What became of the 15 players Lionel Messi predicted would be stars back in 2020?
In 2020, Lionel Messi took a big chance by naming 15 young players he believed were “on the rise.” So, how did they do? Did they live up to the hype?
As part of an Adidas campaign, Messi recently highlighted some promising talents who might be future stars. Among them were Arsenal’s Max Dowman, Crystal Palace’s Zavier Gozo, AZ Alkmaar’s Kees Smit, Como’s Jesus Rodríguez, and Mexico’s highly-rated Gilberto Silva.
Messi has always supported the next generation. Back in 2020, he teamed up with Topps trading cards to talk about 15 young players he thought would shine. His top pick was Trent Alexander-Arnold, praising the Liverpool full-back’s attacking skills as “the future.” Trent went on to become one of Premier League’s best full-backs before moving to Real Madrid in 2025.
Who else made Messi’s list? After moving to Chelsea in 2019, Christian Pulisic was expected to shine, and Messi admired his attacking style. Pulisic scored 26 goals for Chelsea before joining AC Milan in 2023 and has since played over 100 games in Serie A.
Mason Mount was another, with Messi saying he could be “one of the best.” Mount scored 58 goals for Chelsea but had a tough time after moving to Manchester United in 2023 due to injuries.
Jadon Sancho was flying at Borussia Dortmund when Messi praised his dribbling. Though he joined Manchester United in 2021, things didn’t go as planned, and he’s now a free agent.
Luka Jovic was called “magical” by Messi when he moved to Real Madrid in 2019. Despite the big move, Jovic struggled and eventually left for Fiorentina, now playing in Greece.
Kai Havertz impressed Messi with his calm finishing. After joining Chelsea, he helped Arsenal win the Premier League, making him one of Messi’s best calls.
Militao earned praise from Messi and has become a top defender at Real Madrid, winning multiple big trophies.
Ousmane Dembele was noted for his speed and power, but he struggled at Barcelona. After moving to Paris Saint-Germain, he found new life and won the Ballon d’Or in 2025.
Phil Foden caught Messi’s eye, and the Manchester City star has since won many league titles and a Champions League.
Houssem Aouar was once one of Europe’s hottest prospects and linked with big clubs, but he never took the big step. Now at Roma and later Al Ittihad, he still has room to grow.
Frenkie de Jong was tipped by Messi to thrive at Barcelona, and he has become a key player there.
Joao Felix’s move to Atletico Madrid was huge news, and though he shines at times, consistency is still his challenge. Like Aouar, he now plays in the Saudi Pro League.
Joshua Kimmich was already established when Messi praised him, but he’s exceeded expectations with his skills and work ethic at Bayern Munich.
Finally, Benjamin Pavard’s stunning goal against Argentina in the 2018 World Cup likely caught Messi’s attention. Pavard later joined Bayern, played for Inter Milan, and spent a season on loan at Marseille.
All in all, Messi’s choices show how tough it is to predict the future, but many of these players have definitely made their mark!