Lionel Messi reportedly expressed astonishment at the early promise displayed by Phil Foden during his breakthrough at Manchester City.

Foden made his debut under Pep Guardiola in 2017 at the age of 17 in a UEFA Champions League match against Feyenoord.

Recognised as one of the world's premier young talents, Foden has secured 15 major titles, including the Champions League, within five years.

Despite being a key player for Guardiola, Foden has occasionally played second-fiddle to Kevin De Bruyne.

This season, he has seen increased playing time due to De Bruyne's hamstring injury in the opening game against Burnley.

Messi, having noticed Foden's potential, inquired about the young English international's abilities in training from his compatriot Sergio Aguero.

Aguero, a close friend of Messi, played alongside Foden for approximately four years before moving from Manchester to Barcelona.

While Messi and Foden share similarities in playing style and creativity, Messi maintains a clear advantage in terms of goal-scoring.

This season, Foden has contributed to nine goals for Manchester City.

In a related context, Kylian Mbappe's endorsement of Messi for the Ballon d'Or sparked controversy, with some fans advocating for Erling Haaland.

Messi ultimately won the award, leading by 105 points over Haaland, with many considering the young striker a future contender.