Michel Platini, the President of UEFA, expressed his belief that Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will continue to dominate world football for the next decade, with little likelihood of a change in the hierarchy. Despite the exceptional achievements of players like Franck Ribéry, who won multiple titles, Platini feels that the current criteria for the Ballon d’Or favors Messi and Ronaldo.
Platini’s comments suggest a sense of resignation regarding the future of football’s top honors, indicating that the Messi-Ronaldo duopoly is likely to persist. While acknowledging the talent of young players like Neymar, Platini sees no imminent threat to Messi and Ronaldo’s dominance.
The Frenchman’s remarks may be seen as a disavowal of Ribéry, whom Platini believed deserved recognition for his achievements. As for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Platini did not mention him specifically in his comments, implying that he may not factor into the Messi-Ronaldo duopoly in the same way as Ribéry did.
