Casemiro tips four current players to reach Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's level

Casemiro has named four La Liga players as potential successors to the thrones of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The 32-year-old Manchester United star, who was instrumental in Real Madrid's era of dominance that saw them lift five Champions League trophies in eight years, has played alongside some of the game's elite such as Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale, Sergio Ramos and Luka Modric.

However, Casemiro believes the new generation at Real Madrid could reach similar heights, particularly if his prediction comes to pass. Speaking to Diario AS, he singled out Kylian Mbappe as someone capable of filling Messi and Ronaldo's shoes, and namedropped three of his club-mates who could follow suit.

"He [Mbappe] is one of those players that when you play against them you don't know how to stop him. He's not [on top of] the podium yet, but he'll get there," Casemiro predicted. "He's the heir to [Messi and Ronaldo], along with Vinicius Jr, who continues to grow and improve in every game, Rodrygo, and Fede Valverde."

Mbappe's sensational recent form has undoubtedly proven his worth since moving from PSG last summer. It took him a few weeks to adapt to the No. 9 role Carlo Ancelotti has been using him in, but the 26-year-old has since silenced his critics by bagging 28 goals (and counting) in all competitions.

He also etched his name into Real Madrid history on Wednesday by notching up a hat-trick against Manchester City, becoming just the fourth Los Blancos star to do so in a Champions League knockout game after Ronaldo Nazario, [Cristiano] Ronaldo, and Benzema.

Vinicius, meanwhile, has firmly established himself amongst Europe's elite strikers for a while now, and narrowly missed out on the Ballon d'Or in October. The 24-year-old has scored over 20 goals in each of the past four seasons, and is just three away from replicating the feat this term.

Rodrygo, 24, and Valverde, 26, may lack the high-profile shine of Mbappe, Vinicius, or Jude Bellingham, yet their contribution to the Bernabeu giants is irrefutable. Cemented as starting players for over five years, they've earned expansive praise, including from Casemiro who holds them in high regard for being the true engines of Madrid's success.

"Valverde is a player who leads the team and who can mark an era," the Brazil international said. "He gives everything on the pitch. Of the new midfielders, he's the best.

"In my time the 4-3-3 was in charge and I provided the balance. But now football is changing and there is more deployment all over the pitch. Valverde is the perfect No. 8. A spectacular box to box [midfielder], tremendous."

In 2022, Casemiro sang the praises of Rodrygo, who has netted 49 goals for Real Madrid over the past two-and-a-half years. "He lit up my eyes. He's a star," the midfielder said. "God gave him the gift of playing football."

He added: "Rodrygo knows when to attack, when to defend, when to be more aggressive, when to play more vertically. This kid is one of the most complete players of his generation."