Cristiano Ronaldo tips Kylian Mbappe, Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford to follow in his footsteps after picking up UEFA Men's Player of the Year

  • Cristiano Ronaldo has spoken of the players he believes can take his mantle
  • The Real Madrid man picked up the UEFA Men's Player of the Year accolade
  • Ballon d'Or holder Ronaldo sees Marco Asensio and Kylian Mbappe as talents
  • Ronaldo also believes Manchester United youngster Marcus Rashford will shine 

Cristiano Ronaldo has picked up yet another personal award cementing him as the top player in European football, but the Real Madrid ace has already started to think about who could succeed him. 

Ronaldo has been awarded the UEFA Men's Player of the Year to put alongside the Ballon d'Or and FIFA's Best awards which he currently holds.

The Portuguese was instrumental to Madrid's historic Champions League retention last season, scoring twice in the final to reaffirm the Spanish side's position as the best of the best.

Cristiano Ronaldo has picked up the UEFA Player of the Year award and named his rivals

Cristiano Ronaldo has picked up the UEFA Player of the Year award and named his rivals

But Ronaldo is acutely award his dominance can only last for so long, and has an eye on the prodigious talent coming through in Europe who are likely to take his place as football's No 1.


After picking up the UEFA award, Ronaldo was asked by reporters to name the possible successors to his throne.

'A very good question. I see some with great potential: Asensio, Mbappe, Neymar, Dembele, Hazard, Rashford ... and some others. In the next generation there are at least 10 players with very, very great potential,' said Ronaldo.

In the coming season plenty of movement is expected from the players Ronaldo mentioned, with Mbappe and Dembele likely to switch this summer.

Kylian Mbappe is one of Europe's most wanted players and looks set to be a world star

Kylian Mbappe is one of Europe's most wanted players and looks set to be a world star

Talented youngster Dembele looks set to join Ronaldo soon in La Liga, signing for Barcelona

Talented youngster Dembele looks set to join Ronaldo soon in La Liga, signing for Barcelona

Monaco wonderkid Mbappe has been a long term target all summer, though it now appears the might of PSG has pushed them ahead of the Spaniards in contention for his signature.

Dembele likewise is expected to move, joining Ronaldo in La Liga and signing for Madrid's arch rivals Barcelona.

Dortmund have set Barca a deadline to sign the French prodigy, with a bid in the region of £138m believed to soon be approved.

Elsewhere Neymar's move to Paris has been done with the intention of making him the world's undisputed No 1 footballer, while Asensio is learning his trade alongside Ronaldo in Madrid and Rashford is being tutored at the Portuguese ace's old stomping ground - Old Trafford. 

Ronaldo sees Marcus Rashford progressing well at his former club Manchester United

Ronaldo sees Marcus Rashford progressing well at his former club Manchester United

The comments below have not been moderated.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.