Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been the two best players in the world for over a decade now. 

Until Luka Modric picked up a surprise win in the 2018 Ballon d'Or, the pair had each won five of the last 10 awards. 

Before them, the last player to win it was Kaka, in 2007. 

Messi and Ronaldo have dominated the discussion over the world's best player for many, many years and no one has really come close to matching their level. 

Even when Modric scooped the Ballon d'Or last December much of the reaction surrounded Messi, who came fifth in the voting - which is frankly ridiculous. 

But, the pair's domination won't last forever. Ronaldo is now 34, while Messi is 31. So soon, it will be time for a new football king to emerge. 

We're still not sure who it could be, but the likes of Neymar, Eden Hazard and Kylian Mbappe have all been touted as potential future Ballon d'Or winners. 

During a rare interview with Radio 94.7, Messi himself was asked to name the current five best players in the world. 

Interestingly, he didn't pick himself or Ronaldo while listing names - but the five he did pick can hardly come as a surprise. 

The Argentine opted for those three names above, as well as Luis Suarez and Sergio Aguero - but there was no place for current Ballon d'Or holder Modric. 

"Excluding him [Ronaldo] and me, the best players in the world are Mbappe, Hazard, Suarez, Aguero and Neymar," Messi told the radio station, per Marca. 

The fact he excluded himself and Ronaldo just proves that the two are a level above anyone else - but his list surely does include the future Ballon d'Or winner. 

Although, those he has named will likely only get close to the prize once the careers of Messi and Ronaldo start winding down.