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Whenever we think of football, we think of certain names. More often than not, we think of two players who have graced the game for over a decade -- Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. However, when we turn to our elders who have been following football even before we did, they talk about different players. Pele and Garrincha are a duo that people, who used to follow Brazil, will usually name. Others would turn to Maradona and Cruyff.
Simply speaking, there would always be a duo who people would have at the tip of their tongue. When you say football, they would simply name the duo. There have been many great duos that we have witnessed in this generation itself. Xavi and Iniesta are one such duo. Zidane and Makelele are another. However, both are midfield duos not forwards.
When we speak of forwards, we mostly would name, Henry-Bergkamp, Robben-Van Persie, and above everyone and everything else, Messi-Ronaldo. But what will the next generation speak of? Kids, who are about 10 years old, would probably witness Ronaldo for another two years and Messi for another four years. What happens next?
Thus we will have a look at five forward duos who could form a big rivalry in the future.
#5 Gabriel Jesus and Marcus Rashford
Both Jesus and Rashford play in the same league and better still, they play for two arch-rivals from the same city. The Manchester Derby has seen some world-class strikers play for both teams. Robin Van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Sergio Aguero, all are among some of the best forwards to take the pitch when it is derby day.
With time, the day won't be long when Gabriel Jesus and Marcus Rashford are the spearheads in the attack for both sides. The playing positions of both players are also almost identical. They can play on either side of the wing and also in the middle as center-forward. In a total of 29 games in all competitions, Jesus has scored 15 goals and got 2 assists. Rashford has played in 28 games, scored 9 and assisted 6.
Their playing style depends on chance creation as well as conversion. While Rashford is really good when it comes to taking opponents on and dribbling, Jesus, although not a better dribbler, has better control of the ball. (Bad control per game: 2.6 for Rashford, 1.2 for Jesus via whoscored.com)
The United-City rivalry will remain for all eternity and maybe the Rashford-Jesus rivalry will be the one that defines it for the next decade and a half. It is taking shape. Think back to Ronaldo Nazario and Michael Owen, two great strikers from Brazil and England.
Also see : Fantasy Premier League , Fantasy Premier League Tips, Arsenal Transfer News
#4 Kasper Dolberg and Nicolas Pepe
Hopefully, many of you would be knowing them both. If you don't, then you need to switch tabs and watch some of their highlights. Dolberg is a great multidimensional striker who plays for Ajax. For the minimum amount of time that he has featured for Ajax, he has shown some good glimpses of turning into a future Benzema or Suarez.
He likes to do layoffs and is a big threat on the counter. His threat on the counter-attack is due to his immense pace and great first touch and turn. Still only 21, Dolberg has every ability to turn into a good #9 like Ajax have produced in the past. That is why he is on Barcelona's radar to act as a long term replacement for another former Ajax striker, Luis Suarez.
Nicolas Pepe is not only a big potential but he is also a lethal weapon for Lille. In 23 appearances he has got himself 13 goals and 10 assists. Pepe possesses great positional ability and moves really well. He has great dribbling skills, coupled with close-control and pace. Whether it is off the ball or on it, he is skilled and tireless. He can create chances as well as score from them.
While Dolberg has a piston right-foot that he can unleash from range, Pepe can surely improve on his right foot. Right now, Pepe is the more wanted man in the market. Whether both Pepe and Dolberg would end up in the same league is questionable. While Dolberg is more sort of leaning towards Barcelona and Madrid, Nicolas Pepe is EPL-bound in the future. But that's how Messi and Ronaldo started, right? Also, the age gap is the same. Who knows?
Note: Some insights into Dolberg and Pepe are linked here.
#3 Luka Jovic and Krzysztof Piatek
They are two of the biggest goalscorers this season and surprisingly both have led the goalscoring charts in their respective leagues. Starting with Piatek, while playing for Genoa in 19 league games, he scored 13 goals. He is still ahead of Icardi, Mertens, Immobile, and Mandzukic in terms of scoring. He is only two goals behind Ronaldo and while at Genoa had lesser minutes per goal than him. (121mins/goal for CR7, 124 for Piatek after his Milan debut)
Luka Jovic, not far away from Italy, in Germany, has set the Bundesliga on fire. He is the top-scorer currently in Germany, outscoring the likes of Robben, Mario Gomez, Lewandowski etc. The 21-year-old has got 13 goals and 3 assists in 17 games for Eintracht Frankfurt. Now if at such a young age they are outscoring proven goalscorers, then just imagine when they are at their peak.
Jovic is a goal-machine who looks for direct passages to the goal without any fuss. He is gifted with dribbling ability and pace to help him do the same. Without possession, he stays positioned to receive the ball and finish with one touch, away from the ball where the defenders pay attention.
Piatek, without assists, might be seen as a poacher while he isn't. He does drop down to attacking midfield to receive passes and create space for his teammates. He is a proven finisher with boot feet and head. Being tall and sturdy, he takes complete advantage of his heading ability to get ahead of defenders.
Two great goalscorers, two great young talents, maybe just maybe, one epic goalscoring fest for a decade or more.
#2 Vinicius Junior and Jadon Sancho
Now, how about these two. They are not scorers or goal machines but they can sure play. Vinicius Junior joined Real Madrid in the summer for about €45 million. When he was bought, many questioned about the credibility of a youngster who had just shown potential in Brazil. But now, with no Ronaldo, and Mariano, Bale and Asensio injured, who does Madrid trust to start in the wing? Vinicius it is.
So what is special about him? The same that all youngsters possess more often than not -- gifted with pace and dribbling ability. But he is more than just yet another youngster who can run like mad. Back in Brazil, he was an audacious show-off finisher rather than just getting the job done. Right now his only problem is his average passing and also poor finishing.
Jadon Sancho. The 18-year-old has been an integral part of Lucien Favre's Dortmund side. He blisters with pace in the wing and has already got 6 goals and 9 assists in 19 appearances. He relies on a technicality to dribble past defenders rather than just pace. He loves to leave them behind rather than having them biting on his tail. In tight spaces and packed defenses, his through balls, close control and ability to dribble come in handy.
Both players are of the same age, both are capable of playing on the wings, both are good dribblers. Why can't this turn into a big rivalry much like Neymar-Hazard right now? Dortmund won't be looking to sell their wonderkid anytime soon but clubs will come calling. Vinicius is surely Madrid's future in the wings and Sancho can surely make it big at Dortmund or move to EPL. Bring it on lads.
#1 Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele
They are two people from the same country and they play in the same position. Ousmane and Kylian are two of the biggest gifts that France has in their possession. While Mbappe set Russia alight in the World Cup, Dembele has improved immensely from last season in LaLiga. Both are World Cup winners at such a young age.
Mbappe's marauding runs through the wings are dangerous in starting a counter. Dembele doesn't necessarily need a distorted defense to unleash his pace, he does it instantaneously. Mbappe is just a great finisher as well, so is Ousmane. He can shoot well with both legs and could be Barcelona's most improved player this season. Both players can keep possession with them and score stunning goals.
Dembele has already scored some important and memorable ones for Barcelona this season, including his classic Dembouz fade against Spurs. In just 15 games, Mbappe has got 18 goals and 6 assists. Dembele has 8 goals and 3 assists in 19 league games. When it comes to goalscoring, Mbappe is better. When it comes to creating chances and dribbling Dembele is better. Both have blistering pace.
If we look at pace, dribbling, and scoring, both are like Messi and Ronaldo. Both the legends are good goalscorers but Messi is a much better dribbler and creator. Both almost possess the same amount of pace. If Mbappe ends up at Madrid, which he probably would, then this will be one to watch. The Ousmane-Kylian era is next.
