Cristiano Ronaldo & Lionel Messi: Who can replace them?

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi dominated the 2010’s but they also have limited, they can’t go like this forever. So who will take their place?

  Kylian Mbappe (Paris St-Germain & France)

Date of birth: 20 December 1998
Position: Forward

Mbappe is just 21, already a World Cup winner with France in Russia in 2018 and quite simply football's greatest young star.

Blessed with blistering pace and a natural goal scorer's eye, it is impossible to see how he can be diverted away from true greatness in the next decade.

He is the natural heir to the crown that will eventually be left behind by Messi and Ronaldo, with all the biggest prizes sure to be in his sights.

Mbappe is currently at Paris St-Germain, spearheading their quest for the elusive Champions League crown.

But his true worth will be demonstrated when he leaves - possibly next summer - for what will surely be a world-record fee, with Real Madrid and Zinedine Zidane at the front of the queue.

Mbappe has to feature top of the list because basically, he's up there already. He's already one of the best players in the world right now, even at his young age.

He delivered at the World Cup in 2018 and has been dominant domestically for PSG in France. If he can perform to the same levels in the latter stages of the Champions League and add the Euros to his list of honors, he will be close to his first Ballon d'Or.

Once Messi and Ronaldo are finished, Mbappe is going to be the one collecting the game's biggest prizes. I don't think he will get as many goals as either of them, because their numbers are just staggering, but he's the best young player I have ever seen. He's the closest thing I have seen to Thierry Henry at his peak. At his age, that is some statement.

Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid & Portugal)

Date of birth: 10 November 1999

Position: Forward

Now 20 years old, Atletico Madrid spent a club-record £113m to sign Joao Felix from Benfica in July. It was the world's third-highest transfer fee, paid for a then-teenager who had played just 43 first-team games.

His start at Atletico was hampered by injury and not being played in his most effective role, but the demanding Atletico manager Diego Simeone has now started to give him more freedom to express himself.

He is on his way to undoubtedly become the offensive trump card for a side who despite their defensive strengths frequently finds it difficult to score. Felix is already being groomed in Portugal as the natural successor to Ronaldo, ending the year by being awarded the prestigious Golden Boy award in Dubai.

A gifted attacker, Atletico fought off fierce competition to secure his signature last summer and under the guidance of Simeone, he can only get better. Like Mbappe, Felix has the talent to decorate the biggest stages for club and country for years to come.

Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund & England)

Date of birth: 25 March 2000
Position: Winger

Jadon Sancho has to be in here because he is doing ridiculous things for Dortmund. I have been watching loads of him and he has just been killing it over there - goals, assists, his confidence through the roof.

What does he need to do next? Well, he is consistent already, doing it every week. You would usually point the finger at scoring more goals with young players like him but he is cool in front of goal and he has got his assists too. His end product is already there.

Maybe in some of the bigger games for Dortmund, he has not quite been able to do it this year and that might be the question mark over him. He's also had a little wobble with his discipline, so he probably needs to tighten up with that side of things, but apart from that, he looks like a special player.

Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool & England)

Date of birth: 7 October 1998Position: Right-back

The attackers provide the glamour, but in 21-year-old Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool has the perfect dual-purpose player who is efficient in defence but devastating in attack, where his trademark delivery from wide positions has been a rich source of goals.

Alexander-Arnold has already won the Champions League with Liverpool and it is only a matter of time before he fully establishes himself as England's first-choice right-back, with the potential to be one of the stars of Euro 2020.

Indeed, such is Alexander-Arnold's range of passing, creation and the ability to get a goal that it would be no surprise if he developed into a world-class midfielder at some point in the future.

Kai Havertz (Bayer Leverkusen & Germany)

Date of birth: 11 June 1999
Position: Midfielder

Havertz is one of those talents they haven't seen for a while in Germany. A special player, excellent between the lines with a high football IQ - he often does the right thing. At the age of 20, he has already played more than 100 games in the Bundesliga and has all types of passes in him.

Leverkusen's tall central midfielder hasn't quite had the end product this season, but for some players, it comes more regularly at a later age - looks for instance at Kevin de Bruyne. Havertz can become one of the best midfield generals in the near future, and a move to a top club beckons, with Bayern Munich sniffing around.

Mason Greenwood (Manchester United & England U21)

Date of birth: 1 October 2001
Position: Forward

It already seems as if he's a little bit different. When exciting young players come on the scene they are usually very raw. Mason is not like that. Already he seems so composed. He's got an eye for goal, he looks fearless and like he's meant for the big time.

When people ask me about the best young players I've seen, I'd always say Wayne Rooney. Those sorts of players are extra special, one in a million.

Greenwood hasn't quite shown himself to be in that class yet, but for his age, he is showing a lot of maturities and I really think he can push on, as long as he keeps his focus.