It’s always been a rollercoaster of emotions for those who follow the Portuguese national team. While the starting XI is always packed with exciting flair players, you never quite know what you’re going to get from them, especially on the biggest stage.
The unthinkable is just around the corner too with Cristiano Ronaldo’s retirement date getting ever closer. But which of the new Portuguese crop are set to take over his role as the nation’s icon? It’s likely to be one of these wonderkids…
Best Portuguese Wonderkids in FIFA 22
10. Eduardo Quaresma (CD Tondela: CB)
Old school FIFA players will remember the name “Quaresma” with fondness as the former Porto and Barcelona winger filled compilation videos with five star skills and travelas. However, although he clearly possesses talent, Ricardo’s namesake Eduardo Quaresma will turn out to be a very different type of player.
On loan at CD Tondela from Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon, Eduardo Quaresma has all the tools necessary to become a decent centre back. Despite only having a rating of 71 for now, he’s projected to reach 83 at his prime which is nothing to be sniffed at.
What he currently lacks in speed (65 with 49 acceleration) he makes up with solid stats in jumping (80), strength (75) and interceptions (71) which are all crucial when choosing a solid centre back.
9. Fabio Silva (Wolverhampton Wanderers: ST)
In 9th place we have a familiar face to Premier League enthusiasts in the form of Wolves starlet Fabio Silva. The Portuguese teenager arrived for a club record fee thought to be in the region of £35 million in 2020 and even though he’s yet to set the league alight, his potential is there for all to see.
He’s valued at £3.7 million in FIFA 22 and his potential of 83 overall suggests he’s worth that small outlay. Solid statistics around his finishing (72), sprint speed (75) and dribbling (73) as well as the added bonus of a four star weak foot make him very useable in game already.
8. Rodrigo Gomes (SC Braga: RW, LW, ST)
Portugal is famous for producing top class wingers and Rodrigo Gomes may be another one added to that list.
At the age of 17, Gomes is a very raw talent and only being rated 63 overall won’t cause him to stand out in FIFA 22 yet. However, despite his tender age those all-important agility, sprint speed, acceleration and reaction stats are all already in the 70s.
7. Tiago Araujo (FC Aruoca: LM)
Another young star on loan from a Portuguese giant (this time SL Benfica) is 20-year-old left midfielder Thiago Araujo.
Araujo is all about speed with 85 sprint speed and 87 acceleration standing him in good stead to become another jet-heeled Portuguese wide midfielder. Unsurprisingly, he possesses the speed dribbler trait and his high attacking work rate and good stamina will make him feel much more useable in game than his overall rating of 67 would suggest.
6. Marcos Paulo (FC de Famalicao: LM)
Anyone on loan from Atletico Madrid is sure to have bags of talent. Winger Marcos Paulo is no exception with his current overall rating of 72 set to rise all the way up to 84 at his full potential.
Flair and technical dribbler are positive traits that the young wide midfielder possesses at his young age while he already boasts of 11 statistics in the 70s, including (crucially) crossing, dribbling and finishing.
5. Joelson Fernandes (FC Basel: RM, LM)
Another jet-heeled winger makes it into our top ten and this one, Joelson Fernandes, is particularly exciting.
First and foremost, he is absolutely rapid. With 88 sprint speed and 91 acceleration, Fernandes is going to outpace his opposing full back 90% of the time. Failing that, his 87 agility, 84 balance, speed dribbler trait and four star skill moves will enable Fernandes to jink his way past defenders at will.
Not enough? Add in a four-star weak foot and you’re not too far off the complete winger at the age of 18. He has the potential to reach 84 overall but will probably look even better than that in game.
4. Francisco Conceciao (FC Porto: CAM)
The next Bruno Fernandes? It’s far too early to say, but Francisco Conceciao ticks all of those creative midfielder boxes.
Ball control, dribbling and balance are his fortes but he’s not slouch too with 75 sprint speed and 81 acceleration. Conceciao cold be the latest off the FC Porto production line to be sold to the English and Spanish giants with his current overall rating of 70 potentially rising to 86.
His technical dribbling trait and four star skill moves are a tasty added extra too.
3. Goncalo Inacio (Sporting CP: CB)
From the new Bruno Fernandes to the new Ruben Dias. Young Goncalo Inacio is already an established part of Sporting Lisbon’s backbone and it’s easy to see why.
Basically, he’s got it all. His defensive awareness and tackling are rated at 79 and 78 respectively while his strength, aggression and interceptions (also all in the mid 70s) should mean he is very hard to get past.
And if that fails (for whatever reason) Inacio has the recovery pace to make up for it with 80 sprint speed and 78 acceleration.
Whoever you are managing in a FIFA 22 career mode, sign Inacio as a matter of urgency.
He’s already good enough to slot into your defence along side an experienced centre half and has the potential to reach 86 overall, making him one of the best centre backs in the whole game.
2. Goncalo Ramos (SL Benfica: ST)
We’ve already uncovered the new Fernandes and Dias so could Goncalo Ramos be the new Cristiano Ronaldo? Probably not but he will certainly prove to be a very useful striker.
Standing at six feet tall with 82 jumping, Ramos is already a real threat in the air while his finesse shot trait and 73 finishing should see him put away those chances that fall to him in the box.
Ramos will also be useful playing in behind the defence too due to his pace while he stamina, high attacking work rate and four star weak foot combine to make an all round forward whole has the potential to reach 86 overall.
1. Nuno Mendes (PSG: LB, LWB)
Flying full backs are a big part of the modern game and Nuno Mendes is all set to become one of the world’s best. An overall rating of 78 at the tender age of 19 is testament to that and he will reach 88 at his peak.
Essentially, he’s got it all. Predictably, he’s quick (88 sprint speed, 82 acceleration) while his 81 stamina will see him bombing up and down the left for 90 minutes.
Mendes will be an attacking threat in any formation, especially with his high/medium work rate, but he will do a job defensively too thanks to his defensive awareness (73) standing tackle (76) and interceptions (75).
His stats at the age of 19 are frightening so you can only speculate on how good he will eventually turn out to be. The current top left back on the game is Andy Robertson at 87 overall. The fact that Mendes could go one better shows just how good he is set to be.
