Messi, Ronaldo no longer best players in the world – Gary Neville

The former United captain said that both superstars are fading forces with the Portuguese and Argentine having been football’s two biggest stars for well over a decade, splitting 12 Ballons d’Or between.

Both stars now in their mid-30s and the former England defender feels that neither player is playing at the level they used to operate at.

“There is no doubt that Ronaldo and Messi are coming to the end of their careers,” Neville told Sky Sports.

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

He noted that no club is now thinking about signing Ronaldo or Messi at the moment, adding that the likes of Kylian] Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah, Robert Lewandowski are now ahead of them.

Neville said that while Messi and Ronaldo are still operating at the highest level of football, “they are fading from the levels they were at before. They are no longer the best players in the world.”