: A midfield prodigy valued at €13.5m, Fàbregas was already an established starter for Arsenal in the 2006 game. The "Must-Buy" Defensive Icons
These players were highly rated in FM06 and lived up to—or exceeded—their massive potential in real life. Lionel Messi football manager 2006 wonderkids top
Football Manager 2006 (FM06) was a landmark edition that captured many future superstars just as they were breaking through. Looking back, the game's scouting was remarkably accurate for some, while others became legendary "virtual" heroes who never quite reached those heights in reality The "Safe Bets" (Real-Life Superstars) : A midfield prodigy valued at €13
| Cost: £5-7m The youngest goalscorer in Bundesliga history at the time, Şahin is a midfield wizard. He arrives with 18 for Passing and 17 for Creativity. His "Takes Free Kicks" attribute is 19. In a 4-4-2, play him as a left-central midfielder with a "Playmaker" instruction. He will dictate tempo like a young Xabi Alonso. A must-buy for any club needing a brain in midfield. Looking back, the game's scouting was remarkably accurate
(Arsenal) : A midfield maestro with world-class passing and mental attributes for his age. Sergio Ramos
But for millions of players, the real magic of FM 2006 wasn't just managing those stars—it was finding the . The 2006 database was famously generous. It was a time before the analytics revolution; scouts relied on gut feeling, and SI Games blessed us with a cohort of teenagers who would go on to define world football for the next 15 years.