How good is Messi now? Finding joy in his final act

Lionel Messi has history at Wembley. It was there that Barcelona beat Manchester United to win the Champions League in 2011. "No one has given us a hiding like that," said Sir Alex Ferguson. Rio Ferdinand turned to his team-mates as the trophy was lifted. "I’m ashamed," he said.

Messi was man of the match that night and he was man of the match when he returned to the stadium to star against Tottenham in 2018. He scored two in a 4-2 win, hit the post twice and left many in the ground agog. "Messi eats at a separate table," said Barca team-mate Jordi Alba.

It was a comment that was in part a response to Messi's exclusion from the top three in the FIFA awards that had taken place in London just days before. "With all due respect," said Ivan Rakitic after this astonishing performance, "there is a guy who is better than the rest."

Messi returns to Wembley on Wednesday evening to captain Argentina against Italy in the Finalissima, a match between the champions of South America and Europe. He does so with his status as the world's best player having slipped, his reputation being reconfigured.

He is no longer in the Ballon d'Or reckoning, anointing Karim Benzema as a worthy winner of that award. Instead, there has been criticism of him at Paris Saint-Germain. Having scored just six league goals, it is difficult to argue that Messi is the best player in his team let alone the world.

Which leaves the rest of us in a curious position as perhaps the greatest who has ever played this game finds himself back among the pack. Still elite, of course, but not a cut above. The best ever but not the best now. It is no surprise that sporting icons prefer to retire at the top.

Usain Bolt retired immediately when he was outsprinted for the