Mohamed Salah scored an unbelievable solo goal against Manchester City last weekend that saw the Egyptian begin to be involved in the ‘best player in the world’ conversation.
His team-mate Andy Robertson spoke of how good the 29-year-old is after the match, he said: “He is right up there (as one of the world’s best). I still think he is incredibly underrated. The goal is something out of the top, top drawer.”
The match finished 2-2, with Salah also assisting Sadio Mane’s goal and thus being awarded the joint-Man of the Match award by pundit Gary Neville.
However, at a time where Cristiano Ronaldo (36) and Lionel Messi (34) only have a limited number of seasons left of their illustrious careers, the throne for being the best player in the world is soon to become vacant.
At 29, Salah has a chance for a few seasons, as does Robert Lewandowski (33) and Neymar (29).
Of course, there are other players in different positions that deserve a mention but FIFA predominantly crowns attackers as Ballon d’Or winners.
But beyond the aforementioned, which players are quickly rising to the top that could overtake them in the race to be the very best?
5. Ansu Fati
Barcelona ’s belief in 18-year-old winger Ansu Fati is there for all to see after the club awarded him the prestigious no.10 shirt after Messi’s departure this summer.
The Spaniard broke onto the scene in 2019 when he became the club’s youngest La Liga goalscorer at 16 and just a month later their youngest player in Champions League history.
Fati has bags of speed, great close control and plenty of tricks that make him a defensive nightmare.
Injuries have halted his development of late but he is still comfortably progressing to be one of the very best in a few years, especially if he can keep up his good scoring record – 12 in 33 league games.
4. Mason Greenwood
Who will be the best player in the world when Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi retire? Comment below.
Manchester United ’s academy is famed for bringing through world-class players, and they may well have brought through another in the shape of Mason Greenwood.
Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has put plenty of trust in the Englishman since he made his debut in 2018, aged 17.
Currently playing as a right-winger, the 20-year-old has taken the Premier League by a storm this season with three goals in seven appearances and being an ever-present threat due to how two-footed he is.
The 20-year-old is currently keeping £73million summer signing Jadon Sancho out of the first team and will continue to do so on current form, and as he develops he may progress into a striker – where he played in the youth ranks.
3. Phil Foden
Compared with Paul Gascoigne over the summer, not only due to their haircuts, Phil Foden has quickly become one of world football’s most exciting talents.
The versatile 21-year-old can play as an attacking midfielder, on either wing and has even been trusted by manager Pep Guardiola to undertake the false nine role.
Foden, nicknamed the ‘Stockport Iniesta’, has gradually made himself a regular in the star-studded City squad and played key roles in some of the 10 winners medals that his side have earned since he made his debut.
The England international has the potential to be the very best in the world and will be involved in that conversation for the next ten years at least, especially if he continues to stand out in competitive games as he did at the weekend against the Reds.
2. Erling Haaland
Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland will be the name on everyone’s lips in the summer of 2022 when his reported £68million release clause becomes active and teams have the chance to sign one of the best strikers in the world on the cheap.
The powerful Norwegian has a ludicrous Bundesliga record of 47 goals in 48 appearances and has been just as impressive on the European stage too, with 21 goals in 17 Champions League appearances.
The 21-year-old broke onto the scene at RB Salzburg where he impressed in the Europa League and soon secured a move to the Signal Iduna Park, where he has developed into one of the very best no.9’s in world football.
If he moves to one of the big Premier League or La Liga clubs that are keen to sign him and performs magnificently there then it is only a matter of time before he gets his hands on the Ballon d’Or trophy.
1. Kylian Mbappe
French forward Kylian Mbappe is, arguably, the most likely candidate to take up the mantle once Ronaldo and Messi hang up their boots.
The 22-year-old endured a tough 2020 Euro campaign but that will not take him off track from having the potential to go on and become one of the most exciting players to watch in our lifetimes.
Mbappe is a clinical finisher with bags of energy and loves to get in behind defences and torment them with his devastating pace and dribbling.
Having already lifted the 2018 World Cup trophy and finished in the top ten for the Ballon d’Or in all three of the last three awards, the former Monaco forward is within touching distance of becoming the very best and may just have to wait another season or two to gain that title.
