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Two of the greatest players to have played the game, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated football for some time now.
However, with both forwards now in their 30s, a dropoff can be expected. While both Messi and Ronaldo continue to put up world-class numbers and are stars for their respective clubs and countries, there is a feeling that a few top players are now catching up.
Messi will surely shine for his new club, Paris Saint-Germain, while the same can be said about Juventus' Ronaldo. Having said that, we look at 5 players who could have better individual seasons than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
#5 Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Mohamed Salah has been sensational since joining Liverpool in 2017 and is one of the best players in the world right now.
The Egypt international joined Liverpool from Roma for nearly £38 million and has been world-class for Jurgen Klopp's side. In 204 appearances in all competitions, Salah has scored 126 goals and provided 49 assists, and has won the Premier League Golden Boot twice.
The 29-year-old has enjoyed a good start to the Premier League season. In Liverpool's first game against Norwich City, Salah registered a goal and two assists, as Liverpool won the game 3-0.
#4 Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain)
It remains to be seen how long Kylian Mbappe will remain a Paris Saint-Germain player, with the player reportedly unhappy with the arrival of Lionel Messi.
Mbappe is arguably the best young footballer right now and one of the best players in the world. The 22-year-old is already a superstar of the game and has achieved a lot in the sport despite his young age. Mbappe joined Paris Saint-Germain permanently in 2018 for a fee of £130.5 million and has made 173 appearances in all competitions, scoring 133 goals and providing 63 assists.
The France international will form a fearsome attacking trident for Paris Saint-Germain alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar this season. However, Mbappe's contract expires next summer, and there have been no signs that he wants to sign a new deal. Real Madrid have been heavily linked with his signature and could well snap him up in the weeks ahead.
Also Read: "Cristiano Ronaldo would be dying to be here" - Paris Saint-Germain attacker fuels transfer rumors
#3 Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund)
Erling Braut Haaland is the best young striker in world football and has had an explosive start to the new season.
Haaland has been Borussia Dortmund's star since joining the club in January 2020 from Red Bull Salzburg. The Norway international's prolific goalscoring record speaks for itself, and many regard Haaland as a better player than the previously mentioned Kylian Mbappe.
The 21-year-old, who has made 61 appearances in all competitions for the Bundesliga giants, scored a brace and assisted three goals against Eintracht Frankfurt in Borussia Dortmund's first league game of the season.
#2 Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain)
Neymar will be overjoyed to see Lionel Messi sign for Paris Saint-Germain, as the attacker enjoys an excellent relationship with the former Barcelona forward.
The Brazil international is one of the best in the world, a prodigious talent who was always destined for the very top. Neymar is one of the most famous footballers in the world, and the arrival of Messi could see him reach incredible levels for Paris Saint-Germain this season.
The 29-year-old, who recently signed a new deal with Paris Saint-Germain, helped his club reach the finals of the Champions League in 2020, but the aim will be to win Europe's premier club competition this time around. Neymar will be crucial if PSG are to do so.
#1 Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
The one player who has matched Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's levels in recent seasons is Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski.
One of the best strikers to have played the game, Lewandowski has been world-class for Bayern Munich for some time now. A highly-rated talent during his Borussia Dortmund days, the Poland international has reached new levels with the Bavarian giants.
Lewandowski was the best player in the world in 2020 when Bayern Munich won the treble. The 32-year-old is getting better with age and Bayern Munich have little to worry about as far as their no.9 situation is concerned.
Also Read: 5 individual awards Lionel Messi could win this season
