After Eden Hazard put pen to paper on a new five-and-a-half year contract with Chelsea today, Jose Mourinho said that the Belgian playmaker can become "the best player in the world" during that time. Here we take look at Hazard's potential Ballon d'Or rivals in 2020.
Lionel Messi
The Barcelona man will be 32 in five years, and will probably have scored over 500,000 goals for the Catalan giants. Will he be part of the same Chelsea attack as Hazard by then in a monumental £300m transfer, stranger things have happened.
Raheem Sterling
Currently at Liverpool but his reported contract demands mean he could be on the way to sunnier climes soon, with the European champions Real Madrid interested. Up front or on the wing, the 20-year-old has been impressive so far in his Reds career, having only made his debut in March 2012.
Marco Reus
The much in-demand 25-year-old midfielder signed a contract extension with Borussia Dortmund this week to keep away interest from Real Madrid, Barcelona and Liverpool. Missed the World Cup after because ankle injury, but is expected to feature in many more major tournaments for Germany.
Paul Pogba
The first £100m player? His agent says he will be leaving Juventus within the next 18 months and the 21-year-old has attracted the interest of Chelsea and Manchester City. A dominant force in the France midfield.
The top 10 current most valuable players in world football
Show all 10Eden Hazard
The 24-year-old's manager at Chelsea, Jose Mourinho, says he can become "the best in the world" after signing his new five-and-a-half year contract today. Few would argue with 'The Special One'.
Martin Odegaard
The Norwegian 16-year-old recently joined up at Real Madrid. Could he be the youngest ever winner of the Ballon d'Or?. He'll have to beat (the Brazilian) Ronaldo, who was 21 when he was awarded the trophy in 1997.
Harry Kane
The 21-year-old can't stop scoring for Tottenham at the moment, with 23 goals in all competitions, and soon will be featuring for England too. The next Alan Shearer?
Antoine Griezmann
The 23-year-old French playmaker joined Atletico Madrid for £24m last summer. Seen as the natural successor to Franck Ribery in the national team.
Gareth Bale
The £86m Welshman. The world's most expensive player should have free reign at Real Madrid by then, with Cristiano Ronaldo 35.
James Rodriguez
Colombian excelled at the recent World Cup, and the attacking midfielder only be 28 in 2020.
But who will be the best? Vote in our poll below
Is Mourinho right? Leave a comment below...
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies