5 players who were dubbed to be the next Lionel Messi

For well over a decade and a half, Lionel Messi has produced moments of sheer magic that have enthralled viewers across the world. With statistical feats that seem extraordinarily supernatural to the mortal soul and a unique style of play to boot, Lionel Messi has made a strong case for himself as the best player to have ever graced the beautiful game.

Alongside his arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi has dominated world football for several years and has inspired several modern-day stars of the game. A number of youngsters have tried to take after the gifted Argentine and has achieved moderate degrees of success.

Lionel Messi is one of the best players in football history

Lionel Messi has broken innumerable records over the past few years and has carved a place for himself in football's proverbial hall of fame. The Argentine star is one of the most complete forwards in the modern era and his vision and dribbling ability make him virtually unplayable when he is at his best.

The Barcelona captain has inspired several young players over the course of his career. While there may never be another Lionel Messi, there have been certain individuals who, for a small period of time at the very least, have mimicked the legendary Argentine and produced moments of magic that have made the world of football take note.

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#5 Alen Halilovic

Alen Halilovic failed to live up to his potential

Barcelona have been searching for a player worthy of being Lionel Messi's heir for over ten years. The Catalan giants are known for their impressive scouting network and were under the impression that they had struck gold when they unearthed a potential gem in Alen Halilovic.

The Croatian prodigy was only 16 years of age when he joined Barcelona in 2014 and spent his first season at the club with the reserves in the Segunda Division. Halilovic was unable to adapt to the intricacies of Spanish football, however, and was never able to play a game alongside Lionel Messi.

After a series of unsuccessful loan spells across Europe, Halilovic joined English club Birmingham City on a free transfer. The talented Croatian is only 24 years old at the moment and has plenty of time left to make a meaningful impact in European football.

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#4 Lee Seung-Woo

Lee Seung-Woo has not done well in Europe

Lee Seung-Woo is yet another addition to a considerably long list of players who have joined Barcelona's famed academy with hopes of becoming the next Lionel Messi. The South Korean star scored an astonishing 39 goals in 29 appearances in his first season at La Masia and made a name for himself as the Korean Lionel Messi.

The Barcelona prodigy also made inroads into his national team but his rebellious nature made him a divisive figure in the Asian country. South Korea has been steadily producing world-class players in recent weeks and Lee Seung-Woo is arguably one of the best of the lot.

Lee Seung-Woo's European career is yet to take off, however, and the La Masia starlet now plies his trade with Portimonense. Asia's very own Lionel Messi is yet to justify his potential but has time on his side and will need to revolutionise his career in the coming years.

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#3 Bojan Krkic

Bojan's career is a tale of misfortune

When Lionel Messi first broke through the ranks at La Masia, Barcelona's youth coaches were so stunned by his sheer potential that they were sure that his alien-like abilities were one of a kind. Along came Catalan prodigy Bojan Krkic, however, and nonchalantly dismantled Lionel Messi's goalscoring records at the academy to announce himself to the world.

With over 900 goals for Barcelona's youth teams, Bojan Krkic was touted as Lionel Messi's second coming. The La Masia youngster made his first-team debut at the age of 17 and was a part of Barcelona's all-conquering side under Pep Guardiola.

With David Villa, Lionel Messi, and Pedro in the mix, however, Bojan struggled to find his place in a team that had already dismantled some of the biggest clubs in Europe with their intriguing style of play. Barcelona's prodigious youngster went through nomadic spells in Italy, England, and the Netherlands and was never able to do justice to his incredible talent.

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#2 Mario Gotze

Mario Gotze had immense potential

Very few players in recent years have been asked to outshine the insurmountable Lionel Messi. Joachim Low, however, needed only a few months with Mario Gotze to realise that the young German was a world-class player in the making.

Mario Gotze made a name for himself as a teenage for Borussia Dortmund and also played as a false nine for the team under Jurgen Klopp. The German starlet was snapped up by Bayern Munich and was touted by club legends including the great Franz Beckenbauer as the next Lionel Messi.

While Gotze did have his problems with the Bavarian giants and was unable to take his club career to the next level, the German is the only player on this list to achieve the one trophy that has often eluded Lionel Messi. In the final of the 2014 World Cup, Mario Gotze scored a famous extra-time goal against Lionel Messi's Argentina to win Germany the most prestigious title in world football.

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#1 Paulo Dybala

Paulo Dybala is an excellent player

Argentine footballers are known for their creative flair and have occupied a unique place in the sport over the years. As far as left-footed magicians are concerned, however, Lionel Messi was the sole bearer of the beacon till a certain Paulo Dybala stormed into the limelight in 2015.

The Argentine starlet became the Bianconeri's talisman after Paul Pogba's departure the following year and has been crucial to Juventus' success in the Serie A. Dybala produced a landmark performance against Lionel Messi and Barcelona in the 2017 UEFA Champions League and proved his mettle against one of Europe's giants.

Paulo Dybala has had his issues in recent years, however, and has been unable to make an impact for the Argentina national team. The Juventus forward has spades of talent and will want to take his place as Lionel Messi's heir for his country.

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Honourable Mentions: Martin Odegaard, Alan Dzagoev, Marko Marin, Ryan Gauld, Giovanni Dos Santos, Ryo Miyaichi, Sardar Azmoun

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