LIONEL MESSI has revealed Chelsea star Mason Mount to be among his 15 stars of the future.
The Blues youngster stands alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jadon Sancho and Phil Foden as four English players predicted to succeed by Messi.
Asked to come up with the prodigies he believes are the next generation of global icons, the Barcelona hero named 15 starlets for a Topps ‘Lionel Messi Designed Set’ card pack.
The limited edition set was completely designed and selected by the Argentina star, and his choices are further evidence that the game is starting to take note of the talent coming through in England.
On Mount, Messi declared: "Having watched him play he has the potential to be one of the best."
Likewise, Manchester City playmaker Foden has "huge talent" and "will do amazing things in the game".
Alexander-Arnold is lauded for being "impressive going forward" – as Messi found to his cost in Liverpool's demolition of Barcelona in last season's Champions League.
Sancho has come of age at Borussia Dortmund and the teenager joins Christian Pulisic, Kai Havertz, Moussa Dembele, Luka Jovic, Joao Felix, Kylian Mbappe and Hassim Aouar as the top-rated attackers.
Messi stated: "[Sancho's] ability to dribble past defenders is impressive."
Midfielder and Barcelona teammate Frenkie de Jong also makes the cut as: "One of the most accomplished passers I have ever seen for his age."
But there were also a handful of defenders selected by the 32-year-old.
Real Madrid's Eder Militao featured alongside Joshua Kimmich and Benjamin Pavard, Messi lauding the Bayern Munich man's stunning goal at the 2018 World Cup that announced him to the footballing elite.
He called the Frenchman: "A classy defender who can strike a ball so well."
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