FIFA 07 vs. reality. How did the careers of the players for whom the game of football predicted a great future evolve?

Released regularly every year, FIFA football simulator offers millions of players the chance to take on the role of football coaches and take their favourite team to the top. The career mode is also linked to the potential of young players. How are those for whom the game predicted a bright future doing today?

In this article, we take a closer look at FIFA 07. Among those whom the game has evaluated as future stars and whose potential has reached 90 points in several cases, we find not only English and French footballers, but also representatives of Mexico and Poland, for example.

Mike Jones (game rating 46, potential 90)

The first representative from England started his football career at Tranmere Rovers. However, the central midfielder never fulfilled his expectations and did not reach the expected potential. He wore the jerseys of many English sides, leaving his biggest mark at Bury FC, where he netted 23 goals in 169 games played. Today, at the age of thirty-five, he is at Chesterfield, playing in the fifth highest competition.

Gabriel Obertan (game rating 48, potential 85)

A much more successful career was recorded by the French striker, who was part of the Bordeaux squad in FIFA 07. He reached his first trophies with this team, having contributed to winning the league, winning the cup twice and the Super Cup once.

He passed through the youth national teams and in 2009 headed to England, where he worked first at Manchester United and then at Newcastle. A series of more or less successful engagements followed. Currently he is still an active player, playing in the lower leagues in the USA.

Anthony Stokes (game rating 54, potential 90)

The Irish striker has also had a successful career, with his greatest successes at Celtic. He not only tasted the Champions League with the Scottish side, but also collected five league titles and three cup wins.

He will certainly be remembered by Hibernian fans, with whom he dug up the Scottish Cup in the 2015/16 season. In total, he went through twelve clubs after that. In 2020, he hung up his cleats.

Ben Parker (game rating 55, potential 88)

The creators of this edition of the football simulator had high hopes for the English defender, who was wearing the Bradford jersey at the time. He returned to his native Leeds after the end of his loan spell, but he didn’t make a significant impact there and made sporadic starts. He continued to go on loan spells and his career, which he ended in 2019, was on a downward trend.

David Vrzogic (game rating 56, potential 85)

Another defenseman who earned a spot on this list. The German with Serbian citizenship belonged to Borussia Dortmund’s academy. He came through the youth ranks there, but never made it to the first team. He spent part of his career at Bayern Munich, but even there he did not make a significant impact. He wandered around clubs in Germany, where he still plays in the lower leagues.

Carlos Vela (game rating 59, potential 88)

In this case, we dare say that the Mexican striker fulfilled his potential quite well. Arsenal, Celta Vigo, Real Sociedad or even Los Angeles. These are just a few of the clubs Vela has linked his career with.

He has participated in the World Cup, the Champions League and has also won a few crowns of the king of goal scorers. The last of which he has so far scored a fantastic 34 goals for Los Angeles, where he is currently based.

Joel Lynch (game rating 61, potential 85)

Another England representative from whom more was probably expected. Despite being born in England, he has citizenship of Wales, which he represented in one friendly against Bosnia-Herzegovina. A similar case to the aforementioned Parker, except that Lynch made a name for himself in Huddersfield colours and scored 128 games there.

He has also appeared for QPR, Nottingham Forrest and Brighton. At the age of thirty-five he is still active, kicking for Crawley Town in the English League Four.

Kamil Oziemczuk (game rating 62, potential 90)

The Polish offensive midfielder was rightly considered a gem. At least in this FIFA competition. At the age of 17, he headed to French side Auxerre for seven million crowns.

However, he did not play a single game there and returned to Poland in 2008. He passed through Lublin, Gornik Leczna and other exclusively Polish teams. He made one start for the under-21 national team.

Nathan Dyer (game rating 63, potential 89)

Southampton graduate who was also given a bright future. Eventually made it to an impressive 350 games for Swansea in his career. With this side he also enjoyed the English League Cup in 2013.

His performance also helped Leicester to the Championship title in 2016, scoring one goal in fourteen duels. He finished his career back at Swansea in 2020.

Isaiah Osbourne (game rating 64, potential 87)

The last English representative in this ranking. Even here we can’t talk about some bright career. The Aston Villa alumnus had a good start, but apart from a short stint at Hibernian, he has only been active in England. He made the most starts (67) for Walsall, where he scored four goals. As of July 2020, the now thirty-five-year-old midfielder is without a contract.

Garry Bocaly (game rating 64, potential 89)

Finally, the French defender. Specifically, a Marseille offspring, where he enjoyed the 2009/10 championship title. However, he kicked considerably more for Montpellier, where he reached 130 games. He last played his football in Martinique.

Sources: Transfermarkt, Sofifa