“Next Messi? 10 Soccer Wonderkids Once Called So.

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Meet 10 soccer talents once called the next Messi. From Ødegaard to Januzaj, find out who became a young soccer star and who struggled under the pressure.”

Preview

Hey! You remember how every time a young soccer player showed amazing dribbling skills, people would start calling him “the next Messi”? Over the years, there have been plenty of players who got that title. But how many of them actually lived up to the hype? Let’s catch up with ten of these so-called “next Messis” and see where they are now.

1.Martin Ødegaard

Back in 2015, when he was just 15 years old, Martin Ødegaard signed for Real Madrid. Everyone thought he was going to be the next Messi overnight. But things didn’t go as planned. Madrid sent him on loan multiple times, and it took years before he finally found his place. Now, he’s the captain of Arsenal and one of the best midfielders in the Premier League. He might not have turned into Messi, but he has built a fantastic career as a soccer talent on his own terms.

Odeguard-Next Messi?

2. Lee Seung-woo

They called him the “Korean Messi” when he was coming up through Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy. With his quick feet and attacking skills, big things were expected. But soccer can be unpredictable. He struggled to break into Barca’s first team, moved around Europe, and eventually returned to South Korea. Today, he plays for Suwon FC, trying to make his mark as a young soccer star in the K League.

3. Ryo Miyaichi “Next Messi”

Arsenal fans might remember Ryo Miyaichi, the “Japanese Messi.” Arsène Wenger saw potential in him and signed him in 2011. He had incredible speed and dribbling skills, but injuries kept slowing him down. He played for several clubs on loan, but he never became a Premier League star. These days, he’s playing in Japan for Yokohama F. Marinos, still doing what he loves as a future soccer legend.

4. Iker Muniain

This guy was supposed to be Spain’s version of the next Messi. Iker Muniain broke into Athletic Bilbao’s first team as a teenager, and people were certain he was going to be a global superstar. While he never reached Messi’s level, he became a club legend at Bilbao. With over 400 appearances and counting, he has spent his entire career there, proving that loyalty is still alive in soccer.

5. “Next Messi”-Munir El Haddadi

Munir came through Barcelona’s academy, just like Messi, and even scored on his debut for the first team. But while Messi went on to win Ballon d’Or after Ballon d’Or, Munir struggled to cement a place in the starting lineup. He bounced around La Liga, playing for Valencia and Sevilla. He might not have become a superstar, but he has had a solid career and is still playing professional soccer as a young soccer star.

6. Bojan Krkić

Bojan was one of the most hyped players to ever come out of La Masia. He broke Messi’s youth scoring records, and everyone believed he was destined for greatness. But things didn’t go as planned.

Pressure, injuries, and inconsistency saw him move across various leagues, from the Premier League to MLS. In 2023, he officially retired from professional soccer. He once had the promise of a future soccer legend, but it wasn’t meant to be.

7. Alen Halilović-“Next Messi”

The “Croatian Messi”—that’s what they called Alen Halilović when he was young. He had fantastic dribbling skills and vision, and Barcelona signed him early. But he never got enough playing time at Barca and ended up being loaned out again and again.

Today, he plays in the Netherlands for Fortuna Sittard, trying to find the spark that once made him a top soccer talent.

8. Marko Marin

Chelsea fans might remember Marko Marin, also known as the “German Messi.” When Chelsea signed him in 2012, expectations were sky-high. But instead of lighting up the Premier League, Marin spent most of his time on loan.

He played in different countries, including Spain, Turkey, and Greece. He’s still playing, now for Ferencvárosi TC in Hungary, but the next Messi comparisons faded a long time ago.

9. Gerard Deulofeu “Next Messi”

Another Barcelona academy product, Gerard Deulofeu had all the skills—dribbling, speed, and flair. He had spells at Everton, AC Milan, and Watford, showing flashes of brilliance but never becoming world-class.

Right now, he plays for Udinese in Serie A. He may not be Messi, but he has made a decent career for himself in top leagues as a young soccer star.

10. Adnan Januzaj “Next Messi”

When Adnan Januzaj broke into Manchester United’s first team, people got really excited. He had an incredible debut season under David Moyes, and some fans thought he could be the next big thing. But after that first season, things went downhill. He moved between clubs and never quite found consistency. Today, he’s playing in Turkey for İstanbul Başakşehir, still trying to prove himself as a soccer talent.

Final Thoughts

So, what’s the lesson here? Soccer is unpredictable. Talent alone doesn’t guarantee success. Some of these players still had great careers, even if they didn’t reach Messi’s level. Others struggled under the pressure of being compared to one of the greatest of all time. It just goes to show that being “the next Messi” is not as easy as it sounds!Title: