MESSI: MY ACES

Mount among young English stars Barca legend predicts will shine on world stage

LIONEL MESSI has picked Manchester City teenager Phil Foden as one of his four English stars of the future.

Foden is joined on that list by Three Lions internationals Trent Alexanderarnold, Jadon Sancho and Mason Mount.

Messi, who was 17 when he made his league debut for Barcelona, gave his take on the top 15 young prospects looking to follow in his footsteps on the world stage.

That included Foden, 19, Borussia Dortmund’s Sancho, 20, Alexanderarnold and Mason Mount, both 21.

Mount’s Chelsea team-mate Christian Pulisic also made the cut.

The Argentinian made his predictions about the next generation of stars when quizzed for a “Lionel Messi designed set” of Topps cards.

England Under-21 midfielder Foden was hailed by him as a “huge talent” and tipped to do “amazing things in the game”.

Full-back Alexander-arnold was praised for being “impressive going forward” – as Messi found to his cost in Liverpool’s amazing Champions League comeback against Barcelona last season.

Winger Sancho has been outstanding during his big breakthrough season in Germany’s Bundesliga, with Messi, 32, saying: “His ability to dribble past defenders is impressive.”

On Chelsea midfielder Mount, Messi (below) added: “Having watched him play he has the potential to be one of the best.”

USA forward Pulisic, 21, was lauded for having “great balance and agility”.

Others included are already big names, such as Paris Saint-germain’s France striker Kylian Mbappe, 21, Atletico Madrid frontman Joao Felix, 20, and Messi’s 22-year-old Barca team-mates Frenkie de Jong, and Ousmane Dembele.

Real Madrid pair Luka Jovic and Eder Militao, Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar and Bayer Leverkusen’s Kai Havertz are named too. Bayern Munich defenders

Benjamin

Pavard and

Joshua Kimmich complete the 15.