Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have combined to win 11 of the last 12 Ballon d’Or honors. They’ve been the unquestioned two best players on the planet but the tide is starting to turn.
Messi will turn 33-years-old this summer and Ronaldo turned 35 last February. They’re both still performing at a high level but Father Time is undefeated and a new candidate has emerged as a contender to take over the title of the world’s best footballer.
In an interview with talkSPORT (via Caught Offside), former Arsenal FC manager Arsene Wenger announced who he believes could step up as Messi and Ronaldo prepare for the next stage of their career.
“These players are now getting to an end—Ronaldo and Messi. It’s now about the next generation and the next generation may be French. At the moment, the leader could be Mbappé.”
At 21-years-old, the Paris Saint-Germain superstar has already won every major title in France as well as the FIFA World Cup with the France national team. This season, he could add a UEFA Champions League title if PSG can continue their run when the competition returns.
In 120 appearances with Les Parisiens, Mbappé has scored 90 goals and recorded 49 assists. He possesses the physical attributes of Ronaldo with the playmaking and finishing ability of Messi. Mbappé is a generational talent that PSG will try desperately to hold onto but the Frenchman may feel he has to move to Spain in order to be considered one of the greats of the game.
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