As always: This is not intended as investment advice. If you choose to get into Sorare, you should always do your own research and be aware that you’re signing up for nothing but misery and pain 🙂

LFG!

Ligue 1 🇫🇷

The French top tier is often called the league of talents. It’s not hard to see why. Nearly every team in the division has at least a handful of U23 players who get serious game time. Here’s two who are well positioned for big scores this GW.

• Lucas Chevalier- GK- Lille (21) vs. ESTAC Troyes

  Goalies, especially U23 goalies, are the most expensive cards in Sorare. I’ve resisted highlighting any in Wonderkids for this reason. Starting U23 goalies are essentially the most “known” and sought after cards in the game

  Lucas Chevalier is definitely not a hidden commodity. His Rare is going for 1.65 ETH and his Limited is one of the higher priced U23 GKs right now at 0.234 ETH. But compare this to Vandevoordt (2.350 ETH and 0.283 ETH) and Mamardashvili (2.137 ETH and 0.177 ETH) and he seems correctly priced.

  If you can afford him, I think this is a good week to pull the trigger. Lille’s defense has been solid for about 5 weeks straight. Chevalier himself has scored above 60 in SO5 in five of their last nine games. Troyes attack isn’t nearly as bad as it’s defense but this same team lost 2-0 to Lille two weeks ago.

  Chevalier is one of the best cards to own in the game. Go pick up this guy while you can.

• Anthony Rouault- DEF- Toulouse (20) vs. Stade Brestois

  I should have had this guy on in GW336. Rouault is supremely underrated. I don’t understand why more managers aren’t all over this guy. He is currently averaging 55 over his L15 in SO5 and even added a goal in Toulouse’s demolition of poor AJ Auxerre on Wednesday night.

  This is hardly an aberation for Rouault.

  Since the start of this season, he’s scored 50+ 13 times with a 100 and a 94 against Riems & Strasbourg respectively.

  When you look at his card prices, I simply don’t understand why more people aren’t all over this guy. He costs 0.024 ETH for his 🟡 and 0.195 ETH for his 🔴.

  He’s made SofaScore’s Team of the Week 3 times this season and is well positioned against an Ajaccio team who has barely managed to score a goal a game to log another clean sheet.

Ligue 2 🇫🇷

Although perhaps not as talent rich as it’s big brother, Ligue 2 still boasts a long history of producing players like Ibrahima Konate, Aurelien Tchouameni and Pape Sarr in recent memory. Maybe these players are up next…

• Oussama Targhalline- MID- Le Havre (20) vs. Nîmes Olympique

  It is such a bummer that Le Havre isn’t in Sorare. The average age of the team is 23.7 years old and they have some of the most fun prospects in France. From Arouna Sangate and Josué Casimir to Amir Richardson (on loan from Reims) and Yassine Kechta.

  Targhalline was recently brought in on loan from Marseille by way of Alanyaspor. Full disclosure, I have no idea if he will feature in this game. He didn’t play very much during his time in Turkey so this is a projection. But I trust Le Havre’s scouting. They simply don’t miss.

  Last season alone they sold Isaak Toure, Sael Kumbedi, Yahia Fofana and Check Diakité.

  Targhalline could be in line for a debut this week against an atrocious Nîmes side who look poised to be relegated unless something turns around big time. He’s very affordable with a Limited on sale for under 8 euros and a Rare going for ~90 euros.

• Tom Ducrocq- MID- Le Havre (23) vs. Pau FC

  I think Ducrocq is another inexplicably overlooked player in Sorare. Especially for the upcoming capped 240, he seems like an ideal card to own. Ducrocq plays almost every game for Bastia and reliably delivers between 40-60 each week.

  On loan from Lens, Ducrocq is on the older side but he’s U23 eligible until 2024. Given that you’ve got him for a season and a half of U23 eligiblity, his 🟡 for 10 euros and a 🔴 for under 90 euros.

  This game week, a Bastia team that is riding a two game win streak come up against Pau, a profoundly beatable squad who score less than a goal a game.

  Ducrocq makes a lot of sense to add now.

Premeira Liga 🇵🇹

The big showdown in the Poruguese league (particularly for Sorare managers) this week is Sporting CP vs. SL Benfica on Sunday night. With that in mind and knowing that game is a bit of a coin flip, I want to turn your attention to a potential star in the making at the other Portuguese powerhouse, FC Porto.

• Gabriel Veron- FW- FC Porto (20) vs. FC Famalicão

  Is it finally Veron time? Ever since the Brazilian arrived in Porto from Palmeiras last summer there’s been a lot of hope that he would become a real force for the Portuguese side.

  This hasn’t really come to pass so far with Veron mostly coming off the bench in very limited action. The thing is, his first two starts of the seaon have been Porto’s last two games.

  Veron delivered an assist in his first start for the club at the end of December and then contributed some decent attacking play in a frustrating 0-0 tier last week.

  Veron is a little bit expensive at 0.0685 ETH 🟡 and 0.450 ETH 🔴 but that number might increase a lot if he becomes an everyday starter.

  This week, Porto play Famalicão who concede about a goal and a half per game and sit in 13th place in the league.

Serie A 🇮🇹

Serie A has a U23 problem in my opinion. Not enough of them play regular minutes and all the big clubs tend to favor older, proven talent. One exception may be Milan who have brought in players like Charles De Ketelaere, Yacine Adli and Aster Vranckx recently. Here’s a couple U23 players in Italy to keep an eye on this week and beyond.

• Felix Afena-Gyan- FW- Cremonese (19) vs. Monza

  Cremonese aren’t going anywhere this season. Burried in the bottom of Serie A you have to think as they turn the corner on the new year and confront relegation, they’ll give one of the most promising players on their squad more time on the pitch.

  Afena-Gyan arrived this summer from Roma who (surprisingly) sold him outright as opposed to sending him on loan. Although he hasn’t played nearly as much as Cremonese must have hoped when they paid 6M euros for him, Afena-Gyan is

  Make no mistake, this is a gamble for this week. Afena-Gyan hasn’t scored since a Coppa Italia game at the end of October. But this is a former GOAL Wonderkid who is creeping more and more into the lineup. At 19 years old, he’s got tons of room to grow and might be a big contender to contribute next season if Cremonese is indeed relagated.

  If Massimiliano Alvini is going to play Afena-Gyan, it’s probably going to be soon. You can grab his limited card for 0.150 but I’d wait perhaps before pulling the trigger on the only 🔴 in circulation right now as the price is too high.

  Watch this kid. I’m telling you.

• Pierre Kalulu- DEF- AC Milan (22) vs. Lecce

  Finally we come to one of my favroite players in all of football: Pierre Kalulu.

  Unceremoniously bailed on by the luddites running Olympique Lyonnais, Kalulu arrived in Milan for 1.3M euros two years ago and is now worth 35M. Now of course, “who could have seen he’d become… blah blah blah.”

  Well. All Kalulu has done since moving to Italty was become an almost immediate starter and one of Milan’s most reliable contributors.

  This week he has a nice matchup against a Lecce team that struggles to score goals consistently. They average less than a goal per game in Serie A. Kalulu has played well lately with an L5 of 54. His L40 is nearly identical.

  This is a player we may well see very soon in the France squad. For a player of this quality, the 0.429 ETH floor for his 🔴 doesn’t seem unreasonable at all. His Limited will cost you 0.0443 ETH.

  I think this is my next big buy. Take that for what’s it’s worth 🙂

Football Championship 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

What a blow to Burley and the entire Championship this week. Taylor Harwood-Bellis, the fantastic CB on loan from Manchester City, picked up an injury in a midweek FA Cup match and will be out for several months. The Lancashire side will have to scramble to keep pace in the league without one of their best players.

• Yáser Asprilla- MID- Watford (19) vs. Blackpool

  Asprilla is undoubtedly one of the more attractive young attackers in the Championship. Watford has a great matchup this against Blackpool who, sadly, are stuck at the bottom of the table.

  So why Asprilla now?

  Watford has suffered a few injuries lately that make him even more crucial to the Watford attack. Asprilla is a versatile midfielder known for his strong passing and ability to score goals. Watford will look to him to provide a creative spark in the midfield and unlock the Blackpool defense.

  Despite playing around 50 mins a game all season, Asprilla is still quite affordable on Sorare. His 🟡 comes in at 0.011 ETH and his Rare card is still under 150 Euros.

• Josh Sargent- FW- Norwich City (22) vs. Preston North End

  It’s perhaps not the best matchup this week for Sargent and Norwich as they face a Preston side who is neck and neck with Canaries in the Championship.

  But it’s time to talk about Sargent who didn’t have the best World Cup showing with the USMNT despite seeing some significant game time.

  Sargent has eased back into life in England and slowly picked up pace. He’s had a shot on target in each of his last two games and usually plays the full 90 mins.

  Preston give us a goal per game on average and Sargent is due for a goal. I was suprised by how affordable he is when I was researching him this week. 0.0288 ETH is all his 🟡 will cost you while his 🔴 floor is 0.275 ETH at the moment.

LaLiga Santander 🇪🇸

In the week that Sorare launches the beta of it’s LaLiga Santander Draft (like it’s free Global Cup), it’s a good time to talk about two players well positioned to score well so you can join ~70k players in Sorare’s newest free to play game.

• Yeremi Pino- MID- Villareal (20) vs. Celta Vigo

  Pino didn’t see the field in Spain’s disappointing World Cup campaign but he has come back to LaLiga on a blistering pace. He followed up two shots on target in his first game against Valencia with a goal in a surprising 2-1 win over Real Madrid.

  Pino is still just 20 years old and seems to be carving out a starting role for the Castellón club this season. As a former Pino owner last season, I know he can be frustrating to own. But it feels like he’s turned a corner with Villareal.

  This week he’s up against a Celta Vigo side who are definitely in the relegation battle as it stands today. They give up 1.7 goals per game and struggled to beat last place Elche even after they went to 10 men following a red card.

  Pino can be yours for 🟡 0.0364 ETH and 🔴 0.257 ETH. I’m starting to think I might need to pick this guy up again.

• Copete- DEF- Mallorca (23) vs. Osasuna

  Maybe I’m a sucker for their kit but I love Mallorca players. Kang-In Lee, Pablo Maffeo, etc.. They have a lot of fun players and have overachieved so far this season in LaLiga as they sit comfortably in 10th place at time of writing.

  A big reason for this success has been the play of their CB anchor, Copete. Since the beginning of Ocotber, Copete has scored over 45 in six our of nine matches. He’s been dominant at times as well. Had he not picked up a yellow card last week against Valladolid, he likely would have scored 60.

  Copete is reliable, strong and a starts nearly every game. Yes, you only get a season and a half of U23 eligibility out of him, but he’s so cheap that I think taking a chance now makes a lot of sense. His 🟡 is 13 euros and you can grab his 🔴 for 0.137.

I wanted to do previews for a few more leagues but ran out of time. Next week I want to try to focus on Belgium, the Netherlands and Turkey as I don’t watch those leagues as much as the others.

Good luck this Game Week! Thank for reading!

Luckily, Ligues 1 & 2 offer a full slate of games with a handful of other matchups to sink your teeth into. Although there are a few Jupiler Pro League games this week, I didn't focus on them as I didn't see a lot of U23 performers who stood out.

As always: This is not intended as investment advice. If you choose to get into Sorare, you should always do your own research and be aware that you're signing up for nothing but misery and pain 🙂

Let's get into it.

Ligue 2 🇫🇷

GW 336 of Ligue 2 brings some intriguing matchups. Notably, many of the U23 prospects in the second division are on loan from major clubs in Ligue 1.

• Pablo Pagis- FW- Nîmes Olympique (20) vs. Metz

  On loan from Lorient, Pagis is having a successful season in Ligue 2. He has started 9 games for Nîmes, averaging 0.5 shots on target and big chances created per game.

  Recently, Pagis turned in a 75 SO5 performance against Guingamp after winning a penalty. He has also scored over 40 in 4 of his last 5 games.

  Metz concede an average of 1.2 goals per game, so Pagis is likely to have chances.

  Pagis may be difficult to acquire, as Sorare limited his supply when he was loaned out. However, you can send offers to owners of his Limited cards. The last sale was for 39 euros on December 29, 2020.

  Since he only has one 🔴 in circulation, it may be hard and expensive to get him until Sorare issues more.

• Moïse Sahi- FW- Annecy FC (21) vs. Valenciennes

  Sahi is having a successful season in Ligue 2, scoring once every three games and averaging almost a shot on target per game. He is on loan from Strasbourg and is one game away from a two-goal performance against Saint Etienne.

  Valenciennes recently made the unexpected move of transferring their starting goalkeeper to Saint Etienne. The new number one keeper, Hillel Konate, has been struggling so far, earning a 5.9 score against Paris FC in the Coupe de France.

  Sahi is affordable in both 🔴 and 🟡, costing 0.193 ETH and 0.0129 ETH respectively.

Ligue 1 🇫🇷

I'm biased, but Ligue 1 has been incredibly entertaining this year. Lens is on fire, Lorient is exceeding expectations, and Rennes is managing despite numerous injuries. As usual, France's top league offers an exciting range of U23 players this week.

• Isaak Touré- DEF- AJ Auxerre (19) vs. Toulouse

  Ok, I’ll admit it. I have a toxic habit of buying young French defenders, especially tall CBs. Touré is a simply enormous 2.06m (6’8 ft) and I’ve wanted to buy him since he arrived in Marseille from Le Havre this summer. The only thing that stopped me was the limited time he’d see on the pitch.

  Fast forward to last week when he was loaned out to AJ Auxerre and I’m sure you can guess what I did.

  Touré started in Auxerre’s Coupe de France matchup with Dunkerque just days after arriving in the squad and played well in 65 minutes. He was 7/7 in ground duels and had a blocked shot, clearance and interception.

  Somewhat surprisingly, Touré was also excellent passing the ball. He finished 34/38 in passes and delivered 2 key passes according to SofaScore.

  It’s somewhat of a risk to play Touré this week as Auxerre also brought in Akim Zedadka on loan, but Touré is such a force that I think it is worth the gamble against Toulouse.

  Toulouse sit 12th in Ligue 1 at time of writing but, crucially, don’t score many goals with a -10 goal differential. Auxerre have been abysmal all season in defending and it’s likely that both Touré and Zedadka were brought in to play right away. Let’s see if the big guy gets on the pitch this week. You can scoop up his 🔴 for a reasonable 0.2 ETH (and could maybe get him for cheaper).

• Folarin Balogun- FW- Stade de Reims (21) vs. AC Ajaccio

  Remember when Hugo Ekitike was lighting Ligue 1 on fire last season with Reims? He seemed a generational scorer that the Champagne region would be unlikely to see again soon. While Ekitike may still live up to the promise he displayed, Reims wasted no time moving on.

  Falorin Balogun arrived on loan from Arsenal and has scored 10 goals in just 13 starts. He’s played so well that the North London club was considering potentially recalling him.

  This game week, Balogun has a sumptuous matchup this week against Ajaccio who give up about a goal per game on average. They are fighting to stay in Ligue 1 and have given up at least 2 goals in 4 of their last 5 games in France’s top tier.

  Unsurprisingly, Balogun’s blistering start has had a lot of impact on his price in Sorare. His 🔴 is a little expensive (0.435 7 day avg. at time of writing). Compare this to other exciting prospects in Ligue 1: Arnaud Kalimeundo (0.344 ETH), Rayan Cherki (0.824 ETH) and Dango Ouattara (0.620 ETH).

• Lesley Ugochukwu- MID- Stade Rennais (18) vs. Clermont

  Rennes has been hit yet again by the injury curse. After Martin Terrier’s devastating injury, Bruno Genesio shared the news that Xeka will be sidelined with a sprained ankle.

  While Xeka’s injury puts Genesio in a tough spot, Lesley Ugochukwu looks to be an immediate in-house solution (especially for this week).

  Ugochukwu has been a consistent contributor this season for Stade Rennais when he has gotten game time. Ugochukwu had a run where scored 50+ in SO5 in 4 of 6 games prior to getting some rest against Nice in GW 333.

  When Xeka was subbed off in the 32nd minute, Ugochukwu came on in relief and completed 46/48 passes.

  It remains to be seen how long Xeka will be out but Ugochukwu is poised to play a larger role for Rennes. His 🔴 is 0.290 ETH at the moment and you can pick up his 🟡 for 0.0259 ETH. Now might be the right time to take a chance on him.

• Rayan Cherki- FW- Olympique Lyonnais (19) vs. Nantes

  To many Sorare managers, Cherki has been a frustrating if tantalizing prospect. Despite only being 19, Cherki has cards in FOUR seasons. He might even be considered the original “wonderkid” as far as Sorare goes.

  The thing is, he has never really played. Prior to this season, he hadn’t featured for Lyon since last February.

  But finally, Cherki has broken through the starting 11 for Lyon. With new manager Laurent Blanc experimenting with the squad, Cherki has been every bit as exciting as his owners have hoped. He has scored a 77 and 59 in his two Ligue 1 games since Christmas and had a shot on target with 3 shots blocked against Metz in the Coupe de France.

  Against Nantes on Wednesday night, Cherki is in a good position to build on this momentum. Nantes give up 1.4 goals per game, gives up about 4 shots on target per game and has dropped every game against teams in Ligue 1 currently in the top 12. Cherki is going to have chances.

  As noted above, Cherki’s Rare card is prohibitively expensive for many managers. But his 🟡 just sold for under $100. Many have been burned by Cherki (and Peter Bosz) in the past but I think the secret is out and Cherki is a must own.

• Angel Gomes- MID- Lille OSC (22) vs. Stade Brestois

  Gomes is a routinely underrated prospect despite turning in solid performances all season for Les Dogues. He’s averaging 49 over his L15 and is playing very well since the World Cup break.

  Going out to the Brittany coast in January is not an easy task but Brest have underachieved this year and are in a fight to avoid relegation. They have conceded a league-high 33 goals this season. This is a good sign for the creative Gomes but what makes this matchup attractive is that Brest doesn’t score any goals themselves. They have only scored 18 goals on the season and average 1.4 big chances missed per day.

  Gomes is a complete midfielder and offers playmaking, passing and defending. He’s made SofaScore’s Team of the Week twice this season.

  He’s also someone you can buy for this game week. His 🔴 is 0.140 ETH and his Limited is less than 25 dollars. His Super Rare is even attainable.

This is a relatively quiet GW for many Sorare managers. I’ll be back with a more complete preview for GW337. Thanks for reading!

This gameweek was a lot of hit and miss for me. It seemed I was either deadly accurate or woefully off base. Clearly, the predictions that Enzo Le Fée and Tahith Chong would excel this week were right on. Le Fée was utterly dominant against an Angers side that looks mere months away from Ligue 2 competition.

Chong contributed a goal against Middlesbrough as Birmingham rolled. Hugo Vandermersch logged a solid game against Saint Etienne and remains an underrated player by Sorare managers. His 🔴 is on sale for 0.1 ETH. You know what to do.

Malcolm Bokele showed why his return from injury is big deal for Bordeaux and while he didn’t get a decisive, if Bordeaux had managed to hold a clean sheet, Bokele’s SO5 score would be much more exciting. Frankly, looking at his stats from the game, I’m surprised he didn’t score better in Sorare.

I was quite disappointed with Matteo Xantippe againt Lavallois. Amiens cruised to a 3-0 win but Xantippe just didn’t contribute much. He was penalized for time-wasting with a yellow card which doomed his value this week. Still believe in the player but to only muster a 42 in a cleansheet is frustrating. Florentino Luis was also dinged with a yellow and only played 45 mins in Benfica’s rather shocking 3-0 loss to Sporting Braga.

Callum Doyle truly doesn’t bring a lot of value if Coventry doesn’t hold a cleansheet unfortunately.

With the ups and downs of the above picks out of the way, we now must get to the dismal performances of the week. Castello Lukeba was looking like he was in for a big peformance until the last minutes of Lyon’s match against Clermont. At this point, it all went to hell. Lukeba conceded a penalty in the 85th minute which killed his SO5 score. With the cleansheet lost once Mohammed Cham converted the penalty, Lukeba was doomed (along with the managers like me who played him 😭).

El-Bilal Touré, Kang-in Lee and Mohame-Ali Cho combined for collasally inept trio of perdictions from yours truly. None of the three was able to muster much of a real threat but Touré carries the throne as the worst pick of the week with three (THREE??!) big chances missed. Sorare is a game of margins and if even one of those big chances goes in, we’re talking about a totally different performance.

Notes

• Coming off of a farily impressive World Cup performace with France, Eduardo Camavinga delivered a superb matchup against Valladolid, despite only entering the pitch in thr 69th minute.

• This player is well known to Sorare managers but Taylor Harwood-Bellis proves nearly every week that he is one of the elite U23 cards to hold. In a gutty 1-0 win over Stoke, THB anchored Burnley’s effort and contributed a clearance off the line.

• Although he was booked for a yellow card, Aboulaye Ndiaye proved yet again that he is the real deal. In his loan spell with Bastia, Ndiaye is averaging 59 over his L15. Olympique Lyonnais could certainly use his talents especially as their “solution” at CB this week was to sign Dejan Lovren.

• There has been a feeling that Yeremi Pino has been on the verge of breaking out for about a season and a half. Although last week against Valencia wasn’t exactly illuminating, it was solid. Pino isn’t cheap (floor = 0.283 ETH for his 🔴) but if he can turn in 50+ SO5 scores consistently, he’s going to become a lot more expensive in the second half of the season.

• We simply must end this week with Lois Openda. RC Lens dismantled PSG 3-1 and Openda’s humiliating move against Marquinhos was one of the images of the weekend. Openda is expensive because the supply is low (Lens are not in Sorare for some inexplicabale reason). But this is a player that has performed solidly in the step up in competition and Lens look to be true factor in the race for the Ligue 1 sliver medal.

That’s all for this week. I have taken some time off so I will resume writing in GW 336. Thanks a lot!

Here’s a quick overview of my picks as well as a look at some standout U23 performances to take note of and look out for in the coming weeks ahead.

Grades 🧑‍🎓

Quick note on my grading system:

• 🤩/ Green = Sorare SO5 Score 60 or greater (without bonus)

• 😐/ Yellow = Sorare SO5 Score between 45 and 59

• 😟/ Red = Sorare SO5 Score between 40 and 45

• 🤢/ Brown = Sorare score under 40

• 🤕/ White = Injured

Maxence Caqueret was clearly my pick of the weekend. He was sublime in this match, contributing a goal and an assist. If it had not been for a yellow card, Caquret may have even had a sniff at a 100 on Sorare.

Another one dead on: Bafodé Diakité. Not only was Clermont never really able to get anything going in attack but Diakité was as effective going forward as he was protecting goal. This guy really is in for a big second half of the season. Amine Gouiri not delivering against Reims really surprised me. The guy has been automatic and the entire Rennes side look extremely flat.

João Felix was another good bet. He scored a goal and was a problem throughout in a game that saw red cards for both sides.

Pacho and the entire Royal Antwerp side had a middling performance against Westerloo in a 3-3 match while Ian Maatsen had his worst individual performance since early November. Zian Flemming and Millwall simply never got going in a rare 0-0 tie in the Football Championship.

Sporting CP took care of business and held a clean sheet against the last place Paços de Ferreira 3-0 meaning Gonçalo Inácio turned in a nice performance as well.

Unfortunately João Pedro has gone down with what looks to be a serious injury that wasn’t known at time of writing. Tough break. Gonçalo Borges stayed on the bench so it may have been a little early to have him in this list.

Notes

• Atletico Madrid loaned out Sergio Camello to give him more game time with Rayo Vallecano. I’m not sure they expected the 21 yr old to be performing quite so well. With a goal and an assist in a 2-2 tie against Girona FC, Camello showed his quality and more.

• It’s finally happened. The Rayan Cherki has arrived. I know we’ve seen Cherki feature in spot starts and performances before but the young forward was so good against Brest on Wednesday night that he simply cannot stay on the bench. Laurent Blanc seems to finally have accepted what Peter Bocz coudln’t: Cherki is the most creative, exciting player Lyon have at the moment.

• I’ve been waiting for Gabriel Veron to get more game time for FC Porto and he delivered a nice performance against Arouca. A shot on target to go along with an assist in 68 minutes seems to be a sign of good things to come for the Brazilian. Perhaps HE is the youngster to start getting more time on the pitch in Porto.

• Eliesse Ben Seghir. Remember the name. The young Monagasque only played 45 mins in his side’s match against AJ Auxerre but you’d never know it from the stat line. His first two goals at the professional level lifted a largely flat Monaco team over a suprisingly feisty Auxerre. The real question now is: wen Ben Seghir card in Sorare?

• Alan Virginius got the start for Lille. He had an extremely productive series if games in the lead up to the restart and seems poised to play a bigger role for Les Dogues for the remainder of the season (even if Jonathan David will retake the starting role). Like Ben Seghir, it would be nice to see the Virginius card make it into Sorare this season.

If you want to get more involved with Wonderkids, I released a fun Genesis NFT with Stable Diffusion using the prompt “Vitalik Buterin as an 80s footballer”. Mint below :)

https://create.zora.co/collections/0xb791405c7dd0f267fda5bf4440fe52b0722fd93d

As always: This is not intended as investment advice. If you choose to get into Sorare, you should always do your own research and be aware that you’re signing up for nothing but misery and pain 🙂

Ligue 1 🇫🇷

The French first division delivered some surprising results in it’s first GW back in action and presents some enticing matchups for GW 333.

• Enzo Le Fée- MID- Lorient (22) vs. Angers SCO

  Le Fée has been one of the standouts in Ligue 1 since the start of the season. He is key to Lorient's success and is likely to continue his ascent for the remainder of the season.

  He has played for France at all youth levels and is just so damn solid. He creates big chances, puts defenses constantly under pressure and is supported by a range of talent up front that makes his life a lot easier. This GW he’s up against an Angers SCO side that simply has been horrendous this season. They are currently -20 in terms of goal differential and have GK Paul Bernardoni who is bound for at least 1 hysterical gaffe per match.

  Le Fée's last 15 score is 63, and his last 40 score is 55 - a reliable, anchor type player. However, due to his strong start to the season, he is expensive. The cheapest is 0.9 ETH for his 🔴, and his 🟡 is 0.119 ETH.

• Castello Lukeba Jr.-DEF- Olympique Lyonnais (20) vs. Clermont Foot

  Lukeba is a familiar name to Sorare managers, having had an impressive season last year. Although he hasn't scored as well on average this season, he remains one of the brightest young stars in Ligue 1.

  Lukeba is eligible in U23 until 2027, making him one of the more sought-after prospects in France. His 🟡 card is currently going for 0.0514 ETH and his 🔴 card is priced at 0.3 ETH, making now a great time to buy the young Lyon defender.

  This week, Lukeba has a favorable matchup against Clermont. Lyon have had difficulty keeping clean sheets this season, but Clermont have been especially poor at scoring goals away from home. They have a -7 goal differential overall, and -6 on the road. After a dominant performance against Stade Brestois, Lyon are in a good position to build momentum in the restart of the Ligue 1 season.

LaLiga 🇪🇸

LaLiga is about to get into full swing and as always is loaded with U23 talent. Here’s a few for this game week who could break out.

• Mohamed-Ali Cho- FW- Real Sociedad (18) vs. Osasuna

  Cho has been on the radar for several years for all the U23 nerds out there. Still at the start of the season, his move to a crowded forward room in San Sebastien (even after Umar Sadiq's ACL tear) seemed like a poor choice.

  However, Cho has come on strong and has steadily featured more and more. Now could be the time he takes over. Despite only playing around 34 minutes a game, he averages 1.3 shots per pitch in LaLiga.

  His 🔴 is still within a reasonable "buy low" range at 0.368 ETH and his limited is more than within the "see what happens" zone at 0.0444 ETH. This could be the last chance to find his card at this low price.

• El Bilal Touré- FW- UD Almeíra (21) vs. Cadiz

  (Yes this was in my feature for last week. I got confused on what day the GW started and just decided to keep it in here in case someone is actually looking for advice about who to play 🙂)

  With Touré is that the potential is always there for big things. After moving from Stade de Reims to the south of Spain, Touré has enjoyed a good start to his LaLiga career. Seven starts in 8 games played as well as 3 goals and 1 assist aren’t bad for a player that seems like he’s always trying to get his head in the right place to perform at his best.

  He averages 1.5 shots and 0.5 key passes per game which and it seems likely that he’ll get a few chances at goal against lowly Cadiz who currently sit one from the bottom in the league table. Cadiz have conceded the second most goals per game in Spain’s top flight division and Touré could be in a position to take advantage. Touré is reasonably priced at both 🟡 and 🔴 levels and is U23 eligible until 2026.

• Kang-In Lee- MID- RCD Mallorca (21) vs. Getafe CF

  I already included Lee in my list of U23 standouts from the Qatar World Cup. He's been excellent for Mallorca this season and this game week his matchup is massively favorable.

  Getafe are -8 in terms of goal differential this season. Lee averages 1.4 shots per game and has created 7 big chances in 14 games. These two factors make it a match that Lee can dominate from a SO5 scoring perspective.

  His card price is truly incredible. Lee is a reliable U23 starter who produces each week and his 🔴 is currently selling for 0.122 ETH! That's 17 euros for a rare card! I believe this is a value buy that will pay off in GW 333 and beyond.

Football Championship 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

I love that the Championship is in Sorare. I hope they get the rest of the league for next season. It’s just so mich fun. Let’s take a look at a couple U23 players primed to standout this game week.

• Tahith Chong- MID- Birmingham City(23) vs. Hull City

  I can't believe Chong is still U23, but here we are. Although the rest of his Birmingham City teammates haven’t yet joined Sorare, you get his rare card on the secondary market thanks to his 2020-21 card when he played for Club Brugge. I've always liked him as a player, and I think his 🔴 is a bargain right now at 0.18 ETH.

  Chong joined Birmingham City permanently from Manchester United this summer and is now a starter. His value has dropped steadily since its peak of around 6.5M euros, but Chong still has a lot of potential.

  He's delivered 4 assists and 3 big chances created this season for Birmingham, and his L15 is 46. I think he's a perfect player for threshold grinders. He's almost guaranteed to score between 40-50, and he might give you a decisive. This game week, his chances look good as City are up against a Hull City squad just one spot above relegation and a -14 goal differential.

• Callum Doyle- DEF- Coventry City (19) vs. Bristol City

  If you're attracted to the fact that Lukeba has ~4 years left of U23 eligibility, the fact that Doyle will be U23-playable until 2028 will leave you salivating. Doyle has been a dependable starter for Coventry this season and has greatly benefited from consistent playing time since being loaned in from Manchester City.

  For a CB who doesn't offer much in terms of passing or attacking at this point in his career, Doyle has needed to keep clean sheets to score well in SO5. He recently had a great score after a clearance off the line, as well as a game earlier in the season with a 70 SO5 score. Doyle is averaging 47 in L5 and 44 in L15.

  Taking all this into account, as well as your expectations, I see his Limited and Rare card prices at 0.0176 ETH and 0.141 ETH respectively as reasonable "buy now" prices.

Premeira Liga 🇵🇹

• Florentino Luis- MID- FC Porto (23) vs. Braga

  SF Benfica have a wealth of options to choose from each week for U23 managers, such as Antonio Silva, Gonçalo Ramos and Enzo Fernandez, but they may be too expensive to buy "for a matchup".

  Florentino Luis has been in impressive form since his return to Lisbon. He is a constant threat for key passes, and has been a solid presence on the defensive end.

  This is a big matchup against Braga, who are 3rd in the Premeira Liga and have talented players all over the pitch. However, they were completely outclassed in their last match on 19 December against Sporting CP, who have yet to find their form this season. In a matchup like this, I think Luis is the way to go, with his solid passing, accurate long balls and tenacious defense.

  You can pick up his 🟡 for 0.058 ETH and his 🔴 for 0.54 ETH. Although these are not cheap figures, his average of 59 in L15 makes it worth the price.

Ligue 2 🇫🇷

Much like my love for the Football Championship, I enjoy Ligue 2 football especially from the perspective of watching young players. It’s totally unpredictable, fun and really open in terms of game play. Here’s a few players to look out for this game week.

• Matteo Xantippe- MID- Amiens (20) vs. Stade Levallois

  I'm a fan of several U23 players at Amiens, including Formose Mendy, one of Ligue 2's brightest stars, Tolu Arokodare, and Mamadou Fofana.

  But even avid Ligue 2 watchers may have missed Xantippe's emergence this season. He's becoming more confident on the pitch and is now contributing to attack as well as defending.

  Xantippe averages 80% pass accuracy, 0.6 interceptions, and 1.5 tackles per game. What's great about him is his price. His 🟡 is currently 2 euros, and his 🔴 is 30 euros.

  He may not win you the game this week, but he's been a reliable starter since mid-October and is still improving.

• Hugo Vandermersch- DEF- Caen (23) vs. Saint Etienne

  At this point, any defender up against Saint Etienne is a must-play, right? I like Vandermersch, as he's actually more of a midfielder, which means playing him as a defender in Sorare gives you a real chance to get a decisive advantage. Vandermersch is averaging 48 points over his last 15 games and plays essentially every game for Caen. Yes, he's only got 6 months left of U23 eligibility, but his price point makes him a good short-term buy candidate.

  His 🟡 card is available for around 5 euros, and you can have his 🔴 card for 77 euros (0.065 ETH).

  But this match is about the appalling Saint Etienne this season. The once-great rival of Lyon is simply a shadow of its former self and must be considered one of the sadder stories in French football. Their decline has been more than financial, too.

  This season, Saint Etienne has given up 30 goals in 16 games. They've managed just 3 wins and have lost 7 of their last 10. Caen, on the other hand, sit in 7th place in Ligue 2 with a real shot at making it interesting who qualifies for promotion. Grab Vandermersch for this week and see what you think. You've got very little to lose.

• Malcom Bokele- DEF- Bordeaux (22) vs. Sochaux

  Bokele was a revelation at the start of the year for Bordeaux, but after an injury against Metz in mid October, he disappeared while recovering and recently came on as a substitute against league leaders Le Havre. I believe this player has the potential to have a major surge in performance and work his way back into your SO5 squad.

  He is available for 0.0151 ETH in 🟡 and 0.147 ETH in 🔴. Before his injury, Bokele was averaging nearly 3 interceptions, 1.5 tackles, and 3.3 effective clearances per game. These are impressive numbers on their own, but Bordeaux has also been a clean sheet factory this season. He was a must-own player about two months ago.

  Total Football Analysis performed a deep dive into several Bordeaux players this season, including Bokele, and found some very interesting total numbers:

  • Bokele wins 88.4% of his aerial duels

  • He completes 85% of his passes

  • He wins 85% of total duels

  I think Bokele is a good bet against Sochaux, a team with a lot of talented young players in its own right.

Happy New Year Sorare managers! Good luck and see you in 2023! 🥂🎆

Let me know what you think and who I missed. Be sure to check back for my game week 333 recap!

This post is focused on Sorare, so I'll only be looking at players, teams, and leagues featured in this game week.

Please note: this is not intended as investment advice. If you decide to join Sorare, always do your own research and be aware that you may experience losses. 🙂

Good luck setting your lineups!

Ligue 1 🇫🇷

The French first division is back in full swing this game week, with all teams in action. Here are a few players to watch this week and consider picking up for your lineup.

• Bafodé Diakité- DEF- Lille OSC (21)- Diakité has had some middling games for Lille, but has been a reliable starter. He featured heavily in their friendlies in the leadup to the re-start and even scored a goal against Napoli this week. His 🟡 is going for 0.022 ETH at time of writing, with only one 🔴 in circulation (owned by me 🙂). He has a good matchup this week against Clermont, who have overachieved so far this season and are the only team in Ligue 1’s top 10 this season other than Nice who have scored less goals than they’ve allowed.

• Amine Gouiri-FW- Stade Rennais (22)- Much like Diakité, Gouiri is poised to have a big week due to his opponent. Stade de Reims unfortunately have not had a strong season so far. Gouiri averages 2.2 shots per game with one of them on target. He usually plays ~80 mins and has scored 6 times in 13 matches. He is a revelation since arriving in Bretagne, joining a long list of players developed by Lyon and inexplicably sold for peanuts. In Gouiri’s case, l‘OL sold him to Nice for 7M Euros, who then sold him to Rennes for 28M the following year 🙃. He’s a little expensive at the higher scarcities, but his production is similar to someone like Vicinius who costs at least 3x more.

• Maxence Caqueret- MID- Olympique Lyonnais (22)- This is the type of midfielder Genesis refers to as an “Anchor”. Caqueret is just solid. He is averaging 51 over L40 and plays in 75% of his games, with excellent form prior to the break averaging 60. He is a bargain, especially his 🔴 cards which are going for 0.22 ETH. He’s unlikely to give you much by way of decisives, but he is a dependable presence in your lineup. His opponent this week is Brest, who have the worst goal differential (-12) of any team in the top 12 in Ligue 1 this season. If you’ve got ~35 euros, I’d grab Caqueret’s 🟡 and book him in for 55 points.

LaLiga 🇪🇸

LaLiga kicks off a bit later this game week, so all the Ligue 1 fans may think they've earned a late Christmas miracle, only to have their hopes dashed before New Year's Eve.

• João Felix - FW - Atletico Madrid (23) - If you haven't already, it's a bit late to jump on the Felix train. He still has a season of U23 eligibility left, but the rumor is that Madrid is looking to move him, so there's no guarantee what kind of situation he'll end up in.

  Still, his performance in Qatar was impressive. He could thrive in the right environment. This game week, that environment is against a last-place, calcified Elche side. My feeling is that Madrid will want to keep showcasing him to ensure his form remains high. He averages 0.8 shots on target per game for Madrid, and even if he comes off the bench, Felix could easily make an impact against this opponent.

  His 🔴 is probably too expensive for most people to take a punt on, but a 0.085 ETH 🟡 could be a nice investment for this week and beyond.

• El Bilal Touré - FW - UD Almeíra (21) - Touré always has the potential for great things. After moving from Stade de Reims to the south of Spain, Touré has had a good start to his LaLiga career. Seven starts in 8 games, plus 3 goals and 1 assist, isn't bad for a player who seems to always be trying to get his head in the right place to perform at his best.

  He averages 1.5 shots and 0.5 key passes per game. He could get a few chances against lowly Cadiz, who currently sit one from the bottom in the league table. Cadiz have conceded the second most goals per game in Spain's top flight division, and Touré could be in a position to take advantage. Touré is reasonably priced at both 🟡 and 🔴 levels and is U23 eligible until 2026.

Jupiler Pro League 🇧🇪

Short game week for the Belgians before a break until 2023, with only two games featuring. Despite this, there is no shortage of U23 talent in Belgium.

• William Pacho, a 21-year-old defender for Royal Antwerp- Pacho was included in Ecuador's final list for Qatar which is impressive despite not featuring in any games. His great start to the season in Antwerp is noteworthy as well. Pacho has consistently scored 45 or more in SO5 since August, and has won 65% of his ground and 60% of aerial duels since the start of the season.

  Antwerp has registered a clean sheet about 38% of the time this season. Pacho is a bargain at 0.0352 ETH for his 🟡 and 0.255 ETH for his 🔴.

• Westerloo has a range of U23 players, such as the enigmatic Nene Dorgeles on loan from RB Salzburg, and Maxim de Cuyper, who is benefitting from consistent game time this year in his loan from Club Brugge. However, neither is worth playing this week, as Dorgeles is not a lock to start and Antwerp scores a lot of goals.

Premiera Liga 🇵🇹

• Gonçalo Borges- FW- FC Porto (21)- This one may be a projection, but with Pepe in the sights of many major clubs in January and Porto fighting for the league title, Borges might start getting more time on the pitch. When Pepe left Porto’s game against Gil Vicente, Borges replaced him.

  Facing an Arouca side who is stuck in the mud on offense and doesn’t offer much by way of attacking threat, Sérgio Conceição might think this is another good chance to get Borges some game time.

  His 🟡 is so cheap at the moment (under 10 euros) that taking a punt makes sense but I like his 🔴 in both the long term and potentially the short term. At 0.159 ETH, Borges is the type of card that could make big returns when he gets a little more time on the pitch.

• Gonçalo Inácio- DEF- Sporting CP (21)- A regular starter, Inácio is well known to Sorare managers and collectors. He has an L40 average of 56 and is coming off a game in which he scored. This week he is up against Paços de Ferreira, who have struggled to score goals. This puts Inácio in a great position for a big scoring game. Sporting's defense has kept clean sheets in 5 of their last 6 games.

  Inácio is a little expensive in 🔴, but you can pick up his Limited card for 0.0775 ETH. I might grab this one ahead of the game week.

Football Championship 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

England's Second Division has been running for a few weeks now, so teams are likely operating at close to mid-season form.

• Ian Maatsen - DEF - Burnley (20) - Burnley have a lot of exciting U23 players, and Vincent Kompany knows how to spot and cultivate talent. Taylor Harwood-Bellis has been one of the stars of the season, but I'm also a big fan of left-back Ian Maatsen.

  He's been a reliable starter for the Clarets, offering a lot in attack as well as solid defending. He's scored twice this season and created 9 big chances in 18 games. Maatsen is on loan from Chelsea, and has greatly benefited from the extra game time. His last 15 scores are 57, and his 🟡 card can be picked up for 0.04 ETH.

• Zian Flemming - FW - Millwall (24) - If you're buying Flemming now, it's for short-term production as he only has half a season of U23 eligibility left. But it's worth it - he's scored 9 goals in 19 games for Millwall, and been named in the Championship Team of the Week by SofaScore 4 times.

  He averages 1.2 shots on target per game. This week's matchup against Bristol City is a good one, as they've conceded 32 goals in 23 games this season - 1.5 goals per game on average. His 🔴 card is a bit expensive at 0.428 ETH, but his 🟡 card is 0.0495 ETH. Considering his short-term scores are similar to Rodrygo's, he may not be so expensive after all.

• João Pedro - FW - Watford (21) - This is one of my favorite U23 players in any league this season. I'm not sure which big club will buy him, but I hope they wait until the summer. Pedro has been a revelation for Watford this season, and is key to their promotion hopes. He's been in great form lately, averaging a 63 in his last 5 game weeks, including scores over 90 three times in his last 8.

  He has 8 goals and 2 assists in 19 games this season. His 🔴 card is nearly 1 ETH, but his 🟡 card is 0.118 ETH. This week's matchup against Swansea City is a good one, as they have conceded 1.3 goals per game on average. If you're looking for a forward to put you over the top in U23 Limited this week, Pedro could be the one.

A Note on the Süper Lig 🇹🇷

I'd like to follow this league more closely, but I'm not yet familiar enough with it to cover it. I'll do some research over the coming weeks and may even do a deep dive.

That's it for now. Good luck, Sorare players! Let me know what you think and who I missed. I'll write a follow-up article looking at some of the top performers and check back on my predictions later this week.

Remember, if you like what you’re reading please subscribe and pick up your Genesis Pass:

https://create.zora.co/collections/0xb791405c7dd0f267fda5bf4440fe52b0722fd93d

I have always been most interested in prospects. Who's next? What player is coming up through the ranks? What magical youngster is taking the football world by storm? This is how I build my Sorare gallery and construct a team to take En Avant Guingamp to the Champions League in FIFA. The fun part of football for me has always been spotting talent early and trying to project what kind of player they will become.

We all remember where we were when 19-year-old Kylian Mbappe became Kylian Mbappe in Russia 2018. Although I'd argue we didn't have a new GOAT emerge in this tournament, I wanted to focus on the top U23 players we saw in Qatar in this first edition of Wonderkids FC.

This overview will not contain names like Tchouameni, Bellingham, Saka, Gvardiol, Pedri, or Gavi. These players were widely known prior to kickoff in Qatar. Instead, I'd rather shine a light on some lesser-known players who burst onto the scene or changed a perception during the last month

To celebrate the launch, you can mint a Genesis NFT created by Stable Diffusion AI with the prompt “Vitalik Buterin as an 80s football player”

https://create.zora.co/collections/0xb791405c7dd0f267fda5bf4440fe52b0722fd93d

Hope you enjoy!

Azzedine Ounahi-MID- Angers SCO (22)

Is there any player whose stock rose more in Doha than Azzedine Ounahi?

To call Ounahi's rise to the World Cup "meteoric" is no exaggeration. Just 18 months ago, he was playing in the lower divisions of French football with US Avranches. Strasbourg had even let him go on a free transfer! But after finding a home at Angers this season, Ounahi shone brightly in Qatar.

He was omnipresent for Morocco in their magical run to the semi-finals, and particularly dominant against Spain. He won 70% of his ground duels and completed nearly 80% of his passes, controlling the middle of the field against more heralded players like Pedri and Gavi. Martin Tyler recently called Ounahi "N'Golo Kante ten years younger."

Angers SCO have already indicated they are open to selling Ounahi in the upcoming winter window, with everyone from Lyon, Leicester City, and Napoli circling around the midfielder.

Ounahi turned heads in Qatar

Joao Felix- FW-Atletico Madrid (23)

I began this piece discussing how I would highlight either underappreciated or previously unknown talents. Felix is neither, but he had been somewhat forgotten prior to Portugal's campaign in the 2022 World Cup.

One of the most sought-after teenage prospects in history, Felix had suffered under Diego Simeone's leadership in Madrid. This all changed in Qatar, where the 50M Euro-rated attacker showcased his quality again and again. Although he was unlucky on several occasions against Morocco in the quarterfinals, he was a constant threat and could have rewritten the primary Cinderella story of this World Cup by knocking out the Atlas Lions.

His best game, however, came in the Portuguese masterclass against the Swiss. Felix was monumental as Portugal steamrolled an outmatched Switzerland. His two assists set the tone and provided a glimpse into what a post-Ronaldo Portugal could look like.

It seems Madrid may be ready to move on from Felix, but Simeone needs to figure out how to unlock the same results. He'll be crucial if Atletico want to leave their horrendous Champions League performance behind and contend for the La Liga title.

Ibrahima Konate- DEF-Liverpool (23)

Watching Konate in this World Cup felt like the beginning of something special. Relegated to a backup role by Didier Deschamps, who preferred Dayot Upamecano, Konate was sensational in the time he did have in Qatar.

Prior to the final, Squawka reported that Konate had an 82.8% tackle success rate, the best of any eligible player in Qatar. But this stat ignores an area of his game that was most surprising, even to those who had followed Konate’s career: his passing and playmaking.

Konate’s passing and playmaking were on full display for France in the World Cup. In his strongest game against Tunisia, he completed an incredible 71 out of 72 passes, including 3 out of 3 on long balls. In the final against Argentina, Konate created a key chance despite playing only 11 minutes, which backed up an excellent passing display against Morocco in the semi-final.

Konate’s defending was excellent throughout the tournament, but his skill distributing the ball suggests he is an ascending talent, just scratching the surface.

https://twitter.com/livescore/status/1603103026352365570?s=20&t=qly8sJHVEZ91PUhvwwyeXw

Moises Caicedo- MID-Brighton & Hove Albion (21)

Brighton likely didn't expect such a rapid return on investment (ROI) when they paid 5M Euros for Caicedo two summers ago. After a season-long loan with Beerschot in the Belgian league, Caicedo returned to the English south coast in top form. His value has since skyrocketed to 40M due to his performance in Qatar with Ecuador.

Caicedo's World Cup campaign was cut short after a defeat against Senegal in the group stages, but he left an impression. Against the Netherlands, Caicedo won 6/9 ground duels and completed nearly 80% of his passes, despite being outmatched.

Yes, his error did lead to the Netherlands' only goal, but they had been threatening for most of the match. Caicedo was the standout performer, apart from talisman Enner Valencia.

Yunus Musah- MID-Valencia (20)

Yunus Musah, a defensive-minded midfielder, turned 20 years old the day the United States defeated Iran and advanced to the knockout stages. Musah has shown his potential at both the international and club level, and this World Cup was a chance for him to shine.

Having finally broken into Valencia's starting 11 this season, Musah controlled the middle of the field with tireless energy and enthusiasm in Qatar. He was indefatigable against a more talented England side. His heat map for the match covers almost the entire pitch. Fox Sports reported that Musah had "outdueled" Jude Belingham, who was possibly the player of the U23 tournament.

While Musah lacks finesse in front of goal, he more than compensates with effort and consistently accurate long balls. He has already featured 23 times for the USMNT and, after his performance at this year's World Cup, it's clear we'll be seeing more of him. Expect to see him feature heavily for Valencia for the rest of the season.

Mohammed Kudus- MID-Ajax (21)

Like Felix, Kudus has been on the radar of scouts, FM players, and Sorare collectors for some time. But in Qatar, the Ajax player showed he's a superstar in the making.

He was creative and dangerous with the ball, persistent in defense, and a true threat around goal throughout Ghana's group stage games. His speed was on full display as he glided past Rodrigo Bentancur and Federico Valverde when Ghana faced Uruguay.

His two-goal effort against South Korea was impressive, but his confrontations against Portugal and Uruguay were more indicative of the player Kudus has become in Amsterdam.

Against Portugal's talented midfield unit, Kudus won 6 of 8 ground duels and was 4 of 4 on dribble attempts. His passing was sublime at times, opening up the Portuguese defense with regularity and precision. Ghana were unlucky to lose, and Kudus was simply electric.

Kang-in Lee- MID-Real Mallorca (21)

South Korea were Kudus' victims when they faced off against Ghana, but Lee had his best game of the World Cup and showcased why he's been called the future of South Korean football.

From the moment he entered the game, Lee was a threat. He drew a foul and effortlessly flew past a defender. Shortly after, he delivered a gorgeous cross that Gue-sung Cho hammered home. Additionally, the Incheon-born Lee completed 96% of his passes in the match.

Lee picked up a yellow card in an otherwise solid performance against Portugal. He completed 88% of his passes and won 5 out of 8 ground duels.

Real Mallorca is reportedly thinking of offering Lee a new long-term deal, and it's easy to see why. The 12M Euro rated player has been impressive.

Cody Gakpo- FW-PSV Eindhoven (23)

Gakpo has been hard to ignore this season in Eindhoven, and his performance in Qatar only confirmed that he’s worth the high price tag Manchester United will likely pay for him in January.

The Dutch forward scored a goal in each of the Netherlands' first three games in various ways, and his efficiency was remarkable—he only had one shot on target. His tall stature (6'2") makes him easy to spot on the field, and his fluid running style makes him a threat when he has the ball.

Gakpo's most complete game of the World Cup was against the USMNT, even though he didn't score. He made an off-the-line clearance and blocked a shot, and his distribution and crosses were impressive.

Most notably, Gakpo's dribbling was outstanding. The USMNT had successfully contained Saka and Kane in the tournament, but Gakpo left them gasping as he completed all three of his dribble attempts. His ability to slither through their attempts to slow him down was a symbol of the Dutch's superiority. Gakpo showed there was no hope.

Enzo Fernandez- MID- Benfica (21)

There was a moment, following their shocking defeat against Saudi Arabia, when the eventual World Cup winners looked old, slow, and bereft of ideas. Then, Enzo Fernandez entered the match.

Though Argentina still crashed and burned against the Saudis, Fernandez's entrance into the starting lineup surely altered the trajectory of the Messi-led team.

Fernandez arrived in Lisbon last summer from River Plate with a decent amount of hype, though far less than his Manchester City-bound teammate, Julian Alvarez. His play for Benfica had already made him a major target for bigger clubs in Europe, and the Young Player of the Tournament in Qatar upped the price tag considerably.

All you need to know about this player is clear by looking at his SO5 scores on Sorare over the last year:

12 months of production from Fernandez

Instrumental in their rebound wins against Mexico and Poland, Fernandez excelled against Croatia and France in the final two games for Argentina. Squaring off against the legendary Luka Modric, the young midfielder completed 42/48 passes to help push Argentina past Croatia.

In what was potentially the greatest final in World Cup history, Fernandez looked right at home with Messi, Mbappe, and Griezmann. Manchester United and Liverpool appear to be vying for his signature. If he wasn't already on your list of players to sign in Sorare, Football Manager, or FIFA 23, he certainly is now.

This is the first edition of Wonderkids FC. Thanks so much for reading. I’ll be writing weekly wrap ups of the top U23 performers in Europe beginning in early Jan 2023 along with videos posted to Lenstube.

If you like what you’ve read, please subscribe so you’ll be notified when the next edition comes out!