Lionel Messi Highlights 10 Rising Stars in Football
Lionel Messi Spotlights Promising Young Football Talent
After saying goodbye to international football, Lionel Messi shared his picks for ten young players he believes will become future icons in men's and women's football. Among those named was Arsenal's exceptional young talent, Max Dowman.
The Argentine legend played his last game for his country recently, captaining them to a 3-0 friendly victory over Benin, where he scored a penalty to end his international career with 126 goals in 208 appearances. His achievements include seven goals during Argentina's triumphant 2022 World Cup campaign.
With Messi stepping away, a new generation of footballers aims to follow his path to greatness, and the 39-year-old forward took it upon himself to highlight some of the best young prospects worldwide.
Key Events Timeline
- July 2026: Spain defeats Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the World Cup final.
- August 2026: Messi announces retirement from international football following World Cup loss.
- October 2026: Adidas releases a tribute video honoring Messi’s career before his farewell match.
- October 2026: Messi scores a penalty in his final Argentina appearance, a 3-0 win against Benin.
English Talents on Messi’s Radar
In collaboration with Adidas, Messi released a video naming ten promising men’s and women’s players he expects to reach stardom. The list features English stars including 16-year-old Arsenal sensation Max Dowman. Already part of Mikel Arteta’s senior squad, Dowman impressed by scoring after coming off the bench in Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Everton last season. He also became the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history, won the title, and earned the Home Grown Debutant of the Season award.
Alongside Dowman is Chloe Sarwie from Chelsea’s women’s team. At just 17, she’s an important defensive figure for England’s youth teams and included in the U20 squad for the upcoming World Cup. Born in Lambeth, Sarwie joined Chelsea at age 10 and debuted for the first team in October 2025 during a 1-1 draw with FC Twente. She looks set to be a key Lioness for years ahead.
Other Noteworthy Young Players
Messi also highlighted several other exciting talents. American Zavier Gozo has broken into Crystal Palace’s senior team at 19, debuting this season despite a 4-1 loss to Manchester City. The midfielder has already represented the USA internationally under coach Mauricio Pochettino.
Mexican attacker Gilberto Mora, 17, gained attention with impressive performances during the World Cup held in Mexico. Mora featured in four games and has drawn interest from European clubs like Liverpool.
Argentine midfielder Tomas Aranda, 19, also caught Messi’s eye. Aranda earned his first cap for Argentina in a 2-0 victory over Honduras this past June and could soon move to Europe.
The list includes Turkish striker Can Uzun, 20, who scored during Turkey’s World Cup campaign and has started the Bundesliga season strong with Eintracht Frankfurt, tallying four goals and three assists in six matches.
Dutch midfielder Kees Smit, 20, stayed at AZ Alkmaar despite rumors of moves to Real Madrid or the Premier League. Known for his calmness and passing, he’s often compared to Kevin De Bruyne.
Jesus Rodriguez, a 20-year-old winger for Como in Serie A, has earned 10 caps for Spain’s U21s and is seen as having great potential, echoing views from former teammate Cesc Fabregas.
German forward Lotta Wrede, 18, is proving to be a difficult opponent for Hamburger SV, while Brazilian midfielder Giovanna Waksman, 17, from Lyon, also impressed Messi enough to be included on his list.
Messi's 10 Future Stars of Football
- Max Dowman – Arsenal, England, 16
- Chloe Sarwie – Chelsea, England, 17
- Zavier Gozo – Crystal Palace, USA, 19
- Tomas Aranda – Boca Juniors, Argentina, 19
- Gilberto Mora – Tijuana, Mexico, 17
- Can Uzun – Eintracht Frankfurt, Turkey, 20
- Kees Smit – AZ Alkmaar, Netherlands, 20
- Jesus Rodriguez – Como, Spain, 20
- Lotta Wrede – Hamburger SV, Germany, 18
- Giovanna Waksman – Lyon, Brazil, 17
