10 potential superstars backed by Messi in 2015: where are they now?

Eleven years ago, Lionel Messi and Adidas selected ten talented footballers who were tipped for a great future. Among them were Champions League and Europa League winners, players at leading European clubs, as well as those who ended up in the lower divisions or retired altogether. We take a look at how their careers unfolded and where they are in October 2026.

In September 2015, Adidas and Lionel Messi launched an unusual project called Backed By Messi. Its idea was to support ten promising footballers from different corners of the world who had the potential to become the next stars of global football.

Each participant received an exclusive pair of Adidas Messi 15 boots and became part of the symbolic Team Messi. The campaign involved not only promotional support, but also video features in which the young players spoke about their ambitions and football dreams.

At the time, some were only breaking into their clubs' first teams, while others had already made their mark at the highest level. James Wilson, for example, was scoring for Manchester United, Timo Werner was playing in the Bundesliga, and Kenedy had just joined Chelsea.

Eleven years have passed. During that time, Messi won the World Cup, claimed his eighth Ballon d'Or and moved to the United States. But what happened to the footballers he backed in 2015?

Their stories turned out to be remarkably different.

• Also read: What happened to Dele Alli, Pogba, Sancho and Sterling? Top 13 forgotten football superstars.

1. Kenedy (Brazil) — from Chelsea to Mexico

Then: Chelsea (England). Now: Pachuca (Mexico).

In 2015, Robert Kenedy Nunes do Nascimento was regarded as one of Brazil's most promising young footballers. A product of Fluminense's academy, he attracted attention with his pace, technique and versatility — he could play both on the wing and at left-back.

In the summer of 2015, he was signed by Chelsea. For the 19-year-old Brazilian, it was a chance to establish himself at one of England's strongest clubs.

At first, everything looked promising. Kenedy received playing time, scored in the Premier League and showcased his explosive speed. However, he never became a genuine leader for the London side.

The following years turned into an endless series of loan spells. Watford, Newcastle, Getafe, Granada and Flamengo — the Brazilian moved constantly from club to club, trying to find a place where he could fully unlock his potential.

He made his biggest impression at Newcastle. In the second half of the 2017/18 season, he became an important player for Rafael Benitez's team, with his pace and dribbling making a strong impression. However, a subsequent loan spell at the same club proved far less successful.

In 2022, Kenedy finally left Chelsea, joining Spanish side Valladolid. Even there, though, the Brazilian failed to establish himself because of inconsistent form and physical problems.

In the summer of 2025, he joined Mexican club Pachuca on loan, finally getting the chance to play regularly. In his first year in Mexico, Kenedy made 34 appearances and scored nine goals.

In July 2026, Pachuca exercised the option to buy his contract.

Today, the 30-year-old Brazilian continues his career in the Mexican league. The former Chelsea talent never became a superstar, but after years of uncertainty he has found a team where he can once again showcase his strengths.

2. Maxwel Cornet (Ivory Coast) — he once conquered Manchester City, but now cannot even get a game in the Championship

Then: Lyon (France). Now: West Ham (England).

Of all the participants in the project, Maxwel Cornet had one of the most intriguing career trajectories.

In 2015, he was only beginning to establish himself at Lyon, having arrived from Metz. Fast, aggressive and technically gifted, the winger gradually became an important player for the French side.

Cornet was productive enough for a wide player, but coaches later began using him as a left wing-back as well. Thanks to his pace and work rate, the Ivorian adapted successfully to the new role.

Lyon's run in the 2019/20 Champions League was particularly memorable.

In the quarter-finals, the French side sensationally beat Pep Guardiola's Manchester City 3-1. Cornet opened the scoring in that match, helping his team reach the semi-finals.

In 2021, the footballer joined Burnley. His debut Premier League season was a success on an individual level: nine goals in 26 league appearances. The team, however, were still relegated.

His next step was West Ham, who paid around £17.5 million for him.

That was where Cornet's career suddenly went downhill. Injuries, a lack of playing time and poor output prevented him from establishing himself in London.

Loan spells at Southampton and Italian club Genoa followed. The footballer spent the second half of the 2024/25 season in Genoa before returning for another campaign.

In the summer of 2026, he found himself back at West Ham, who by then had already been relegated from the Premier League.

The situation looks bleak: as of October 2026, 30-year-old Cornet remains a London club player but has not made a single official appearance this season. In September, reports emerged of talks over the early termination of his contract.

Once, he scored against Manchester City in the Champions League. Now he is trying to find a way out of a career dead end.

3. Jérémie Boga (Ivory Coast) — African champion and Juventus player

Then: Rennes (on loan from Chelsea). Now: Juventus (Italy).

Arguably one of the most successful players on Messi's list.

In 2015, Jérémie Boga belonged to Chelsea but was just beginning his professional career on loan at French club Rennes.

A product of the London academy, he stood out for his phenomenal dribbling, low centre of gravity and ability to beat several opponents in succession. His style was even compared to Eden Hazard's.

However, breaking into Chelsea's first team proved extremely difficult.

After Rennes came loan spells at Granada and Birmingham. Boga made just one official Premier League appearance for Chelsea's first team.

In 2018, he joined Sassuolo, and that transfer became the turning point of his career.

In Italy, the winger earned the trust of his coaches, regular playing time and the opportunity to showcase his best qualities. His individual runs regularly became highlights of Serie A matches.

In 2022, Boga moved to Atalanta, but failed to establish himself in Gian Piero Gasperini's side. The following summer, he returned to France and signed for Nice.

At the same time, the footballer achieved success on the international stage. He became part of the Ivory Coast national team, which sensationally won the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, held in early 2024.

Then, at the start of 2026, another major club entered Boga's career.

In February, Juventus loaned the Ivorian from Nice. In his first 17 matches for the Turin side, he scored four goals and provided one assist.

That was enough to convince the hierarchy of the Old Lady. In June 2026, Juventus made the move permanent, signing him to a contract until the summer of 2029.

Now 29, Boga plays for one of Europe's most decorated clubs. He did not become a global superstar, but his career can hardly be called unsuccessful.

4. James Wilson (England) — two goals on his Manchester United debut, a serious injury and retirement

Then: Manchester United (England). Now: without a club after leaving Northampton.

If, in 2015, you had to pick the player from this list who was tipped for the brightest future, James Wilson would certainly have been among the favourites.

A product of the Manchester United academy, he made his first-team debut in May 2014. And he did so in spectacular fashion.

Against Hull City, the 18-year-old striker scored twice, helping the Red Devils to a 3-1 victory.

It seemed a new star had arrived at Old Trafford. However, Wilson failed to establish himself in the starting XI. He first joined Brighton on loan, scoring five goals in the Championship, and then moved to Derby County.

It was there that an event occurred which largely determined the rest of his career.

In October 2016, Wilson suffered a ruptured cruciate ligament in his knee. The serious injury kept the striker out of football for almost a year and halted his development at a critical moment.

Returning to his previous form proved extremely difficult.

After recovering, the footballer played for Sheffield United, Scottish side Aberdeen and Salford City. In 2021, he joined Port Vale, where he spent three seasons and helped the team rise from League Two to League One.

It seemed he had finally found a comfortable environment, but injuries continued to affect the consistency of his performances.

In 2024, Wilson signed for Northampton Town, but made just 12 appearances in all competitions during the season and failed to score.

In the summer of 2025, the club decided not to extend the striker's contract.

According to Transfermarkt, James Wilson retired on July 1, 2025, at the age of 29, although the footballer himself never made a separate public announcement.

Eleven years ago, Wilson was praised by Manchester United legends. Today, his story is one of the saddest on this list.

5. Timo Werner (Germany) — Champions League winner who moved to the United States

Then: Stuttgart (Germany). Now: San Jose Earthquakes (USA).

Without question, the best-known name among the ten footballers backed by Messi.

In 2015, Timo Werner was already playing for Stuttgart in the Bundesliga and was considered one of the most talented German strikers of his generation.

The breakthrough came after his move to RB Leipzig in 2016.

Werner became one of the leaders of an ambitious young team, standing out for his blistering speed and ability to make runs in behind the defence.

The best season of his career was 2019/20. Timo scored 28 Bundesliga goals, finishing behind only Robert Lewandowski in the scoring charts.

In the summer of 2020, Chelsea signed the German for around €50 million.

In London, Werner became a divisive figure. On the one hand, he worked tirelessly without the ball, created space for his teammates and regularly found himself in dangerous positions. On the other, his numerous missed chances became a constant source of jokes among football fans.

Despite that, Timo became a 2020/21 Champions League winner with Chelsea. He also won the Club World Cup.

In 2022, the striker returned to Leipzig, but was unable to rediscover his former scoring form.

His next attempt to relaunch his career came at Tottenham, where Werner played on loan in 2024–2025. His time in London was again marked by problems with finishing and injuries.

Then, at the start of 2026, the 29-year-old forward unexpectedly switched continents. San Jose Earthquakes announced Werner's signing through the summer of 2028. The German became one of the biggest transfers in the American club's history.

He made a bright start in MLS. In April, Werner was named the league's Player of the Matchday after scoring twice and providing an assist against St. Louis.

Now 30, Timo continues his career in the American league.

Did he live up to Messi's expectations? At first, yes — Werner looked like a potential world-class striker. However, he failed to remain at the top. Even so, Werner became a Germany international, scored more than 100 goals in Europe's leading leagues and won the Champions League.

He did not reach the level of the world's best strikers, but among the participants in the project, his football journey still looks one of the most successful.

6. Gyasi Zardes (USA) — more than 100 MLS goals and retirement

Then: LA Galaxy (USA). Now: retired in September 2026.

Gyasi Zardes' inclusion on the list was somewhat unusual.

In 2015, the American was already 24 years old and had experience with the national team. Unlike the other young talents, Zardes was already an established professional footballer at that point.

His career began at LA Galaxy, where he played alongside stars such as Robbie Keane and Steven Gerrard.

In 2014, the striker helped the club win the MLS Cup, and the following year he was selected for the league's All-Star team.

His true breakthrough came after he joined Columbus Crew in 2018.

In his first season with the new club, Zardes scored 19 goals in the regular season and received the MLS Comeback Player of the Year award.

In 2020, he became an MLS champion for the second time, winning the Cup with Columbus.

He also achieved plenty at international level. The American made 68 appearances for the United States, scored 14 goals and won the CONCACAF Gold Cup twice — in 2017 and 2021.

After Columbus, Zardes played for Colorado Rapids and Austin.

The striker made his last official appearances in 2024 and, in September 2026, officially announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 35.

His regular-season MLS tally was 106 goals.

Zardes never became a European football superstar, but he left a significant mark on the history of the American league. Calling Messi's choice a mistake would certainly be unfair, although Zardes never became a global star.

7. Accursio Bentivegna (Italy) — played alongside Dybala, now competing in Serie C

Then: Como (on loan from Palermo). Now: Casertana (Italy).

Accursio Bentivegna's story is one of the most revealing on this list.

In 2015, the Italian winger was just 19. He belonged to Palermo, whose academy had identified him as a player of great potential and one of the club's most talented products.

Back in 2014, Bentivegna made his Serie A debut, coming on for the team that at the time featured Paulo Dybala. It was a huge step forward for the youngster. However, he was never able to follow the Argentine striker's path.

Bentivegna practically never received opportunities in Palermo's first team. His development was affected by injuries and constant coaching changes at the Sicilian club.

Loan spells at Como and Ascoli followed, but he failed to establish himself even in Serie B.

Eventually, the footballer dropped into Serie C, Italy's third tier.

Over the following years, Bentivegna changed clubs frequently: Carrarese, Juve Stabia, Imolese and Novara.

However, his story was not limited to setbacks.

In the 2024/25 season, the winger became an important player for Pescara, who won the Serie C playoffs and returned to the second tier. According to his next club, Bentivegna made 37 appearances and scored eight goals that season.

In the summer of 2025, he joined Casertana on a three-year contract.

During the 2025/26 campaign, the footballer scored nine goals in 35 Serie C appearances and helped the team reach the playoffs.

As of October 2026, 30-year-old Bentivegna continues to play for Casertana in the third division.

His career turned out very differently from what had been predicted in 2015. Still, the Italian remains in professional football and, despite numerous setbacks, has managed to become an important player for his teams — even if they are far from elite level.

8. Aleksey Miranchuk (Russia) — Europa League winner now playing in MLS

Then: Lokomotiv Moscow (Russia). Now: Atlanta United (USA).

In 2015, Aleksey Miranchuk was in the academy of Moscow club Lokomotiv alongside his twin brother Anton, and both later became first-team players.

In 2020, the footballer received the chance to test himself in one of Europe's leading leagues when Italian club Atalanta signed him.

However, competition in Gian Piero Gasperini's team was extremely fierce. Miranchuk did not always receive enough playing time.

In the 2022/23 season, the Russian played for Torino on loan, scoring four goals and providing six assists in Serie A.

After returning to Bergamo, he became part of Atalanta's historic success.

In the 2023/24 season, the Italian side won the Europa League, thrashing Bayer 3-0 in the final. Miranchuk contributed to the triumphant European campaign, although he remained on the bench for the final.

In the summer of 2024, the midfielder moved to American club Atlanta United, who signed him as one of their key players.

In MLS, Miranchuk was given an important attacking role. He continued to play and score regularly during the 2026 season, and in the spring even wore the captain's armband.

Now 30, the footballer remains an Atlanta player. His contract runs until the end of the 2027 season, with an option to extend it for another year.

So Miranchuk never became a Serie A superstar and ultimately had to move to MLS.

9. Rony Lopes (Portugal) — Manchester City record-holder, 17-goal Monaco star and a move to Poland

Then: Monaco (France). Now: Motor Lublin (Poland).

Probably one of the biggest unfulfilled talents among the campaign's participants.

Rony Lopes was born in Brazil but grew up in Portugal and represented Portuguese national teams.

At a young age, his talent was spotted by Manchester City scouts, and he moved to the academy from Benfica.

In January 2013, Lopes entered the English club's history books. He scored against Watford in the FA Cup, becoming the youngest goalscorer in Manchester City's history. He was just 17 years and nine days old at the time.

It seemed the club had found another great talent.

However, breaking into City's first team proved extremely difficult. After a loan spell at Lille in 2015, Lopes joined Monaco.

It was at the French club that he enjoyed the brightest season of his career.

In the 2017/18 campaign, the Portuguese scored 17 goals and provided 12 assists in 50 appearances in all competitions.

At that point, he truly looked like a player capable of becoming a star on the European stage.

In 2019, Sevilla signed Lopes for around €20 million. But the transfer proved unsuccessful. The Portuguese barely played in Spain, and the following years were spent endlessly searching for stability.

Nice, Olympiacos, Troyes, Braga, Alanyaspor, Farense and Tondela — the list of his clubs gradually grew longer and longer.

In the 2025/26 season, Lopes played for Portuguese side Tondela, who were relegated from the Primeira Liga.

Then, in September 2026, another unexpected turn arrived. The 30-year-old Portuguese joined Polish club Motor from Lublin, signing a contract until the summer of 2028.

The former Manchester City record-holder and Monaco star is now trying to revive his career in Poland's Ekstraklasa.

At one point, Lopes may have been one of the most obvious candidates to become a superstar. But after his fantastic season in France, he was never able to repeat that success.

10. Khiry Shelton (USA) — promising striker left without a club

Then: New York City FC (USA). Now: free agent.

The final participant on Messi's list is American striker Khiry Shelton.

In 2015, he was just beginning his professional career at New York City FC, who were playing their debut MLS season.

Shelton was selected second overall in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft and became the first player in the club's history to be recruited by New York City FC through the SuperDraft.

Tall, physically powerful and quick, the striker had all the qualities needed to become an important player in the American league. In practice, however, his scoring output was modest.

Across three seasons in New York, he scored only six goals in the MLS regular season.

In 2018, the striker joined Sporting Kansas City, where he became a useful team player. He was valued for his work rate, pressing and ability to battle defenders.

In 2019, Shelton decided to try his luck in Europe, signing for German club Paderborn.

He helped the team earn promotion to the Bundesliga and even made his debut in Germany's top flight. However, he was unable to establish himself in European football.

At the end of 2019, the American returned to Sporting Kansas City, where he spent the next six seasons.

During that time, his role gradually changed. Shelton evolved from a centre-forward into a versatile player who was used in various positions, including on the right side of defence.

After the 2025 season, the club decided not to exercise the option to extend his contract.

As of October 2026, 33-year-old Shelton remains without a club.

He never made his debut for the United States senior national team, although he had previously been called up to youth national teams. Ultimately, Shelton built a fairly long professional career, but his path fell well short of the status of a future global superstar.

So how successful was Messi's selection?

Eleven years after the launch of Backed By Messi, one conclusion is clear: none of the project's ten participants became a superstar on the scale of the Argentine himself.

Was his selection a failure? In some cases, yes, although there were also several good stories — not everyone managed to build a consistently successful career.

Timo Werner won the Champions League and became one of the most prolific Bundesliga strikers of his generation, Jérémie Boga became an African champion and received a permanent contract with Juventus in the summer of 2026, while Gyasi Zardes won the MLS Cup twice and retired with 106 regular-season goals in the American league.

At the same time, the fates of the other footballers serve as a reminder of how unpredictable professional football can be.

James Wilson once scored twice on his Manchester United debut, but eleven years later was left without a club. Rony Lopes set Manchester City records and dazzled at Monaco, but now plays in Poland. Accursio Bentivegna, who began alongside Paulo Dybala, continues his career in Italy's third tier.

Kenedy, Cornet and Shelton, meanwhile, never managed to fulfil the potential that had been attributed to them at the start of their careers.

It is worth remembering that Backed By Messi was primarily an Adidas marketing campaign, not a full-fledged scouting programme or an official prediction by the Argentine.

Messi picked ten more future stars — 11 years after his first list

Interestingly, on October 11, 2026, Lionel Messi once again took part in a similar Adidas campaign. As part of the third season of the Messi +10 project, the Argentine personally wrote down the names of ten young talents who, in his view, could shape the future of world football. This time, the list featured not only seven male footballers, but also three female players. The youngest participant is just 16.

Messi's new list for 2026:

• Tomás Aranda — 19, Boca Juniors (Argentina).
• Gilberto Mora — 17, Tijuana (Mexico).
• Can Uzun — 20, Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany).
• Max Dowman — 16, Arsenal (England).
• Zavier Gozo — 19, Crystal Palace (England).
• Jesús Rodriguez — 20, Como (Italy).
• Kees Smit — 20, AZ Alkmaar (Netherlands).
• Chloe Sarwie — 17, Chelsea Women (England).
• Giovanna Waksman — 17, Lyon Women (France).
• Lotta Wrede — 18, Hamburg Women (Germany).

Will any of them reach the heights of Messi himself? We will only know with time. But the story of the 2015 ten has already proved one thing: even exceptional talent and the support of a football legend cannot guarantee a superstar career.