Lionel Messi hand-picked his own selection of wonderkids to watch more than a decade ago - but not all have turned into the stars of tomorrow her predicted

Being selected as a talent worth watching by Lionel Messi is no small matter. However, that was the burden lumped on 10 would-be stars of the future after the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner named his stars of the next generation back in 2015.

More than a decade ago, Messi was at the peak of his powers with Barcelona and had the world at his feet. So when arguably the best player of all time anointed 10 players to watch as part of Adidas' 'Backed by Messi' campaign, the football masses listened.

However, not everyone named among Messi's selection has gone on to reach the heights projected. Mirror Football takes a look at where those 10 players have ended up today, ranging from ballers who continue to compete at the top level to lower-league disappointments.

1. Timo Werner

Once tipped as the next big thing to lead Germany's attack, Timo Werner peaked during his breakthrough Bundesliga years. He became Stuttgart's youngest debutant and goalscorer before going on to become RB Leipzig's all-time top scorer, with 113 goals and 47 assists in just 216 games.

Despite failing to set the world alight in England, transfers to Chelsea and Tottenham (on loan) did see him claim the Champions League and Europa League, respectively. Now 30, Werner appears to have left his European career behind in favour of MLS outfit San Jose, scoring six goals in his first 18 games for the club.

2. Kenedy

Having emerged at Brazilian club Fluminense, winger Kenedy was ahead of his time in 2015 and made his pro debut at just 17 years old. He earned a high-profile move to Chelsea in 2015 but never turned out as expected, embarking on a string of loan moves before finally leaving for Real Valladolid in 2022.

Now 30, the former Brazil youth prospect joined Pachuca permanently this summer and scored his first goal for the Liga MX club last month. He previously impressed on loan in Mexico last season, where he netted nine goals in 36 games for the Gophers.

3. Accursio Bentivegna

Perhaps the least prominent name included on Messi's list of ones to watch, Accursio Bentivegna fell way short of expectations. The Italian forward was an up-and-coming prospect at Palermo at the time the selection was made but has made only seven top-flight appearances in his career to date.

After leaving the Rosanero for Serie C side Carrarese in 2018, the diminutive attacker has looked more at home. Bentivegna has scored nine goals in 48 games for current club Casertana but has yet to find the net in nine outings this term.

4. Maxwel Cornet

Maxwel Cornet was an emerging gem at French side Metz when Messi picked him out as a diamond in the rough. And for a time, the Ivory Coast international sparkled as hoped in Ligue 1, spending six promising years with Lyon after being tipped for greatness.

He later finished as Burnley's top scorer in 2022 as the club was relegated from the Premier League. He later joined West Ham and may have surprised a few by returning to the club this summer following a string of loans, with many likely unaware he was still on their books.

5. Jeremie Boga

Speaking of Ivorian talents who didn't quite hit the mark, Jeremie Boga stands as a testament to perseverance. For three years, the creative gem tried and failed to break out at Chelsea as he became a serial loanee, though he's since prospered in Italy and France.

Boga, 29, made a combined 222 appearances for Atalanta, Sassuolo and Nice before earning a move back to one of Europe's elite with Juventus this summer following a successful loan.

6. Khiry Shelton

US stock in Khiry Shelton was at a high when he got drafted second overall in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. However, New York City FC never saw a return on investment from the forward.

Now 33, Shelton had a brief spell in Europe with German side Paderborn in 2019. It wasn't until his second term with Sporting Kansas City that he found a real home, racking up 191 total appearances for the club, though he's now been without a club for 10 months.

7. Aleksey Miranchuk

Russian playmaker Aleksey Miranchuk has enjoyed a thriving career since shouldering the weight of Messi's praise as a Lokomotiv Moscow prospect 11 years ago. He spent five more years in the Russian capital before joining Atalanta in 2020, lifting the Europa League crown after his final season in Bergamo two years ago.

He, too, headed for the States following that victory and is a highly valued piece of the puzzle for Atlanta United. The 30-year-old even captained the club at the start of this season and is clinging onto the faint hope of securing a spot in this year's MLS play-offs.

8. James Wilson

This one will smart for those Manchester United fans out there who felt striker James Wilson was the chosen one. Two goals against Hull City in his Premier League debut sent shockwaves as to what United had stumbled upon during a period in which they could have done with a new superstar talent from the academy - but it wasn't to be.

Wilson scored just two more goals in 20 total appearances for the club before a serious knee injury while on loan at Derby sidelined him for 15 months. He later moved to Aberdeen, Salford City, Port Vale and Northampton Town, failing to score in his single season with the latter before retiring last year aged 29.

9. Rony Lopes

Rony Lopes' record as Manchester City's youngest scorer still stands today after he netted in an FA Cup clash with Watford back in January 2013. The former Benfica gem made just four more senior appearances for City before being shipped off to France and has enjoyed a journeyman's career since then.

Lopes' career has had its fair share of highlights, including a Europa League medal with Sevilla, a Greek Super League with Olympiakos and a Portuguese Cup crown with Braga. The former winger has since reinvented himself as a defensive midfielder with Polish club Motor Lublin after his contract at Tondela was terminated.

10. Gyasi Zardes

Last but not least, Messi identified ex-LA Galaxy and Columbus Crew striker Gyasi Zardes as a name to keep an eye on in 2015. Zardes' inclusion was peculiar considering he was already 24 and tearing up trees on the west coast when the list was published.

He went on to enjoy considerable success in his home country, winning MLS Cups with the Galaxy and Columbus, as well as two Gold Cups with the Stars and Stripes. His numbers eventually dwindled in later spells with Colorado and Austin FC, where he retired in 2024.