Lionel Messi, who is nearing the end of his celebrated career, has identified 10 future stars he believes will shape the next generation of soccer. Collaborating with Adidas, Messi unveiled this list, which includes a standout talent from the U.S. Men's National Team (USMNT), Zavier Gozo. The 19-year-old forward currently plays for Crystal Palace and is considered one of the most promising players in the USMNT pipeline.
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Messi's selections encompass talents from both men's and women's soccer, showcasing young athletes who are already making an impact at club and international levels. The full list of rising stars includes:
- Can Uzun (20): Turkey – Eintracht Frankfurt – Attacking Midfielder/Forward
- Chloe Sarwie (17): England – Chelsea FC Women – Defender
- Gilberto Mora (17): Mexico – Club Tijuana – Attacking Midfielder
- Giovanna Waksman (17): Brazil – OL Lyon Women – Midfielder
- Jesús Rodríguez (20): Spain – Como – Winger
- Kees Smit (20): Netherlands – AZ Alkmaar – Midfielder
- Lotta Wrede (18): Germany – Hamburger SV Women – Forward/Midfielder
- Max Dowman (16): England – Arsenal – Winger/Midfielder
- Tomás Aranda (19): Argentina – Boca Juniors – Attacking Midfielder
- Zavier Gozo (19): United States – Crystal Palace – Winger/Forward
Among these talents, Gilberto Mora is particularly noted as Mexico's top prospect, attracting attention from major European clubs such as Liverpool, Barcelona, and Real Madrid after an impressive performance at the 2026 World Cup.