Lift the World Cup and Messi’s place as the greatest player in history is assured

IF Argentina win the World Cup, then we can end the debate once and for all.

Because Lionel Messi, quite simply, will have to go down as the greatest player in football history.

Statistically, there could be no arguments given his nine La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns with Barcelona, and the Olympic gold medal he won with his country in Beijing in 2008.

Then there’s the five Ballon d’Or awards and the Golden Ball he scooped for best player at the World Cup in Brazil four years ago.

A World Cup winners’ medal would be the icing on the cake of that list of honours and would move him ahead of one Diego Armando Maradona, his compatriot, as the best of them all.

For a long time, I argued that Cristiano Ronaldo was ahead of Messi as the world’s best active player. Largely, it was because of what he had achieved with Portugal at international level and the fact he offers a bit more defensively.

But I had to acknowledge the simple fact that Argentina are only in Russia because of their talisman and the hat-trick he scored against Ecuador.

So, if he can follow that up by leading them to glory next month, then he will have everything sewn up. Don’t get me wrong, if Ronaldo were to lead Portugal to glory, then there’d be an argument – and a very good one – for him to be feted as the best we’ve seen, too.

And we shouldn’t write them off, as they are the champions of Europe.

But, for now at least, we have to assume there’s more chance of Argentina being crowned, even if they do face tough tests in their group against Iceland, Nigeria and Croatia.

What Messi and Ronaldo both have is an extraordinary ability to take any team they play in and make them better.

That’s a bit easier at club level, where Messi’s Barca and Ronaldo’s Real Madrid have the money to buy in the best players to complement them.

Of course, that’s not the case at world level and, while those in the dressing room with them are still very good players, they are the best from one country rather than the best from across the globe.

So, being the player who makes the difference at a major tournament – and particularly a World Cup – is what defines greatness and rightly so.

You only have to look at some of those who have won the tournament over the years – Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, Bobby Moore – to know that.

Maradona earned his place among football’s pantheon of gods by doing it at a World Cup and doing it in spectacular fashion.

While at club level he took

Napoli, the equivalent of Newcastle United, from virtually nowhere to winning what is the equivalent of the Premier League now – and he did it with some significant style.

We should acknowledge that Messi has had better players around him at club level than Maradona had.

But if he can have the same impact on Argentina at this World Cup that Maradona had in 1986, then the mantle, finally, will have to be passed.

I’M delighted that Kenny Dalglish has finally been given recognition that is long overdue in terms of his knighthood.

But I must say I’m not a fan of the honour at all and, if I were him, I’d be tempted to refuse it on the grounds that the thanks of the City of Liverpool are enough.

I ENJOYED chatting with Dele Alli at England’s media day last week — he laughed and joked and showed he’s an intelligent lad. But his jovial nature also made me wonder if he realises how good he can actually be. What I really want to see now is him channelling that bit of spite and devilment that he has in him. If Dele (above) can do that like Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira used to then he could become one of the world’s best players.