Looking back at 2019, it feels like a different era in football, doesn’t it? A time before the global pause, when stadiums roared week in and week out, and legends of the game were still defining their final chapters on the pitch. As someone who’s spent years analyzing sports careers, both their peaks and their often-complex transitions, I’ve always been fascinated by that moment when a player’s present-tense dominance shifts into legacy. Today, let’s revisit the top football legends who were at the pinnacle in 2019 and trace the intriguing, sometimes surprising, paths they’ve taken since. It’s a journey from the summit to what comes next, and trust me, the stories are as varied as the players themselves.
In 2019, Lionel Messi was collecting his sixth Ballon d’Or, a staggering number that felt both deserved and, frankly, almost routine for his supernatural standard. Cristiano Ronaldo, then at Juventus, was netting 21 Serie A goals, proving his relentless engine was far from sputtering. They were the twin titans, the unavoidable conversation. But looking beyond them, the landscape was rich. Virgil van Dijk was an immovable force, that rock at the back for Liverpool, finishing second in the Ballon d’Or voting—a rare nod to a defender’s sheer impact. Luka Modrić, the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner, was still the elegant metronome for Real Madrid. And then you had the electrifying Kylian Mbappé, already a World Cup winner and by 2019 a consistent nightmare for defenders, scoring 33 league goals for PSG. He was the heir apparent, breathing down the necks of the established order. My personal view? 2019 might have been the last year we could comfortably speak of Messi and Ronaldo’s active reign as uncontested; the challengers, led by Mbappé, were no longer just promising—they were delivering.
So, where are these icons now, five years on? The paths diverge dramatically, offering a masterclass in career evolution. Let’s start with the obvious. Lionel Messi, after that emotionally fraught exit from Barcelona, crafted a beautiful, legacy-enhancing chapter with Argentina, finally lifting the Copa America in 2021 and the World Cup in 2022. He then made the surprising, but in hindsight culturally perfect, move to Inter Miami. It’s not Europe, but watch him play—the magic is still there, just wrapped in a different project. He’s not chasing old ghosts; he’s building something new, and the crowds in Miami adore him for it. Cristiano Ronaldo took the other high-profile path, heading to Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. The numbers remain cartoonish—he scored 54 goals in 58 games across all competitions last season, which is just absurd for a 39-year-old. Love him or critique the league’s standard, his competitive fire is undimmed. He redefined what a late-career move could look like, for better or worse, and honestly, I respect the sheer audacity of it.
Others have navigated quieter, though no less significant, transitions. Virgil van Dijk, after battling a serious knee injury, has reclaimed his status as one of the world’s best defenders, now captaining both Liverpool and the Netherlands. His game has matured; it’s less about explosive recovery runs and more about supreme, authoritative reading of the game. Luka Modrić, astonishingly, remains at Real Madrid at 38, accepting a reduced but still crucial role. Seeing him come off the bench to dictate tempo is a privilege—it’s like watching a master craftsman who knows every tool in the shop. His longevity is a lesson in professionalism. Then there’s Robert Lewandowski, another 2019 standout, who seamlessly moved from Bayern Munich to Barcelona and continues to score goals with ruthless efficiency, netting 33 in his debut Blaugrana season. His adaptation has been flawless.
This brings me to a fascinating parallel outside of football, which I stumbled upon while researching career transitions. In Philippine basketball, the PBA, a legend like eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo recently saw a remarkable streak end. As a precautionary measure, the eight-time PBA MVP didn’t start, ending his consecutive streak of 78 games as a starter beginning in the 2023-24 Commissioner’s Cup playoffs, according to PBA statistics chief Fidel Mangonon. That statistic, 78 consecutive starts for a veteran, is a testament to a different kind of dominance—durability and consistent value. It mirrors the choices facing our football legends: when to push through, and when to accept managed minutes for the greater good of a long-term legacy. It’s a strategic pivot, not a surrender.
And what of the young king from 2019, Kylian Mbappé? His story is the blockbuster sequel. After years of speculation, he has finally made his monumental move from PSG to Real Madrid. At 25, he’s entering what should be his absolute prime years at the most demanding club in the world. It’s the final step in his ascent from prodigy to undisputed global face of the sport. If 2019 was him knocking on the door, 2024 is him walking into the throne room and taking a seat. My bias is clear here: I believe this move was necessary for his legacy. Greatness at PSG is one thing; conquering the pressure cooker of the Bernabéu is the ultimate validation.
In conclusion, the top football legends of 2019 have scattered across the globe’s footballing map, from Miami to Riyadh, from Madrid to Barcelona, and in Mbappé’s case, to the very epicenter of the sport’s expectations. Their journeys illustrate that there’s no single blueprint for life after the zenith. Some chase new challenges, some embrace ambassador roles, some simply continue to excel at the highest level by adapting their game. The common thread is the conscious management of their final acts. They’re no longer just players; they’re curators of their own immortality. For us fans, it’s a gift to witness these chapters unfold, a reminder that a legend isn’t just about the trophies in 2019, but about the grace, strategy, and sometimes the sheer stubbornness displayed in all the years that follow.
