Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

Who Could Replace Messi at Barcelona Once He Retires?


Sat 14 Dec 2019 | 05:24 PM
shawar ibrahim

Lionel Messi is the Crowned King of our generation in the world of football, breaking every record, winning every trophy within the realms of the sport, most recently 2019's Ballon D'or. Having been considered the best of the current generation, the Argentine might as well become the best to ever brace a pair of football boots.

However, as the saying goes everyone becomes a story that cannot be told anymore. It is not different even with the legends of the sport. Messi is currently pushing 32, but his best days are not far behind as he is still making headlines in the world of football today.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIA7_l0QFp8[/embed]

Even though our generation was fortunate enough to witness the great rivalry of perhaps the greatest football duo in history Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, fans must prepare themselves for their eventual retirement.

This is why we decided to rack up a number of football's most prominent players who could replace the Argentine at Barcelona once he decides to hang his boots.

Right now there are a lot of players who appear to be very good for the future, but only a few of them can replace the Argentine great once he is gone. Not every wonder-kid has what it takes to replace the 5-time Ballon d’Or winner and that makes the search for his successor even harder.

However, we have found some potential successors for Messi when the time comes.

Leroy Sane

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7_PI7GwNdY[/embed]

This German winger is one of the most talented and exciting footballers in the world. Sane has been demonstrating how important he can be for his team during his tenure with Manchester City, following his impressive performance with German club Schalke 04.

Right now Sane is being hunted by Bayern Munich, but Barcelona can try to bargain a record breaking deal to beat both Bayern and Manchester City. At this time he’s only 23, so the best years of his career are ahead of him.

The 2017-2018 FIFPro Young Player of the Year is ready to steal the spotlight and what better way to do so than to walk in the footsteps of the greatest to ever do it.

Marcus Rashford

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSt4akBlqO0[/embed]

This English forward has been making headlines for the last two seasons seeing his phenomenal form for Manchester United, becoming the top scorer of the team and relegating Romelu Lukaku to be the second striker of the team, and eventually driving him out of Old Trafford. Rashford is the future of the team, but that future can be stolen at any time if he keeps playing the way he’s done it so far.

He is expected to lead his English nation for several years to come alongside other players and he could do the same in Barcelona. He was linked to Barcelona in the last summer transfers period, there were even rumors of Rashford going to play for Barcelona in exchange for Philippe Coutinho.

 

Kylian Mbappe

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjzOsTyWX0A[/embed]

Kylian Mbappe is without any doubt the most exciting youngster in football at this very moment. The French wonder-kid, is destined for a huge future outside the Ligue 1 when he decides to leave Paris St.Germain where he will no doubt shine,  just like he did last year in Russia when France won the FIFA World Cup.

Mbappe is followed by every major club in the world and even though at this point Real Madrid appears as the favorite to take his talents due to their huge gap that needs to be filled after Ronaldo left for Italy. Barcelona has made clear that they are going to fight for Mbappe, starting this summer.

The club’s president thinks of Mbappe as the successor of Messi, stating they won’t hesitate to pay some record breaking cash to sign the French Wonder-kid.

Neymar Jr.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wzUKnf2VlY[/embed]

The biggest issue that Neymar had to endure during his days in Barcelona was not being the top star of the team and be the second and third option of then manager Luis Enrique behind Messi and Luis Suarez. Rumors have been circulating that the Catalans are hellbent on bringing Neymar back to Spain after his departure for Paris.

Neymar already proved the things he could do for Barcelona during his days at Camp Nou. For instance, he was the best player in that historic comeback the Blaugrana pulled off in front of PSG back in 2017. Maybe the Brazilian is also eyeing an eventual return to the Camp Nou once Messi Retires.

Mohamed Salah 

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGGuFWkZ1A8[/embed]

In 2018 Salah took the Premier League by storm after his unprecedented run for the Reds, scoring 44 goals in all major competitions in which Liverpool participated in, becoming the highest scoring Premier League striker in the process. The Pride of Egypt also scored 26 goals and 13 assists last season, in addition to leading Liverpool to a historic UEFA Champions League victory.

There is no doubt that Salah has developed into one of the top players in the world in the last few years, and we can certainly assume that as of today, he might be in the top 10 players in the world right now. Perhaps the Egyptian maybe eyeing an eventual transfer to Spain as Zidane openly expressed his desire to sign Salah. But Salah is a player of many qualities as his style is suitable for both Real Madrid and Barcelona.

 

Jordan Sancho:

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7Xfu64AJSM[/embed]

The ex-Manchester City forward has been stealing shows in Germany this season, but only has one goal and two assists in 11 European games.

Jadon Sancho is currently linked with several European clubs who will be looking to sign him for the time being.  The 19-year-old England international looks destined for the very top of the game and thus is on many clubs' most-wanted lists.

Despite his age, Sancho has already played over 50 Bundesliga games and has 11 appearances for England's senior side. He topped the NxGn list of the best teenagers in the world in March 2019, ahead of Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr and Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi.