The world is tired of comparing Leonel Messi and Cristano Ronaldo.... and who is actually the World's best footballer of our time. It is no longer drawing such attention when Sport Marketers use such comparison to promote games like El Classico.
Their reign seems to be taking too long, even though age is still on their side. Ballon d'Or Award for world's footballer of the year have been shared between Messi and Ronaldo for the last nine years running. Football promoters and marketers seems to desire that a new player interrupt the reign and bring fresh hypes that will move fans and the entire consumers of the sport.
We are looking at players that has the ability to disrrupt the continued reign of these two super stars... if they could up their games. And we came up with this list of 10 players:
1. Antoine Griezmann (France) ATLETICO Madrid: Having finished third place at 2016 Ballon d'Or Award. Griezmann just needed one step forward to upset Messi and Ronaldo. Griezmann, 26 years old may have just a few more years to achieve this. Not much to it as an individual player as the 2016/17 season draw to a close; but Griezmann again has shot Atletico to UEFA Champions league Semi finals for the third time running.
2. Paulo Bruno Dybala (Argentina)Juventus: Helped Juventus win the league title, the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana during his first season with the club. Due to his creative style of play, pace, talent, technique and eye for goal, he has been nicknamed "La Joya" ("The Jewel" in Spanish). Was pointed to make Ballon d'Or final norminations this year aftet his splendid performance in ousting Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League quarter finals. Dybala, 23 years is still maturing... and may be on top of the game in the next few years.
3. Eden Micheal Hazard (Belgium) Chelsea: arguably the best player in the Premier League today. He primarily plays as an attacking midfielder and as a wide midfielder. Hazard's creativity, speed, and technical ability are widely acknowledged.... He has been described as "a superb passer" and has earned critical acclaim for his playing style, which has led to the media, coaches, and players drawing comparisons to Ballon d'Or winners Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Hazard 26 years, may have to up his game further to be in the class or probably disrrupt Messi and Ronaldo in coming 2017/18 season.
4. Neymar da Sliva Santos Junior (Brazil) Barcelona: Having won the Golden Ball in 2013, Neymar is one player that has the class and heart to upset Messi and Ronaldo as the world best in the following years. Known for his dribbling, finishing, and ability with both feet, Neymar has earned comparisons to former Brazil and Santos forward Pelé. Off the pitch, he ranks among the world's most prominent sportsmen; SportsPro named him the most marketable athlete in the world in 2012 and 2013, and ESPN cited him as the world's fourth-most famous athlete in 2016. Neymar has what it takes.
5. N'Golo Kante (France) Chelsea: Having spearheaded Liecster City Fairy tale from the heart of the central midfield, Kante moved over to show class at Chelsea leading the Blues to win the League again and the FA finals. Kante 26, is cited as being the world's best in the Central Midfield position and commonly regarded as the 'new' Claude Makélélé. Won PFA player of the year award 2016/17 Season... and he is sure to be norminated for Ballon d'Or 2017.
6. Philippe Coutinho Correia (Brazil) Liverpool: Gradually maturing in the sport. Coutinho is capable of taking the world by storm in the following years. He flourished at Anfield; his combination of vision, passing, dribbling and long-range strikes earned him the nickname Little Magician from Liverpool fans and teammates. After he was named in the 2015 PFA Team of the Year, Brazilian legend Pelé tipped him for a "great future." Coutinho, 24 years of age...Look out for this player in the coming years.
7. Paul Pogba (France) Manchester United: Pogba joined Italian side Juventus in 2012, and helped the old ladies to four consecutive Serie A titles, as well as two Coppa Italia and two Supercoppa Italiana titles. During his time with the club, he established himself as one of the most promising young players in the world, and received the Golden Boy award in 2013, followed by the Bravo Award in 2014. And in 2016, Pogba was named to the 2015 UEFA Team of the Year as well as the 2015 FIFA FIFPro World XI, after helping Juventus to the 2015 UEFA Champions League Final. Despite leaving Manchester United on a free transfer, Pogba, 24, returned to the club in 2016 for a world record transfer fee of €105 million (£89.3 million). Pogba has what takes to be the best, especially when he settle at Man- U in the following seasons.
8. Sergio Kun Aguero (Argentina) Manchester City: widely regarded to be one of the best strikers in modern-day football. Agüero moved to Europe to play for La Liga side Atlético Madrid, with Independiente accepting a fee of €23 million. He made a name for himself, attracting attention from Europe's top clubs by scoring 101 goals in 234 appearances while winning the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Super Cup in 2010. Agüero moved to Premier League club Manchester City in July 2011 for an undisclosed fee thought to be in the region of £35 million. On the last day of his debut season with the club, Agüero scored a 94th-minute winner against Queens Park Rangers that earned City its first league title in 44 years. Agüero is one player that make all the difference and can truly disrrupt the reign of Messi and Ronaldo.
9. Radamel Falcao (Colombia) Monaco: Best striker! Falcao became the first Colombian to receive the Portuguese Golden Ball award. In August 2011, Falcao transferred to Atlético Madrid for a club record €40 million, leading them to Europa League and Super Cup victories in 2012. Falcao finished as top goalscorer for the second straight year and became the only player in to win consecutive Europa League titles with two different teams. Falcao returned to Monaco in 2016 after Chelsea declined the purchase option, only to become one of Europe's most efficient goal scorers as Monaco continues its successful 2016/17 season, taking Monaco UEFA Champions League Semi Final. Falcao has done enough this year to disrrupt as the Ballon d'Or winner this year.
10. Kylian Mbappe 9France) Monaco or choose your own player...that can disrrupt Messi and Ronaldo reign in the coming years.