5 best rivalries that could light up the football world after Messi-Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi has to be one of the biggest individual battle in the World of Sports. It can be discussed on par with Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal or Niki Lauda vs James Hunt. The battle between these two players who have shared the last six Ballon d’Or awards could go on for a few more years and then it will be up to someone else to take up the mantle. Before Messi came to the scene the battle was between Ronaldo and Kaka, but Messi-Ronaldo rivalry has surpassed that level a long time ago. So here are 5 rivalries that could take center stage in the coming years.

#5 Raheem Sterling vs Adnan Januzaj

The comparison between two teenagers playing for two of the biggest rivals in English football has to be interesting.

Fans of the clubs have already started comparing the two prodigies. Sterling made his first team debut for Liverpool at the age of 17. He became a first team regular in the 2011-12 season, but he gradually faded out towards the end of the season. He was on the bench for the initial half of last season, but injuries to some first team players saw him return to the starting 11 from December 2013. From that point onwards the youngster has impressed so much that he was nominated for the PFA Young player of the year award. Sterling has started the current season brightly with 2 goals and an assist.

Januzaj made his first team debut last season. On his first start for the club he scored two goals as United made a comeback to win the game 2-1. He was also nominated for BBC Young Sports Personality of the year in December 2013.

Both these players were part of their national teams that travelled to Brazil for the World Cup. Sterling made his international debut at the age of 17, while Januzaj had to wait till he was 19.