Right winger - Antoine Griezmann
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Over the last couple of seasons, Antoine Griezmann has transformed from a talented but unpolished wide forward to a ruthless winning machine. He finished third on the Ballon d’Or list only behind Ronaldo and Messi, and it is only a matter of time before he wins the award.
The French forward is a goal-scorer. His first touch is sublime – any long ball hoofed up in his direction can be brought down with ease and turned into a one-one in a split second. Griezmann is pacey, can easily dribble past defenders and take a wicked shot on goal.
When he is in possession of the ball, he is the hunted but when he is not, he is the hunter. He is at his best during these times when he can run behind defenders or even force them to make errors. He uses his small size to wriggle past defenders with tremendous ball control.
Without being the physically dominating force or the one-trick pony, Griezmann does everything well and some things exceptionally well. It is one of the main reasons why he will win the Ballon d’Or at some point of his career. By 2020, he will be 28 years old, an age that is considered as the prime age of any footballer’s career and Griezmann will rule world football.
Honourable Mention: Ousmane Dembele
Left winger - Eden Hazard
Eden Hazard has already established himself as one of the best wingers in the modern day. Dribbling past defenders, cutting inside the danger zone and finishing off with ease are all second nature for the Belgian dribble-master. And he always seems to make his performances on the pitch noteworthy.
Not just the goals or the assists, Hazard’s work rate is what sets him apart from the other wingers in the world. At Chelsea, he has already proved his worth by leading them to a Premier League title. Although he did lose his form towards the beginning of the previous season, he has reinvented himself this season.
That he did not fade out completely is a testament to the fact that Hazard has the mentality to bounce back from such hiccups. His mazy runs, intelligence, trickery and accurate passing are a treat to the eye. And along with all that, Hazard has the uncanny ability to stand out in a team full of superstars.
By 2020, he will be 28, an age where an attacking player usually hits his prime. It would be safe to say, if not the very best, Hazard will be definitely amongst the top three footballers in the world in two-three years.
Honourable Mention: Anthony Martial
Striker - Marcus Rashford
In 2016, we witnessed the phenomenal rise of the English striker, Marcus Rashford. He made his senior debut at Manchester United after injuries to Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial and immediately shot to the limelight by scoring a brace in his first match.
In the Premier League as well he started off with a bang by scoring yet another brace and assisting the third in his side’s 3-2 victory over Arsenal. And Rashford has never looked back since. He is versatile in the attacking third and is adept at converting even the half-chances.
What sets him apart from his contemporaries, is that he knows exactly where to be and when to be. Rashford often wanders into either flank to create space and uses his great pace and set of skillset to outwit the opponent. Along with great balance and quick feet he possesses a highly intelligent football mind that helps him thrive.
That he is not physically strong enough is probably his greatest drawback but even Cristiano Ronaldo was a lanky teenager when he first arrived. Given that he is only 19 years old, Rashford will only get better with time and under the guidance of Zlatan Ibrahimovic he will be one of the best in the world in a couple of years.
Honourable Mention: Paulo Dybala
The team (4-2-3-1)
To effectively fit in all the players, the formation chosen is 4-2-3-1. With De Gea as the goalkeeper, the defence need not worry about minor errors. The defence itself is pretty solid with Varane and Rugani manning central defence and Bellerin and Alaba as the full backs. The midfield is quite unique with a defensive midfielder in Kante, who will stay back and allow the box-to-box midfielder Pogba to thrive. The attacking trio of Griezmann, Neymar and Hazard is a treat for the eyes while it’s exciting to have Rashford at central forward.
Reserve team: Jan Oblak, Dani Carvajal, Marquinhos, Kurt Zouma, Layvin Kurzawa, Marco Verrati, Renato Sanches, Ousmane Dembele, Kevin De Bruyne, Anthony Martial, Paulo Dybala
