Paul Pogba Will Be the World's Best Player in Next 4 Years, Says Rio Ferdinand

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated discussions about the world's best footballer, but recently retired defender Rio Ferdinand predicts Paul Pogba will reach—and overtake—the pair in the next four years.

Ferdinand played alongside Pogba when the Frenchman was a youngster on the books at Manchester United. Infamously, he moved away from Old Trafford and blossomed at Juventus.

Pogba is 22 now—still to peak in comparison with the likes of Ronaldo, 30, and Messi, who turns 28 later this month.

And Ferdinand says it will be Pogba, wherever he ends up, who can be football's dominant force. Per the Sun (h/t Daily Mirror's Jacob Murtagh):

"

I saw first-hand what Pogba could do and what a top player he could become. He has the height and strength of Patrick Vieira and the feet of a ballerina. He loves the game and wants to play it the right way.

He always had all the skills and showed at United that he was tough too. The best players get kicked in every game, come back for more, and keep going. Pogba’s like that and so was Cristiano Ronaldo.

I would confidently predict that, provided he stays injury-free, Pogba will be the world player of the year within the next four years. Yes, he is that good.

"

[The Sun, h/t Daily Mirror]