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Barcelona talisman, Lionel Messi, and his Juventus rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, are undoubtedly two of the finest superstars the football world has seen - with the duo having established themselves on top of the game ever since they broke out in 2007, sharing every Ballon d'Or award between themselves ever since then - only to be beaten to the accolade by Real Madrid maestro, Luka Modric, this year.
After a successful year at both club and international level, the Croatian playmaker made history by becoming the first player other than Messi and Ronaldo to claim the coveted award in 11 years - drawing a lot of praises from supporters, and prompting many to hail his efforts for breaking the long-standing duopoly.
Some have gone even further to suggest that the Messi and Ronaldo era of dominance on top of the game is finally over.
However, in-depth analyses and observations reveal that these fantastic superstars are not done yet. As a matter of fact, it is almost certain that Messi and Ronaldo will resume their duopoly on top of the game, and below are 5 reasons to believe so.
#5 Their determination to remain on top
Looking at Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the major reasons why these two fantastic footballers can never be written off at any point of their respective careers is the determination they share to remain on top of the world for as long as they play the beautiful game.
We are talking about two of the greatest players in history who have conquered the football world over and over again, breaking records upon records, winning countless trophies, and securing their places among the all-time greats - yet, these amazing superstars still want more.
Cristiano Ronaldo's decision to join Juventus at 33 instead of securing a big-money move to China is a huge proof of his intention to keep fighting, while Lionel Messi's explosive start to the campaign especially in the Champions League, after promising Barcelona fans that he would do everything to win the European trophy this term suggests the same.
With this kind of determination, there is no way they will not remain on top of the game for some more years.
#4 Superior talents
When it comes to recognising the most talented footballers on the planet at the moment, there is no doubt Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo belong in a class that is quite superior to that of other footballers - their exploits on the pitch surely does the talking.
No one is more efficient in front of goal, no player can decide the fate of big games, and not even one superstar in the football world can handle the pressure of leading his team to victory every week as efficiently as this fantastic duo.
Therefore, it would be a huge mistake to write-off Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo just yet, as the duo still possess the superior talent and unbeatable efficiency with which they can still rule the football world for some more years.
#3 Amazing consistency
In football, It is one thing for a player to hit an incredible height during a particular season, but it is an entirely different one for such a superstar to maintain such a decent level for a very long period of time.
When predicting the footballers who could rule the game anytime in the future, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are still the safest options to bank on. This is because they have been the most consistent performers in the game for a very long time, and they are not just slowing down yet.
Other players have risen to challenge their dominance this year - agreed, just as several players did in the past. But only Messi and Ronaldo can maintain their stand on top of the game for over 10 years and with such unmatchable consistency, they should be able to resist any competition, and re-establish themselves ahead once more.
#2 Age is just a number
Cristiano Ronaldo will turn 34 in February next year, while Lionel Messi will hit 32 in June - they are ageing. This is one factor which limits every athlete, but to these amazing aliens, it has only been a blessing in disguise.
Everyone was expecting them to decline as they moved into their thirties, but instead, they have only become more mature, adjusting their games to suit their ages, and moving from strength to strength.
Cristiano Ronaldo has turned himself from a flashy winger into a goal scoring machine, while Lionel Messi has thrived off dropping deep into midfield, orchestrating team play, before launching fierce attacks. With these changes, they look set to maintain their levels for some more years.
When even age cannot stop them, what can? Maybe retirement.
#1 The World Cup doesn't come every year
All talks of ending the Messi and Ronaldo duopoly gained momentum after both superstars failed to reach the heights expected of them with their respective national teams during the recently concluded FIFA World Cup tournament in Russia, affording other players the opportunity to make their marks at the tournament.
Eventually, Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric succeeded in beating the duo to a couple of major honours, including the Ballon d'Or, but even though he has had a fantastic year and deserves the accolades, he still does not belong in the same class as the duo.
If not for the World Cup, either of Messi and Ronaldo would have won the Ballon d'Or award this year - having both scored over 40 goals and leading their respective clubs to win major trophies during the term, but their failure in the prestigious tournament was there to haunt them once again.
However, since the World Cup doesn't come every year, the duo still have a massive opportunity to exert their dominance on top of the football world, and it begins with 2019.
