Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi believes Chelsea youngster Mason Mount has the potential to be one of the best footballers in the world.
Messi has partnered with Topps Kick trading cards to create his own limited edition collection, featuring 50 specially designed cards. These cards include the "Greatest Moments" of Messi's career, plus the Argentine's choices for "Top Talent" and "Youth on the Rise".
Among the "Top Talent" players, Messi has chosen to include Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, Atletico Madrid captain Koke, Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane, Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski, and Barcelona teammate Philippe Coutinho, who is currently on loan at Bayern Munich.
Some of the "Youth on the Rise" players Messi selected include Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho, City midfielder Phil Foden, Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold and Chelsea duo Christian Pulisic and Mount.
On his selection of Mount, who has enjoyed a superb debut season in the Chelsea first team, Messi is quoted as saying: “Having watched him play he has the potential to be one of the best."
Mount, 21, has been an ever-present in Frank Lampard's youthful Chelsea lineup this season and has scored six goals in 29 Premier League appearances, as well as contributing four assists.
Meanwhile, Messi has made headlines this week after he appeared to hit out at Barcelona for the club's handling of the wage reduction process, in which the first team squad agreed to a substantial pay cut due to the financial implications of the coronavirus pandemic.
Messi accused Barca of "trying to put pressure" on the players, despite the squad already agreeing to take a 70 per cent reduction in salaries.
