These two guys have dominated football for a long time. For years now as a football fan you have your favorite player,a player you love watching personally (probably plays in your favorite club) and then support one of either Messi or Ronaldo. Or you could just be Messi fan or a Ronaldo fan. It’s very rare to find fans who appreciate both. But one thing is clear, they have been the two best and most consistent players for a long time. Dominating the Balon d’Or since 2008.

They’ve had challengers to their balon d’Or over the years certainly. Wesley Sneijder had a genuine argument 2010, he had an incredible year winning a treble with Inter as well as reaching the World cup finals, though I personally do not think he stood out as the out and out best player in any of those teams. Robben was also playing really well for Netherlands till he decided to start missing one on ones in the finals, and Diego Milito was having a great season. Also getting past Barcelona on their way to the finals had more to do with Jose Mourinho’s bus than Sneijder’s brilliance, though he had an assist in the game. Also his numbers (14 goals and 10 assists) paled so much in comparison to Messi’s 51 goals and 23 assists.Sneijder ended up not making it to the podium much to then Inter coach Mourinho’s annoyance. Messi’s was clearly head and shoulder’s above everyone else individually that year despite not having a good world cup. Another play maker who had an argument for 2010 was Xavi, who had more of an argument than Sneijder as well as Iniesta (who was injured most of the year), they both won the world cup.

Someone who was brilliant across the entire year, also racking a good amount of goals and assists and was extremly instrumental to their teams success and who should probably have won it was Frank Ribery 2013. Ribery was a key part of Jupp Heynckes’s Bayernmunich who won the treble. He finished the season with 16 goals and 21 assists. Ronaldo ended up winning the balon d or that year, ahead of Messi and Ribery. He racked up a massive 63 goals that year, despite not winning any trophy. Ribery had a good argument that year, because it is not about the number of goals you score, but the importance of those goals, and also your overall contribution in making your team successful. But to be honest, both Ronaldo and Messi, with their level of consistency over the years, and huge marketing power as well as fan base would always win it as far as they finish the year with unbelievable stats. Something similar with both Sneijder and Ribery is that after the incredible year, they both tailed off and have not quite mounted another challenge. This shows the superiority of Messi and Ronaldo. Many fans of the game must be used to the “enjoy them now because when they retire, there won’t be any others like them” sentiment.The same thing must have been said about Pele, Maradona, Zidane, the real/fat Ronaldo etc, and this is where Neymar the young Brazilian comes in.

Neymar has made it to the podium for the 2015 Balon d O’r, with Messi/Ronaldo numbers, he already has over 40 goals this year. The kid is not just about goals. He’s a great dribbler, probably the most skillful player today, also possessing great play making skills . He has proven both in Brazil and with Barcelona his ability to carry a team. He also came 5th in the 2010 Balon d O’r after taking his Santos team all the way at the Copa Santander, their first time winning it since Pele. Neymar was just 19 back then. What makes him special is his ability to perform under pressure, judging by his performances at the confederations cup and also the world cup (before breaking his back). Despite all the drama concerning his transfer to Barcelona, it hasn’t stopped him from developing into one of the best players in the world. Neymar had a rough first season in Barcelona, showing glimpses of his quality across the season. Then again he was coming from an entirely different continent. He has consistently built his reputation, becoming one of the best and most marketable players in the world rivaling both Messi and Ronaldo. For about 3 months this season, he made Barcelona forget Lionel Messi, he and Suarez led Barca to the top of the league. Neymar has grown under Messi since coming to Barcelona, along with Suarez they have formed arguably the deadliest attack ever seen, winning barca the treble last season, scoring a stunning 122 goals between them and looking likely to do so again. The scary part is that Neymar already at a deadly level is only going to get better. The few fans saying Ronaldo and Messi where better at 23 should think again, Neymar has already scored much more career goals than they did at that age, plus Neymar has a similar goal ratio to Messi at 23 much better than Ronaldo’s at the same age. Messi and Ronaldo never had Messi and Ronaldo to compete with then. Unlike the others who challenged the two legends, he has the stats, age on his side as well as the popularity and marketability to keep on challenging for a long time to come. One more thing, he’s Brazilian.

One thing for sure, there is life after Messi and Cr7, not just Neymar, there is Hazard, though struggling this season, he has the ability and talent to recover, Paul Pogba, Juventus no. 10, already one of the best midfielders around, and there is emerging talent, on a meteoric rise this season, Pablo Dybala, not to talk of James Rodriguez and Isco. The future of Football is quite bright. Messi might end up winning this year again, and with Ronaldo not looking his best, especially in big games, a new era of dominance MIGHT be on the periphery.

Who do you think has what it takes to replace Messi and Ronaldo in years to come? post your comments below