Sport Features

THERE was a blow for Argentina in an intimate interview that Lionel Messi gave to Spanish TV channel La Sexta, filmed before Christmas and broadcast on Sunday.
Messi made no mention of any plan, or even dream, of rounding off his career back in Argentina with Newell’s Old Boys, his boyhood club in the city where he was born, Rosario.

Lionel Messi sat down with Spanish TV channel and outlined his future plans in an intimate interview

This was an idea he once used to float, but it now seems far from his thoughts.
He came across very much as a man of Barcelona, the city which has moulded him since the age of 13 and which seems sure to be his long term home.
Indeed, he did mention a rival destination; he has pondered the idea of experiencing life in the United States.
This revelation sent social media into overdrive.

Some saw it as a confirmation that his short term future would lie with Manchester City, and that after a spell reunited with Pep Guardiola in the Premier League he could use City’s transatlantic connections to ease his way into Major League Soccer.
All of this may be true – but it is by no means clear that things will work out that way.
The reference to the United States was made in passing, and he stressed that there was no plan in place.
Indeed, his desire to live in the country may have nothing to do with football at all.

He may imagine it as a place where he can enjoy a kind of anonymity which is impossible in his normal life.
“There are times when I would like to be anonymous,” he said, “to not have 300 eyes trained on me, to be able to go to the supermarket, the cinema or to a restaurant.”
Many big name players have enjoyed being able to wander free in the USA, though it is far from clear that someone as prominent as Messi would be able to pass unnoticed.
There was no clear statement of where his short term destiny might lie. Messi made it clear that he is fully committed to Barcelona until the end of the season.

Messi could join Mauricio Pochettino at PSG, who is expected to take over the reigns from the sacked Thomas TuchelCredit: EPA
But he is obviously very displeased with the club’s previous administration, and far from convinced, in their current financial position, that Barcelona can form a team good enough to challenge for the Champions League for a while.
So what does he want? Is he prepared to be part of a rebuilding process?  He is already carrying out a similar role with the Argentina national team, so why should he do the same at club level?
He can’t change his country. But in the summer he can choose his club.
His family would love him to stay. The chance of his old friend Xavi taking over might be an incentive as well – although the financial problems are not going to disappear whoever is in charge.
The Argentine sports daily ‘Ole!’ believes that Paris Saint Germain are in pole position – and it is easy to see why that view makes sense.
Messi still has a magnificent range of talents, but at 33 and a half he is in physical decline, losing the kick of acceleration to take him away from markers.
The draining challenge of the Premier League may well have come a couple of years too late. 
PSG, on the other hand, can offer him more than a reunion with his great friend Neymar.

Should Messi opt for PSG he will rejoin pal NeymarCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Messi and Neymar enjoyed a telepathic relationship at BarcelonaCredit: Rex Features

In France he could coast a little through the league, saving himself for what really matters to him – three or four more attempts at the Champions League and one last crack at the World Cup.
PSG’s decision to sack coach Thomas Tuchel may be part of the process – clearing the way for Mauricio Pochettino, a fellow Argentine who grew up close to Rosario, came through the ranks at Newell’s and made his life in Europe.
Fellow Argentine star Angel Di Maria has also done his best to try to entice Messi to Paris.
The interview with La Sexta makes it less likely that Lionel Messi will be wearing the red and black of Newell’s – but perhaps more probable that he might soon be coached by one of their old boys.

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LIONEL MESSI isn’t the first Barcelona star to think the grass is greener away from the Nou Camp.
The Argentinian legend appears to be at the end of his tether with the struggling Catalans.

Messi during the time before Neymar left for PSGCredit: AFP

Not only has he admitted it would be very difficult for Barcelona to return as the world’s best, Messi, 33, has spoken about his admiration for ex-boss Pep Guardiola, as he continues to be linked to Manchester City.
PSG are also said to be considering launching a bid for the six-time Ballon d’Or winner to partner him up with former team-mate Neymar.
But, as these seven names ended up proving, it doesn’t always work out if you leave Barça.
NEYMAR
PSG (AUGUST 2017)
Although Neymar left Barcelona because he wanted to be the main man elsewhere, and was tired of living under Messi’s shadow, it hasn’t worked out for him entirely at PSG since his world record move.

The project that was sold to him by president Nasser Al-Khelaifi was that the French giants could be Champions League winners and he was going to be part of a side that would dominate Europe for years.
However, it hasn’t quite worked out that way – the closest coming last season when they fell at the last hurdle against Bayern Munich.
Injuries haven’t helped Neymar’s cause, and he is said to be hankering for a move away to add another Champions League medal to accompany the one he won at Barcelona in 2015.

A second Champions League winners’ medal has eluded Neymar since leaving BarcelonaCredit: AFP or licensors
CLAUDIO BRAVO
Manchester City (AUGUST 2016)
The Chilean shotstopper made 75 appearances in three seasons with Barcelona.

However, in his final year Marc-Andre ter Stegen was preferred and Bravo was dropped.
He joined Guardiola at Manchester City in a £17million deal, but from his debut against Manchester United when he made a gaffe to gift City’s rivals a goal he received widespread criticism.
Bravo has since joined Real Betis, where he’s trying to rebuild his career.

Chilean shotstopper Claudio Bravo appeared 75 times for Barcelona in three seasonsCredit: EPA
BOJAN
Roma (JULY 2011)
When Bojan arrived on the scene at Barcelona he was touted as the next wonderkid to rule the Nou Camp for years to come.
He even broke Messi’s record of youngest player to ever feature in a LaLiga game at 17 years and 19 days.
But after finding himself frozen out the team with the likes of David Villa, Pedro and Messi preferred, he was sold to Roma.
There were loans at Milan and Ajax that failed to bring out the best in Bojan before he moved to Stoke and continued to flatter to deceive.
Today, he plays for Montreal Impact in MLS.

Bojan broke Messi’s record of youngest ever player to appear in La Liga for BarcelonaCredit: Reuters
VICTOR VALDES
Manchester United (JANUARY 2015)
Another former Barcelona goalkeeper, Valdes was part of the Barcelona side that swept all before them.
He played 535 games for the club, winning LaLiga six times and three Champions League titles.
But when his contract expired in 2014, he decided he wanted a new challenge and signed for Manchester United.
There he played just twice, suffering the indignity of being loaned out to Standard Liege.

Victor Valdes won six La Liga titles at BarcelonaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
HRISTO STOICHKOV
Parma (JULY 1995)
The Bulgarian legend won the Ballon d’Or as a Barcelona player in 1994.
Recognised for his bullish style, he scored goals for fun – 108 in 214 games in all competitions for the Spanish giants.
He helped the club win four LaLiga titles in a row, as well as the European Cup in 1991 in one of the greatest periods for the Catalans.
But he was sold to ambitious Parma for £10million in 1995, where he struggled for form – scoring only seven times in 30 games.
He returned to Barcelona a year later, however he was a shadow of his former self.

Hristo Stoichkov is an all-time great at Barcelona, but he flopped when he left for ParmaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
DECO
Chelsea (JUNE 2008)
The Portuguese playmaker was a cult figure at Barcelona after signing from Porto.
He was runner-up to Andriy Shevchenko for the 2004 Ballon d’Or, and named Barca’s player of the season for 2004-05.
A year later, Deco helped his team win the Champions League – winning the Uefa Best Midfielder Award.
However, the wheels fell off when he left for Chelsea for £8million, especially when boss Luiz Felipe Scolari was sacked and Deco was dropped for his poor form.

Deco won the Champions League with Barcelona in 2006Credit: AFP

PATRICK KLUIVERT
Newcastle United (JULY 2004)
In 1998, Kluivert began his love affair with Barcelona – rejoining his old mentor Louis van Gaal, who gave him his debut at Ajax.
And he was top scorer for the club for three of the six seasons he spent in Spain.
But in 2004 Kluivert tried his hand at the Premier League and moved to Newcastle.
In truth, he struggled and scored just six times in the league before he was released on a free after one season.

Patrick Kluivert never rediscovered his goalscoring form once he left BarcelonaCredit: AP:Associated Press

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IF THERE is one person who calls the shots in where Mauro Icardi plays next, then it is his stunning wife and agent Wanda Nara.
The Paris St Germain striker, who moved from Inter Milan for £54m in the summer of 2020, is a huge football name but it’s his wife Wanda who grabs all the headlines.

She recently vowed to take legal action against a comedian for making crude jokes about her riding a horse naked.
Not afraid to make the big decisions in what is predominantly a male industry, Wanda is the most controversial WAG on the planet with sex tape rumours, naked photos and allegedly cheating on her ex-husband footballer in order to woo Icardi.
Oh, and the two were team-mates at the time.
Argentinian Wanda is no shrinking violet who sits in the shadows of her man’s career.

She famously caused a huge rift in her home country after seducing Icardi, 27, while she was still married to his Argentinian teammate, Maxi Lopez, 36.
Widely regarded as one of the most powerful women in football, agent Wanda oversees her husband’s career.

Wanda is expected to ruffle a lot of feathersCredit: Instagram
One former footballer explains to Sun Online: “Argentina is arguably the country most passionate about football, so when Icardi hooked up with his national teammate’s wife, and moved their three kids in with him, fans were disgusted and it’s caused problems ever since.

“Wanda isn’t well liked in the country, but she doesn’t care.
She loves showing off her glamorous life – she posts naked pictures of her surrounded by her designer shoes and bags in her walk-in wardrobe and travelling by private jet.
“If they move over here in January, she’s going to ruffle a lot of feathers with fans and fellow WAGS.”
Here, Sun Online takes a closer at the blonde beauty.

Wanda Nara lives in Paris with her husband IcardiCredit: Instagram

Mauro Icardi’s wife Wanda Nara sends social media into frenzy with stunning lingerie video
Nude pictures and a ‘sex tape’ scandal
Sexy Wanda often posts provocative belfies and topless shots to her 5.9 million Instagram followers.
Many are taken in their mansion, where she surrounds herself with designer clothes and fast cars.

Wanda is happy to flaunt her curves on social mediaCredit: Instagram

Icardi is partial to posting scantily-clad images of his wife to his 6 million Instagram followers, too.
These include some rather explicit swimwear shots taken while the pair enjoyed themselves on a romantic getaway to the Seychelles.

Last year, though, Wanda was subject of rumours when an audio sex-tape was sent around on WhatsApp.
Italian news outlets reported it was between Wanda and Icardi’s teammate Marcelo Brozovic – she denied it.

She is known for posting revealing selfiesCredit: Instagram
She retorted: “I am a mum and I live for my five children, I am always with them. Then I am the wife of Mauro.
“I live a normal life, I work and I take care of my children so think for yourself rather than write nonsense stories about my life.”

She has denied that a rumoured sex tape is of herCredit: Instagram

Inviting her lover on holiday with her husband
Icardi says Wanda first got with him on a holiday with her, ex Lopez, and their three children, Valentino, nine, Constantino, eight, and Benedicto, six in 2013.
In his autobiography, Sempre Avanti, Icardi reveals: “We texted many times. She wrote to me: ‘Mauro, we are going for a ride to the Aeolian Islands with Gonzalo Bergessio and his wife. Why don’t you come with us?’
“While I was alone on the second floor of the boat, lying on the couch and listening to a bit of reggae, Wanda all of a sudden came and sat beside me, without any embarrassment. At that time her relationship with Lopez was ending.”

The trio used to holiday together before Wanda left Lopez for IcardiCredit: Instagram
However, Wanda says Icardi seduced her after her marriage ended.
“After the divorce, I had gone back to live in Argentina and already had the kids registered for the new school year. I had to come back to Milan to finalise some paperwork and he offered to lend me his car, leaving me the keys to his house, too.”

“He asked if I wanted to have dinner with him, but the fridge was empty. I knocked up some pasta and the rest just happened spontaneously.”She also claimed her husband was to blame, saying at the time: “It’s been three months since my husband had sex.
“Maxi has neglected me. Although I’ve been living in luxury, I am also living with hidden pain.”

She is now married to Icardi, who is six years her juniorCredit: Instagram

She said she left Lopez as he was neglecting her sexuallyCredit: Instagram
The ultimate betrayal of friendship
Series A’s Sampdoria match against Inter Milan in April 2014 was dubbed “The Wanda Derby”.
Their relationship had just come to light – and Lopez was playing for Sampdoria.

It was viewed as a massive betrayal when Wanda seduced her then-husband Lopez’s team-mate IcardiCredit: Getty – Contributor

An Inter Milan match was nicknamed ‘the Wanda Derby’ as her husband played against her exCredit: Instagram
Icardi was booed by fans and Lopez refused to shake his hand.
Wanda and Lopez had begun divorce proceedings in December 2013, when reports surfaced it was partly due to her relationship with Icardi.
It was considered the ultimate betrayal of friendship. Icardi is nine years Lopez’s junior and had been taken under his wing when he first moved to play in Italy.

Wanda and Icardi married in 2014Credit: Instagram
In May 2014 Icardi married Wanda in Buenos Aires in front of just 12 guests – none of his teammates attended.
First the wife, then the kids
Unashamed, the new couple wrote gushing tributes to each other on social media.
In June 2014, five months after Wanda left Lopez, tensions worsened when Icardi tweeted a picture of a new arm tattoo he had of Wanda and Lopez’s three children, captioned “I love these three little angels.”

Lopez has been left seething at Icardi publicly tweeting about his childrenCredit: Instagram
Unsurprisingly, Lopez seethed, saying: “I can understand that, being a public figure, he publishes photos. But I’m not comfortable with my kids being in those photos.”
Icardi and Wanda have gone on to have two young daughters of their own, Francesca and Isabella.

The couple have gone to have kids of their ownCredit: Instagram
The ‘most explosive WAG in football’
While most WAGS are secondary to their fella’s career, Wanda at the forefront of Icardi’s – in 2015, he sacked his agent of 10 years, hiring Wanda instead.
She is believed to be behind his increasing salary demands and draws up his contracts.

Wanda is known for being an explosive WAG who drives her husband’s careerCredit: Instagram
But there’s vast speculation that Icardi hasn’t been called up by Argentina due to the furore over how he and Wanda got together.
But he has been since.
And during his second clash, against Uruguay in September 2017, Wanda travelled to the game via private jet, and demanded to be seated in a box.
She was “forced” to sit in the stands and reportedly had a tantrum about it..

She has a love of travelling on private jetsCredit: Instagram

Wanda lives a luxurious lifestyleCredit: Instagram
Despised by their home country
Even Diego Maradona has been incensed by Icardi and Wanda’s personal life.
Last year, with rumours of Icardi being called up to World Cup, Maradona called Icardi a “piece of sh*t” and an “embarrassment”.

Even football legend Diego Maradona has blasted the pairCredit: Instagram
“[Icardi] knows how to (have sex with his friend’s wife). He does that very well.
“He can find his friend’s house easily, he doesn’t need a GPS for that.”
Yet, Wanda and Icardi remain unapologetic.

Icardi says his wife means ‘everything’ to himCredit: Instagram
Icardi has even called Lopez “ignorant” and says: “As long as my footballing career goes on, I hope to achieve it by her side because she truly deserves it for the sacrifice she’s made of being so far from her family, so far from Argentina and to be by my side here, raising our children and being happy in Milan.”

Wanda also won’t be pushed out of the limelight.
She recently riled fans by claiming Icardi was “on par with Cristiano Ronaldo”, and was also accused of instigating tension before the infamously violent Boca Junior versus River Plate clash by wearing River colours. More

AFTER enjoying a Christmas day feast, Britain’s best footballers will be gearing up for a busy sporting calendar.
Normally, teams will play twice in a week – once on Boxing Day and again on New Year’s Day.

Football fans are treated to a feast of the beautiful game over the Christmas periodCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Sure, it will irk the likes of Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola, who have both been critical of the tradition.
And with other European leagues taking a winter break and giving players a well-earned rest, you can see their point.
But why is football played over the Christmas period on our shores? Let SunSport explain.
MEDIEVAL TRADITION
Before football was officially created and the FA was formed in 1863, there were variations of the beautiful game.

In fact, historians can go back to as far as 1170 when medieval football or mob football was played in the streets.
Often, these games took place over Easter and during the Christmas period.
Today, because we are such a nostalgic country, you still get these events occurring.
One is The Kirkwall Ba game on New Year’s Day and another is The Royal Shrovetide village game in Ashbourne, Derbyshire.

Medieval football dates back to 1170 and took place over the Christmas holidayCredit: Alamy

The Kirkwall Ba game takes place still today on New Year’s DayCredit: Getty Images – Getty
FOOTBALL EVERY DAY
In the late 1800s there was a time when football was played nearly every day over the Christmas period, including Christmas day.
“Football was played on Christmas day because it was a day off and there was a tradition of public working-class events,” history professor Martin Johnes revealed.
“It was also at times played on Boxing Day meaning two games in two days.”
That also allowed the working class the opportunity to go to games on one of their few days off and get out of their crowded, cramped homes.
“For the working class, whose residences were often uncomfortable, overcrowded and unappealing, a rare day free from work was reason to take to the streets, not relax at home,” Johnes said.
Bank holiday legislation also played an important role.
“The 1871 Bank Holidays Act gave Boxing day this designation in England and Wales,” Johnes added.

A crowd of men and boys enjoy a match between Brighton and Crystal Palace on Christmas Day in 1920Credit: Popperfoto – Getty

Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-0 on Boxing Day in 1956Credit: Getty Images – Getty
“It had not done the same for Christmas day or Good Friday because they were established days of rest and worship.”
If Klopp is concerned about today’s crowded fixture list, lucky he wasn’t manager of the Reds in 1913.
Liverpool played Manchester City at home on Christmas Day, then the return game on Boxing Day, and another match at Anfield against Blackburn on December 27. That’s three games in three days.
INTEREST DWINDLED
Christmas day football became a thing of the past by the 1960s with families beginning to come together more.
The improvement of living conditions had a hand in that, with food, presents and decorations becoming more affordable to the masses.
“Communal entertainments were clearly on the decline as the festival took greater root in the home,” Johnes divulged.

Christmas day football became a thing of the past by the 1960sCredit: Popperfoto – Getty

Today, fans love the busy Christmas period of football Credit: Getty Images – Getty

“Football shifts just to Boxing day, as Christmas Day becomes more family orientated and more importantly public transport becomes more and more limited.”
The last Christmas Day fixtures in England took place in 1965.
Blackburn Rovers beat Blackpool 1-0 in the first division, while Coventry recorded a thrilling 5-3 win over Wrexham in the third division.

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IT’S not like playing on a rainy day at Stoke, but it must be chilly.
In 1992, FC Santa Claus – who play their games at Lapland – were formed when Finish teams Rovaniemen Reipas and Rovaniemen Lappi combined.

FC Santa Claus are a team in FinlandCredit: Instagram @fcsantaclausofficial

Santa Claus, the club’s boss, shows off his football skillsCredit: Instagram @fcsantaclausofficial

And they can officially lay claim to being the most Christmassy football club EVER.
Their honorary boss is Saint Nick, better known as Santa Claus to children around the globe.
Often, he’s seen at matches and the club’s crest features his image checking his naughty or nice list.
While their club colours are in honour of their Santa’s famous attire, with red and white home kits and white and green away designs too.

PART-TIMERS
FC Santa Claus played their first professional match in 1993, and once reached the heady heights of the Finnish third division.
Not bad for a side that’s made primarily of part-timers – that’s students and locals who work at the Christmas market or at the post office that receives letters for Santa Claus.
The club, themselves, realise their status and have gained popularity all around the world.
And they do their bit for charity – teaming up with UNICEF to donate proceeds from their kits to the organisation renowned for their work for children in danger.

In 1997, they even played against Premier League side Crystal Palace in a friendly that drew 5,000 fans.

The club crest features Santa checking his naughty or nice listCredit: Instagram @fcsantaclausofficial

FC Santa Claus are made up of students and locals who work at the Christmas market or at the post officeCredit: Instagram @fcsantaclausofficial
IN THE DARK
FC Santa Claus play games in Rovaniemi – Lapland’s capital, in an area surrounded by forest, reindeer and the sight of the Northern Lights.
It could be seen as daunting place to go – football in Lapland is at the mercy of the winter elements, and from October to April it snows, while daylight hours are limited.
Temperatures can average between 16°C to -3°C.
Ralf Wunderlich, who runs things on the pitch, revealed his job satisfaction to BBC Sport.
“If you like Christmas, and I do, then this place is very good – it’s all about Christmas here,” he said.
“You have some kind of Christmas feeling the whole year without being too much – a whole year of positive feelings.
“Of course, Santa is not officially in charge, but in the background everyone knows he runs this club.”

The team plays in Rovaniemi – Lapland’s capitalCredit: Instagram @fcsantaclausofficial

Temperatures can average between 16°C to -3°C for FC Santa Claus games
HARD TIMES
Despite their good intentions, FC Santa Claus have battled on amid financial tribulations.
In 2012 they were saved from bankruptcy with a last-ditch fundraiser, as well as sponsorship deals with EA Sports and Puma.
They have since been sponsored by Nike, as they continue to toil.
But fortunes on the pitch haven’t been as kind as Santa’s present giving.
The main team in Rovaniemi has always been RoPS – but they suffered relegation from the first division back in November.
FC Santa Claus are the locals’ second team, and the players who represent them are often those who aren’t good enough to play at a higher level and enjoy the spirit of Christmas.
After a number of relegations, last year they played in Finland’s fifth tier. But this year they only have a team featuring in an eight-a-side league.
Wunderlich, however, isn’t deterred. His job is to kickstart a youth set-up and restart the men’s team from January.

The club have run into financial difficulties after a number of relegationsCredit: Instagram @fcsantaclausofficial

Now FC Santa Claus are an eight-a-side team

But FC Santa Claus hope to rise againCredit: Instagram @fcsantaclausofficial

“I like the idea of being Santa Claus’ official club – such a big potential to be cheerful and spread positive messages,” he said.
“For me it is very important people realise it is not just FC Santa Claus in name but the whole spirit of Santa and values around Christmas.
“I will do my best to make the whole world understand there is this positive small football club in north Finland representing Santa.”

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LIONEL Messi’s 643rd competitive goal for Barcelona should not have been something as banal as a penalty.
And so the Valencia keeper saved his kick on Saturday, allowing the ball to be played back in for Messi to score at the far post with a close range header – a more fittingly unusual way of celebrating a milestone.

Lionel Messi scored his 643 goal for Barcelona against Valencia Credit: Reuters

Messi has now equalled Pele’s record for the amount of goals scored for one team in competitive matches.
Pele managed 643 for Santos in his native Brazil between 1956 and 1974. Messi has spent a decade and a half matching his achievement in Catalonia.
It is a mistake to judge the greatness of players of this calibre just by statistics. If football was just numbers then it would be bingo.
Pele’s advocates do him few favours by harping on about the more than 1000 goals that he scored – even if friendly matches back then were frequently given much more importance than they are today.

His genius emerged in the way that, time after time, he stepped up on the big occasions – from the World Cup quarter final against Wales back in 1958, when up in the stands the 1938 idol Leonidas was demanding on radio that he be dropped from the team, all the way to Mexico 70, with plenty of high points in between.
From the perspective of today, many of Pele’s competitive goals for Santos may not look like big occasions.
The majority came in a local competition, the championship of Sao Paulo state.
While there were quick national tournaments from the late 50s, a genuine Brazilian Championship did not get underway until 1971, just too late to see Pele at his best.

Messi heads home against Valencia after initially missing his penaltyCredit: AFP or licensors

A scoreboard congratulates Messi’s remarkable achievement that matches Pele’s goalscoring recordCredit: Reuters
Context, though, is key. Brazil is huge – a country the size of a continent.  Sao Paulo is one of 27 states that make up Brazil – and, with Rio de Janeiro, it is the traditional stronghold of the Brazilian game.
In Pele’s day, Brazilian football was not an export industry – as the presence of Pele proves. Almost all of the best Brazilian players earned their living in Brazil, along with some big names from other South American countries. 
The likes of Corinthians, Palmeiras, Sao Paulo and some of the other clubs could count on team line ups at least as strong as many of the opponents Messi has faced in La Liga.
And if it is all too easy to see the past from today’s perspective and under-value the achievements of Pele, then it is entirely possible that something similar might happen to Messi.
Let’s fast forward a few decades and imagine that the big clubs have managed to force through their dream of a European Super-League. There will be regular clashes between the giant clubs, which will be judged as the supreme test of quality.
From that point of view, many of the national leagues may come to be seen as largely irrelevant to the pursuit of true greatness – much as people today tend to look back on the domestic achievements of Pele.
The pundits of 2060 may be quick to dismiss the importance of Messi’s goals against the likes of Levante and Getafe.

Pele’s goalscoring record is often undervalued by punditsCredit: Rex Features

Let’s fast forward a few decades and imagine that the big clubs have managed to force through their dream of a European Super-League. There will be regular clashes between the giant clubs, which will be judged as the supreme test of quality.
From that point of view, many of the national leagues may come to be seen as largely irrelevant to the pursuit of true greatness – much as people today tend to look back on the domestic achievements of Pele.
The pundits of 2060 may be quick to dismiss the importance of Messi’s goals against the likes of Levante and Getafe.

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