Pedro Oliveira
In this list we bring 5 potential candidates to be the successor of Cristiano Ronaldo. For their ability, style and situation, they could become the next figure of European soccer.
Although CR7 is still one of the best players in the world, playing in the elite at the age of 37 in Manchester United, it is inevitable to think that the world of sports will change when the time comes for him to retire. The Portuguese has changed soccer and has positioned himself among the best players in the history of sports in general. We are so used to a world with a Cristiano Ronaldo dominating the entire decade, that when his farewell arrives, we will not even know how to react.
What is certain is that someone will take his place, and all eyes will be on finding the next figure who most resembles the Madeira native’s dominance and skill.
5.- Diogo Jota – Liverpool
The Liverpool left-winger joined the club in 2020 for approximately €45 million from Wolverhampton, and has truly put in an impressive enough performance to bench Roberto Firmino, and become Jürgen Klopp’s preferred option.
Jota doesn’t quite match Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of speed, dribbling and the explosiveness he had on the wing, but they share a natural killer instinct to put the ball in the back of the net. Jota has been one of Liverpool’s top scorers this season and if his game continues to grow, he could be a strong candidate to lead the Portuguese national team and be one of the European soccer superstars.
4.- Jadon Sancho – Manchester United
One of his possible successors could be sharing a team with him right now, as Jadon Sancho has the age, the power, the speed and now, the opportunity of being a young star at Manchester United, the same club where Cristiano enthralled the world of soccer.
Sharing time with Cristiano will be an advantage for Jadon in this possibility in front of the others. The Englishman joined Manchester United at the start of the 2021-2022 season from Borussia Dortmund for €85 million, so the pressure is already on him to be almost as good as the Portuguese.
3.- Joao Felix – Atlético Madrid
A compatriot and teammate of Cristiano, the young Atletico Madrid star has not yet exploded to the levels of his transfer value (almost 130 million euros), however, it is only a matter of time.
Although he does not share the same position as Ronaldo, Felix is a fast player, with great ability to dribble any opponent, to be dangerous in any position on the field, and he shows these qualities in the way he plays. Once he manages to consolidate himself in a starting eleven, he will be a vital part of it.
So far, the native of Viseu has not been able to become an undisputed starter for his coach, Diego Simeone, but everything indicates that it is a matter of time, and that his moment to shine is not far off.
2.- Vinícius Júnior – Real Madrid
Signed by Real Madrid at the age of 17 from Flamengo, Vinicius has generated high expectations since his arrival at the white club. These expectations grew as he has been part of the team on the pitch since the age of 18. Sharing the same position, the speed and ability to dribble through entire defenses has been a common point between Cristiano and the Brazilian, but Vinicius lacked something vital: goals.
The native of São Gonçalo showed problems with his finishing throughout his first years at the Spanish club, but this season everything has changed as he has been one of the team’s top scorers and has already accumulated double-digit total goals for the first time in his career.
At just 21 years of age, it is only the beginning for Vinícius and all indications are that he will be one of the most important players of the next decade.
1.- Kylian Mbappé – Paris Saint-Germany
There is currently no player who resembles Ronaldo (both Cristiano and Ronaldo Nazario) more than the Frenchman. His dominance is currently undeniable, as he is one of the most difficult players to stop, no matter which team he faces.
He shares many similarities with the Portuguese: speed, explosiveness, dribbling, goalscoring, physicality and curiously, personality. His game is based on who he is as a person and does not flinch on the big stage. He also knows what it means to be a winner from a very young age, with a World Cup trophy on his shoulders and many titles already won with the Parisian team.
All this at the age of 22 is incredible, and what was missing to make the two players even more alike: the possibility of Kylian playing for Real Madrid next season is extremely high.
For now, there is no player who can fill the void left by CR7 at the time of his retirement in a better way than the Frenchman. And it is undoubtedly known that he will be one of the main candidates to take the title as ”the best player in the world”.
