Lionel Messi v Cristiano Ronaldo: Who is the greatest this week?

Messi: Messi’s career is one defined by great goals in world football’s greatest fixture. There was the hat-trick he scored as a teenager all the way back in 2006. Then there was the stunning solo effort dribbled home in the Champions League at the Santiago Bernabeu. More recently there was the curling freekick from the best part of 25 yards. Messi failed to add to his Clasico highlight reel on this occasion, though. What a slacker!

Ronaldo: Ronaldo loves scoring goals more than anything else, that is well known. But he enjoys scoring Clasico goals more than any other goals, especially winning Clasico goals at Camp Nou. There was a certain gusto to his usual celebration after firing home a shot underneath Claudio Bravo, giving Real Madrid a 2-1 lead late in the match. It’s little wonder he didn’t stamp a hole through the Camp Nou pitch, so vigorous was his leap. In fairness, it probably took much restraint not to direct a two-finger gesture down the camera lens, such has been the criticism he has faced this season.

Messi: This certainly wasn’t a classic Clasico for the little Argentine. In fact, there wasn’t much classic about this Clasico in general, with the anticipated goalfest replaced by a nigglefest. There was little tiki-taka, only trips and hacking. Messi just couldn’t get himself involved in the contest, snuffed out by Casemiro whenever he dropped deep in an effort to get the ball. That’s the same Casemiro used to beat Rafael Benitez over the head with. He was too defensive, they said. He wasn’t a Real Madrid kind of player, they said. It’s almost as if fans know nothing about football.

Ronaldo: Had this match finished level, without Ronaldo’s match-winning contribution, the post-match tone concerning the Portuguese winger’s performance would have been very different. Until that moment Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema had outshone their bronzed teammate, with Ronaldo struggling for much in the way of goalscoring opportunities. But goals change games, and change narrative to an even greater extent.

Messi: 39 games and Barcelona are finally out. A lot has happened since Luis Enrique’s side lost lost - Leicester have become English football’s predominant force, an EU referendum has been called and Leonardo Di Caprio has finally won an Oscar. The Catalans were some way below their usual level and they came up against a team that could make the most of that. Now Barca start again. This is even more painful than when a Snapchat streak ends.

Ronaldo: This was the quintessential Rafael Benitez big-game performance. The former Real Madrid boss must have left behind some notes in the Bernabeu dressing room, because Zidane played this one straight from his playbook. Los Blancos sat deep, absorbed, plugged the gaps, battled in midfield and hit hard on the counter attack. The difference? Under Zidane players like Ronaldo have bought into such an ideology, with the winger frequently pitching in defensively. Somewhere on Tyneside Benitez must feel like punching a horse.

Messi: Even when Ronaldo is better, Messi is better in the eyes of the Catalan press. The incumbent Ballon d’Or holder might have been barely noticeable on Saturday evening, but his gesture of sportsmanship was still picked out by Sport, highlighting how his full-time handshake with Ronaldo showed him for the selfless man he truly is. A moral victory for Barcelona?

Ronaldo: “Ronaldo asks for Camp Nou calm again,” read Marca’s headline after Real Madrid’s Clasico, referencing the Portuguese winger’s repeat performance of his famous ‘keep calm, I’m here’ celebration some four years ago. Ronaldo might have lost some of his superpowers over the past season or so, but he’s still superhuman at goading.

Messi: Here is a list of public figures mentioned in the leaked Panama Papers - the Prime Minister of Iceland, Ian Cameron, Vladimir Putin and Messi. The Barca number 10 was accused of "setting up a tax fraud network" by using Panamanian company Mega Star Enterprises to avoid paying tax on image rights deals. Of course, Messi is already facing separate tax evasion charges. Not even Gary Barlow hates tax this much.

Ronaldo: In the immediate aftermath of Real Madrid’s Clasico win a certain image circulated on social media. It depicted Zidane’s side celebrating in the Camp Nou dressing room, with most players still in their kit. Most except Ronaldo, who had somehow managed to strip down to his pants in a matter of seconds - like Jim Carey in Bruce Almighty. One might deduce that he quite likes his body. You would too.

So for the next seven days Ronaldo is the greatest footballer on earth. Much has changed with Real Madrid’s Clasico victory, although the inevitable destination of the Liga title hasn’t.