Three wonderkids dubbed 'English Messi' and what happened as real thing retires from Argentina

 With a low centre of gravity, an unmatched dribbling skill set and a wand of a left foot, Lionel Messi's profile is incredibly unique. After 208 caps, 126 goals and 67 assists, the Argentine international has retired from international football, leaving as arguably the sport's greatest ever player.

When a young English player comes through the ranks with a comparable playing style, they have at times been dubbed 'the English Messi.' Said players then understandably struggle to live up to the hype and eventually fall by the wayside, sometimes out of the game entirely.

Mirror Football recalls three players who were compared to Messi in their youth, the teams they've played for and where they are now...

Harvey Elliott

Standing at 1.7 metres with a silky left foot, Harvey Elliott was dubbed 'the English Messi' by the media after joining Liverpool from Fulham in 2019.

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Following an impressive loan at Blackburn, he broke into Jurgen Klopp's starting line-up before a horrific ankle fracture in September 2021 cruelly halted his momentum. Though he recovered to make 53 appearances in 2023/24, his game time dropped under Arne Slot, prompting a loan to Aston Villa.

After Villa opted against activating his purchase clause, Elliott endured a wasted season in the Second City. Still contracted to Liverpool, he is now looking to kickstart his career on loan at Valencia.