Haaland among the candidates in sport's new era making a claim for GOAT status

Tennis has also seen Serena Williams go, while motorsport legend Valentino Rossi has said his farewells, and more seem to be on their way.

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Elsewhere, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lewis Hamilton are finally showing their age after astonishing careers, with a huge chasm behind them appearing in elite sport.

There are understandably some fears that we may never have it so good ever again, but as their replacements begin to emerge, there's even some signs there could be an improvement on greatness.

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Here, talkSPORT takes a look at who might not just replicate the all-time greats of sport, but even better them…

Erling Haaland

Any doubts that Haaland may struggle with the perceived step up to the Premier League has been comprehensively blown out of the water by an upgrade in teammates putting the ball on a plate for him.

Among the ridiculous Champions League scoring records that see the strione goal from the competitions top 30 in scoring, Haaland's now setting jaw-dropping feats in England.

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With three Premier League hat-tricks to his name in eight games, that smashes the record of 48 it took Michael Owen, and with him already matching Cristiano Ronaldo's hat-trick tally, the question might change from can he replicate the Manchester United legend's scoring, to can he actually beat it?

Max Verstappen

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Looking back it may come as a surprise that it took Verstappen seven seasons to claim his first Formula 1 world title, but with a car finally matching his talent, we could be about to witness another era of dominance in motorsport.

It was clear the Dutchman was a champion in the making when he debuted in the sport in 2015 at the age of 17, smashing the previous youngest record by two years, but it was a while before his machinery caught up with his talent.

Michael Schumacher's seven world titles looked like they would never ever be matched, but with Lewis Hamilton achieving the feat, there's only Verstappen's talk of a relatively early retirement stopping him from joining that pantheon.

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Carlos Alcaraz

With three of tennis' 'Fab Four' approaching retirement as Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray's careers come to a close, Novak Djokovic might have thought he had it all to himself, but for the sake of competition, Alcaraz's arrival has come at a perfect time.

Still only 19, the Spaniard is now the youngest ever male world number one in tennis thank to his win at the US Open in September, and it appears there will be plenty more on the way with an enviable list of age records already in the sport.

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It's often said that any of Djokovic, Nadal or Federer would have had a clean run at every title on offer without their rivals playing in the same era, and that might not be an issue for Alcaraz.

Shakur Stevenson

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A two-weight world champion and unified champion at just 25 years old, Stevenson looks set for stardom for at least the next decade if all goes to plan.

Stevenson now has a 19-0 record, and the US has a new star fighter, with his masterclass in April against Oscar Valdez followed up with another unanimous win against Robson Conceicao.

The only thing that might be standing in the 25-year-old's way is countryman Devin Haney, but if either makes it to the top, they will become greats in America, and worldwide.

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Iga Swiatek

Part of what made Serena Williams not just one of tennis' all-time greats but sports was her ability to swat aside any new potential great that tried to threaten her, which makes it a shame her career didn't cross over with Swiatek.

The 21-year-old Pole looks well set to take over Williams' record as the undisputed one to beat at the top of women's tennis.

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With three Grand Slams to her name already and world no.1 status, Swiatek has the 21st century record for consecutive wins with 37, and is now harnessing the Haaland-level inevitability that makes her a frightening prospect.