What happened to Chelsea youngster Messi tipped to become "one of the best"
If Lionel Messi thinks you're good at football, you must be half decent.
Back in 2020, the Argentine superstar - who was still tearing up La Liga with Barcelona at the time - backed a Chelsea youngster to become "one of the best" players in the world. Yet that emerging talent, now 25, is still waiting to fulfil his potential.
His name? Mason Mount.
That may seem hard to believe considering the England international's current form, but Messi really did have plenty of faith in him. The four-time Champions League winner said of Mount: "Having watched him play, he has the potential to be one of the best."
In fairness to Messi, Mount was quite the player at the time. He joined Chelsea's academy at the age of six in 2005 and went on to graduate to first-team level after two impressive loan spells at Vitesse in the Netherlands and Derby in the Championship.
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Mount was named as Vitesse's Player of the Year and in the Eredivisie Team of the Year during his loan spell abroad. Those honours came after a glittering academy career, which saw him win the U19 Euros, the UEFA Youth League and two FA Youth Cups.
During his time at Derby, Mount helped them reach the play-off final - which they lost to Aston Villa - and he was called up to the England squad as a Champions player. Although he didn't make his debut for another year, it was still an impressive achievement.
Mount then produced a magical first season in the Premier League at Chelsea, which is why Messi was keen to praise him in 2020. Frank Lampard, who was Chelsea's manager at the time and coached him at Derby, also spoke very highly of Mount.
Mount was Chelsea's best player for a two-year period (Getty Images)Ahead of the 2019/20 campaign, Lampard said: "The players recognise quality instantly, but they also recognise work rate and character. Mason's got all of those and he's given me a (selection) problem... I couldn't ask for more from what Mason's done."
Mount took Messi's praise in his stride. The attacking midfielder was named as Chelsea's Player of the Year in 2021 - a season in which they defeated Manchester City in the Champions League final - and he defended that individual honour the following term.
He also won the European Super Cup and Club World Cup during his time at Stamford Bridge, and he helped them reach three consecutive FA Cup finals. Sadly for the Blues, they lost to Arsenal, Leicester and Liverpool at Wembley in consecutive seasons.
Furthermore, Mount became a star at international level. He played a vital role in England's Euro 2020 campaign - which saw them lose in the final to Italy - and he featured at the 2022 World Cup. Yet he's not been the same player since the latter tournament.
But the midfielder has struggled to replicate his best form at Manchester United (Getty Images)Do you think Mason Mount can become one of the best players in the world? Let us know in the comments below!
Mount struggled with injuries towards the end of last season and seemed destined to leave Chelsea due to a contract dispute. The Blues sold him to Manchester United in July, but he's since failed to make an impression at Old Trafford due to a lack of fitness.
Mount hasn't played in the Premier League since November and is yet to register an assist or a goal in the division for United. He's expected to return to fitness shortly and that's good news for United boss Erik ten Hag. The Red Devils are seventh in the table.
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There's still plenty of time for Mount to reignite his career, but he's not played for England since the World Cup in Qatar and seems unlikely to make Gareth Southgate's squad for this summer's Euros in Germany. Right now, Messi's prediction seems way off the mark.
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