• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Lionel Messi's prediction about Phil Foden from four years ago resurfaces after brace against Brighton

Home> Football> Football News> Man City

Published 09:52 26 Apr 2024 GMT+1

Lionel Messi's prediction about Phil Foden from four years ago resurfaces after brace against Brighton

Messi knows talent when he sees it.

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

Featured Image Credit: Topps - Getty Images

Topics: Lionel Messi, Phil Foden, Manchester City, Premier League, Inter Miami, Argentina

Jack Kenmare
Jack Kenmare

Jack is a Senior Journalist who enjoys a long read. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of Football Manager wonderkids from 2005 to the present day, and has interviewed a handful of FM's finest, including Freddy Adu, Supat Rungratsamee and Mika Aaritalo.

X

@jackkenmare_

Advert

Advert

Advert

Lionel Messi made an ambitious prediction about Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden when he named his 15 'youth on the rise' players in 2020.

Foden has been one of Europe's standout performers this season. The 23-year-old playmaker has notched 24 goals and 10 assists for Pep Guardiola's side during the 2023/24 campaign.

And on Thursday night, the England international bagged his 15th Premier League goal of the season in what was a convincing 4-0 win over Brighton at the Amex.

Advert

As a result, Foden became the third player to score 50 top-flight goals under Guardiola while aged 23 or younger, after Erling Haaland and a certain Lionel Messi.

Messi is a big admirer of Foden. In fact, the Argentine would often ask former Barcelona teammate and close friend Sergio Aguero about Foden, according to reports.

The Telegraph said there was a "degree of fascination" around City thanks to Pep Guardiola's involvement, with eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi paying close attention to the players Guardiola had at his disposal.

It's claimed Messi and former Argentina teammate Javier Mascherano would regularly contact Aguero to ask about the development of Foden, who made his debut in 2017.

Advert

Three years later, Messi would heap praise on the England international when he named 15 'youth on the rise' players – a list he created as part of a Topps trading card campaign.

"He will do amazing things in the game," the now-Inter Miami forward said about Foden. "He has huge talent."

Image credit: Getty
Image credit: Getty

Foden has taken inspiration from Messi in years gone by, copying a training technique from one of the all-time greats to improve his own game.

Advert

"I remember back in the academy and City played Barcelona [in the Champions League]," he said in 2022.

"I remember Messi and Dani Alves doing it [two-touch] from a massive distance and didn't drop it once. That's the first time I'd seen anyone do it, and I took it into my own training.

"Over the years as I've practiced it, I've just got better and better at it. It's not easy, not an easy technique to get the pass right, and obviously your touch has got to be on point as well."

Choose your content:

19 mins ago
an hour ago
2 hours ago
4 hours ago
  • GettyGetty
    19 mins ago

    Liverpool's Transfer Priority for Next Summer Emerges as Fans Sent Into Meltdown

    The Reds spent £415m on transfers in the summer window and welcomed stars such as Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak.

    Football
  • GettyGetty
    an hour ago

    Saudi Arabia's PIF Has Clear Stance on Buying Tottenham After Daniel Levy Exit

    The PIF acquired an 80% stake in Newcastle in 2021 and has invested in several other sports.

    Football
  • GettyGetty
    2 hours ago

    Spurs Confirm Daniel Levy Exit After 24 Years in New Statement

    Levy, 63, has stepped down from his role as Executive Chairman.

    Football
  • Francesco Pecoraro / Stringer via GettyaFrancesco Pecoraro / Stringer via Gettya
    4 hours ago

    Italian Media Reach Immediate Kevin De Bruyne Verdict After Two Games for Napoli

    After just two games, the Italian press have already made their judgement on the Belgian.

    Football
  • Fans think they know why Phil Foden was laughing after Man City went 2-0 down against Spurs
  • Lionel Messi Facing Backlash Over ‘Disgusting’ Comment During Inter Miami Bust-Up
  • Lionel Messi's friend leaks his next career move after Inter Miami contract expires
  • Phil Foden didn't hesitate naming the Champions League star who has 'got everything'