According to Sportbible, Lionel Messi tried to predict who would become stars of the future in 2016, names like Patrick Roberts, Davide Calabria and former Muangthong United midfielder Chanathip Songkrasin were in the lists.
Chanathip Songkrasin (Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo)
Songkrasin made a name for himself in Thailand when he helped Muangthong United win the Thai League and Thai League Cup in the 2015/16 season, but surely even he didn't expect to read that Lionel Messi had tipped him for greatness.
He now plays in the J1 League with Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo.The 25-year-old has also made 52 appearances for Thailand, scoring seven goals.
Kasper Dolberg (Ajax)
Dolberg is perhaps the most established name on this list.
The Danish striker backed up Messi's praise by scoring 23 goals in 44 games during the 2016/17 campaign.
The 21-year-old has since featured for Ajax during their incredible run in last season's Champions League and in total, Dolberg made 39 appearances for club and country in 2018/19, scoring 13 times.
Gabriel Boschilia (AS Monaco)
Boschilia signed a five-year contract with the French side when Lionel Messi decided to include him in his wonderkid list.
The Brazilian was then sent on loan to Belgian side Standard Liege in 2016 but the attacking midfielder has yet to reach his desired potential.
He spent last season on loan at Ligue 1 side Nantes but will be hoping to break into Monaco's first-team squad in the coming months.
Nadya Karpova (Chertanovo)
Karpova, the only woman on this list, played for WFC Chertanovo Moscow in 2016.
She has since played in the Primera División with Sevilla and Valencia, while making a number of international appearances for Russia.
Alex Muyl (New York Red Bulls)
Muyi is still a New York Red Bulls player, three years after featuring in the Barcelona's forward's predictions.
The 23-year-old winger has made over 100 appearances for the MLS side since making his debut in 2015, and has featured in numerous Team of the Week picks.
He continues to produce consistent performances under Chris Armas.
Nathan Allan de Souza (Vitesse)
Nathan is just one of many players involved in the famous conveyer belt of Chelsea loan players.
The Brazilian playmaker has been loaned out to several clubs down the years, including spells at Vitesse, Amiens, Belenenses and most recently Atletico Mineiro.
He has yet to make a single appearance for the Premier League side since joining in 2015.
Davide Calabria (Milan)
Calabria has been with AC Milan since 2006. He went through the youth system before being promoted to the first team in 2015.
The 22-year-old, who was recently told he is part of the club's plans this season, impressed under Gennaro Gattuso during the 2018/19 campaign.
He made 33 appearances in total, scoring once.
Jean-Kevin Augustin (RB Leipzig)
Augustin is another one of the more established players on this list.
Messi mentioned the talented French striker when he was playing at Paris Saint-Germain but in 2017, he joined Bundesliga side RB Leipzig in a reported £13 million deal.
The 22-year-old, who has been tipped for big things in the future, scored six goals in 25 appearances last season. Watch this space.
Patrick Roberts (Manchester City)
Roberts is the only English player to be included in Messi's list.
Currently at Manchester City, the 22-year-old has spent time on loan in the Scottish Premiership and La Liga with Celtic and Girona.
He was recently brought in by newly promoted Norwich City on a season-long loan but has yet to make an appearance.
Thought on Messi's predictions?
Let us know in the comments.
frocky
285
moral:messi has a weakness at last
Johnnyohm
201
And thats why am for Ronaldo, messi wasted his time nominating some bunch of weirdos..... These are Cr7 nominate.....
Benosky1
92
Can Someone tell that man to stop predicting rubbish... plz... MESSI after 2015 UCL triumph, UCL will come back to camp Nou, I'm tired of waiting for this man to reach UCL finals... Each season we receive same shameful defeats.. 3nil, 4 nil, 3nil
Tondabowy
60
They refused to work hard .... and hard works comes with success..
Lucifer143
45
i mean they are definitely players to watch. Each and every one of them are at the age range of 21-23 they have a long journey ahead of them and surely most of them will come out as a great player kasper dolberg from ajax is already an established prospect and its just a matter of time the rest becomes established messi has an eye for players who are consistent and every player mentioned above are really fantastic dont know about tge female one but the rest i assure are great and growing fast
SingamFootball
11
successor. not in this era