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His name is Messi. He is small and very good one-on-one but he was not brought into Barcelona’s academy. Ryan Messi emerged from amateur football. The 17-year-old forward learned his trade at Versailles and Dijon before ending up at RC Strasbourg Alsace and is now regarded as one of the foremost French talents of his generation. Transfermarkt has spoken to his former coaches Matthew Merle and Stephen Roche to find out more about the wonderkid.
Ryan and Lionel Messi, more than just names
“I first saw Ryan at a training camp we organized during the school holidays,” said Merle, who coached Ryan from U12 to U14. “He was in the U11s and played for Chaville. We recommended him to participate because we had heard about his qualities and potential. We included him in game situations with U12 and U13 to test him. After his first contact with the ball, he dodged everyone to score.” When you listen to that memory, it certainly feels like the two Messis have a lot more in common than just their names.
“Ryan distinguishes himself from other players with his speed, which helps him to be very explosive in the first few metres,” said Merle, who works as technical director of FC Versailles’ youth department. These words can also describe their Argentinian namesakes well. But contrary to his name, Ryan uses his strength and speed to outrun his opponents. “He surprised me because he was always able to accelerate quickly and generate a second burst of acceleration.”
Roche, who now works as head of Dijon FCO’s academy, also said: “He is a flexible attacking player who can play at centre-forward and on the wings. He can make a difference in one-on-one situations, whether by demanding the ball, transitioning through space, dribbling, or combining with his teammates. His game is unpredictable for his opponents. And he is talented in the box. Overall, he has a wide range of abilities.”
Top clubs are looking for Messi
Coach Roche said that you paid attention when Ryan was not on the pitch. Roche said, “He was the player with the highest winning percentage at the club.” From 2022 to 2024, Roche oversaw Messi’s development at Dijon. The 54-year-old also underlined that Messi always keeps both feet on the ground. Something that Merle confirms. “Ryan was always popular with his team-mates and people who worked at the club. She is very mature and has strong values. Very respectful of others and always listens.”
It is not surprising that Messi is in high demand. According to a report by L’EquipeBayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and Lille are interested in the player. “What impressed me is that despite the offers, he always kept both feet on the ground and a cool head,” Merle said. “He always remained true to himself.” Last summer, Messi decided to take the next step in his career in France by joining Strasbourg on a €1.5m deal.
Even on the field, Messi never gets nervous. “He can raise his level and control the emotional aspects of the game,” Roche said. “In difficult moments he never gets angry and remains focused.” Roche would like to see a little more engagement in practice, though. “He still needs to learn what his body can do. Since he has some physical problems, he sometimes seems afraid to increase his intensity. You have to accept that you cannot make the same demands of him as other players. But in competitive matches he always gives his all.”
The performance against US Orleans (1-0) on April 12 is noteworthy. With 15 minutes remaining, Messi was brought on and then, with just a few minutes remaining, scored to give Dijon the win. “The spectators started shouting ‘Messi, Messi, Messi’,” Roche said. “It was deafening and a great moment.”
No minutes yet for Strasbourg
The name Messi makes for a funny anecdote. But the name can also prove costly. But Merle doesn’t believe this will be any hindrance to his former pupil. “It attracts attention, but Ryan has enough qualities to have a successful career. You just have to give him time to develop his talent and then he will write his own story.
Since the start of the season, Messi has bounced between the U19 and reserve teams without breaking into the first team. This is no cause for concern; His time will come. “On such a young team, eventually they’ll have something to say,” Roche said. I believe he will move to a Ligue 1 team during the second half of the season. So we will see that in 2025.
From December 1 to 24, we introduce new players from different countries born in 2007 and 2008. Area managers, users and data scouts fall across the spectrum as experts. You can follow all those players by adding them to your TM Watchlist.