Cristiano Ronaldo once predicted who would succeed him as the best player in the world, but not all of his picks lived up to his expectations.
Ronaldo is no longer the best player on the planet, but in 2017 he was on top of the world.
The Portuguese superstar helped Real Madrid win the 2016/17 league and Champions League double, and scored 53 goals in all competitions this calendar year.
In terms of individual accolades, Ronaldo swept away the title with the Ballon d'Or, the FIFA Player of the Year award and the UEFA Player of the Year award.
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After winning the championship in August 2017, Ronaldo was asked which player he thought could one day surpass him as the best player in the world. Six years ago he said:
"In the next generation, there are at least 10 players with very, very big potential.
So how did these players do?
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Marco Asensio
Looking back, Ronaldo seemed a bit generous in placing Asensio in that top tier, but back then his 21-year-old team-mate really seemed like he had come a long way.
The Spaniard became the fourth youngest player to score in a Champions League final when he netted against Juventus in 2017, but since then he has failed to establish himself as one of the greatest talents. most colorful.
With his contract expiring in June, Asensio looks set to leave the Bernabeu.
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Kylian Mbappe
It's more like that. As predicted by Ronaldo, Mbappe has been almost one of the best players on the planet since bursting out as a teenager at Monaco in the 2016/17 season.
In the summer of 2017, he moved to Paris Saint-Germain and did not stop scoring.
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He even did it on the international stage. Dissatisfied with bringing France back to glory at the 2018 World Cup at the age of 19, he almost did it again in 2022.
Lionel Messi provided the assist to complete Mbappe's double on Friday night. (AP Photo)
Neymar
Ronaldo points to Neymar, Mbappe's PSG team-mate, but it's hard to say the Brazilian has reached the same heights.
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The slick striker was originally the heir to the throne of Ronaldo - and Lionel Messi - but over the past few years he has seemed a bit off track.
Controversy haunts Neymar like a stench, and now at 31, he looks past his prime.
Ousmane Dembele
Dembele destroyed trees at Borussia Dortmund in 2017, so much so that Barcelona signed him for £135m.
The French winger hasn't always reached his peak since then, with injuries haunting him since moving to Spain. He's had a small resurgence this season but his future at Barca beyond 2024 looks uncertain.
Eden Hazard in Real Madrid's training session. Image:
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Player Eden Hazard
Hazard was arguably the best player in the world in 2018, but when he moved to Real Madrid in 2019 to replace Ronaldo, everything fell apart.
Injuries and poor form have left the Belgian winger with just 76 appearances in his four years at the Bernabeu, making him one of the biggest transfer failures in recent times.
Marcus Rashford
Like Dembele and Mbappe, Rashford made waves when he started terrorizing the defense as a teenager, but in recent years he has struggled with injuries and form. However, he has rediscovered his scoring ability this season, and with United progressing under Erik ten Hag, big things could await the 25-year-old.
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