Dubbed a "footballing genius" by Argentina coach Jose Pekerman, Lionel Messi will be one of the most exciting players on show in Germany. The teenager, who can play as a striker or behind the front two, made his first-team debut for Barcelona less than two years ago, but is already regarded as irreplaceable by both club and country. The diminutive forward picked up the awards for best player and leading goalscorer as Argentina won the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship, before graduating to the senior team. Messi endured a nightmare debut against Hungary when he was sent off just 90 seconds after coming off the bench, but Pekerman has kept faith with the youngster, whose dribbling skills, vision and strength have inevitably seen him compared to Diego Maradona.