‘Coming to the end’ – Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi no longer best players in world, claims Gary Neville

CRISTIANO Ronaldo and Lionel Messi can no longer be considered as the world's best players.

That's the damning verdict of football pundit Gary Neville who claims the prestigious pair are no longer at the game's summit.

Despite being at their pinnacles for the best part of the last two decades, Messi, 34, and Ronaldo, 37, now have competition in the form of Kylian Mbappe, 23, and Erling Haaland, 21.

Neville reckons any major club in the world would turn down the chance to buy Ronaldo or Messi nowadays in favour of the younger duo, along with Mo Salah and Robert Lewandowski.

The Man United legend told : “We may see cameos or little swansongs here and there, but there is no doubt that Ronaldo and Messi are coming to the end of their careers.

“That’s not to say they are coming to the end of their careers and will retire at the end of the season; Ronaldo and Messi could play three or four more years, knowing their fitness.

"Declining seems like the wrong word when talking about two great players, but there is no doubt they are declining forces.

“At this moment in time, for the first time in years, if you asked people which player in the world they would sign if I could only pick one, no one would say Messi or Ronaldo, they would likely say Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah, Robert Lewandowski.

“You would be naming players other than Ronaldo and Messi, and that is the clearest sign that, while these two are still operating at the highest level, they are fading from the levels they were at before. They are no longer the best players in the world.”

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Although Salah's rapidly approaching 30, and Lewandowski's 33, neither shows any signs of slowing down.

Liverpool ace Salah has hit the net 27 times in 34 games this term and Lewandowski's scored 42 goals in 35 appearances for Bayern Munich.

Haaland's netted 23 times in 21 games, while Mbappe's amassed 25 goals throughout 35 appearances during the current campaign.

In comparison, Ronaldo's failed to score in 2022, bringing his tally this season to just 15 goals in 31 games since returning to United.

And Messi's goal return for Paris Saint-Germain's been even worse as the Argentine's scored a paltry seven goals in 25 appearances.

Mbappe's the heir apparent to Messi and Ronaldo, although the French superstar couldn't prevent PSG's Champions League exit in the last-16 after they lost to Real Madrid yesterday.

And a Champions League trophy is what Mbappe needs to snatch the crown off of Messi and Ronaldo who have won the tournament four and five times respectively, Neville reckons.

Neville also thinks the "ruthless" French hotshot who reminds him of Arsenal legend Thierry Henry needs to be consistent for at least another 10 years before he can be mentioned among the world's greats.

Neville added before Real's 3-1 last-16 second-leg loss to PSG: “In terms of excitement, in terms of thrill, in terms of speed, Mbappe is absolutely sensational.

“He reminds me of Thierry Henry, but he’s also got a bit of Cristiano Ronaldo in him - he is ruthless.

“The Champions League, and another World Cup, would be the crowning glory for Mbappe to succeed Ronaldo and Messi.

“What we mustn’t underestimate with Ronaldo and Messi is their resilience, their consistency, the standards season in, season out, the number of games they have played.

"Their toughness, mentally and physically, to withstand all the kickings they will have taken and the criticism they will have had; the pressure and scrutiny that is on them.

“Mbappe has got 10 years before he can even think that he is Ronaldo or Messi.

"Even if Mbappe gets to their level for one season, he will never surpass Ronaldo or Messi for at least 12 years, because he’s got to do it over that length of time to be in the same conversation as them.”