How the fate of the Russian and 9 more promising players for Messi

In 2015, Lionel Messi made a unique list as part of the adidas Backed by Messi campaign. He named ten of the most promising young players in the world, among whom was Alexei Miranchuk, who celebrated his 31st anniversary today.

Who else was among the "elected" legendary Argentine and what these players have achieved - in the material "RBC Sport".

Alexey Miranchuk

The Russian midfielder became the only Russian on the list of Messi. After successes in Lokomotiv (championship and Cup of Russia, participation in the 2018 World Cup), his career in Europe, in Atalanta and Torino, did not work out. At these clubs, he failed to become a key player.

The move to MLS in 2024 was a new milestone for the 31-year-old, where he became one of the leaders. He is currently playing for Atlanta United with a contract until the end of 2027 (with an extension option). During the season-2026 Miranchuk played in 22 matches, scored five goals and gave six assists.

Robert Kenedy

Midfielder Robert Kenedy was one of the brightest Brazilian talents of his generation, but his career at the top club never worked out. The Fluminense pupil moved to Chelsea in 2015, but could not gain a foothold in the base.

The most notable career stint was a loan to Newcastle in the 2017/18 season, where he made 13 starts and scored two goals. He also played for Getafe, Granada and Flamengo.

Now 30-year-old Kenedi plays for the Mexican “Pachuca” (League MX), where he originally moved on loan from Valladolid in 2025, and later was bought out. He scored nine goals in 34 games last season.

Maxwell Cornet

What makes Maxwell Cornet truly unique is his ability to play both defensively and attack effectively. He managed to try himself as a left-back, winger and striker, successfully adapting to each position.

Corne spent his best years at Lyon, from where he moved to Burnley (season 2021/22), scoring nine goals. And in 2023 he won the UEFA Conference League with West Ham.

In 2026, the 30-year-old Corne plays for Italian Genoa on loan from West Ham. Last season, he played in ten games without effective action.

Jeremiah

Dribbling and the ability to beat one at a time is the main weapon of Jeremiah God. Winner of the 2023 African Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire, he showed himself brightly in Sassuolo, after which he moved to Atalanta and Nice.

In 2020, he wanted to acquire such giants as Barcelona and Chelsea. In the summer of 2026, God was bought by Turin Juventus from Nice for €4.8 million, where he continues to perform.

Accurcio Bentivena

Bentivegna is a typical example of the talent chosen by Messi, who never made it to the top level. The Palermo pupil spent his entire career in the lower divisions of Italy, mainly in the C-series.

During his career, the 30-year-old midfielder has played 233 games and scored 30 goals. Now he plays for Casertan, last season in 35 matches the footballer scored nine goals.

James Wilson

James Wilson made Manchester United history with his legendary debut in 2014 when, at the age of 18, he scored a double against Hull City. But this match was the pinnacle of his career and he was never able to replicate or surpass that success without entrenching himself at the club and realizing his seemingly huge potential.

A slew of injuries and a lack of stability ruined his career, and multiple loan spells at Derby County, Brighton and Aberdeen did not help him return to Premier League level. Wilson, 30, is now without a club. His last team was Northampton from England's third division.

Timo Werner

Despite his reputation as one of the Bundesliga's most effective forwards, Timo Werner has had difficulty realising moments and adapting to pressure in England. These problems have become a feature of his performances in this league.

As part of RB Leipzig, he became the club's top scorer with 113 goals, and in 2021 he won the Champions League with Chelsea. However, in the Premier League, he failed due to unrealized moments, becoming the object of memes. In 2026, the 30-year-old Werner moved to MLS, where he plays for the San Jose Ertquakes with a contract until June 2028, trying to restart his career.

Gyasi Zardes

Gyasi Zardes is one of the most stable American forwards of his generation, despite a complete lack of European experience. He has 106 goals in 328 MLS appearances, making him one of the top 10 scorers in league history.

He won the MLS Cup twice: in 2014 with the Los Angeles Galaxy and in 2020 with Columbus Crewe. For the US national team, the football player played 68 matches, scored 14 goals and won two CONCACAF Gold Cups (in 2017 and 2021).

In September 2026, 35-year-old Zardes announced his retirement.

Marcos Lopes (Roni Lopes)

Benfica pupil Marcos Lopes, better known as Roni Lopes, is Manchester City's record holder for the youngest goal. He moved to Man City in 2012 and set a record a year later, scoring at 17 and eight days against Watford.

After moving from Man City to Monaco in August 2015, Lopes made a strong statement. In four seasons, he played 82 games and scored 21 goals. These successes prompted Sevilla to pay €25 million for the player, one of the most significant expenditures in the club's history.

The career of the 30-year-old player began to decline due to numerous injuries, and it was not possible to return to the previous level after the loan to Nice, Olympiacos and Troyes. In 2023, he joined Braga as a free agent, and since September of this year he has been playing for the Polish Motor, Lublin.

Kyri Shelton

In the career of American striker Kyrie Shelton were performances for New York City, German Paderborn and Sporting Kansas City.

His statistics are quite modest - 11 goals in 157 MLS matches. In the 2025/27 season, the 33-year-old played for Sporting Kansas City. He played 27 games without any results. The player is now a free agent.