Who Paul Pogba Said Would Break The Ronaldo/Messi Monopoly Looks Crazy Now

During their time in football, will anyone stop Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi being the world's best?

Both players are now in their thirties and it still feels like the pair are destined to win awards for years to come back, but in January last year, Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba thought he knew who was going to break the monopoly and now it looks rather far-fetched.

Cristiano Ronaldo picked up his fifth Ballon d'Or back in December after an incredible season, not to mention the fact he snatched FIFA's 'The Best' award months earlier.

Between them the pair have collected the last ten Ballon d'Or's and the last man to win one who wasn't called Ronaldo or Messi was Kaka in 2007.

Even in that year the pair finished in second and third respectively.

It seems likely that the two will be battling once again for the trophy at the end of the year, with the Champions League winner likely to take it.

That being said, at the start of 2017 a brave Paul Pogba suggested that teammate Zlatan Ibrahimovic could be the man to break their monopoly.

Speaking to FIFA.com about who could win it, the Manchester United midfielder named Zlatan, saying: "Of course, there are other players who can do that [win the award].

"We have Zlatan at Manchester United. Even he could do it. He's 35 years old, but the way he's playing, the way he's scoring goals, you can see that he's been in the top level for more than ten years."

As we all know, Zlatan was hit with a career threatening injury in April during United's Europa League tie against Anderlecht and spent months on the sidelines.

Two other players were also on the former Juve man's list but he did warn that anyone wanting to take the title away from world football's supremo pair would have to do something pretty special:

"[Eden] Hazard, Neymar, [Luis] Suarez are doing so well and scoring goals, these are great players who - if they keep scoring - can do that.

"They need to keep scoring though, because that's the case with Cristiano and Messi, whose performances are always on top."

Who will dethrone Ronaldo and Messi and win a Ballon d'Or in the coming years?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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Topics: Football News, Cristiano, Football, Manchester United, Barcelona, Messi, Ronaldo, Real Madrid

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare is a writer at SPORTbible. He's interviewed some of the biggest names in sport, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pele, Carles Puyol and Tim Henman. He dabbles in all things sport but football is his biggest passion. He was once hit in the head by a wayward strike from Nicky Butt and lived to tell the tale.

@jackkenmare_