Messi Reveals His Top 10 Rising Stars Who Will Rule World Football Next

The Argentine legend and Barcelona icon made his selections as part of Adidas Football’s “Messi+10: Season 2” campaign, which spotlights emerging global talents destined for greatness.

Among the standout names are Liverpool’s Rio Ngumoha and Chelsea’s duo, Andrey Santos and Kendry Páez, both hailed for their exceptional potential. Brighton & Hove Albion’s Brajan Gruda also earned a place on the list for his impressive creativity and confidence in the Premier League.

Messi’s lineup further includes Europe’s brightest prospects: Nico Paz (Como), Rodrigo Mora (Porto), Mika Godts (Ajax Amsterdam), and Kader Meite (Stade Rennes).

Showing his support for women’s football, the Inter Miami captain also selected two promising female stars — Barcelona’s Clara Serrajordi and Olympique Lyon’s Lily Yohannes — describing them as players with the quality to dominate the women’s game in the near future.

This isn’t Messi’s first time spotlighting next-generation stars. In 2024, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner predicted the rise of Lamine Yamal, Antonio Nusa, and Kenan Yildiz, all of whom have since become key figures in top European clubs.

Notably, Lamine Yamal, now donning the iconic No. 10 shirt at FC Barcelona — once worn by Messi himself — finished second in the 2025 Ballon d’Or rankings, a testament to Messi’s eye for spotting future greatness.