Mount’s England Omission Follows Star’s Past Praise
Mason Mount, once predicted by Lionel Messi to become one of the world’s elite, has been notably excluded from the England squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup. The midfielder, now 27, finds himself outside Thomas Tuchel’s chosen 26-man selection, a stark contrast to the high expectations set earlier in his career.
Mount’s trajectory appeared meteoric after breaking into Chelsea’s first team in 2019. His performances garnered significant acclaim, including from global football icon Lionel Messi. In a 2020 interview for Topps, where Messi curated a collection of emerging talent, the Argentine superstar identified Mount as one of 15 players with the potential to reach the highest echelons of the sport.
Messi, speaking about the then-young Chelsea player, stated: “Having watched him play he has the potential to be one of the best.” This endorsement deeply impacted Mount, who later admitted to initially questioning the authenticity of the quotes. He conveyed that such recognition provided substantial motivation to continuously improve.
A Promising Start Under Lampard and Tuchel
For a period, Messi’s prediction seemed on course to materialize. Mount was a key figure under Frank Lampard during his breakthrough season, featuring in 53 matches and scoring eight goals. The subsequent season, under the management of Thomas Tuchel, Mount played an instrumental role in Chelsea’s second Champions League triumph, contributing nine goals in 54 appearances.
His importance continued into his third season. However, following the club’s ownership change to BlueCo, Mount’s first-team opportunities significantly diminished. This led to his transfer to rivals Manchester United in July 2023, concluding an 18-year association with the west London club.
Injuries Hamper Manchester United Stint
Since his move to Old Trafford, Mount’s career has been significantly disrupted by recurring injury issues. He has accumulated only 54 Premier League appearances over three seasons. This lack of consistent availability has hindered his ability to establish himself as a regular starter and become a central player for the team.
Consequently, Mount’s most recent call-up to the England squad was in March 2023, while he was still at Chelsea. Neither current England manager Gareth Southgate nor his predecessor Tuchel have deemed his performances since then worthy of a 37th international cap. This has resulted in his absence from both the Euro 2024 and the 2026 World Cup squads.
In retrospect, the glowing assessment from Lionel Messi now stands as a rare instance where the prolific player’s judgment on emerging talent has not fully aligned with subsequent career developments.
