As Man Utd are linked with ‘the Turkish Messi’ what happened to the other dozen Next Messis?
MORE than a dozen players have been dubbed the ‘Next Messi’ over the years.
But none have ever reached the heights to match Barcelona and Argentina star Lionel Messi – despite his no show at Anfield.
Manchester United have been linked with the latest ‘Next Messi’ – Trabzonspor teenager Abdulkadir Omur.
The 19-year-old, who has four goals and seven assists in the Super Lig, has been dubbed the ‘Turkish Messi’ for his performances this season.
We all know the type, as soon as any young player comes through who is small, quick and able to beat a man off the dribble he’s dubbed the Next Messi.
Double points if he’s left-footed.
The world map has almost been filled in with different Next Messis from around the globe.
From Peru to South Africa and Japan to Iran, two dozen countries have produced their own version of the little genius.
Even Scotland had one while England have two.
Here’s how they got on.
The English Messi – Patrick Roberts
Burst onto the scene as a teenager at Fulham and after some impressive performances as a teenager, Man City splashed £12million on him.
Barely got into the City side before a long loan spell at Celtic.
Although he won seven trophies under Brendan Rodgers, Roberts had a number of injury issues and did not hit the heights expected of him.
Another loan spell to Girona this season has not really worked out, with Roberts making only 14 appearances this season because of injury.
Mini Messi – Fran Kirby
One of the players most deserving of the tag, the England and Chelsea star is one of the biggest stars in the women’s game.
Kirby, who stands at just 5ft 2in, is a former PFA and FWA player of the year and has been a vital player in all of the Lionesses’ recent success.
In December, Kirby was voted the 13th best player in the world in an extensive newspaper poll.
Scottish Messi – Ryan Gauld
Gauld was 17 when he made his debut for Dundee United and began tearing it up in Scotland, helping The Terrors reach the Scottish Cup final in 2014.
After being shortlisted for Young Player of the Year, Gauld was snapped up by Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon.
But Gauld has only made five appearances for Sporting, all in 2014 and early 2015, and has since gone on four loan spells but failed to make much of an impact.
Swiss Messi – Xherdan Shaqiri
The Messi comparisons are definitely a step too far but Shaqiri is quite obviously a talent good enough for most teams in the world.
He has played at some of the biggest clubs in the world and scored at two World Cups and the European Championships.
Egyptian Messi – Mohamed Salah
Another comparison that now sounds disingenuous, Salah isn’t quite at Messi’s level – but he’s awfully close.
This was a tag from when the forward was still at Basel and, in all honesty, it’s pretty fair.
Salah is now one of the best players in the world and will soon have players being dubbed the ‘Next Salah’.
Catalan Messi – Gerard Deulofeu
Certainly has enough natural talent to earn comparisons to one of the best ever.
But the winger, now at Watford, does not have the consistency or work rate to compare himself to Messi.
Deulofeu has struggled in two spells at Barca but was instrumental to the Hornets getting to the FA Cup final.
German Messi – Marko Marin
Arrived at Chelsea in 2012 with a massive reputation but – like so many other Blues youngsters – never got a fair chance at Stamford Bridge.
Was sent on four loan spells in three seasons and managed just six Premier League games in west London.
Marin has since won trophies in Greece, Spain and Serbia.
Croatian Messi – Alen Halilovic
Another Barcelona graduate, the diminutive Croatian international has the technique but has struggled with the physicality of senior football.
Loan spells at Sporting Gijon have brought little success.
He is currently with Milan but on loan at Standard Liege, where he has struggled to break into the first XI.
Norwegian Messi – Martin Odegaard
One of the most hyped teenagers in Europe, the Norwegian jumped from Stromsgodset to Real Madrid in 2015.
He initially struggled to live up to the hype and a two-year loan spell at Heerenveen brought inconsistent play.
But this season, on loan at Vitesse, Odegaard has been excellent and may have a chance to be in the Real Madrid first-team again next season.
Irish Messi – Alan Judge
Definitely a tongue-in-cheek nickname, the winger earned the title while starring for Brentford for the last five years.
Judge helped the Bees reach the Championship and stay in the second tier, and was named in the PFA teams of the year in 2013 and 2016.
Now at Ipswich, where he failed to keep the Tractor Boys in the division.
Peruvian Messi – Raul Ruidiaz
Actually nicknamed ‘Little Messi’, the Peruvian scored a mountain of goals in Peru and Mexico before moving to MLS in 2018.
The striker has been sensational for the Seattle Sounders, scoring 16 goals in 21 games.
Kosovan Messi – Edon Zhergova
Edon Zhegrova became a YouTube sensation back in 2014 after compilations of the then 15-year old’s dazzling goals gained thousands of views.
The Arsenal, PSG and Barcelona moves did not materialise, but a move to Belgium’s Standard Liege and then Genk did, where he is coming through the ranks.
Basel then decided to take a longer look at him with an 18-month loan deal.
The No10 has played a handful of games for the club but is expected to play a bigger role next year.
Indian Messi – Lallianzuala Chhangte
The Delhi Dynamos winger became the youngest Indian international when he made his debut in 2015.
But, now aged 21, the hype has died down a bit with Chhangte unable to build on that early promise.
Japanese Messi – Takefusa Kubo
Still just 17, Kubo has the best chance of any player to live up to the moniker.
The FC Tokyo forward even came through the ranks at Barcelona, where he was a youth star, before returning to Japan.
He is the youngest player to score in the J.League and is already a regular in the Tokyo side.
Iranian Messi – Sardar Asmoun
A number of European clubs were interested in Asmoun a few years ago, including Arsenal, who offered £2million for the rapid forward.
Now 24, Asmoun is a star in Russia, where he 11 goals in 13 matches helped Zenit St Petersburg win the title after a move in the winter window.
Greek Messi – Giannis Fetfatzidis
The little winger never lived up to the moniker after coming through at Olympiacos.
Has since played in Italy and Saudi Arabia, but is now back in Greece with Aris.
Turkish Messi – Abdulkadir Omur
As noted above, Omur has been in fine form for Trabzonspor this season and is attracting interest from across Europe.
Manchester United are among the clubs said to be linked with a move for the 19-year-old.
Indonesian Messi – Egy Maulana Vikri
Aged just 18, Egy is already a full international having been a prodigy at youth level.
He had scored 15 goals in 16 matches for Indonesia Under-19s, attracting attention from big clubs in Europe.
Eventually, Maulana chose Lechia Gdansk where he also impressed for the reserves, scoring 12 goals in 14 matches in the Polish fourth tier.
He made his full debut in December.
Mexican Messi – Diego Lainez
The 18-year-old has the potential to be a big star and has consistently been named as one of the players to keep an eye on in the coming years.
The teenager is already a full international for El Tri and was signed by Real Betis for £9m in January.
He has since been a regular from the bench for Los Verdiblancos.
South Korean Messi – Lee Seung-woo
Lee was once hailed as South Korea’s great hope of the future and was another graduate of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy.
He moved to Catalonia in 2011, but managed just one appearance for Barcelona B, before moving to Hellas Verona in 2017.
Now 21, the winger has had a decent season in Serie B but became a national hero for his exploits in the Asian Games.
Lee provided the assist for Tottenham’s Son Heung-min to score a winner – the goal also meant the Spurs man would avoid national service.
Malaysian Messi – Faiz Nasir
One of the smallest players in world football, Nasir stands at just 5ft.
But there is plenty of talent in those little legs, with the Selangor star scoring on his international debut earlier this year.
Nigerian Messi – Stanley Okoro
Nicknamed ‘Little Messi’, Okoro spent time in Spain with Almeria but struggled to make a breakthrough.
He certainly likes the nickname, however, stating: “”I don’t mind when people call me Little Messi.
“It’s a pleasant thing to be compared with the best footballer in the world – I don’t have a problem with that.”
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Thai Messi – Chanathip Songkrasin
Songkrasin is known as ‘Messi Jay’ or just ‘Jay’ but actually took inspiration from another Argentine legend.
His father apparently trained him with the intention of copying Diego Maradona.
He became a fans’ favourite across Thailand for his dribbling skills, with 52 international caps so far, and now plays in Japan.
South African Messi – Tebogo Tlolane
The winger was nicknamed Messi from a young age because of his dribbling skills.
He even managed a two week trial at Barcelona but failed to make the grade – Tlolane is now back in South Africa with Chippa United where he has been converted to a left-back.
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