IN 2020, Lionel Messi picked out 15 young stars to watch – but where are they now?
The Argentina World Cup winner, 35, named his favourite wonderkids for a Topps ‘Lionel Messi Designed Set’ card pack.
Messi selected a hatful of young English talent among his crop – with no fewer than FOUR Three Lions stars making the grade.
But the 15 youngsters have endured very different years since Messi’s announcement.
Take a look at where they are now.
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD
MESSI got a first-hand view of the Liverpool right-back’s talent in the 2018-19 Champions League.
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Alexander-Arnold, 24, was in blistering form as the Reds thumped Barcelona 4-0 in the second-leg of their semi-final clash – and even took the corner leading to Divock Origi’s winning goal to send them to the final.
Still Liverpool’s No1 right-back, Alexander-Arnold has faced criticism over his defensive ability in the last few seasons.
However, he reinvented himself in midfield for England in the recent win over North Macedonia.
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HOUSSEM AOUAR
LINKED with a move to Arsenal, Aouar captained Lyon and has already won caps for France.
Technically superb, the versatile midfielder, 24, was expected to complete a big-money move to another of Europe’s giants in 2021.
However, a loss of form and questions about his temperament emerged and he failed to make the World Cup squad.
He recently signed for Roma on a free transfer, where he will play next season.
FRENKIE DE JONG
A former team-mate of Messi, the Argentine knows all about De Jong.
The Dutchman, 26, moved from Ajax following their run to the 2018-19 Champions League semi-final.
While De Jong is yet to replicate his top form at the Nou Camp – time is certainly on his side.
Man Utd thought so, anyway, and were desperate to sign him last summer. However, he snubbed their offer – preferring to stay at Camp Nou.
MOUSSA DEMBELE
THE French striker, 26, joined Atletico Madrid on loan from Lyon with a view to a permanent move back in 2021.
But, he failed to impress Diego Simeone – and was soon back to France.
The ex-Fulham and Celtic forward was rated one of Europe’s most-sought-after stars after a sensational three-year spell in France.
Dembele has scored 70 times in 172 matches in all competitions for Lyon.
JOAO FELIX
ANOTHER Atleti forward, Diego Simeone added Felix to his squad for a record £113million in 2019.
But the 23-year-old has failed to live up to the hype expected of him.
A poor return of 34 goals in 131 games and has meant Simeone is ready to cut his losses.
Man Utd are one of the clubs that have been linked with the fallen wonderkid.
A loan move last season to Chelsea in January, where he scored just four goals in 20 games, won’t have helped his cause for a future move.
PHIL FODEN
THE Manchester City star, 23, is making a name for himself across Europe.
As well as Messi, Foden has garnered praise from the likes of Arsene Wenger.
Under Pep Guardiola, Foden has flourished and become a full international.
The clamour for him to be England’s main man at the World Cup was too much for Gareth Southgate to resist – and he inspired the Three Lions to a 3-0 win over Wales.
KAI HAVERTZ
AFTER Messi’s comments, Havertz teased clubs across Europe by showing off his unquestionable talent at Bayer Leverkusen.
After Chelsea opted to splash £70m on the midfielder/forward, Havertz, 24, was expected to take the next step.
The German star blew hot and cold for the Blues, showing glimpses of his talent – but never on a consistent level.
This summer, Arsenal have taken a punt on Havertz who will hope to rediscover his form at the Emirates.
LUKA JOVIC
SIGNED by Real Madrid from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2019, Jovic’s career has really stalled.
The Serbian, 25, scored just twice in 21 LaLiga games before being shipped back on loan to Frankfurt last year.
Jovic scored twice off the bench in his first game back in the Bundesliga – but didn’t exactly pull up trees.
Los Blancos cut their losses in the summer – flogging him to Fiorentina where he scored 13 goals in all competitions last season.
JOSHUA KIMMICH
HARDLY a wonderkid at the time of Messi’s revelation – Kimmich was already 25. He’s now 28.
The German feels like he’s been around for a decade already and is easily one of the best players on the planet.
The versatile star can play in midfield or at right-back and has already won 79 international caps, while helping Bayern Munich to a famous Treble last season.
Kimmich was part of the Bayern team who trounced Messi’s Barcelona 8-2 in the Champions League quarter-final, even getting on the scoresheet.
KYLIAN MBAPPE
QUITE possibly the best striker on the planet right now, Mbappe has scored a sensational 212 goals in 260 league games for Paris Saint-Germain.
The 2018 World Cup winner, 24, was set to move to Real Madrid last summer, but snubbed the LaLiga giants for a bumper £300million contract with the French club.
However, he has now revealed he won’t be extending his contract beyond 2024 and has reportedly agreed a contract with Real Madrid.
EDER MILITAO
HAVING moved to Real Madrid from Porto in the summer of 2019, huge things were expected of the Brazilian, who was handed a SIX-YEAR contract.
Militao, 25, has shown flashes of talent after breaking into the first team.
But Militao can’t dislodge Thiago Silva and Marquinhos in the Brazilian national team.
MASON MOUNT
A FUTURE Chelsea – and possibly even England – captain, Mount has been superb for the Blues.
Mount, 24, bizarrely seems to split fans – but has shown grit, determination and extraordinary talent in a struggling Chelsea team.
The midfielder has gone from strength-to-strength since Messi comments.
It’s expected Mount will go on to forge an incredible partnership with the likes of Declan Rice, Jack Grealish, James Maddison and Phil Foden for England in what’s increasingly looking like another ‘Golden Generation’.
Although, Chelsea seemingly see him as surplus to requirements – as they negotiate a move away from Cobham to Man Utd.
BENJAMIN PAVARD
MESSI was never going to leave the Bayern Munich man out of his list.
After all, Pavard, 27, scored the goal of the tournament as France knocked Argentina out of the 2018 World Cup at the last-16 stage with a sensational strike in a 4-3 win.
The versatile defender is now a regular in the Bayern XI, playing 162 Bundesliga games since joining from Stuttgart in 2019.
CHRISTIAN PULISIC
DESPITE struggling with injuries, Pulisic has shown fans – and Messi – just what he can do.
Chelsea always seem to look more dangerous with the American, 24, in the team.
Pulisic also led the USA’s charge in Qatar admirably at the World Cup last year.
JADON SANCHO
OF all the players on Messi’s list, Sancho has arguably been the most disappointing
The Man Utd star, 23, was the subject of the longest-running transfer saga ever, seemingly in 2021.
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Sancho eventually joined in a deal worth a staggering £73million.
Back in January, he admitted to having to overcome “physical and mental” issues.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
