Argentine striker Lionel Messi has recently published a list of the ten young footballers he considers the future protagonists of the sport, in an Adidas campaign titled “10 chapters that rewrite the future of the game.” The selection, revealed in the last few hours, is surprising for the absence of players from their country, except for a single Argentine, and for the inclusion of three players who, according to the former Barcelona player, promise to stand out in women's football.
The list, which was disseminated through the player's social networks, includes talents from different leagues and nationalities. Among those chosen are Can Uzun, Eintracht Frankfurt striker; Gilberto Mora, from Club Tijuana; Arsenal's Max Dowman; Zavier Gozo, who plays in the Premier League with Crystal Palace; Jesús Rodríguez, from the Spanish Serie B with Como; and Kees Smit, from AZ Alkmaar in the Eredivisie. In addition, Messi has highlighted Tomás Aranda, the young promise of Boca Juniors who has already made his debut with the senior team, as the only Argentine on the list.
As for women's football, the former striker has included three young people with high potential: Chloe Sarwie, who plays for Nordjælland in Denmark; Giovanna Waksman, from Lyon in France; and Lotta Wrede, who is part of Hamburg in Germany. According to Messi, these players have the ability to become leading figures in the future of the sport.
The Adidas campaign, in which Messi signs the names of the ten players, aims to highlight the new generation of talents who, in his opinion, will mark the evolution of football. The publication does not mention specific commercial agreements, but Messi's participation and the visibility of the brand suggest a close collaboration between the player and the sports equipment manufacturer. The list has been spread on the footballer's social networks, generating interest among fans and followers of the new generation of footballers.