Who Is Set to Be Atletico Madrid's Next Big Star?

Atletico Madrid's progression over the past few years has seen them rise from a collection of so-so players and those who never quite fulfilled their potential to a unit of genuine winners under Diego Simeone.

From back to front there are huge names, standout performers and real stars, some of whom have been in place throughout and others who are on the verge of being the next key name, the vital component to Atleti who continue to challenge for Liga and Champions League honours.

To be a star in a team who places more emphasis on the collective than the individual, players need key traits: non-stop work rate, diligence in positional work off the ball, tactical awareness and excellent stamina reserves—along with, of course, standout technical abilities in each respective area of the team.

So who can be the next star name for Simeone to rely on?

Core

To assess who is next, we need to appreciate who can already be classed as a star, both in the team focus of Atleti but also in the wider context of the footballing world.

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

Centre-back Diego Godin is undoubtedly the first. A leader of the team and the spirit and expectation of Simeone made visible on the pitch, Godin will put his body on the line for 90 minutes or more to win every ball and stop the opposition. Koke is another, a perfect midfield blend of technical excellence and mental resilience.

In attack, Antoine Griezmann moved last season from exciting winger to unstoppable forward and undoubtedly fits the star-billing category. Each of those three see transfers linked in their name worth tens of millions to the biggest sides around the continent.

They're already at one, though, in one of the most impressive cities and important leagues—and that's why they remain in place at the Vicente Calderon.

Tips for this Term

There are three main candidates from the current squad to be the next big star, the undroppable name, the recognisable face of the team.

Goalkeeper Jan Oblak took several months to establish himself as the No. 1 on account of Miguel Angel Moya's form early in the season, but he's a monster—agile, confident, imposing and with every basic goalkeeping attribute needed to be one of Europe's best. If he plays both Liga and Champions League this season, Atleti will show themselves to have more than adequately replaced Thibaut Courtois.

Ahead of Oblak, Josema Gimenez is another powerhouse centre-back, very much in the mould of team-mate at club and country level, Godin.

A new challenge has arrived in the face of Stefan Savic, but quite frankly, Gimenez is the better defender, and that's what will take Simeone's eye first of all. Gimenez has all of the tools to be just as good as Godin himself and is already well aware of what is needed to remain in place in the side. He has already displaced and forced the sale of Miranda, the title-winning Brazilian, and he now should complete a first full term as the undisputed first choice in the back line.

B/R's Sam Tighe has detailed why Gimenez can be a genuine standout, not just at Atleti but in la Liga overall.

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

Thirdly, Oliver Torres is very close to breaking out as a noted performer for this team. It might take a little while for him to nail down a regular starting spot on account of his age (20) and competition for the right-sided role in midfield (Angel Correa, Raul Garcia, Saul Niguez), but like Koke he mixes a tough approach and big levels of commitment with wizardry on the ball.

He offers something different to the team, vision and skill on the ball and an ability to break between opposition lines in the final third.

Jackson Martinez is also worthy of note, but the Colombian striker will have to be extraordinary to be considered a star. A huge price tag and playing alongside Antoine Griezmann means hitting 20 goals or so won't be enough—he needs to offer lots to the team's play outside of merely scoring, and then also break all expectations with his finishing. Twenty goals will merely be "what was expected" rather than worthy of elevating him to a similar status of importance as Godin or Koke.

Beyond

Saul is a massive talent, no doubting it, but he lacks an extra level or two at present to think he can be as important or effective for the team as Koke. Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco will hope to similarly improve while he is at the club, moving from a very good player to an elite one, though his role is more functional and systematic for the side rather than pivotal.

Another season or two down the line, however, and it is entirely possible Luciano Vietto, with his twin approach of linking play and finishing moves off, will become one of the more important names once he establishes himself as first choice. Lucas Hernandez is also a talent in the defensive ranks and could cover both left-back and centre-back this term.

If pressed for a single name, it's likely goalkeeper Oblak will first join Koke, Godin and Griezmann as the absolute stars of Atleti's team, but the fact they have so many plausible options is testament to the squad the club have built and Simeone's capacity to get the best out of them.

Follow @karlmatchett