Ibrahim Maza’s growing profile now comes with two notable markers: a point from Lionel Messi in the Ballon d’Or youth vote and a public mention of Arsenal among the clubs he’d dream of representing. For the Bayer Leverkusen midfielder, those are signs of rising attention, while his immediate task is to keep producing on the pitch.
Maza joined Leverkusen from Hertha BSC last summer in a €12 million deal. He has since recorded nine goals and 10 assists in 56 appearances. Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly contacted his representatives and are tracking his situation, putting the young player on the radar of one of Europe’s leading clubs.
Messi’s vote adds to Maza’s profile
Maza placed ninth among the world’s top young talents at the Ballon d’Or gala. Messi supplied the single point he received in the voting, a recognition Maza said had given him extra motivation.
“Being chosen by Messi is a great honor for me. It’s something truly special. It provides a huge extra boost of motivation,” he told Sky Germany.
That endorsement may sharpen interest from clubs already monitoring him. PSG have been linked with a move, but Maza’s comments make clear that Paris isn’t the only destination he finds appealing.
Arsenal makes his list
Arsenal has not been linked with Maza, but he named the club alongside Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Barcelona as a side he’d aspire to join. His remarks describe a personal ambition, not evidence of talks with the north London club.
“It would, of course, be a huge dream to play for such a big club,” he said of PSG. “I think we all know what a massive club Paris is—it’s one of the best in the world, right alongside the likes of Real, Barça, and Arsenal. Playing for a club like that—that’s something not just I, but many footballers, are working toward.”
Wirtz comparisons don’t faze him
Maza is also being compared with Florian Wirtz, the Liverpool player whose qualities he says he’s pleased to be associated with. The comparison adds another reference point for a player still building his record at Leverkusen.
“I see that as a positive, absolutely,” he said. “It’s great that, as most people say, I have some of the same qualities as Flo Wirtz. And yes, it’s a wonderful thing to be compared to a world-class player like Flo—to have people say, ‘He’s got a bit of him in his game.’”
For now, the clearest indicators of Maza’s next steps are his performances and the reported interest from PSG. Arsenal remains an ambition he has voiced; whether that interest ever becomes concrete will depend on how his Leverkusen career develops.
