As Lionel Messi graced the stage at Paris’s Theatre du Chatelet to simply accept his historic eighth Ballon d’Or for the world’s greatest participant in October, a palpable feeling lingered that an period was drawing to an in depth.
The 36-year-old achieved the milestone by narrowly surpassing a lot youthful rivals like Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe in what was extensively assumed to be his remaining alternative to say the award.
For the final 15 years, a debate has raged over who’s the best participant between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as they took turns successful the trophy.
Luka Modric and Karim Benzema are the one two gamers to interrupt their duopoly since 2008.
Now, with each venturing into smaller leagues as they close to the tip of their sensible careers, 2024 could lastly be the yr for the following in line in soccer royalty.
Haaland, 23, was one of many agency favorites for his first Ballon d’Or in 2023 after scoring 52 objectives in 53 matches in all competitions final season as Manchester City received the Champions League, Premier League, and FA Cup.
France’s Mbappe, 24, additionally made a powerful case after changing into the primary participant since 1966 to attain a hat-trick in a World Cup remaining, as he aimed to win back-to-back tournaments.
But Argentina’s magical run in Qatar helped Messi beat the Norwegian and French strikers to the award, suspending soccer’s succession for yet another yr.
Madrid duo
Also making his case now could be England midfielder Jude Bellingham, 20, who has simply been awarded each the 2023 Golden Boy and Kopa awards after a shocking begin to life at Real Madrid.
With an astonishing 15 objectives in 16 video games for his new membership, he has surpassed final season’s tally of 14 in 42 video games with Borussia Dortmund and outdone the achievements of Real greats Cristiano Ronaldo and Alfredo Di Stefano, who scored 13 objectives of their first 15 video games.
Real teammate Vinicius Jr., 23, who helped the Spanish facet win the 2022 Champions League by scoring the winner within the remaining towards Liverpool, has emerged up to now two seasons as a genuinely world-class participant.
The winger is the inheritor to the Brazilian throne now that Neymar, 31, has additionally moved to Saudi Arabia after failing to guide Paris Saint-Germain to an elusive Champions League crown.
Argentina’s Julian Alvarez, 23, is already a key determine at Pep Guardiola’s City, whereas Spain’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, 16, has impressed at Barcelona.
With the most effective a part of the season approaching and a European Championship and Copa America subsequent yr, the stage is about for many who really feel worthy to make their declare.
Source: www.dailysabah.com