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Liverpool Prodigy Rio Ngumoha Shares Spotlight with Lionel Messi in Adidas Campaign

Rising Profile for Rio Ngumoha

Liverpool forward Rio Ngumoha has taken another step into global recognition after appearing alongside Lionel Messi in a new Adidas advert that highlights football’s brightest emerging talents. At just 17, his inclusion places him in esteemed company and underlines the growing belief that Anfield is nurturing one of Europe’s most gifted attackers.

Ngumoha has already forced his way into senior conversations on merit rather than marketing. The teenager signed his first professional contract shortly after his birthday and wasted no time repaying that faith. His dramatic 100th minute winner against Newcastle United in the Premier League earlier this season sent Anfield into delirium and left his manager suitably impressed.

Speaking at full time, Arne Slot said, “He’s a player that can finish really well for his age.

“How firm his shot was, you don’t see this often for a 16-year-old.

“I did hear someone afterwards in the dressing room, I won’t say who, said they would have taken that ball, have a first touch, then finish it off. But he is so confident.

“That’s what I like, because the first ball he got he wasn’t afraid. He immediately took someone on.

“When the second player came, he got across him, and for him to score that goal is not completely a coincidence because for his age he is an amazing finisher.”

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Slot’s Trust Signals Long-Term Plan

Liverpool invested heavily in attacking depth last summer, yet Slot made a deliberate choice not to close off Ngumoha’s pathway. That restraint speaks louder than any fleeting cameo. The Dutchman clearly views him as more than a novelty inclusion, instead positioning him as a future cornerstone of his Liverpool side.

Signed from Chelsea in 2024, Ngumoha has been fast-tracked rather than sheltered. Earlier this year he became the youngest player ever to start an FA Cup tie for Liverpool, stepping into a 4–0 win over Accrington Stanley at just 16 years and 135 days old. His Champions League debut swiftly followed against Atletico Madrid at Anfield.

He may be used predominantly from the bench for now, but his role is no longer symbolic. It is being deliberately cultivated.

Adidas Cast of Emerging Stars

The Adidas campaign pairs Ngumoha and Lionel Messi with a host of rising names from across Europe, including Kendry Paez of Chelsea, Rodrigo Mora of Porto, Mika Godts of Ajax, Nico Paz of Como, Kader Meite of Rennes, Andrey Santos of Chelsea and Brajan Gruda of Brighton. It reflects a shift in branding philosophy, with established icons now sharing screen time with those earmarked to replace them.

Liverpool’s Next Statement Talent

Liverpool support has long embraced academy graduates with fervour, from Steven Gerrard to Trent Alexander-Arnold. Ngumoha is generating that same emotional pull. The difference lies in the speed of his rise and the scale of the platform he is already occupying. When a 17-year-old features alongside Lionel Messi, the message is clear. He is not simply being watched, he is being positioned.

Liverpool know that momentous careers often start quietly. Slot has signposted that there will be no artificial brakes on Ngumoha’s journey. If he keeps matching the standard he has already set, his role will grow naturally. The advert may be global marketing, but the football is already doing the storytelling.

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