Galliani and Today's Talents: "Five Games and Six the New Messi,

Why this matters

Adriano Galliani's reflections on the quality of current talent in football are particularly relevant in the context of the 2026 World Cup, where teams are looking for players who can make a difference. The comparison with Lionel Messi highlights the difficulty in finding champions who come close to his level, which raises questions about the future of football and the formation of new talents. Galliani also mentions the pressure on young players, who are quickly labeled as 'new Messi' after some good performances.

Main conclusions

Galliani and Today's Talents: "Five Games and Six the New Messi,.
Adriano Galliani discusses the quality of talent in modern football, comparing Messi to young players and commenting on the difficulty of finding champions like those of the past.
Galliani and his original talent: "5 left and I know the new Messi, then 10 passed the illusion."

Adriano Galliani, former managing director of Milan and Monza, took advantage of his presence in New York for the final stages of the 2026 World Cup to share some reflections on the current football scenario. The director praised Argentine Lionel Messi, addressing his impressive ability to compete at the highest level even at 39 years old. "These are players who don't have time or age, he's extraordinary, a true champion. It's difficult to find a 20-year-old who comes close to his level. In the past, when I saw Ronaldo Fenômeno, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho on the field, I cried with emotion. Life has changed, that's a fact!", commented Galliani, laughing.

The former manager also made an observation about the lack of talent in contemporary football. "Maybe fewer talents are being born, I don't know. What I do know is that Messi is something extraordinary. For those who love football, he is a real delight to watch," he said.

Galliani did not stop lamenting the situation of coach Carlo Ancelotti, who is faced with a new generation of players that, according to him, is far from the one that conquered the world in 2002. "It is absolutely impossible to do better than that. Today, I embraced Cafu, Roberto Carlos and Kaká, to give an example... This is a peculiar moment: a player who plays five good matches is quickly labeled as the new Messi or Ronaldo, but when the matches increase to ten, the illusion tends to end", he said, reflecting on the pressure young talent faces to meet expectations.

Regarding young Yamal, who has been compared to Messi, Galliani was cautious. "I don't know if he can reach that level. As Milan's AD, I suffered a lot with Messi, who always gave us difficulties. He demonstrated impressive continuity over many years. Before comparing Yamal to Messi, I think we should give him more time."

Galliani's statements echo the concerns of many in the football world about the evolution of players and the difficulty in finding talent to match the greats of the past. Reflection on what characterizes a true football star continues to be a relevant topic, especially in times of rapid change and high demands in sport.

What happens next

With the 2026 World Cup approaching, national teams and clubs will have to evaluate how to develop and identify talents that can shine on big stages. Galliani's analysis could encourage clubs to rethink their training and recruitment strategies, especially with new talent expected to be essential for success in future competitions. Furthermore, the situation with Carlo Ancelotti, who faces a new generation of players, could lead to changes in the way coaches approach the development of their teams.

Frequently asked questions

What did Adriano Galliani say about Lionel Messi?

Adriano Galliani praised Lionel Messi, highlighting his ability to compete at the highest level even at the age of 39, and stated that it is difficult to find a 20-year-old who comes close to his level.

Who commented on the lack of talent in current football?

Adriano Galliani commented on the scarcity of talent in contemporary football, suggesting that perhaps less talent is being born.

Why did Galliani mention the pressure on young talent?

Galliani mentioned the pressure on young talent when noting that a player who makes five good appearances is quickly labeled as the new Messi or Ronaldo, but this illusion tends to end after ten appearances.

What did Galliani say about Carlo Ancelotti?

Galliani lamented the situation of Carlo Ancelotti, who faces a new generation of players that, according to him, is far from the one that conquered the world in 2002.

What was Galliani's reflection on young Yamal?

Galliani was cautious when commenting on the young Yamal, who has been compared to Messi, without saying whether he can actually reach that level.