Neymar’s departure to Saudi Arabia marks a before and after in the world of football. The Brazilian, who will play in the To the-hilal together with Koulibaly, Milinkovic-Savic or Rubén Neves among others, leaves the elite with 31 years, an age that is understood early. The extreme was sometimes the best player in the world behind Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldobut his exit to psg and the lack of regularity in his game at certain key moments did not allow him to consolidate in that position. With his arrival in a minor league, this debate reappears on the scene. Who is the third in contention after the Argentine and the Portuguese?
Neymar Jr: the eternal contender
FC Barcelona’s Neymar had the opportunity to settle in the bronze position. The Brazilian did things on the field that no one else could do, not even Cristiano or Messi. He left PSG looking to get out of the shadow of the Argentine star, but in the long run it didn’t work out for him. He did not find in France an ideal environment to demonstrate the football he had in his boots and he kept hiding it. He was close to winning the Champions League with the Parisians in 2020, with great performances, but it couldn’t be. Now, At the age of 31, he arrived in Saudi Arabia and stood out from elite football.
Andrés Iniesta: the hero of South Africa
Another of the footballers who should enter this debate is Andres Iniesta. The race of the manchego is marked, obviously, for the goal that made Spain world champion in South Africa. He was part, along with Xavi and Busquetsof one of the most creative tridents ever, creating a new game model with Pep Guardiola as ideologue. His career at FC Barcelona filled his showcases with titles, and He was close to getting a Ballon d’Or in 2010deserved for many.
Karim Benzema: the explosion after Cristiano’s departure
Karim Benzema is one of the few players who can say who won a Ballon d’Or for Messi and Ronaldo. The French He had to wait for Cristiano to leave Real Madrid to acquire a much more leading role than the one he had before. The white club was orphaned of a reference with the sale of the Portugueseand Benzema was aware that it was his moment. The performance in the Champions League 21-22managing to lift the trophy after many limit situations solvedhelped him win the well-deserved golden ball as the best footballer in the world. Your arrival at Al Ittihad it also separates him from elite football.
Luka Modric: Age is just a number
Of all the players on this list of theoretical candidates to share the podium with Cristiano and Messi, Luka Modric is one of the few who continues at the highest level. to their almost 38 yearsthe Croatian remains in the elite and it doesn’t stand out at all. With the regeneration that Real Madrid is carrying out in its engine room, the role of the midfielder has diminished . He has not only made history with the white club, but also with his selection in two World Cups, with a second place and a third. With the Ballon d’Or won in 2018is another of those who can boast of getting this individual award at a time when it was practically impossible.
Sergio Ramos: a candidate from the center of defense
Goals are the most important thing in football. But the same merit has to mark them than to save them. And this last, Sergio Ramos he was an expert. The camero has led the defensive line of two teams that have gone through their best streak in modern history: the Real Madrid of the four Champions in five years and the Spanish Selection of 2008-2012. But the center-back not only stood out for his good defensive work, but he was also a danger to the rivals in attack. His great header and his reliability from eleven meters they make his offensive numbers pretty high for a defenseman.
Xavi: a master on the pitch
Despite the fact that, due to age, Xavi could leave this debate, the midfielder shared most of his career with the other players. The now Barcelona coach always was in his stage as a footballer. He was the one who organized the game, just as he does now from the band. He was also close to winning the Ballon d’Or in 2010. Taking the lead in Guardiola’s Barcelona means that he has to be on the shortlist yes or yes.
Arjen Robben: a left-footed scandal
everyone remembers Arjen Robben’s signature move. the dutch He cut in from the right wing and, with his left foot, shot at goal with a lot of danger. These types of goals are in the retina of many nostalgic. Although their seasons at Chelsea and Real Madrid were not entirely satisfactory, their best moments came in Munich. Ten seasons at Bayern showing a great level in most matches, with a Champions League and a world runner-up with your selection. His hand in hand with Casillas in South Africa It could have changed history if the ball had ended up in the back of the net.
Antoine Griezmann: quality and work in equal parts
Antoine Griezmann’s career would not be understood without Cholo Simeone. The discipline and work that the Argentine coach has instilled in the Frenchman has made him a much more complete footballer, thus climbing several steps on the pitch. Assistant and scorer, he was third in the 2018 Ballon d’Or after his magnificent World Cup with France, which allowed him to lift the World Cup. The thorn will always remain with the Champions League final in Milan against Real Madrid.
Robert Lewandowski: a reliable goal-scoring machine
For many, Robert Lewandowski He can be considered the best striker of the last decade. The Pole has never tired of scoring goals throughout his long career. He hasn’t dropped below 30 in the last eight seasons. The 2020 Ballon d’Or was his, but COVID took it from him. Yes, she took, on two occasions, The Best trophy and the same number of golden boots. A period center forward.
Kevin De Bruyne: Pep Guardiola’s right ‘eye’
“Kevin is a special player. He sees things that others can’t see on the pitch.”were the words of Pep Guardiola towards your player after a match. And it is that De Bruyne has become in the leader of a Manchester City that is making history in England, and is on its way to doing so in Europe. The Champions League won a few months ago is the icing on the cake of the great career of the Belgian, who has also stood out with his national team sharing generation with other ‘cracks’ like Hazard, Courtois or Lukaku.
Sergio Busquets: the ‘5’ that revolutionized the world of football
“The only number 5 that I have met in my life who is a number 10 and does everything well is Busquets. Busquets confused world football. Since it appeared, we started that ‘5’ has to have a good pass, that if the teams play badly it’s because ‘5’ passes the ball badly. We already forgot that before it was the number 10 that made you play well, now it seems that if the team plays badly it is because of the ‘5’. We already forgot that the ‘5’ has to score, he has to get between the central defenders, that if the winger comes out he has to cover it…”, he said Juan Roman Riquelmand to define what it was Sergio Busquets for him. The midfielder revolutionized the position of defensive midfielderwho had always been destructive, but since the former Barcelona player put on his boots, a high dose of creativity became necessary for whoever held that position. The difficult made easy. An ‘octopus’ with more class than a school.
Luis Suárez: goal as a way of life
Luis Suarez He knows what it’s like to lead the top scorer tables in the two best leagues in the world. He thrashed in England and thrashed in Spain. His two Golden Bootsone with him Liverpool and another with him Barcelonawere his great achievements with Cristiano and Messi scoring so many almost without wanting to. He was key in LaLiga del Atlético in 2020, showing the world that he still had football for a while. The ‘MSN’ It will mark him all his life, like many fans. The rapport that he had together with Neymar and Messi will always be remembered, making them one of the best tridents in history.
