So Far There Has been No New Star Who Can Replace Messi and Ronaldo

 By  Akhmad Zamroni

The young star who is the future successor of Messi and Ronaldo (Source: thefamouspeople.com, metrouk2.files.wordpress.com, thesun.co.uk, beritagol88.com, cdn.calciomercato.com, static.foba1.com, http i3.irishmirror.ie).

Over the last 12 years (2008-2020), it seems as if the world football arena belongs to only two players: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. During that time, the best awards at European and world level were only won by the two of them. The records for scoring goals in the domestic league (La Liga) and the Champions League as well as the record that led their respective clubs (Barcelona and Real Madrid) to win the domestic league and the Champions League are held by both of them.

They also dominated the Ballon d'Or award from FIFA and France Football as the world's best player. Over the last nine years, the most prestigious awards and individual titles for a footballer have only alternated from Messi to Ronaldo without other players being able to touch him. A total of six Ballon d'Or awards fell to Messi, namely in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2019, while the other five were won by Ronaldo, namely for 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.

With their individual skills and ability to score goals that are high and above other players, Messi and Ronaldo have indeed become superstars in European and world football for the past decade. With his special abilities, practically no other player can match their performance. In the midst of the inability of other players to provide rivalry, only the two of them compete with each other to score goals, win matches and win prestigious titles and awards in Spain, Europe and the world.

However, as time goes by and they get older, Messi and Ronaldo will one day decline until they will be replaced by the young stars who appear later. In less than five years, Messi (who is currently 33 years old) and Ronaldo (35 years old) will most likely hang up (retire) or, if they are still active on the gridiron, their game will almost certainly decline so much that their stardom. will fade. When that is when new stars will appear to replace them.

Who are the new players who will replace the stars of Messi and Ronaldo? So far, there are no new stars who really stand out in their teens, as happened to Messi and Ronaldo. In the early 2000s, when European and world football was dominated by big stars such as Ronaldo (Brazil), Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Raul Gonzales, and Luis Figo, Lionel Messi and Ronaldo who were still in their teens. already showed his immense and astonishing talent. Both of them have not been able to compete closely and consistently with their seniors, but occasionally Messi and Ronaldo are able to appear brilliantly and score brilliant goals that determine the victory of their team.

In his teens Messi has entered the Barcelona main team with Ronaldinho even though he is still a reserve player. Barcelona's main star at the time was Ronaldinho, but occasionally Messi grabbed the public's attention by scoring a brilliant goal that decided El Barca's victory. Likewise with Ronaldo, who in the early 2000s played at Manchester United. In his teens he has been quite prominent in the MU first team by occasionally - like Messi - making spectacular goals.

Both Messi and Ronaldo have been able to show a dazzling game in their teens. Together with their respective teams, before the age of 20 years, they were able to play well with high technique. Meanwhile, their astonishing skill in scoring goals led them to enter the first team even though at first they were only a substitute (reserve). They have not been able to become a World Cup star in their teens like Pele, but they have been able to become a club star in the midst of very tough competition.

By the time they were not yet 20 years old, it became clear that they would be capable successors to their senior stars. It was later proven that Messi and Ronaldo became big stars for their respective clubs. With great confidence, they are also more than capable of continuing the astrology of their seniors. At Barcelona, ​​Messi became an equal successor to Cruyff, Maradona, Romario, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Luis Figo, Saviola, Kluivert, and so on. As for Manchester United and Real Madrid, Ronaldo was able to become an equal successor to Bobby Charlton, George Best, Denis Law, Mark Hughes, Cantona, Nistelrooy, Beckham, Ryan Gyggs, Scholes, Solskjaer, Alfredo di Stefano, Ferenc Puskas, Butragueno, Michel. , Sanchez, Zamorano, Redondo, Raul Gonzales, Zidane, and so on.

Are there any talented young players who are capable of playing prominently in their teens at the level of the European elite leagues as shown by Messi and Ronaldo in their youth? Apparently there isn't. Several players' names were mentioned as potential successors to Messi and Ronaldo. However, their current game looks still not as good as Messi and Ronaldo when they were both their age.

Neymar, who currently plays for Paris Saint Germain (France), is the name that is considered the most favorite to replace Messi and Ronaldo. However, at a relatively mature age (28 years), Neymar still has not been able to surpass Messi and Ronaldo even though in the selection of the winner of the Ballon d'Or in 2015 and 2016, he was competing with both of them. If only currently Neymar is under 22 years old, his chances of replacing Messi and Ronaldo are still wide open.

For the next one or two years, Neymar is likely to remain under the shadow of Messi and Ronaldo. However, he still has about two to four years to replace Messi and Ronaldo. Two-three years from now, when Messi is 35/36 years old and Ronaldo is 36/37 years old, and both have experienced a pretty drastic decline in ability, Neymar, who at that time will be 30/31 years old, could replace Messi and Ronaldo if he can play consistently and is able to maintain individual skills and physical condition. However, by becoming the best player and star at the age of 30/31, Neymar's stardom will certainly not be as long as Messi and Ronaldo.

A number of other names are also thought to be the successors of Messi and Ronaldo. Ada Isco (28 years, Real Madrid), Paul Pogba (27 years, Manchester United), Paulo Dybala (26 years, Juventus), Dele Alli (24 years, Tottenham Hotspur), Leroy Sane (24 years, Bayern München), Ousmane Dembele (23 years, Barcelona), Gabriel Jesus (23 years, Manchester City), Marcus Rashford (22 years, Manchester United), and Kylian Mbappe (21 years, Paris Saint-Germain). According to a number of media and observers, these names are quite talented, productive and have good prospects to replace and continue Messi and Ronaldo.

However, again the names need to be compared with Messi and Ronaldo when they were both playing their age. Their current play, productivity and contribution to their respective clubs do not appear to be as good and consistent as the former Messi and Ronaldo showed. Maybe it is true, they are potential and often play well, but so far the echo and impact of their game is still below Neymar and still far below Messi and Ronaldo.

To align themselves with Neymar and especially with Messi and Ronaldo, they have to work very hard. If their talents are sufficient, hard work and consistency in developing that talent can pay off great results: some of them can become the heirs to Messi and Ronaldo. Regarding whether this will happen or not, we will wait in the next two to three years.

However, after all, as football lovers, we certainly hope that in the not too distant future there will be new stars who will continue the game and starry Messi and Ronaldo. Whoever he is or they (Neymar, Pogba, Dybala, Mbappe, Dembele or others) doesn't matter; the important thing is that new stars emerge with abilities equal to or perhaps even surpassing Messi and Ronaldo. Naturally or cultivated scientifically and systematically, it must be realized so that football remains a sport that has appeal.