It’s difficult to remember the last time someone not named Messi or Ronaldo won the Ballon d’Or award. Between the two legends, they have triumphed for the past eight years, and the duo unsurprisingly headline the race again in 2016.

But the arrival of “father time” is inevitable, and for the 29-year-old Messi and 31-year old Ronaldo, getting closer and closer.

Soon enough, a new winner will emerge. Countless young players that already star in top leagues and international competitions have a chance to win the coveted honour.

History indicates that team success augments the chances of winning the honor. About 60 percent of the Ballon d’Or recipients won their domestic league championship, and only nine winners in history failed to win any type of club title.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at the world’s brightest football stars that could win the award in future years…

Neymar

As the next great Brazilian footballer, Neymar has backed-up all of the hype in his young career.

He recorded 24 goals and 12 assists in 34 La Liga games this season. Neymar supplements an already devastating Barcelona attack with his intuition around the box and electricity with the ball at his feet.

The 24-year-old Brazilian’s best football still lies ahead. He already has earned two La Liga titles, one Champions League trophy, a World Cup fourth-place and third-place Ballon d’Or finish.

Needless to say, Neymar is on the fast track to a legendary career. Barcelona have the most Ballon d’Or winners with 10, and Neymar will be looking to add to that total in the coming years.

Paul Pogba

The French star has helped Juventus win three straight Serie A titles and is tipped to reach the very top.

Quite simply, Pogba is one of the brightest stars in world football. He has all of the skills and traits necessary for a world-class midfielder and he will only get better.

However, Pogba will need to bolster his stats if he wants to win the Ballon d’Or. His eight goals and 12 assists for Juventus are solid, to be sure, but the numbers don’t compare to the gaudy outputs from past winners of the award.

Granted, Pogba is only 23-years-old. He won the Golden Boy award, which is essentially the Ballon d’Or equivalent for players in Europe under 21. Like Neymar, his future is even more promising than the present, especially if a transfer to Real Madrid or Manchester United comes to fruition.

Gareth Bale

The star of the Wales’ incredible run in the Euros, Bale has proven he can dominate on any stage. He is a blur in the attacking third, capable of creating a goal at any touch of the ball.

He began with Southhampton at the tender age of 16, emerged at Tottenham as the Premier League’s top player and justified his title as the world’s most expensive footballer at Real Madrid.

This season, Bale scored 19 goals and 10 assists in only 23 games in La Liga. He has asserted himself as a top 5 footballer in the world, and when Ronaldo leaves Real Madrid and rides off into the sunset, Bale will become the undisputed king of the Bernabeu.

Antoine Griezmann

Griezmann was one of the top players in a star-studded La Liga this year. His season was accentuated with an appearance in the Champions League final with Atletico Madrid, who impressed all season.

But he didn’t stop there. Griezmann’s six goals in the European Championships saw him win the golden boot award, even if – for the second time this season – he couldn’t inspire his side to victory in the final.

In the past two seasons, Griezmann has 44 goals and 19 assists with Atletico. He is linked with transfer rumours to Chelsea and Manchester United, but if Atletico Madrid can continue to grow and perform, he’ll be one of the main reasons for their success – and if that’s the case, there’s no reason why he can’t win the Ballon d’Or in the next couple of seasons.

Kevin De Bruyne

A Premier League representative has won the Ballon d’Or just twice since 2001, but De Bruyne could change that.

He has proven his consistency and validated the £55million Manchester City paid for him last year. He scored 10 goals and made 20 assists with Wolfsburg in 2015, then continued his momentum with seven goals and nine assists for Manchester City in an injury-hampered season in a struggling team.

Next year, De Bruyne will improve on his Manchester City outputs on the club scene, and with Pep Guardiola there to get the best out of him, this year could be very special indeed for De Bruyne.

Paulo Dybala

The expectations revolving around Dybala are monumental, and with good reason. He has been compared to fellow Argentinian striker Carlos Tevez, but as an Argentinian striker, he’ll have the likes of Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona to live up to.

Dybala is adept at finding spots behind the defence to operate. He can run on to through balls, score goals with his powerful left foot and drop back in the flanks if needed. Quite simply, Dybala is one of the most complete players under 23 in the world, validated by the attention he’s received from Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Dybala scored 19 goals with nine assists as part of Juventus’ Italian title-winning season, and will go from strength to strength over the next few years, and maybe even a move to another league.

But there is one certainty: regardless of location, Dybala will be one of the top players in the world for the next decade. The Ballon d’Or is in his sights.

David Alaba

One of the most versatile players in the world, Alaba can impact a game in lots of ways, and in several different positions. He was featured as a central midfielder for Austria at the Euros and has been employed there at Bayern Munich, too. He’s also played at centre back, even though he is known as a full back, but you get the feeling he could play up front or in goal too!

He is fast, technically sound and understands the game at a much deeper level than most 24 year-olds. If he wins the Ballon D’or, it won’t be because of eye-popping statistics— Alaba scored one goal for Bayern Munich last season. However, Pep Guordiola placed so much onus on versatility and technical ability that Alaba’s consistency and quality was always on full display.

Only three defenders have ever won the coveted award. But at this point, confining Alaba to any concrete position is probably futile.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyeng

One of the fastest players in the world, Aubameyang took full advantage of Marco Reus’ injury problems this season. Aubameyang scored 28 goals in 31 games started for Borussia Dortmund this season, second only to Robert Lewandowksi out of all Bundesliga players.

Contrary to the majority of the aforementioned players, the Gabon star is already 27-years-old, but he’s just entering his prime.

His goalscoring ability often overshadows his excellence in other parts of the game, such as his service to the box and blinding speed on the flanks. If Aubameyang can lead Dortmund to the Bundesliga title and progress deep into the Champions League, he will certainly put himself into contention for the Ballon d’Or.

Anthony Martial

The 20-year-old burst onto the Premier League scene with 11 goals in his debut season for Manchester United. As a result of his brilliance, Martial won the coveted Golden Boy award, an honor that rewards the top player in Europe under 21-years-old.

A world-class finisher, Martial has only scratched the surface of his long-term potential.

Now, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic joining the attack, Martial will learn from one of the best. The Frenchman’s speed, ability to find the byline and serve quality balls in the box will result in plenty of goals in Jose Mourinho’s attack, but his finishing ability and movement make him employable as a central striker, too. He is perhaps best in a central role in any case.

His Ballon d’Or years aren’t here yet, but Martial’s impact on the Premier League is a sign of future superstardom.

James Rodriguez

There is no denying that James’ season with Real Madrid was a disappointment. His seven goals and eight assists are solid, but they don’t validate the £63million he received through his transfer.

However, it’s easy to forget the Colombian star is only 24-years-old. His dominance at the 2014 World Cup was promising but premature, and expecting James to perform at that world-class level every game was a bit unrealistic.

Despite a turbulent 2015-16 campaign, he is still a top midfielder, and his best seasons lie ahead. His ability with the ball at his feet is a marvel to watch and with pressure slightly subsided moving forward, the Colombian midfielder has the potential to win a Ballon d’Or.