Former Barcelona midfielder Xavi has claimed that Raheem Sterling is most likely to pick up the mantle from Lionel Messi as the best player in the world.
The Al Sadd manager named Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Mohamed Salah as potential successors but is confident that the English winger has the pole position in the race.
Xavi explained that playing under Pep Guardiola has helped Sterling convert himself into a dangerous player.
“Messi is the best ever for me, and even though they’re both still playing at a very high level, there will come the day not so long away when somebody else must step into those shoes,” he told The Mirror.
“You look at young players who can be crowned the future best in the world and you still think of Neymar, [Kylian] Mbappe, [Mohamed] Salah and of course Sterling. I look at the moment and Sterling is winning that race.
“He’s always been a good player, a dangerous player, but under Pep he [has] become one of the best in the world.
“I know how Pep works – he would have worked closely with him since his arrival – where he needs to improve and what he needed to work on.
“We’re now seeing the results of that. He’s still young and can be the world’s best.”
