FIFA 21 Wonderkids: Best Young Mexican Players to Sign in Career Mode

The quarter-finals are the best that a Mexican team has achieved in the World Cup, most recently achieving the feat in 1986. Their success closer to home has been more notable, winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup 11 times.

The likes of Hugo Sánchez, Rafael Márquez, Jorge Campos, Cuauhtémoc Blanco, and Horacio Casarín have led the way for Mexico in the past. Their legacy has inspired the coming generations who look to follow in their footsteps.

In this article, we’ll look at the best Mexican wonderkids to sign for your Career Mode on FIFA 21. Some of the players may be more ready than others in terms of their current rating, but all of the players can provide value for your team going forward.

Choosing the best Mexican wonderkids of FIFA 21

To qualify for this list of FIFA 21 wonderkids, the players must be identified as Mexican in the game. Furthermore, all of the players have to be 21-years-old or younger and have a minimum potential rating of 80. As potential is the key metric, all of the players here have been ranked by their POT rating.

José Juan Macías (75 OVR – 84 POT)

Team: Guadalajara
Best Position: ST
Age: 20
Overall/Potential: 75 OVR / 84 POT
Value: £11 million
Weak Foot: Three-Star
Best Attributes: 80 Positioning, 77 Finishing, 76 Reactions

Macías graduated from Guadalajara’s youth academy after a loan spell at Léon in January 2019, and has made an impact since arriving in the first-team. The now-21-year-old has already played for Mexico five times and has scored four goals, including a brace against Bermuda.

While on-loan with fellow Liga MX Apertura side Léon, Macías scored 19 goals in 40 games across a single season, earning him his place in Guadalajara’s first-team. So far in the 2021 Liga MX Clausura, Macías has scored six goals in 12 games. The Mexican wonderkid is a natural goalscorer with an impressive scoring record at such a young age.

Few 21-year-old players have the Leadership trait, but that’s what Macías brings in FIFA 21. With a 75 OVR rating and an 84 POT rating, he has the ability to have an impact in the short term and become a crucial player in the future. His 80 positioning, 77 finishing, and 76 reactions are his best ratings from the start of FIFA 21. Still, with room to grow, you’d expect all three ratings to be in the mid-80s before long.

Alejandro Gómez (63 OVR – 83 POT)

Team: Boavista FC (on-loan to Atlas)
Best Position: LB, CB
Age: 18
Overall/Potential: 63 OVR / 83 POT
Value: £1.1 million
Weak Foot: Three-Star
Best Attributes: 69 Stamina, 67 Sprint Speed, 66 Acceleration

Alejandro Gómez moved from his native Mexico to Portugal to play for Boavista last summer, shifting from Atlas Guadalajara on-loan. The young defender has played less than a handful on games in Liga NOS this season, but at 19-years-old, he’s still getting valuable experience in a top European division.

Gómez has also spent time with Boavista’s under-23 squad this season, as well as for Mexico’s first-team, although he’s yet to make it off of the bench for El Tri.

Despite being primarily listed as a left back in FIFA 21, Gómez has only played as a centre back this season. At 63 OVR, he is certainly one for the future, but that patience will pay off as he has an 83 potential rating.

Listed at 6’0’’ and with 66 acceleration and 67 sprint speed, a position change to a centre back may benefit his development into a reliable player.

Johan Vásquez (71 OVR – 83 POT)

Team: UNAM Pumas
Best Position: CB, LB
Age: 21
Overall/Potential: 71 OVR / 83 POT
Value: £3.9 million
Weak Foot: Two-Star
Best Attributes: 76 Heading Accuracy, 75 Strength, 75 Standing Tackle

Johan Vásquez is 21-years-old, which makes him one of the older players on this list. After struggling to play consistently at Monterrey, Vásquez moved to UNAM Pumas in January 2020, where he has played regularly ever since. Prior to the switch, he made his debut for the national side, playing 27 minutes against Trinidad and Tobago in 2019.

Playing predominately as a centre back throughout his career, Vásquez has shown that he can play as a left back if needed. Having featured in all 17 games in Liga MAX Apertura for UNAM in 2020, he was a key part of a team that only lost once all season.

Vásquez’s best ratings in FIFA 21 are all key to his position as a centre back. He has 75 strength, 76 heading accuracy, and 75 standing tackle. With 61 acceleration and 68 sprint speed, he may be better suited to playing centre back rather than a left back role anyway. His 71 overall rating and 83 potential rating make him a usable option in the short term for a number of teams.

Santiago Giménez (66 OVR – 83 POT)

Team: Cruz Azul
Best Position: ST, CF, CAM
Age: 19
Overall/Potential: 66 OVR / 83 POT
Value: £2 million
Weak Foot: Three-Star
Best Attributes: 79 Strength, 74 Penalties, 73 Heading Accuracy

Graduating from Cruz Azul’s youth academy and signing for the first-team in 2019, Santiago Giménez is establishing himself in the with more than twice as many appearances this season than last season.

Giménez’s domestic form has fluctuated so far this season. In the Liga MX Apertura, he scored four goals across 15 games. On the other hand, at the time of writing, he is yet to score through ten games in the Liga MX Clausura.

Strength is Giménez’s best attribute on FIFA 21 with a 79 rating. He also totes 74 penalties, 73 heading accuracy, and 72 acceleration. Standing at 6’0’’ tall, he isn’t your usual target man, but he can provide a burst of pace and a threat from the air. His 66 overall rating is backed by an 83 potential overall rating.

Diego Lainez (72 OVR – 83 POT)

Team: Real Betis
Best Position: RM, CM, CAM
Age: 20
Overall/Potential: 72 OVR / 83 POT
Value: £4.6 million
Weak Foot: Three-Star
Best Attributes: 91 Balance, 87 Agility, 86 Acceleration

Real Betis paid £12.6 million for América youngster Diego Lainez in 2019. However, the Mexican youngster has struggled since moving to the La Liga side. Through 53 games for Los Verdiblancos, Lainez has scored just two goals and five assists while playing across the front line.

Lainez made his international debut for Mexico in 2018, playing 24 minutes in a 4-1 loss to Uruguay. Since then, he’s played in eight subsequent games, scoring once. His sole goal to date came in a draw against Algeria in 2020.

The Mexican wonderkid boasts 91 balance, 87 agility, and 86 acceleration. Standing at 5’6’’ allows him to change direction and move around the pitch very quickly.

His 80 dribbling, 74 composure, and 73 ball control make for a strong foundation for the 20-year-old winger with an 83 POT rating. He does carry the Injury Prone trait, though, which may concern future owners on FIFA 21.

All the best Mexican wonderkids in FIFA 21

The table below shows all of the best Mexican wonderkids to sign on Career Mode in FIFA 21. They have been sorted by their potential overall rating.

With players aligned across several positions and skillsets, which players will you choose to enhance your Career Mode team?