'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have been the focal points of world football in the last decade. Both have managed to secure almost every individual award that has been for the taking in the last few years and therefore, are far ahead of the contemporary footballers in terms of popularity and the hype surrounding them.
However, unfortunately, both these players might have just entered the final few years of their career and this has raised doubts regarding how this would affect world football in general. It is likely that the most debated topic in the last decade as to who is better of the two might soon decline and the topic could shift to other footballers.
There have been a number of impressive footballers who rose through the ranks during the prime of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. However, none of them were able to displace Messi and Ronaldo as the best footballers on the planet. It should also be noted that a number of teenage talents are slowly making their way to the top and they have already started showing that they can walk on the same road as Messi and Ronaldo.
On that note, here are 4 player duos who can actually take forward the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry on the football field.
#4 Ousmane Dembele - Vinicius Junior
These two youngsters are probably the only contenders from Barcelona and Real Madrid to carry forward the competitive rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo. While Ousmane Dembele has already started justifying his high price-tag, Vinicius has shown that he has the skills to make it big at Real Madrid in the future.
Ousmane Dembele is definitely a proven player who can be relied upon by his team in the future and with time, Vinicius can also develop into a good footballer so that these two footballers can take the mantle from Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Also See : Durand Cup, Durand Cup Schedule, Calcutta Football League
#3 Jadon Sancho - Joao Felix
After securing a transfer from Manchester City to Borussia Dortmund, English teenager Jadon Sancho has been in exceptional form. The right winger has scored a lot of goals and assisted very often which has helped his side's form in Bundesliga. Sancho also made his senior debut for the England National team recently and with a number of clubs linked with a move for him, Sancho will definitely be the footballer to watch out for in the future.
Joao Felix has been in the news as he became the youngest footballer to score a hattrick in the Europa League recently. The Benfica wonderkid is primarily an attacking midfielder who can also play as a left winger. The Portugal footballer has already shown immense skills as a footballer and there are huge expectations around him to develop into a great footballer.
With a few English clubs linked with both these players, it may not be a surprise if both these teenagers compete like Messi and Ronaldo in the future.
#2 Kylian Mbappe - Marcus Rashford
In just a few years, Kylian Mbappe has achieved a lot on the football field and with the amount of talent he possesses, he could be the face of football in the future. The Frenchman can play on the right wing as well as a striker and with the number of goals he has scored in his short career so far, Mbappe will definitely be a contender for almost every individual award in the future.
Marcus Rashford broke into the scene a few years ago but it has been in this season under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that the English footballer has shown the world what he is capable of. He has been involved in a number of goals and assists this season and also forged a dangerous partnership with Paul Pogba. The 21-year-old's temperament is good and if he can keep a steady head, he can achieve a lot in the future.
These two young footballers definitely have all the right qualities to succeed Messi and Ronaldo in world football.
#1 Neymar - Eden Hazard
Both Neymar and Eden Hazard have already established themselves as important and reliable footballers both for their clubs and their national squads. Both operating on the left flank, Neymar and Hazard are footballers whose talents have already been showcased to the world. They have both lived under the shadow of Messi and Ronaldo and the upcoming few years could be the time for these footballers to be fierce competitors on the world stage.
Although these players are already experienced and may not dominate world football as long as Messi and Ronaldo had dominated, Eden Hazard and Neymar Jr. could well be the immediate successors to the Messi-Ronaldo duo.
Apart from these footballers, there are other talented players such as Mohamed Salah, Gareth Bale, Paulo Dybala and Harry Kane who could also meet the standards set by Ronaldo and Messi in world football.
