Lionel Messi has once again named the footballers he regards as part of the next generation, taking part in the third edition of “Messi +10”, the Adidas initiative that gathers ten young talents from men’s and women’s football into a single team. The roster mixes familiar names with less predictable choices, and it is not confined to Europe’s biggest academies, leaving out several of the young players currently attracting the most media attention.
Two English-based players feature on the list. Max Dowman, one of Arsenal’s greatest prospects, is included at just 16 years of age; the forward has already featured for the first team and has become one of the most closely watched talents in the Gunners’ academy. The other English representative is Chloe Sarwie, a Chelsea footballer. The 17-year-old has also taken her first steps with the first team and has been gaining prominence in England’s youth ranks. Their selection stands out precisely because Messi did not build the list solely around the most established names among the new figures of European football; instead, the campaign brought together players with very different career paths and levels of exposure.
The list carries particular significance for Argentine football. Tomás Aranda of Boca Juniors is Messi’s only compatriot among the ten selected. The 19-year-old attacking midfielder is in his first season with greater continuity in senior football and already has 14 appearances for the Xeneize. Aranda has also had recent contact with the Argentina national team, a detail that helps explain why his name is beginning to gain traction among the young players to watch. His inclusion gives Boca a direct presence on a list combining prospects from Europe and the Americas, and in this edition only one spot is reserved for an Argentine footballer.
The remaining selections span several countries and clubs. Zavier Gozo is an American player linked to Crystal Palace, while Gilberto Mora of Tijuana is one of the major recent breakout talents in Mexican football. Can Uzun, a forward for Eintracht Frankfurt and the Turkish national team, is also included, alongside Kees Smit of AZ Alkmaar and Jesús Rodríguez of Como. The women’s game is represented by Lotta Wrede of Hamburger SV and Giovanna Waksman, a footballer for Lyon. The selection mixes players from Europe and America and maintains the formula of including talents from both men’s and women’s football.
This is not the first time one of Messi’s choices in the campaign has drawn attention. In the previous edition, Rio Ngumoha, one of Liverpool’s great prospects, appeared along with players such as Andrey Santos and Kendry Páez. Adidas unveiled this third generation under the slogan “The next chapter begins here”, with Messi as the central figure of the campaign. More than an official ranking, it is a promotional selection of emerging talents, but the Argentine’s presence turns every name into a choice that quickly comes under scrutiny.