What happened to the six players Cristiano Ronaldo tipped to become the best in the world
In 2017, Cristiano Ronaldo was asked by a reporter to name the six players who he thought could succeed him as the best player in the world. Ronaldo named the following players:
- Marco Asensio
- Kylian Mbappe
- Neymar
- Ousmane Dembele
- Eden Hazard
- Marcus Rashford
Here is a brief update on what has happened to these players since Ronaldo's comments:
Marco Asensio: Asensio has had a mixed career since Ronaldo's comments. He has won two Champions League titles with Real Madrid, but he has also been hampered by injuries. Asensio is still only 26 years old, so he has plenty of time to fulfill his potential.
Kylian Mbappe: Mbappe is the youngest player on Ronaldo's list, and he has already established himself as one of the best players in the world. Mbappe won the World Cup with France in 2018, and he has won the Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain in each of the past four seasons. Mbappe is still only 23 years old, so he could go on to win many more individual and team awards in the years to come.
Neymar: Neymar is another player who has been plagued by injuries in recent years. However, when he is fit, Neymar is one of the most exciting players in the world. Neymar has won the Champions League with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, and he has won the Copa America with Brazil. Neymar is still only 30 years old, so he could still go on to win the Ballon d'Or.
Ousmane Dembele: Dembele has had a difficult start to his career at Barcelona. He has been hampered by injuries, and he has struggled to find a consistent place in the team. However, Dembele is still only 25 years old, and he has the talent to be a world-class player.
Eden Hazard: Hazard was one of the most sought-after players in the world when he joined Real Madrid from Chelsea in 2019. However, Hazard has been plagued by injuries since his move to Madrid. Hazard has only made 43 appearances for Real Madrid in the past three seasons, and he has scored just six goals.
Marcus Rashford: Rashford has been one of the most impressive young players in England in recent years. Rashford has won the FA Cup and the Europa League with Manchester United, and he has also won the Golden Boot at the UEFA European Under-21 Championship. Rashford is still only 24 years old, so he has the potential to become one of the best players in the world.
It is still too early to say who will succeed Cristiano Ronaldo as the best player in the world. However, the players on Ronaldo's list are all talented enough to win the Ballon d'Or in the future.