CM 72 87
Arthur Vermeeren Marseille CM/CDM 77 87
Kenan Yildiz Juventus CAM 79 89
Jorthy Mokio Ajax CDM 70 89
Ethan Nwaneri Arsenal RW/CM 76 87
Arda Güler Real Madrid RM/CAM 81 89
Rodrigo Mora Porto CAM 76 89
Lucas “Pablo” García Real Betis RM/CAM 68 87

A quick note on full‑backs and defenders

The pipeline at full‑back is thinner than other roles. Notable options still include Girona’s Arnau Martínez and Sporting’s Iván Fresneda for top saves, while Givairo Read has emerged as a pace‑plus‑power profile on the right. On the left, Yaimar Medina shows promise as an attacking option, and Tom Rothe offers a rare tall, crossing‑first look. If you play multiple seasons, expect additional defensive prospects to become realistic targets as loans and contracts change.

How to apply potential in squad building

Use POT to balance short‑term performance and long‑term value. For smaller budgets, target big “growth” gaps (low OVR, high POT) and pursue loans where possible — especially for strikers and wingers who can contribute immediately. For bigger clubs, mixing ready‑now prospects like Yamal or João Neves with development pieces such as Camarda, Ngumoha, or Mokio sets a sustainable core for future seasons.

The headline remains simple: Lamine Yamal owns the highest ceiling at 95, and there’s real depth in the 88–91 range across the attack and midfield. If you need one name to kick‑start a save up front, Endrick’s 91 potential and balanced starting profile make him a safe bet. Build around a handful of these players and the rest of Career Mode — training plans, minutes, and tactics — can do the heavy lifting.