Former Dutch football star Wesley Sneijder has revealed the three players he believes are ready to take over from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the new global football icons. Messi and Ronaldo dominated world football for over a decade, winning multiple Ballon d’Or awards and breaking countless records. Now, Sneijder says a new generation is set to carry the torch.

Speaking recently, Sneijder pointed to Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, and Jude Bellingham as the standout talents who are prepared to lead football’s future. He praised Mbappe for his incredible speed and winning mindset, Haaland for his unbelievable goalscoring power, and Bellingham for his maturity, vision, and leadership at such a young age. According to him, these three already show the qualities needed to be world football leaders.

Sneijder explained that football always evolves, and every era has stars who define it. While Messi and Ronaldo set an almost impossible standard, he believes the next generation will write its own history. He highlighted how Mbappe has already won a World Cup, Haaland has broken scoring records in Europe, and Bellingham is shining on one of the biggest stages in world football.

He added that fans should avoid comparing young talents too strictly with Messi and Ronaldo, as both legends had long careers filled with extraordinary achievements. Instead, Sneijder encouraged the football world to embrace this new chapter with excitement and support the rising stars as they continue to grow.

With many young footballers emerging across different leagues, Sneijder’s picks reflect a general consensus in world football. Mbappe, Haaland, and Bellingham are seen as the future faces of the sport — and many believe they already carry the responsibility confidently. The Messi-Ronaldo era may be fading, but the next generation is ready to shine.