Last month adidas and Messi picked out ten of the world's best young players to join 'Team Messi' and wear his signature boot in all competitions, the Messi15. After allowing them time to settle into their new footwear adidas have caught up with the young hopefuls as they plan to track their progress throughout the season.
In this first episode of a new series we see the ten players show off their skills in their new Messi15 boots and share their aims for the season ahead. Being hand-picked to be part of Team Messi comes with a certain pressure but these players know all about pressure having been tipped by their respective clubs for breakthrough seasons. Perhaps in ten years time we'll have another ten kids as part of 'Team James Wilson'... Who knows?
We also hear from the man himself, the leader of ten determined disciples. The new Team Messi recruits are: Robert Kenedy (Chelsea) Maxwell Cornet (Lyon) Jeremie Boga (Rennes - on loan from Chelsea) Accursio Bentivegna (Como - on loan from Palermo) James Wilson (Man United) Timo Werner (Stuttgart) Aleksey Miranchuk (Lokomotiv Moscow) Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy) Marcos Lopes (Monaco) Khiry Shelton (New York City FC). Good luck chaps.
