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Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi has to be one of the biggest individual battle in the World of Sports. It can be discussed on par with Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal or Niki Lauda vs James Hunt. The battle between these two players who have shared the last six Ballon d’Or awards could go on for a few more years and then it will be up to someone else to take up the mantle. Before Messi came to the scene the battle was between Ronaldo and Kaka, but Messi-Ronaldo rivalry has surpassed that level a long time ago. So here are 5 rivalries that could take center stage in the coming years.
#5 Raheem Sterling vs Adnan Januzaj
The comparison between two teenagers playing for two of the biggest rivals in English football has to be interesting.
Fans of the clubs have already started comparing the two prodigies. Sterling made his first team debut for Liverpool at the age of 17. He became a first team regular in the 2011-12 season, but he gradually faded out towards the end of the season. He was on the bench for the initial half of last season, but injuries to some first team players saw him return to the starting 11 from December 2013. From that point onwards the youngster has impressed so much that he was nominated for the PFA Young player of the year award. Sterling has started the current season brightly with 2 goals and an assist.
Januzaj made his first team debut last season. On his first start for the club he scored two goals as United made a comeback to win the game 2-1. He was also nominated for BBC Young Sports Personality of the year in December 2013.
Both these players were part of their national teams that travelled to Brazil for the World Cup. Sterling made his international debut at the age of 17, while Januzaj had to wait till he was 19.
#4 Paul Pogba vs Mario Gotze
Pogba and Gotze are both winners of the Golden Ball award given for the best young player in Europe. Pogba received the award in 2013 and Gotze in 2011. Gotze is just 22 years old while Pogba is 21. The German plays a more advanced midfield role compared to the Frenchman.
Although Pogba won the award for the best young player at the World Cup, the world will remember the German more because of his goal in the final that won his team the FIFA World Cup.
Pogba has won two league titles and two super cups with Juventus in his first two seasons with the club while Gotze has won three league titles, two league cups a UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup in his career. These are some remarkable achievements for two players in their early twenties.
#3 James Rodriguez vs Eden Hazard
This is the battle of two 23 year olds who have already achieved great things in their career so far. Although the two do not play in the same league, they could face each other in the Champions League in what could be a mouthwatering clash between Real Madrid and Chelsea.
Rodriguez gained a lot of fame recently after winning the golden boot at the FIFA World Cup. Avid football fans of course knew the Colombian before that. James is a 3 time league winner and a Europa League winner with FC Porto. His performances in Portugal saw him move to AS Monaco in France last season and then to Real Madrid this summer after an outstanding World Cup.
James hasn’t had an impact with Real Madrid so far, but he is still in the early days of his career with the Spanish side.
Hazard has been playing first team football from the age of 16. He started his career with Lille in France and helped the club to a league and league cup victory during his stay there. He was voted the best young player in the league twice and also the best player twice in his stay there.
In 2012 after many speculations about his future, he moved to Chelsea. He won the Europa League in his debut season with Chelsea and won the league’s best young player of the year award last season.
The battle between the two could be on, in the coming years.
#2 Sergio Aguero vs Diego Costa
This battle would have been even more interesting if Digeo Costa chose to play for Brazil instead of Spain. Nevertheless Costa and Aguero are two of the most deadly strikers in the World today and both of them play for Premier League sides. They are both very sharp in front of goal.
Costa has announced his arrival in England by banging drums. He has already scored 7 goals in 4 league games. Aguero on the other hand has scored three goals, with two of them within minutes after coming off the bench. He has been City’s main man up front for three seasons now and has helped them two won league titles, his most important goal for them came on the final day of the 2011-12 season when he scored the famous goal that won City the title.
Manchester City and Chelsea are easily the title contenders this season also and hence the battle between the two will get more and more interesting and we don’t have to wait long to see the duel as these two teams play each other next week.
#1 Gareth Bale vs Neymar
Both Bale and Neymar moved to La Liga before the beginning of the 2013-14 season. A comparison between the two started even before they kicked the ball in their new club’s kits when their transfer fees were highlighted. Going deep into that discussion will need another article.
It is obvious that the Welshman had the better debut season in Spain among the two. Bale helped Real Madrid win the UEFA Champions League and the Copa Del Rey by scoring the eventual winner. Overall he scored 22 goals in 44 games in all competitions.
Neymar on the other hand had an injury ridden season which saw him only make 41 appearances and score 15 goals and his team failed to land any major trophy. Neymar though was a key figure for Brazil at the World Cup, but an injury in the quarter final ended his tournament prematurely.
Neymar will always have an advantage when it comes to comparison of performances for their respective national teams as he plays for a much stronger squad while Bale plays for a team who are struggling to qualify for a major international tournament.
Right now when these two face each other in club matches the spotlight is always on Messi and Ronaldo, but it could change in a few years.
