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LAST 12 months, Lionel Messi picked out 15 younger stars to look at – however the place are they now?
The Barcelona famous person, 33, named his favorite wonderkids for a Topps ‘Lionel Messi Designed Set’ card pack.
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Messi chosen a hatful of younger English expertise amongst his crop – with no fewer than FOUR Three Lions stars making the grade.
However the 15 kids have endured very totally different years since Messi’s announcement.
Check out the place they’re now, one 12 months on…
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD
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MESSI bought a first-hand view of the Liverpool right-back’s expertise within the 2018-19 Champions League.
Alexander-Arnold, 22, was in blistering kind because the Reds thumped Barcelona 4-0 within the second-leg of their semi-final conflict – and even took the nook resulting in Divock Origi’s successful purpose to ship them to the ultimate.
Nonetheless Liverpool’s – and arguably England’s – No1 right-back, Alexander-Arnold has endured a trickier season in 2020-21.
However with all of Liverpool’s senior centre-backs injured, it is little marvel consistency has been exhausting to return by.
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HOUSSEM AOUAR
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LINKED with a transfer to Arsenal final summer season, Aouar is captain of Lyon and has already gained his first France cap.
Technically excellent, the versatile midfielder, 22, is anticipated to finish a big-money transfer to a different of Europe’s giants in 2021.
Barcelona are one other membership rumoured with a transfer for Aouar – however a transfer could possibly be scuppered after their funds took an enormous hit throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
FRENKIE DE JONG
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A CURRENT team-mate of Messi, the Argentine is aware of all about De Jong.
The Dutchman, 23, moved from Ajax following their run to the 2018-19 Champions League semi-final.
Whereas De Jong is but to copy his prime kind on the Nou Camp – scoring simply twice in 42 video games in his first season – time is definitely on his facet.
MOUSSA DEMBELE
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THE French striker, 24, not too long ago joined Atletico Madrid on mortgage from Lyon with a view to a everlasting transfer in the summertime.
The ex-Fulham and Celtic ahead is considered one of Europe’s most-sought-after stars after a sensational three-year spell in France.
Dembele scored 45 instances in 108 matches in all competitions for Lyon previous to his transfer to the Wanda Metropolitano.
JOAO FELIX
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ANOTHER Atleti ahead, Diego Simeone has a bunch of younger attacking expertise on his books now.
Preventing for minutes with Dembele and Luis Suarez, Felix, 21, has discovered life in Spain a bit tougher than he did at Benfica.
Nevertheless, Felix has proven indicators of enchancment since Messi’s glowing reward, scoring as many LaLiga objectives midway via this season than he did in his total debut marketing campaign.
PHIL FODEN
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THE Manchester Metropolis wonderkid, 20, is making a reputation for himself throughout Europe.
In addition to Messi, Foden has garnered reward from the likes of Arsene Wenger.
Lastly getting some common game-time in Pep Guardiola’s star-studded squad, Foden is anticipated to be England’s brightest star for the following decade.
Till Raheem Sterling’s purpose in opposition to Burnley midweek, Foden was Metropolis’s prime scorer this season with 9 objectives in all competitions.
KAI HAVERTZ
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AFTER Messi’s feedback, Havertz teased golf equipment throughout Europe by exhibiting off his unquestionable expertise at Bayer Leverkusen.
After Chelsea opted to splash £70m on the midfielder, Havertz, 21, was anticipated to take the following step.
Nevertheless, the German star has endured a horror season in England – scoring as soon as and including simply two assists in 18 Premier League video games.
LUKA JOVIC
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SIGNED from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2019, the previous 18 months hasn’t been type to Jovic.
The Serbian, 23, scored simply twice in 21 LaLiga video games earlier than being shipped again on mortgage to Frankfurt.
Jovic scored twice off the bench in his first recreation again within the Bundesliga.
JOSHUA KIMMICH
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HARDLY a wonderkid on the time of Messi’s revelation – Kimmich was already 25.
The German appears like he is been round for a decade already and is well among the best gamers on the planet.
The versatile star can play in midfield or at right-back and has already gained 50 worldwide caps, whereas serving to Bayern Munich to a well-known Treble final season.
Kimmich was a part of the Bayern workforce who trounced Messi’s Barcelona 8-2 within the Champions League quarter-final, even getting on the scoresheet.
KYLIAN MBAPPE
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QUITE presumably the perfect striker on the planet proper now, Mbappe has scored a sensational 66 objectives in simply 68 league video games for Paris Saint-Germain.
It is anticipated the 2018 World Cup winner, 22, will transfer to Actual Madrid this summer season in what may show an actual check for the teen.
However Mbappe has handed each check thrown his manner with flying colors – and LaLiga will possible be the most recent sufferer of his terrifying expertise.
EDER MILITAO
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HAVING moved to Actual Madrid from Porto in the summertime of 2019, large issues have been anticipated of the Brazilian, who was handed a SIX-YEAR contract.
Militao, 23, has proven flashes of expertise however has been restricted to a mere 19 LaLiga video games.
Worryingly, Militao hasn’t performed for Brazil since 2019 – the identical 12 months he moved to Madrid.
MASON MOUNT
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A FUTURE Chelsea – and presumably even England – captain, Mount has been excellent for the Blues.
Mount, 22, bizarrely appears to separate followers – however has proven grit, willpower and extraordinary expertise in a struggling Chelsea workforce this season.
The midfielder has gone from strength-to-strength since Messi feedback.
It is anticipated Mount will go on to forge an unbelievable partnership with the likes of Declan Rice, Jack Grealish, James Maddison and Phil Foden for England in what’s more and more trying like one other ‘Golden Era’.
BENJAMIN PAVARD
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MESSI was by no means going to go away the Bayern Munich man out of his checklist.
In any case, Pavard, 24, scored the purpose of the match as France knocked Argentina out of the 2018 World Cup on the last-16 stage with a sensational strike in a 4-3 win.
The versatile defender is now an everyday within the Bayern XI, taking part in 46 Bundesliga video games since becoming a member of from Stuttgart in 2019.
CHRISTIAN PULISIC
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DESPITE battling accidents, Pulisic has proven followers – and Messi – simply what he can do.
Chelsea at all times appear to look extra harmful with the American, 22, within the workforce.
Pulisic scored 9 instances in simply 25 Premier League video games in his debut season, however has managed only one purpose in 14 video games this season.
JADON SANCHO
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OF all of the gamers on Messi’s checklist, Sancho has arguably had essentially the most frantic 12 months.
The Borussia Dortmund star, 20, was the topic of the longest-running switch saga ever, seemingly in the summertime.
Sancho was anticipated to go to Manchester United – and even needed a transfer again to England.
However the Previous Trafford membership stood agency all summer season when Dortmund demanded greater than £100m, satisfied they might land their man for lots much less.
They did not.
And Sancho has struggled mightily for kind ever since.
Final weekend, Sancho ‘accidentally’ took the captain’s armband after Marco Reus was subbed off and exploded into the type of participant everyone knows he could be.
Sancho, Dortmund and England will all hope it is a turning level.
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