Topics: Lionel Messi, Football, FIFA World Cup, Liverpool, Chelsea
Lionel Messi has named his 10 players deemed the ‘future of football’ who can dominate the game for years.
As part of an advertising campaign for Adidas, Messi - to some the greatest 10 of all time - was asked to pick 10 youngsters to keep tabs on.
It’s not the first time Messi has picked out his 10 players, having done so for Adidas last year to coincide with the release of the ‘Messi+10’ F50 football boot.
Lamine Yamal, Antonio Nusa, Jaedyn Shaw and Vicky Lopez were among the male and female footballers Messi picked out in 2024.
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And he’s done similar this year with three current Premier League stars-in-the-making all making the cut.
Liverpool teenager Rio Ngumoha, who recently signed his first professional contract with the club, was one who featured in Messi’s rundown.
Ngumoha has already made history with Liverpool, becoming the youngest player in the club’s history to start a competitive match back in January and their youngest ever goalscorer after netting a late, late winner against Newcastle back in May.
Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos is also among those highlighted by Messi, as is Ecuadorian teenager Kendry Paez, who is currently on loan at Ligue 1 side Strasbourg.
Brighton midfielder Brajan Gruda makes up the Premier League contingent, while Messi’s compatriot Nico Paz, currently shining with Como, is also one earmarked for a bright future.
Rodrigo Mora, Mika Godts and Kader Meite make up the male players, while Messi also picked out Lily Yohannes and Clara Serrajordi of Lyon and Barcelona, respectively, to round off the 10 future stars.
Messi is widely the greatest player in the world, so his opinion on who to keep tabs on carries weight.
The 38-year-old really cemented his status as one of football’s GOATs as he captained Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022.
However, it remains to be seen whether Messi will seek to help Argentina defend their crown in north America next summer.
The Inter Miami forward recently played his final World Cup qualifier in Argentina and is yet to decide whether to prolong his playing career for football’s showpiece next year.
“But well, we're almost there, so I'm excited and motivated to play it. Like I always say, I go day by day, going by how I feel,” Messi said via ESPN after the 3-0 home win over Venezuela last month.
“I'm trying to feel good and, above all, being honest with myself. When I feel good, I enjoy it, but when I don't, honestly, I don't have a good time, so I prefer not to be there if I don't feel good.
“So we'll see. I haven't made a decision about the World Cup. I'll finish the season, then I'll have preseason, and there will be six months left.
“So, we'll see how I feel. Hopefully, I'll have a good preseason in 2026 and finish this MLS season well, and then I'll decide.”
