Only Mbappe has a chance atm but he'd need to leave the low quality league he currently plays in (and obviously push on massively).

Realistically it's not gonna happen any time soon

Lewandowski stats are pretty impressive this season and have been in the past.

Neymar without injuries could push them, but I guess he lacks the legacy both have of winning serially in the best leagues, with respect to Ligue 1.

I do feel like Mbappe does have the potential to knock up Messi/Ronaldo numbers. Real Madrid soon come.

There was about 20-25 years between Pele and Maradona and a similar wait for Ronaldo and Messi so I would imagine we may go another couple of decades before we see the likes of such players again.

Although I actually think it's possible we may not see any players eclipse them, such are their stats / records.

comment by Kunta Kante (U1641)
posted 2 minutes ago
Neymar without injuries could push them, but I guess he lacks the legacy both have of winning serially in the best leagues, with respect to Ligue 1.

I do feel like Mbappe does have the potential to knock up Messi/Ronaldo numbers. Real Madrid soon come.
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Neymar clearly doesn't have the mentality (almost no others do in fairness) but I certainly don't think it's down to injuries in any major way

Nobody will be as good as either of them for a long time and nobody playing now will ever match those numbers.

In terms of the next best players, I think De Bruyne is the only on with the potential to influence games as much as Messi. Salah could possibly match Ronaldo in terms of pure goalscoring numbers over a season, but he'll not keep it up for as long.

None of them seem to have the natural talent of Messi or the work ethic of Ronaldo.

What was/is unique with Messi and Ronaldo was how much the rivalry spurred each other to do even better. Without one of the them the other would have unlikely reached the level they did.

I can’t really think of a similar rivalry in football which was also helped with the Barca/Real rivalry too. I guess it has only really been able to exist with the 24/7 football culture we have today, but maybe that’ll mean we are more likely to see it again soon?

Mbappe is the most realistic possibility right now. Forget those ones aged 27...I mean Mane, really?

I think the major difference is consistency.

Sure, I think we'll see players have certain seasons which match what Messi/Ronaldo did, but no one is going to have that consistency of doing it for 10+ years.

comment by Charlag (U1717)
posted 43 seconds ago
I think the major difference is consistency.

Sure, I think we'll see players have certain seasons which match what Messi/Ronaldo did, but no one is going to have that consistency of doing it for 10+ years.
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I agree. As well as all the big moments, silverware and accolades. Mbappe has the most chance because he's 20 and is already posting very good stats. Helped win a World Cup too.

Don’t think any will reach their level and I’m not sure why anyone’s expecting anyone to anytime soon. We’re talking about 2 of the best footballers to ever play the game, these guys are true generational talents.

Mbappe and Joao Felix will probably be the best players in the world in 5/6 years time, but i don’t think they’ll be at Messi or Ronaldos level.

His name is Ryan Christie

Admin, please close this thread

The two best players of all time and we're concerned there aren't more following immediately in their footsteps?

We won't see players of this calibre for a good few years.

comment by Tiddles (U17634)
posted 19 minutes ago
Don’t think any will reach their level and I’m not sure why anyone’s expecting anyone to anytime soon. We’re talking about 2 of the best footballers to ever play the game, these guys are true generational talents.

Mbappe and Joao Felix will probably be the best players in the world in 5/6 years time, but i don’t think they’ll be at Messi or Ronaldos level.
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This is about right. There's no one I see eclipsing them, especially not Sterling

Depends if any of them move to Spain where they can bang on 50 goals a season against the poor defences.

comment by Winston is always right and he has nice balls (U1721)
posted 58 seconds ago
Depends if any of them move to Spain where they can bang on 50 goals a season against the poor defences.
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You seen the premier league TOOR?

I wish we would stop the Messi/Ronaldo/Rooney debate and just appreciate all of them as the best of our generation

comment by Take Mahomes, Country Roads (U3979)
posted 11 minutes ago
comment by Winston is always right and he has nice balls (U1721)
posted 58 seconds ago
Depends if any of them move to Spain where they can bang on 50 goals a season against the poor defences.
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You seen the premier league TOOR?
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Yes.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

comment by There'sOnlyOneRed's (U1721)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Take Mahomes, Country Roads (U3979)
posted 11 minutes ago
comment by Winston is always right and he has nice balls (U1721)
posted 58 seconds ago
Depends if any of them move to Spain where they can bang on 50 goals a season against the poor defences.
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You seen the premier league TOOR?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes.
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Saints 0 Leicester 9.

comment by Ole-Dirty-Baz ta’rd (U19119)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by There'sOnlyOneRed's (U1721)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Take Mahomes, Country Roads (U3979)
posted 11 minutes ago
comment by Winston is always right and he has nice balls (U1721)
posted 58 seconds ago
Depends if any of them move to Spain where they can bang on 50 goals a season against the poor defences.
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You seen the premier league TOOR?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes.
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Saints 0 Leicester 9.
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Why are you replying to me with a scoreline of a match?

If you want to say something say it, if it's what I think you're trying to say, it doesn't say that. Which is probably why you didn't say it.

comment by There'sOnlyOneRed's (U1721)
posted 18 minutes ago
Depends if any of them move to Spain where they can bang on 50 goals a season against the poor defences.
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Ronaldo and Messi are held up as arguably the greatest of all time because they play in a league with poor defences?

What are you on this morning?

comment by There'sOnlyOneRed's (U1721)
posted 50 seconds ago
comment by Ole-Dirty-Baz ta’rd (U19119)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by There'sOnlyOneRed's (U1721)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Take Mahomes, Country Roads (U3979)
posted 11 minutes ago
comment by Winston is always right and he has nice balls (U1721)
posted 58 seconds ago
Depends if any of them move to Spain where they can bang on 50 goals a season against the poor defences.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You seen the premier league TOOR?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Saints 0 Leicester 9.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Why are you replying to me with a scoreline of a match?

If you want to say something say it, if it's what I think you're trying to say, it doesn't say that. Which is probably why you didn't say it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't think the prem has any better defences than la liga if I'm honest..

If Messi was so good then he'd do it against English teams in the CL. Until he does then he cannot be considered one of the best.