Claudio Echeverri Receives Mysterious Eight-Word Message from Lionel Messi After Club World Cup Heroics – Guardiola Reference Stuns Fans

Manchester City’s rising Argentine star, Claudio Echeverri, has become the talk of the football world after a stunning performance at the FIFA Club World Cup – but it wasn’t just his dazzling skills that grabbed headlines. Following City’s triumph, Echeverri reportedly received a cryptic eight-word message from none other than Lionel Messi, and the advice – which directly referenced City boss Pep Guardiola – has left fans and media outlets in shock.

The teenage playmaker, often dubbed “El Diablito” in Argentina for his fearless style and creativity, has been slowly making his way into Pep Guardiola’s plans at City. However, his breakout performance at the Club World Cup, where he notched a goal and two assists in the semifinal, cemented his status as one of world football’s brightest prospects.

Shortly after the final whistle, Echeverri took to social media to share a cryptic screenshot of a direct message from Lionel Messi. The message, written in Spanish, contained just eight words:
“Confía siempre, pero escucha a Pep cada día.”
(Translated: “Always trust, but listen to Pep every day.”)

While brief, the message has set social media ablaze, with fans and pundits dissecting its meaning. Was Messi encouraging Echeverri to fully buy into Guardiola’s philosophy? Was he hinting at a deeper connection between the young Argentine and his legendary former coach at Barcelona? Or could it even suggest that Messi sees Guardiola as the key to unlocking Echeverri’s full potential?

Fans flooded X (formerly Twitter) with reactions:

• “Messi mentoring Echeverri? This kid is destined for greatness.”

• “Those eight words from Leo might define his career.”

• “Messi basically telling him: Trust yourself, but Pep is the master.”

Guardiola, when asked about the message in his post-match press conference, offered a wry smile and a cryptic response of his own: “Leo knows what he’s talking about. Claudio has everything, but talent is only the first step. The rest is learning, every single day.”

The moment has only fueled speculation about the relationship between Messi and Echeverri. Though the two have never shared a club, Messi is said to have been aware of Echeverri’s potential for years, reportedly recommending him to scouts and even mentioning him in conversations with Argentine national team staff.

Echeverri, for his part, seemed humbled by the interaction. Speaking to TyC Sports, the 18-year-old said: “For Messi to send me something like that is unbelievable. He’s someone I’ve looked up to my whole life. I’ll keep those words in mind every time I step onto the pitch.”

The buzz surrounding Echeverri continues to grow, with some City fans already comparing him to Phil Foden and David Silva for his technical brilliance and vision. However, Guardiola is expected to carefully manage his minutes, emphasizing development over instant stardom.

As for Messi, this isn’t the first time he’s reached out to offer guidance to a younger Argentine talent. In the past, players like Julián Álvarez and Enzo Fernández have spoken about receiving private words of encouragement from the Inter Miami star – a testament to Messi’s growing role as a mentor figure for the next generation of Albiceleste stars.

With City eyeing more trophies this season and Echeverri poised for a bigger role, all eyes will be on how he responds to Messi’s eight-word message. If he truly “listens to Pep every day” while maintaining his fearless style, Manchester City may have uncovered their next global superstar.