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What prompted Messi to sign a new three-year deal with French Ligue 1 minnows Strasbourg
Following his move from Dijon to Strasbourg, youngster Rayane Messi has seen his popularity explode, thanks in part to his skill and promising talent but also the fact that he has a name in common with arguably the greatest football player of all time, Lionel Messi.
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Football fans know everything about Lionel Messi, but there is still so much to learn about Rayane Messi. Here are the five most important facts to know about the Strasbourg youngster.
Who is Rayane Messi?
Rayane Messi Tanfouri, was born on May 23, 2007, and is currently 17 years old. The teenager, who recently signed a three-year contract with Ligue 1 team Strasbourg, is already making waves as a talented left winger known for his strength, speed, and excellent one-on-one dribbling skills.
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Being 175cm in height, Rayane Messi is only slightly taller than Lionel Messi (170cm) and like the Argentine legend, his low centre of gravity helps his explosiveness and change in direction in an instant, making him a nightmare for defenders.
Is Rayane Messi related to Lionel Messi?
Though he shares a last name with the iconic Lionel Messi, Rayane Messi has no familial connection to the Argentine superstar. Rayane hails from Sevres, Hauts-de-Seine, near Paris, while Messi famously hails from Rosario in Argentina.
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Despite the inevitable comparisons, Rayane is not related to Lionel beyond the name they share and their similar style of play.
Rayane Messi’s international prospects
Rayane Messi was born in France to a Cameroonian-Sudanese father and a Tunisian mother, so he could represent any one of four countries, but he appears to have settled on playing for the country of his birth.
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The Strasbourg youngster has already made an impact on the international stage, representing France at two youth levels.
He has played for the under-16 and under-17 national teams, and in March 2024, he scored twice to help France's U17 team defeat England 2-1, securing their spot in the Euro U17 final tournament.
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He looks set for a lengthy career with Les Bleus, and his talent suggests that he could become a key player for the France senior team in the future.
Rayane Messi’s career so far
Rayane Messi's football journey began in 2015 at FC Chaville, a local club where his skills and explosive pace quickly attracted attention, allowing him to move to FC Versailles and later in 2020 join the esteemed Clairefontaine academy which has birthed other French icons like Thierry Henry, Kylian Mbappe, Blaise Matuidi, and Nicolas Anelka.
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Following a successful spell at the academy, he signed with Dijon's youth set-up in 2022 and worked his way up to the first team, playing four matches in the last Championnat National campaign.
He made his senior debut for Dijon in May 2024 against US Orleans, becoming the club's youngest player and goalscorer after grabbing the winner in a 1-0 victory.
After the conclusion of the 2023/24 season, Rayane Messi moved to Strasbourg for €1.5 million, signing a contract to keep him at the BlueCo-affiliated club until 2027 at least.
Rayane Messi’s current salary and net worth
During his time with Dijon's youth team, Rayane Messi reportedly earned up to €8,445 annually. However, his recent move to Strasbourg on a three-year deal is expected to have significantly increased his salary, although the exact amount remains undisclosed.
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Given that until recently he was only a youth player, his current net worth is also currently unknown.
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