Lionel Messi took the trophy to bed just over a week after Cristiano Ronaldo went straight down the tunnel in tears as the World Cup decisively separated football's two biggest superstars.
It came with Ronaldo having ended his relationship with Manchester United by mutual consent last month, following his bombshell interview with Piers Morgan. He is now a free agent with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr strongly linked with a move.
Leading European clubs have distanced themselves from a move, including Real Madrid – where the striker is the all-time club record scorer – who have no interest in a sensational return for Ronaldo. Sporting Lisbon have pushed away speculation also, as have Bayern Munich, while the 37-year-old's displays in Qatar won't have helped his cause if he wishes to continue at Europe's elite level.
