The 10 wonderkids Lionel Messi singled out in 2015 and what happened to them

Lionel Messi was asked to pick out the best 10 wonderkids in the world back in 2015.

By Tom Sunderland · Express

Published: Saturday, 24 October 2026 at 4:01 AM

Key Things to Know

Express Sport examined the career paths of wonderkids chosen by Lionel Messi for an Adidas campaign in 2015.
Timo Werner joined MLS side San Jose after spells at RB Leipzig, Chelsea, and Tottenham.
Winger Kenedy secured a permanent transfer to Liga MX outfit Pachuca following several loan stints.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Express Sport reviewed the career trajectories of players selected by Lionel Messi during Adidas' 2015 'Backed by Messi' campaign. The retrospective details how several chosen talents experienced mixed fortunes across world football, ranging from European trophy wins to spells in lower divisions.

Timo Werner won major European trophies before moving to MLS side San Jose, while Kenedy joined Liga MX side Pachuca permanently. Jeremie Boga moved to Juventus following stints across France and Italy, Maxwel Cornet remained at West Ham, and Italian forward Accursio Bentivegna landed in Serie C with Casertana.

Read the full article on Express

The 10 wonderkids Lionel Messi singled out in 2015 and what happened to them

More Football News

Never Miss a Sports Update