Every footballing era is defined by its best attacking talent. In the early 1980s it was Zico, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Michel Platini. In the second half of the decade, it was all about Diego Maradona, Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten. At the start of the 90s, Roberto Baggio and Romario were the biggest superstars, before being replaced by first Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo, and then Ronaldinho and Kaka. Since 2008, football has been symbolised almost entirely by two men - Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. They have shared the last six Ballons dOr between them and this term was the seventh in a row that one of the pair finished top-scorer in a Champions League season. The top end of the game has never been dominated by two men for so long. This fact is as much a damning indictment of a low-quality footballing era that lacks depth, competition and in particular top-class defenders as it is an acknowledgment of the brilliance of the Clasico duo. But what is undeniable is that the time has come where the football-defining successors to Messi and Ronaldo must emerge. The Argentines decline has already been documented, while Ronaldo will turn 30 before the next Champions League knockouts kick off - the Portuguese machine will slow down sooner rather than later. It is the Champions League where the greats are born now - the 2014-15 edition is waiting for some new ones.
Posted on: Tue, 27 May 2014 11:53:12 +0000
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