Three wonderkids dubbed 'English Messi' and what happened as real thing retires from Argentina

With Lionel Messi announcing his retirement from international football with Argentina, attention has turned to several English players who were dubbed the 'English Messi' over the years. The Mirror revisits three youngsters who were burdened with the high-profile comparison tag, examining how their careers developed relative to the enormous expectations placed on them. Messi's retirement from Argentina duty marks the end of an era for the global icon who led his country to World Cup glory in 2022.