How FIFA 22 Next Generation promo offered a free wonderkid to every player

EA's FIFA 22 Next Generation campaign has come to a close – and hopefully you got on board in time to snag your free Ultimate Team wonderkid.

Six items were available in total, with France talisman Kylian Mbappe the most headline-worthy – although it’s worth noting that his card is ‘only’ 86-rated, compared to the 91-OVR item on our FIFA 22 ratings list.

Other names unlockable in return for playing the game by a certain date were Manchester City starlet Phil Foden, Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic, and Dortmund prodigy Jude Bellingham. There’s a full list, along with ratings, at the foot of this FIFA 22 Next Generation guide.

To unlock your item, you simply needed to play FIFA 22 on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X (or S), PC or Stadia before January 14, 2022. Once you’d qualified to earn a Next Generation item, it appeared in your account immediately. I received mine – which turned out to be Foden – on Thursday, December 16.

Cards were limited to one per account, so it wasn't possible to score both Mbappe and Foden, no matter the virtual riches at your disposal.

FIFA 22 Next Generation cards are untradeable, so there’s no way of using them to profit on the transfer market.

Sadly, Next Generation players aren’t included in the Nintendo Switch version of FIFA 22.

Below is the complete FIFA 22 Next Generation cards list:

Kylian Mbappe (LW, Paris SG) – 86
Phil Foden (CAM, Manchester City) – 85
Theo Hernandez (LB, Milan) – 85
Christian Pulisic (LW, Chelsea) – 83
Eduardo Camavinga (CM, Real Madrid) – 81
Jude Bellingham (CM, Dortmund) – 81