From Michu to Ighalo: The unforgettable FPL cult heroes who turned seasons upside down | OneFootball

Fantasy Premier League has produced a plethora of cult heroes throughout the years, under-the-radar names who explode to become FPL icons.

Igor Thiago has a strong claim as the 2025-26's season's surprise package after plundering 19 league goals for Brentford. Thiago's terrific form has had us reminiscing about some of FPL's greatest cult heroes.

Michu - 2012-13

The man, the myth, the legend. Ask any avidPremier League fan to give you a one-season wonder and a large percentage will mention Michu.

He arrived from Rayo Vallecano after an impressive La Liga campaign but few would have predicted his Premier League performances. Classified as a midfielder in FPL, he hit the ground running with two goals on debut and did not stop scoring from there.

Michu ended his debut campaign with 18 league goals, and helped Swansea to League Cup success, in a season to remember. Injuries decimated his second season and the fan favourite never recovered. His career fizzled out fast, but he left an unforgettable impression onFPL players.

Odion Ighalo - 2015-16

Odion Ighalo was not the most prolific promoted striker that FPL has seen but he certainly lives long in the memory. The Nigerian had been a relative unknown to those outside Championship circles but stepped into the Premier League in style.

Ighalo scored 15 league goals as part of a potent partnership with Troy Deeney, with his price rising rapidly from a bargain starting point of just £5m.

He eventually finished the season as one of the best value-for-money players, adding five assists to his 15 goals.

John Lundstram - 2019-20

A £4m asset boosted by out-of-position appeal and an unexpected high-flying season for his club, 'Lord' Lundstram had it all.

Fantasy Premier League had oddly classified Lundstram as a defender, while his bargain price-tag was reflective of a suggestion he may not be inSheffield United's best XI.

Instead, his rampaging performances in midfield helped Chris Wilder's newly-promoted side to the dizzying heights of ninth.

Lundstram bagged five goals and four assists, alongside a collection of clean sheets, to cement himself in FPL folklore.

Stuart Dallas - 2020-21

If you'd asked anyone to predict the top-scoring FPL defender in 2020-21, anyone who had offered Stuart Dallas as a suggestion would have been deemed insane. Trent Alexander-Arnold, maybe, or even Liverpool teammate Andy Robertson. Dallas, however, was not on the radar.

Supported by regular minutes in midfield, Dallas did just that after banking a whopping 171 FPL points. The Irishman scored eight goals, created three more, and collected 12 clean sheets as Leeds impressed under Marcelo Bielsa.

Like Michu, his FPL haul was a one-season thing as Leeds were relegated the following season Dallas, reclassified as a midfielder, saw his points haul drop by 80.