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After Juventus signed Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid at the beginning of the 2018-19 season, a few things became very clear.
First, a very visible hole emerged in the heart of Real Madrid’s attack due to the absence of the Portuguese superstar. Los Blancos are in an embarrassing sixth position in the La Liga right now, with only 20 goals scored compared to league-leaders Barcelona’s 34.
Second, it has become evident that Ronaldo is not getting any younger. The 33-year-old has performed well with a tally of nine goals in 15 games this season, but it is apparent that his career will soon come to an end.
Ronaldo is an unbelievable asset to any club at the moment. However, it can't be denied that he is also an aging legend of the game.
In light of this, what players in the next generation of footballing talent could replace Cristiano Ronaldo as the top dog of world football?
In no particular order, here are three players who could carry forward the legacy of the Portuguese international in the coming years.
#1 Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund
The 18-year-old English winger is currently showcasing his impressive talent in the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund, scoring four goals and obtaining six assists in 11 appearances for the club.
Although Ronaldo tipped Marcus Rashford to become the next dominant English footballer, Sancho has shown his worth in both the under-17 European Championship and during his brief spell in Germany.
Sancho currently wears the number 7 jersey, and is being monitored by Juventus as a long-term replacement for Ronaldo.
#2 Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain
The 19-year-old French wonderkid has been on the radar for some time now with his staggeringly consistent performances for AS Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain and the French national team during the World Cup.
Although everyone knows the story of Mbappe by now, it is worth repeating that the youngster scored 26 goals in his first senior club level season.
The question is: was the seemingly excessive transfer to Paris Saint-Germain worth each and every penny? Only time will tell.
#3 Goncalo Guedes from Valencia
First off, let us just say that the 21-year-old Portuguese winger is also a number 7.
But that's not the only thing he shares in common with Ronaldo. Guedes’ style is very similar to that of the young CR7 during his early years at both Sporting Lisbon and Manchester United.
The young winger has previously attracted attention from the Premier League, yet he chose to move to La Liga where he currently plays for Valencia.
Are Jadon Sancho, Kylian Mbappe or Goncalo Guedes good replacements for the mighty Cristiano Ronaldo? Can these youngsters become the world’s best footballers in the future?
Please feel free to comment your thoughts below.
