The Best Decade of the Beautiful Game2 min read

What a time to be alive.

Though we are bombarded with news of destruction and heart-ache on a daily basis, we can all agree football is a sport that has united nations together.

Thursday evening saw Cristiano Ronaldo equal the record with rival player Lionel Messi as he won his fifth Ballon d’Or, the greatest individual honour given annually to the best player.

Five Ballon d’Ors each over the space of a long, record-breaking decade.

To think that the last footballer to win the best player trophy was Kaka in 2007 before Ronaldo and Messi unleashed their greatness to the world.

Our parents talked about Maradona and while their parents told them about Pele.

We grew looking up to the likes of David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldinho and now as adults, see the two greatest players of all time at their prime.

Surely this record cannot be achieved again.

Messi is an example of raw talent while Ronaldo is the epitome of hard work and years of practice.

Both players’ all-time records speak for their landmark in the beautiful game.

Over his Career, Ronaldo has scored a whopping 622 goals and provided 202 assists while Messi has scored 585 goals with 236 assists.

Fans of both these greats will argue who is the better one, but I’ll say that I’m just very lucky to be witnessing such magic played on the field.

It is highly unlikely that we will see another decade where to of the World’s greatest were playing at the same time.

Breaking such an expansive record will also be a challenge to whoever seeks such legendary status.

But the world of football is full of surprises.

Players such as Marco Ascensio and Kevin De Bruyne have been lighting up the midfield for their respected teams and leagues.

The day Ronaldo and Messi decide to hang up their boots will be the day football goes back to normal.