What happened to the top young football stars when GTA V came out?
It’s been 13 years since Grand Theft Auto V burst onto the scene, breaking records by making $1 billion in just three days and becoming the fastest-selling entertainment product ever. The world looked very different back then, both in football and beyond.
For example, Sir Alex Ferguson had just retired after 26 trophy-filled years managing Manchester United. Gareth Bale had recently become the world’s most expensive player, joining Real Madrid for £85.3 million. To make you feel even older, a 20-year-old Harry Kane was still trying to make his mark at Tottenham, while Mohamed Salah was playing for Swiss team Basel.
Wondering about the young stars back then? Here are some of the most valuable young footballers when GTA V launched and how their careers have unfolded over the last 13 years.
Julian Draxler was the most valuable on the list in September 2013. The German winger had already impressed Bundelsiga fans after debuting for Schalke at 17. Big clubs, including Arsenal, showed interest, but he stayed at Schalke for four more years before moving to Wolfsburg in 2015. He later joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, where he had success but never quite nailed down a regular spot. After a loan to Benfica, he moved to Qatari club Al-Ahli in 2023, where he still plays.
Marquinhos has had a very steady club career. The Brazilian defender joined PSG from Roma in 2013. Though he initially competed for a starting spot, he became a key player, eventually becoming captain in 2020. By April 2024, he was PSG’s all-time appearance leader. He helped lead the team to Champions League wins in 2025 and 2026. Internationally, he lifted the Copa América with Brazil in 2019 and has featured in three World Cups. He’s one of the best centre-backs of his generation.
Raphaël Varane was one of Europe’s top young talents when GTA V came out. After joining Real Madrid in 2011, he became a defensive star, winning four Champions League and three La Liga titles. He moved to Manchester United in 2021, played three seasons, and finished with an FA Cup win in 2024. After joining Como in 2024, a serious injury cut his playing days short, and he retired at 31. Now, he helps develop youth football as a board member at Como.
Paul Pogba’s career has been a rollercoaster. He left Manchester United for Juventus in 2012, winning four Serie A titles and reaching the 2015 Champions League final. Returning to United in 2016 for a record fee, his time there was mixed — he showed flashes of brilliance but also struggled with form and injuries. After returning to Juventus and then moving to Monaco, injuries and other challenges disrupted his game. As of August, he’s currently without a club.
Romelu Lukaku caught attention after scoring 17 Premier League goals on loan at West Brom. He then played for Everton, netting 87 goals and earning a big move to Manchester United in 2017. Though he scored regularly there, critics were divided over his consistency. He later won Serie A with Inter Milan, returned to Chelsea, and had loan spells before joining Napoli, where he won another Serie A title. Now, he plays for Turkish club Fenerbahce and is Belgium’s all-time top scorer.
Matija Nastasic impressed after joining Manchester City from Fiorentina in 2012. Named City’s Young Player of the Year in 2013, injuries later limited his chances. He moved to Schalke, then returned to Fiorentina, with later stints in Spain before joining Saudi club Al-Ula in 2025. He earned 34 caps for Serbia during his career.
Geoffrey Kondogbia was highly sought after following his strong season with Sevilla in 2012-13. He played for Monaco, Inter Milan, Valencia, and Atletico Madrid, winning La Liga in 2021. In 2023, he joined Marseille and still plays there. Internationally, he switched from France to the Central African Republic in 2018 and has 22 caps.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was seen as one of England’s top young stars after moving from Southampton to Arsenal in 2011. He helped Arsenal win three FA Cups, then joined Liverpool in 2017, where he won the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League in 2020. After a serious knee injury and time at Besiktas, he moved to Celtic in 2026, where he still plays.
Mateo Kovacic moved from Dinamo Zagreb to Inter Milan in 2013, soon playing in the Champions League. He joined Real Madrid in 2015, winning three consecutive Champions League titles, then Chelsea, where he won the Europa League and Champions League again. In 2023, he joined Manchester City, winning the Premier League but has recently had less game time.
Gerard Deulofeu’s last game was in January 2023 due to injury troubles. After rising through Barcelona’s academy, he spent time at Everton, Sevilla, AC Milan, and Watford. His best form came at Watford and Udinese, but a knee injury stopped him in his tracks. Despite tough times and being without a club, he’s determined to return and continues rehab with Udinese’s support.
Time really flies when you look back at these players since GTA V came out!