5 countries that could give us the next Lionel Messi

Chile

The underdogs who always found a way

A country inspired by back-to-back Copa America titles is a country on the upward curve with the current and future generation. Mauricio Isla, Claudio Bravo, Arturo Vidal and Alexis Sanchez are only a few names in the side taking the fight to Argentina and Brazil.

But their achievements have given an entire country’s youth an excuse to consider a career in professional football. Chile’s domestic league system isn’t the most efficient or organised – at least when compared to their European counterparts – but the growth of quality in the teams regularly convincing in the Copa Libertadores is promising.

With youngsters all over Europe learning from the best, it isn’t too long a wait to expect the country to produce someone who could compete with the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.