The ten young players that Argentine football icon Lionel Messi thinks will shape the game’s future have been made public.
The legendary Barcelona and Argentina player was chosen as a part of Adidas Football’s Messi+10: Season 2 campaign, which honors up-and-coming football players worldwide.
Rio Ngumoha, a young player for Liverpool, and Andrey Santos and Kendry Paez, a potential duo for Chelsea, are among those selected. Brajan Gruda, a creative midfielder for Brighton & Hove Albion, was also included after garnering notice for his self-assured Premier League performances.
More up-and-coming European players like Nico Paz of Como, Rodrigo Mora of Porto, Mika Godts of Ajax Amsterdam, and Kader Meite of Stade Rennes are on Messi’s list.
The captain of Inter Miami made selections that went beyond men’s football. He also mentioned two female talents, Lily Yohannes of Olympique Lyon and Clara Serrajordi of Barcelona, saying they had the ability to rule the women’s game in the years to come.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has predicted young people for greatness before. The former Paris Saint-Germain player showcased players like Antonio Nusa, Kenan Yildiz, and Lamine Yamal in 2024; these players have since established themselves as attractive prospects in elite European teams.
According to reports, Yamal placed second in the 2025 Ballon d’Or rating. He currently wears the shirt number ten at FC Barcelona, which is the same number Messi wore when he was a member of the Spanish powerhouse.
