Those of us lucky enough to work in this trade all have our favourite memories of Lionel Messi.
Mine came on a night when he was away from home territory. He was not at Barcelona’s Nou Camp but at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea, five years ago. I was designated just to watch him that night so I did.
This was not a bravura performance such as the one he produced in the World Cup semi-final against Croatia. Nor did it contain a memorable moment like the nutmeg he put on James Milner when Manchester City came to Spain in 2015.