Perry Groves names 15-year-old Arsenal player who is 'very similar' to Lionel Messi

Former Arsenal winger Perry Groves has picked Max Dowman from the current squad who resembles Lionel Messi's style of play. The 15-year-old player is currently with the Gunners' pre-season tour of Asia.

Lionel Messi's legacy

Lionel Messi is one of the best in the history of football, having scored over 870 goals for club and country. He is currently playing for MLS club Inter Miami, the Argentine is known for his smooth skills with the ball, playmaking and goal-scoring ability is still giving tough competition to many youngsters.

Talking about Dowman, The teenager participated in the first team training at the age of 14, he was part of their winter training camp in Dubai. Groves believes that Arsenal's academy product is similar to Lionel Messi.

“He is a scary talent, and I said before, as Arteta said, he’ll be well nurtured at Arsenal because they’ve got a good reputation of bringing younger players through from Bukayo Saka into Nwaneri and Lewis-Skelly. So, they’re nurtured very well.

“Well, style-wise, very similar to Lionel Messi, only because he’s left-footed, same sort of build, balance. … I’m not saying he’s going to be as good, because Messi is obviously one of the greatest players."

He added that the sky's the limit for Dowman:

“The only thing that I would say with Max Dowman is that he’s got a good background. The only reason he won’t make the level that he should do with his talent is if he’s unlucky with an injury or injuries, or his attitude isn’t right. And all the reports that I’m hearing about him, he’s a very well-balanced, level-headed young man off the pitch.

“So, as long as he stays like that and he sees Bukayo Saka, who is a brilliant example, he sees Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri, where you just calm down and you make sure you’re humble off it, then he’s got the, honestly, the world’s his oyster.”

Dowman is expected to make his first-team debut this season.

Lionel Messi is enjoying a great season with Inter Maimu, whom he joined on a free transfer after spending nearly two decades in Europe.

In 30 matches, Lionel Messi amassed 24 goals and 10 assists. Eighteen of those goals and seven assists have come in 18 matches in MLS.

Messi met his former side Paris Saint-Germain in the FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16 as the Heron were knocked out with 4-0 defeat in their maiden appearance in the tournament.