Lionel Messi picks 2 PL players as he names 10 best rising stars in the world
The Inter Miami forward’s sixth annual list includes two Premier League players and three women as adidas revives the Backed by Messi campaign.
- On Monday, Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi unveiled his 2026 'Backed by Messi' list, naming 10 rising stars across global football with 19-year-old USMNT winger Zavier Gozo leading the group.
- The 'Backed by Messi' initiative launched in 2015, running for two years before a 2024 rebrand; Messi aims to improve on previous selections from 10 years ago which included Timo Werner.
- Arsenal midfielder Max Dowman and Brazilian OL Lyonnes standout Giovanna Waksman also earned spots, while Gozo's inclusion follows an excellent 18-month run in Major League Soccer and a $15 million transfer to Crystal Palace.
- Gozo earned a place in the USMNT's September-October roster following a productive 2026 season where he scored six goals in 16 MLS games, subsequently making his international debut off the bench in a 4-1 victory over Peru.
- The diverse selection includes European talents like Paris Saint-Germain's Mika Godts and Como's Nico Paz, alongside emerging prospects like Tijuana midfielder Gilberto Mora, who gain global attention following Messi's public endorsement.
21 Articles
21 Articles
Messi chose the 10 future stars of football: Arsenal, Chelsea and Boca Juniors have representatives
The Argentine stars in the third season of “Messi +10,” Adidas’s campaign that brings together ten footballers from different countries. Argentine player Tomas Aranda and Mexican Gilberto Mora appear among the most prominent names.
The Argentine star included seven footballers and three players on a list that brings together young people of different nationalities and clubs.
Lionel Messi has selected 10 young footballers, both male and female, whom he sees as talents with the potential to become big stars in world football. In a video made in collaboration with Adidas, the Argentine legend mentioned names from various clubs and countries, including two English talents: Arsenal's Max Dowman and Chelsea's Chloe Sarwie. Dowman, only 16 years old, is considered one of the most promising talents in English football. Mean…
Globo
O LiberalIn an advertising campaign for Adidas, the star Lionel Messi chose ten young men from world football to the next generation of cracks and placed a representative from Brazil. The half Giovanna Waksman, 17 years old, was included in the Argentine list. Nine other male and female players were remembered by the crack. Giovanna was born in Rio de Janeiro and did most of his training in Botafogo. In March this year, it was announced by OL Lyonnes and…
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