Does Modric's UEFA POTY win spell the dawn of a new era?

Ricardo Kaka in 2007 was the last player to have beaten Ronaldo and Messi to the Ballon D'or, since then the two have shown an astounding level of footballing ability and been a study of consistency. The streak though might soon come to an end as showcased by Luka Modric's UEFA POTY award in August 2018 on the back of his Champions League winning campaign followed up by a brilliant World Cup showing. We have a look at the possible players who might step up and win this award in the near future to break the stronghold by the 2 absolute phenomenon who have reduced this honour to a mere formality in the last decade.

Kylian Mbappe: France and PSG's latest icon

It has been a while since a youngster has ripped through the biggest stage of football so assuredly and in a frighteningly unnerved manner. Kylian Mbappe shone in Russia in the World Cup winning campaign of Les Bleus. The frightening pace and very direct running ability coupled with his good finishing make him a true game changer.

What is more is that unlike many others he is as involved in making goals for others. He has scored 49 and assisted 19 in 100 apps for club and country since his breakout year in the Monaco side of 2016/17.

We know he is one to look out for and if things move at the current pace, the young frenchman will soon dominate all individual honours.

Neymar Jr: Brazil's darling and a true global star

Neymar's move from Barcelona to Paris in the summer of 2017 changed modern football in more ways than one. The transfer market will never be the same owing to the reported €222 million spent on him by the Qatar group and the subsequent effects have changed financials for clubs all around Europe.

A return to power imminent?

The only thing the transfer did not do was to get him out of Lionel Messi's shadow as his thirst for individual honour and recognition were upended by a number of factors including Mbappe's rise, his injury at the back end of the season and his playmaking antics in Russia.

His 31 goals and 14 assists for PSG in just over a season tell us that only if he 'dives' deep into his talent pool we may have the Neymar we all adored at Barca back at his best.

Mohammed Salah: Anfield's Pharaoh

When the once Chelsea reject Egyptian signed for Liverpool at the start of the 2017/18 season many of us thought that at €42 million Liverpool had signed a good, pacy winger to fill up the right wing berth at Anfield. The initial impressions and expectations may have been different for different folks, but I am sure that no one would have anticipated the impact he has had.

Mo Salah, the European King?

The Egyptian King made the Premier League his own, breaking the record for the number of goals in a 38 game season. The Champions League was no different with 11 goals in 15 appearances for the Reds, and if not for his injury in the final who knows what he would have done in the Final.

Liverpool looks on the up under Klopp, and if the signs are anything to go by he would have a huge hand in any success the red half of Merseyside enjoy.

Kevin De Bruyne: The ginger genius

Pep Guardiola has worked his magic yet again, transforming Manchester City into the match-winning machine they have become. At the centre of it all is the Belgian midfielder who has found out the balance between technicality and physicality, making him the most complete midfielder in the Premier League and arguably the world.

The only way is up for this Belgian baller

All things positive usually come from him, he has a knack of performing in the big games and is a leader on and off the pitch, considered as one of the 5 club captains by Pep.

Another ex Chelsea player who has grown leaps and bounds since his days under Mourinho and came back to raise the bar for all of English football. Being a part of a squad winning trophies does his chance no harm as well.

Honorary Mentions: The ones who shall challenge

These are a few names which might have a say in anything with respects to individual glory in world football. They have been included in no particular order solely based on their recent form for club and country and their potentials

Phillipe Coutinho (Barcelona)

Luka Modric (Real Madrid)

Antoine Greizmann (Atletico Madrid)

Eden Hazard (Chelsea)

Paulo Dybala (Juventus)