Nothing compares to sport’s contrasts, and few are as stark as the exits of two defining icons of the modern football era. As one continues to negotiate his grand departure from the international stage in a swirl of petulant rancour, bitterness and posturing, the other’s farewell was – up to a point – a study in dignified grace. Ignoring the somewhat jarring moment when an otherwise quite touching drone display lit up the night sky over Buenos Aires with an advert for an insurance company, Lionel Messi’s final match for Argentina was the perfect curtain call.If yesterday’s Football Daily was right in predicting that the South Korean draft dodgers will end up on latrine duties, it will at least give them a different angle on anticipating their colleagues’ movements …” – Phil Taverner.James Vortkamp-Tong (yesterday’s letters), could I be one of 1,056 to retort that Carl Simon totally deserved the recognition. Nobody does it better (or even half as good)” – Trevor Smith.Strange timing that Ronaldo’s headline-grabbing strop just happens to be in the same window as Messi retiring from international football. Probably just a coincidence though” – James Vortkamp-Tong.Point No 9: Mr Jesus agrees to polish my statue twice a day, while insisting he wouldn’t do this for the likes of Pelé or Messi” – Cristi Dan Levy (not that one). Continue reading...