Gary Neville has claimed that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are no longer the world's best footballers as they approach the twilight years of their careers.
The duo have widely been acknowledged as the best in the game over the past decade after racking up a raft of personal accolades across their prime years; including 12 Ballon d'Or's between them.
Both are still operating at an elite level - but there have been signs over the past 12 months that their powers are diminishing.
Ronaldo, now 37, has not lost his goalscoring prowess but he's struggled to inspire a Manchester United side who are languishing outside the Premier League's top-four.
And Messi has struggled to replicate his remarkable form for Barcelona since sealing an emotional switch to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer.
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While Messi and Ronaldo have still shown glimpses of their old magic, Neville has insisted that their ability to conjure up the phenomenal is on the wane as they both prepare to ink the final chapter of their iconic careers.
"We may see cameos or little swansongs here and there, but there is no doubt that Ronaldo and Messi are coming to the end of their careers," Neville told Sky Sports .
"That's not to say they are coming to the end of their careers and will retire at the end of the season; Ronaldo and Messi could play three or four more years, knowing their fitness. Declining seems like the wrong word when talking about two great players, but there is no doubt they are declining forces.
"At this moment in time, for the first time in years, if you asked people which player in the world they would sign if I could only pick one, no one would say Messi or Ronaldo, they would likely say Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah, Robert Lewandowski.
"You would be naming players other than Ronaldo and Messi, and that is the clearest sign that, while these two are still operating at the highest level, they are fading from the levels they were at before. They are no longer the best players in the world."
And with Ronaldo and Messi bowing out of the equation at the pinnacle of the game, Neville has already tipped the one young upstart as the pair's apparent heir.
The Manchester United icon believes that Messi's PSG team-mate, Kylian Mbappe, is destined to take up the mantle as the world's best player now that Messi and Ronaldo's monopoly is over.
Neville added: "In terms of excitement, in terms of thrill, in terms of speed, Mbappe is absolutely sensational," Neville said. "He reminds me of Thierry Henry, but he's also got a bit of Cristiano Ronaldo in him - he is ruthless.
"He needs to win the Champions League with PSG this season, that would be the ultimate thing for him. The Champions League, and another World Cup, would be the crowning glory for Mbappe to succeed Ronaldo and Messi.
"I'm not saying he needs to win those trophies to become the best player in the world, but it cements your position if you play for the teams that win either of those trophies. For Mbappe, he knows silverware and honours go with that greatness.
"Mbappe's last-minute goal against Real Madrid in the Champions League was absolutely sensational. The great players win tournaments, they win big competitions, they are influential in big competitions. Mbappe is at that level now."
