Former Ecuador international Carlos Tenorio has expressed strong confidence that Chelsea prospect Kendry Paez has the potential to outshine Lionel Messi and Neymar in his career. Currently on loan at Chelsea’s sister club RC Strasbourg Alsace, Paez is seen as a rising star capable of reaching extraordinary heights in football.
Paez, counted among the most promising talents in South America, was signed by Chelsea in June 2023. After turning 18 this summer, he moved officially to Stamford Bridge before being loaned to Strasbourg for further development in a competitive European setting.
Carlos Tenorio’s High Praise for Kendry Paez’s Future
Carlos Tenorio, who earned 52 appearances for Ecuador, has admired Paez’s technical skills and overall football intelligence. He believes the young player could eventually surpass established superstars like Neymar and Messi, provided he and his team make the right decisions. Speaking to French publication L’Équipe, Tenorio stated:
“He has everything to be better than Leo Messi, better than Neymar, but it depends on him and his entourage. This is the first time I’ve seen a player with these features. I think he has everything to become one of the most important players in world football.”
Paez has already made 18 appearances for the Ecuador national team, scoring twice and assisting three times. Before joining Chelsea, he played 70 matches for Independiente del Valle, where he contributed 13 goals and six assists.
His playing style, especially his powerful left foot, has drawn comparisons to Messi. The versatile attacker can operate on both wings or as a number ten, demonstrating creativity and flair that have captured significant attention.
Perspective on Comparing Young Talents to Legends
While the buzz around Paez’s potential grows, former England defender Glen Johnson has cautioned fans against rushing to compare other young prospects to Lionel Messi, emphasizing patience. Johnson referred specifically to Chelsea’s Brazilian teen Estevao Willian, highlighting the pressure such comparisons might impose.
“I haven’t seen a lot of Estêvão at Palmeiras but from what I have seen he’s clearly very technical. In Chelsea’s Club World Cup win against Palmeiras, he scored and you clearly see that he’s got a good footballing brain. He’s still extremely young though, only 18, so for people to be comparing him to Lionel Messi at this stage of his career is obviously madness.”
“People are even naming him ‘Little Messi’ – which is slightly getting ahead of themselves. To me, he looks like a fantastic young player with a bright future, but I don’t think anyone has seen enough of him to start putting him in the same bracket as all-time greats. People need to step back and let him do the talking on the pitch and develop his career.”
Estevao Willian, who joined Chelsea fully this summer after turning 18, is regarded as a highly skilled talent, yet Johnson insists that comparisons to icons like Messi remain premature.
Implications for Chelsea and Football’s Next Generation
Kendry Paez’s progress will be closely watched by Chelsea, their partnership club Strasbourg, and football enthusiasts worldwide. His loan spell offers valuable game time to refine his abilities in a European league setting while under the guidance of experienced coaches. If Paez fulfills the expectations set by his immense talent and Tenorio’s confidence, he could become a transformative figure in football’s future.
This endorsement highlights both the pressure and possibility young stars face as they attempt to live up to early hype. How Paez navigates his formative years on and off the pitch will be crucial to whether he ultimately surpasses legends like Messi and Neymar, who have shaped modern football globally.