Where Are They Now? The Five Players Cristiano Ronaldo Tipped To Dominate Football In 2015

Cristiano Ronaldo, while he was starring for Real Madrid in 2015, forecasted the future of football by picking five players who would dominate the game. Where are these players now? Let’s find out.

Then a 16-year-old prodigy at Real Madrid, Martin Odegaard had caught Ronaldo's eye. Our expert sources reveal that Ronaldo had said about Odegaard: "He has a good future ahead. We must give him time to learn, to take his best decisions. But I see a lot of potential in the player, he has got a good left foot." Today, Odegaard has blossomed into an accomplished player under Arsenal, becoming a mainstay in the Gunners' Premier League campaign.

In 2015, Eden Hazard had just wrapped up a successful third season at Chelsea, significantly contributing to their Premier League triumph. Following an impressive career at Chelsea, Hazard made a huge move to Real Madrid in 2019, inherited Ronaldo’s No. 7 shirt. However, injuries impaired his stint at Madrid, and he retired at 32. Hazard has recently completed the esteemed 225km Mallorca 312 amateur road cycling race, highlighting he stays competitive even off the pitch.

Paul Pogba, after winning multiple titles with Juventus and earning acclaim at the 2015 Champions League final, landed at Manchester United in 2016, on Ronaldo’s recommendation. But ill fate followed in the form of injuries, and a controversial drug test saw an 18-month suspension, after which he became a free agent looking for the next move.

Memphis Depay, initially hailed as the heir to Ronaldo's throne, had a promising start but unfortunately fell short of expectations. After short stints at Manchester United, Lyon, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid, he now represents Brazilian club Corinthians, where he’s contributed 13 goals and 13 assists in 39 games.

Finally, Neymar - the Brazilian talent that Ronaldo believed in. After a record-breaking move to Paris Saint-Germain, Neymar's career took a downturn due to injuries while playing for Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal. Despite a challenging time, Neymar returned to Santos, where he started and has shown promising signs of getting back to form.

Ronaldo's foresight from his Real Madrid days in 2015 was quite accurate, with most of the players making their mark in the world of football. It's a testament to Ronaldo's skill not just as a player, but also a connoisseur of talents.