Football icon Lionel Messi has once again put the spotlight on the game’s emerging talents, naming ten young players he believes are poised to dominate the sport in the coming years. The selection was made as part of the “Messi+10: Season 2” campaign run by Adidas Football, which aims to celebrate global youth prospects.
The list features a diverse mix of players from across top European leagues, as well as two notable female stars, underscoring Messi’s comprehensive view of the sport’s future.
Messi’s latest cohort of future stars includes highly-rated prospects currently making waves in England, Portugal, Netherlands, and France.
The list emphasizes Premier League club talents, with Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool) and the Chelsea duo Andrey Santos and Kendry Paez all receiving the nod. Brajan Gruda’s inclusion, following his eye-catching displays for Brighton & Hove Albion, validates the growing reputation of the Seagulls’ recruitment strategy.
A particularly significant aspect of Messi’s selection is the inclusion of two female stars: Clara Serrajordi of Barcelona and Lily Yohannes of Olympique Lyon. By specifically mentioning them, the Inter Miami captain acknowledges the crucial role these players are expected to play in the growth and dominance of the women’s game.
This is the second season of Messi’s campaign to identify future talent, and his previous predictions have already proven accurate.
In 2024, Messi highlighted players such as Lamine Yamal, Antonio Nusa, and Kenan Yildiz. Lamine Yamal, in particular, has seen a meteoric rise, now wearing Messi’s iconic number ten shirt at FC Barcelona. The young Spaniard recently finished second in the 2025 Ballon d’Or ranking, further cementing Messi’s reputation for having an eye for extraordinary potential.
It seems Messi is quite good at picking the future stars! Do you want to know more about any specific player on this list, or perhaps learn about some of his previous predictions?
