In 2015, Lionel Messi, then at the peak of his powers with Barcelona, selected 10 young players as part of Adidas' 'Backed by Messi' campaign. The list was seen as a major endorsement, but not every player has lived up to the billing. Mirror Football has tracked down where those 10 players are now.
From Bundesliga to MLS
Timo Werner, once tipped to lead Germany's attack, peaked during his breakthrough Bundesliga years. He became Stuttgart's youngest debutant and goalscorer before going on to become RB Leipzig's all-time top scorer with 113 goals and 47 assists in 216 games. Transfers to Chelsea and Tottenham (on loan) brought Champions League and Europa League titles, respectively. Now 30, Werner has moved to MLS outfit San Jose, scoring six goals in his first 18 games.
Kenedy, who emerged at Brazilian club Fluminense and made his pro debut at 17, moved to Chelsea in 2015 but never settled, going on several loans before joining Real Valladolid in 2022. Now 30, he joined Pachuca permanently this summer and scored his first goal for the Liga MX club last month, having netted nine goals in 36 games on loan in Mexico last season.
Mixed Fortunes in Europe
Accursio Bentivegna, the least prominent name on the list, was an up-and-coming prospect at Palermo but has made only seven top-flight appearances in his career. After leaving for Serie C side Carrarese in 2018, he has scored nine goals in 48 games for current club Casertana but has yet to find the net in nine outings this term.
Maxwel Cornet, an emerging gem at Metz, spent six promising years with Lyon after being tipped for greatness. He finished as Burnley's top scorer in 2022 as the club was relegated from the Premier League. He later joined West Ham and returned to the club this summer following a string of loans.
Perseverance and Reinvention
Jeremie Boga, who tried and failed to break out at Chelsea over three years as a serial loanee, has since prospered in Italy and France. The 29-year-old made a combined 222 appearances for Atalanta, Sassuolo and Nice before earning a move to Juventus this summer following a successful loan.
Khiry Shelton, drafted second overall in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, had a brief spell with German side Paderborn in 2019. He found a real home with Sporting Kansas City, racking up 191 total appearances, though he has been without a club for 10 months.
Russian playmaker Aleksey Miranchuk spent five more years at Lokomotiv Moscow before joining Atalanta in 2020, lifting the Europa League crown after his final season in Bergamo two years ago. He now plays for Atlanta United, where he has captained the club at the start of this season.
United Dreams and Journeyman Careers
James Wilson, once hailed as the chosen one by Manchester United fans after scoring twice on his Premier League debut against Hull City, scored just two more goals in 20 total appearances for the club before a serious knee injury sidelined him for 15 months. He later moved to Aberdeen, Salford City, Port Vale and Northampton Town, failing to score in his single season with the latter before retiring last year aged 29.
Rony Lopes' record as Manchester City's youngest scorer still stands after he netted in an FA Cup clash with Watford in January 2013. He made just four more senior appearances for City before being shipped off to France. His career has included a Europa League medal with Sevilla, a Greek Super League with Olympiakos and a Portuguese Cup crown with Braga. He has since reinvented himself as a defensive midfielder with Polish club Motor Lublin.
Gyasi Zardes, already 24 when the list was published, went on to win MLS Cups with the Galaxy and Columbus, as well as two Gold Cups with the United States. His numbers dwindled in later spells with Colorado and Austin FC, where he retired in 2024.
