10 Young Stars in World Football Who Could Be the Next Lionel Messi

There's only one Lionel Messi. Let's be clear on that. At the moment, he is the single best football player on the planet. But he won't always be king of the hill.

It would be easy to throw a bunch of names at you from the youth teams at top clubs. But let's be honest, I haven't seen them and you haven't seen them either.

So while a 14-year-old currently playing in Malaysia might turn out to be the guy who wins five Ballon d'Or trophies in the next decade, we'll limit ourselves here to players that have started putting together a body of evidence.

These are the 10 young stars in world football who could be the next Messi.

Eden Hazard (Lille)

Anyone who pays even the slightest attention to European football has heard of Lille's Eden Hazard at this point. Not nearly as many have actually seen him play. That's always the case when the big English clubs start making noise in the transfer market.

Hazard is the player everyone wants this summer. He can play on the wings or as a central attacking midfielder. He can create for others, he can score and he does it with style.

You start seeing Messi when Hazard runs with the ball at his feet. His close control at incredible pace is frightening for defenders across France.

Hazard's goalscoring numbers have crept up over his career but have taken a leap this season with 16 goals during the Ligue 1 season and his first for the Belgian national team.

Junior Hoilett (Blackburn)

Is it better to be a young player struggling to fight your way into a top club or a young guy who is clearly the best player on a team fighting relegation? I don't know the answer, but that brings us to Blackburn's 21-year-old Junior Hoilett.

No one in the Premier League has as many successful dribbles per game as Hoilett. Generally lined up out on the left wing, Hoilett can beat defenders down the line or cut inside and menace them with his shot.

Why neither Jamaica or Canada (Hoilett is eligible to play for both) have gotten their act together and called him into the national team program is beyond me. Hoilett would already be among the best players to pull on either country's jersey.

Neymar (Santos)

You know Neymar, right? If not, there's 15 minutes of mouth-watering highlights on the video included here to get you acquainted.

Santos' 20-year-old sensation is the most likely "next Messi" as he's already tied to both Real Madrid and Barcelona. If he ends up anywhere else in Europe, it will be a shock. That is, if he ever decides to leave Brazil.

Pele says Neymar is already better than Messi. Of course, Pele is old and he tends to put on his Samba-colored glasses when comparing Brazilians with Argentinians. But if Neymar finally makes the move to Europe and can produce even a shadow of what he's done at home, O Rei could look quite the prophet.

Christian Eriksen (Ajax)

Who was the youngest player participating in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa? Yep, Ajax and Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen.

The 20-year-old is the subject of much hubbub as Europe approaches the transfer season this summer. But Eriksen says he is staying at Ajax for the time being.

And why not? He's progressed into a team leader and a focal point of Ajax' attack.

In 2011, he was named "Dutch Football Talent of the Year" and "Danish Football Player of the Year." He's become a regular for his country and at Ajax he's scored eight goals in just his second season of steady first team action.

Xherdan Shaqiri (FC Basil)

You'll hear much more about Xherdan Shaqiri next season. That's because Bayern Munich have agreed a deal with FC Basil to bring the winger to Germany next season.

He won't leap right into the starting line-up, but Shaqiri has the quality to push for the spot right away. And once he gets a chance, he could make quite a case for himself.

A more muscular brand of attacking player than most of the sprites on this list, Shaqiri combines technical ability with a fantastic strength on the ball.

He popped up on many fans' radar with his outstanding performance in the Champions League during a 2-1 win over Manchester United. He can do it on the big stage and sooner rather than later, he'll get a chance to do it more regularly.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal)

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain made his first start for Arsenal in January. When Arsene Wenger substituted for him in the 78th minute, the home fans at the Emirates booed the move.

High praise indeed for the 18-year-old. But not undeserved. When he's been on the field for Arsenal this season, the team looks more threatening.

Most comfortable with the ball at his feet, Oxlade-Chamberlain dances past defenders and his pace makes it unlikely that once beaten they get a chance to recover.

It's early days for the young player, but expect him to play a much bigger role at Arsenal next season and begin to push for a place in England's squad sooner than you might think.

Iker Muniain (Athletic Bilbao)

Athletic Bilbao's Iker Muniain is the most direct descendant of Lionel Messi's legacy in Spain. Watching the 19-year-old, you cannot help but make the comparison. He moves like Messi, he dribbles like Messi he even looks a little like Messi when he's in full flow weaving past defenders.

Muniain has already gotten the call from Spain, making his debut in the senior team this past February. He's approaching his 100th appearance for Bilbao. And he's even embarrassed Manchester United a couple times in the Europa League.

Not bad for a teenager. And not at all the end of his story. Of all the players on this list, Muniain is the most likely to replicate Messi's complete game in years to come.

Luuk De Jong (FC Twente)

Luuk De Jong is the biggest reach on this list. His masterful season in the Eredivisie (23 goals in 23 games) means he could be the next big thing. But the Dutch league is always a crapshoot when it comes to attacking players.

I've seen him play five times this season. I've watched him walk through multiple defenders in the opposing penalty area. I've seen him hit a magnificent bicycle kick for a goal in the Europa League. And if I'm honest, I still have no idea how he'll translate once he heads to England (Liverpool are the most closely linked transfer destination).

But he's shown the ability. If it holds up in a more defensive-minded league than I'll claim to have called it first.

Lucas (Sao Paulo)

If you like Neymar, take the next six minutes of your life and watch the video included here. You just might come away with a new favorite Brazilian starlet in Sao Paulo's 19-year-old attacking midfielder Lucas.

The player is so prized in Brazil that Sao Paulo have included a massive buy-out clause in his contract that has so far succeeded in keeping him at home. But Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester United are all circling.

Lucas will announce himself to the world this summer during the London Olympics. If a transfer hasn't come to pass before then, expect Europe's biggest clubs to up the ante after the teenager dazzles through the tournament.

Mario Gotze (Borussia Dortmund)

Franz Beckenbauer has stated that it is not possible to stop Borussia Dortmund attacking midfielder Mario Gotze. High praise indeed for a player who has yet to reach his 20th birthday.

Gotze is incredibly fast with the ball and can take opponents on one-on-one or even one-on-more. He can pick the dangerous pass. And he can finish.

He broke into the Borussia Dortmund first team last season, contributing six goals and eleven assists to Dortmund's title-winning side. His form convinced the national team staff and Gotze made his debut for Germany in November 2010.

The player has continued his great form this season despite injury limiting his appearances.

With other clubs sniffing around, the Germans astutely locked Gotze into a long-term contract that keeps him in the Bundesliga until 2016.