Messi cements

It could not have been more fitting for Lionel Messi on Sunday night: a packed Bernabeu, an El Clasico and a last minute winner.

For any player it would be the highlight of their career. For Messi it’s another week at the office.

The greatest player ever to play the game proved exactly why he deserves his legendary status on Sunday.

The derby between Spain’s big two was arguably the best of the last decade and kept the La Liga title race alive.

For those who still believe the English Premier League is the greatest league in the world, take 90 minutes out of your week and watch the instant classic.

Barcelona won 3-2 but that doesn’t begin to tell the whole story.

The win brings them on level points with Madrid, who have a game in hand, and it could mean we’re in for a thrilling finish.

For all the talk of what it means in the bigger picture for the title race, when we look back on this game in years to come it will further cement Messi’s legacy.

Debates always rage over who is the greatest, with many people quick to point to Pele, Diego Maradona and George Best.

Whilst these players were certainly pioneers and influential footballers, for someone who wasn’t born when they were playing I can’t say they were the greatest of all time.

Cristiano Ronaldo is always thrown up as a greater player than Messi but for me there is no contest.

Ronaldo has had success domestically and internationally, both in England and in Spain, but he is just not on Messi’s level.

The Argentinean showed that on Sunday night as he tormented the back four whilst Ronaldo sat idly by.

We are extremely fortunate to be living in a time when Ronaldo and Messi are both playing and smashing records.

Messi’s winner meant he hit the 500-goal mark for Barcelona.

Some people won’t even play 500 games in their career.

Messi is only 29 as well so it’s clear he isn’t going anywhere for a while, despite having been a mainstay in the Barca side for 13 years.

After making a u-turn on his decision to retire from international

Messi is only 29 – he’s not going anywhere