5 countries that could give us the next Lionel Messi
It’s safe to say that after the time of Diego Maradona and his band of misfits in the Argentine national team, the current generation is the purest ‘Golden Generation’ the country has given birth to. The national team boasts an almost embarrassing forward-line depth coupled with midfielders and defenders who play for some of the best clubs in the world.
And the messiah leading all these warriors is FC Barcelona’s very own Lionel Messi. The reason the club is mentioned there is because of its role in giving to the world a phenomenon unlike any other from the days of Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo.
Yet, time is a cruel being and has drained Messi of the influence he can have on the field considerably. We’re already at a stage when the club is planning a future without the talismanic forward. #TheNextMessi movement is in full swing and should FC Barcelona continue to dominate with an iron fist in the future, they’re going to have to widen their search for his successor.
Also read: 5 players who were dubbed the next Messi - where are they now?
Here’s looking at five countries world-over who could give us the next Lionel Messi:
Brazil
Neymar and Philippe Coutinho are currently amongst the calibre of players making Brazil a footballing side for the future. Despite the poor performance in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2015 and 2016 Copa America, the Selecao have it safe with the kind of players coming through the ranks.
They say South America produces the world’s best players because of the hunger that exists within individuals to carve out a piece in modern, first-class society for themselves and their families. And should Brazil’s fragile economy continue to stand as is, there’s a chance we’re looking at a shift of power within the southern continent – on the field, that is.
With more and more European clubs setting up scouting bases in Brazil and tapping young players up by offering European footballing education, it won't be long before someone comes along and blows everyone to bits with what he’s capable of with the ball at his feet.