Fabio Capello has claimed several times that Beckham’s appearances in his England team are based purely on current merit. This seemed a touch doubtful as Beckham made numerous substitute cameos to overtake Bobby Moore’s 108 international caps, but even with the steely Italian in charge, there is always room for a touch of sentimentality in football. But, for the first time in years, competition in the England squad is genuinely fierce, particularly in midfield. A plane ticket to South Africa for David Beckham would leave a lot of fans pleased, just as many sceptical, and some good premiership midfielders spending the summer at home.

It is a common assertion that any successful squad requires the mix of youth and experience. Beckham’s knowledge and experience would be very useful to the younger players in the squad, but his own world cup record is far from flattering. A now infamous sending off against Argentina in 1998, carrying an injury against the much slicker 10-man Brazil in 2002, and struggling in the heat of Germany in 2006, it’s clear Beckham’s best moments at World Cups have been in qualifying. The almost one-man show against Greece in 2002 will always be used as the example of Beckham’s determination and will to win. And rightly so, it was a memorable performance. But by the end of the 2006 tournament, Beckham’s international career seemed over. Owen Hargreaves’ performance against Portugal showed that perhaps Beckham was no longer required. Hargreaves took it on himself to carry the 10-man England team through 120 minutes against Portugal with a display of real leadership. It is arguable that this is what makes Beckham such a hero to many England fans, there have always been technically better players than Beckham, but for many years, he was England’s most important player and the heartbeat of the team.

For the large number of Beckham-cynics however, identifying Beckham the footballer has become increasingly tricky. The move to Los Angeles Galaxy only reinforced the longstanding idea of Beckham’s desire for celebrity status and that football had become just one part of “Brand Beckham.” This is not meant as a swipe at Beckham’s career or marketability. He quite clearly possesses an acute business brain, but it makes it difficult for fans to take him seriously as a world cup candidate while his rivals are competing in the Premier League.

Beckham has just returned to AC Milan for a second loan spell in two years. It is testament to either his personal levels of fitness, or the level of intensity in the American league that he is even attempting a full MLS season, then half a Serie A season plus a Champions League campaign, all to be followed by a world cup. Should Beckham impress again at Milan then the bandwagon for 2010 will rightly gather momentum. If David Beckham still possesses the ability to play at one of Europe’s top clubs, especially in the European cup, then his place in the England squad will be much easier to defend. It does however beg the question: were there any real football motivations behind his move to the MLS if he was still good enough to play with Europe’s elite every week?

Regardless, the months to come are crucial to Beckham’s bid for a fourth world cup place, and inevitably he will apply himself with great professionalism and determination to achieve a squad place. And it would be a magnificent personal achievement for Beckham. Michael Owen has struggled to make any sort of impact at Manchester United, and the form of his rivals for England’s striker allocation should mean that his place on the plane to South Africa has already been provisionally taken. Beckham also faces stiff competition. As the world cup draws nearer, many fans will be working out their own versions of what the squad should look like. On current form, it is tricky to fit Beckham in the top 8 or 9 English midfielders, which is roughly the number that would be taken in the squad, particularly on the right hand side, Aaron Lennon for example has shone for an attacking and pacey Tottenham side so far this season.

An England squad that could move on from the likes of Beckham and Owen and finally look to build a new, younger side would be an exciting prospect, but it is also risky and it is unlikely that the World Cup and all the expectation that comes with that for England will be seen as the best time to take such a risk. Finding a place for Beckham is a safe move for Capello, although many would question the decision on purely football terms, there are few who would begrudge a great servant such as Beckham one last shot at international glory. His ability on the set-play and incredible accuracy on long passing and crossing never seems to wane.

Sure, Steve Mclaren’s decision to omit David Beckham now looks premature and it is not out of the question to suggest it was taken with the primary aim of trying to cement Mclaren’s own influence over the squad. But, now Beckham’s important to the first team has surely started to diminish. To many, myself included, Beckham seems to have taken on the role of glorified cheerleader recently for England. He rises from the subs bench with around half an hour to go and re-energises the fans, inevitably his introduction always greeted with a great reception. But it has to be said that, that while the fans are happy to see him; opposition defenders, with 20 minutes to go in the World Cup quarter final, might not be so pleased to see David Beckham.

That’s all I remember from his first season; cameo displays in the last twenty minutes where he would make and be given a plethora of chances – he’d take a few of them as well. It was the ease in which he’d beat a player that was so breathtaking – at just 17 people were already starting to talk.

Five years later and Leo Messi is a regular in the Barcelona team and in contention for the Ballon D’Or again. Highlights have included three La Liga titles, two Champions League wins and a Copa del Rey, which completed the treble last season. These titles have come with some unreal performances along the way – especially one night at the Bernabeu.

I wrote about how Del Piero received one of the highest accolades in football – a standing ovation at the Bernabeu for his displays last season, but for a player from Barcelona to receive it is something else – only Ronaldinho had achieved such feat in recent years. The Bernabeu know their football and can accept when they’re in the presence of greatness.

I think Leo Messi is the most gifted footballer currently playing the game. His touch, low centre of gravity and zero back-lift combined with his excellent footballing brain and his confidence in placing his shots instead of hammering them make him one of the most deadly and prolific players in today’s game.

I’m a Manchester United fan and a massive fan of Cristiano Ronaldo – but there is something that Messi offers that draws me in even more so. I’ve always wondered which is better; a player that is unpredictable and therefore unstoppable, or a player like Messi who is slightly more predictable, but nevertheless, unstoppable.

The ‘Maradona’ tag has been lambasted around too often. Pablo Aimar, Javier Savola and many others have accrued to this name but after much analysis it’s clear to see Messi comes closer than all of them. He’s even replicated Maradona’s two (in)famous goals. Beating the same amount of players and running roughly the same distance for his wonder goal and for the other, using his hand. Let’s be fair though, Messi is a great player in his own right.

If Maradona is the acid test at International level then Ronaldinho holds that mantle for his time at club level. Comparisons of his impact can be made to Ronaldinho having achieved the same at club level.

Nicknamed the “Messiah” he saved Barcelona a few times last season. The Champions League game against Shaktar the most memorable – 1-0 down with 15 minutes to play – enter Messi.

It has quickly become Messi’s team following the departure of Ronaldinho – and his levels of performance for his club team are not in question here – the ultra critical eye will look towards his tenure with the national team.

Last month in his hometown of Rosario, Messi was frustrated as Argentina lost to Brazil. He showed clear signs of disappointment due to the lack of quality from his team mates. It’s fair to say Argentina aren’t the best side in the world at the moment but would Maradona have acted in the same manner? Something which Messi has to learn when playing for his country is that he has to take on more responsibility.

Messi’s tendency to stay out wide could be considered a limitation. Cristiano Ronaldo for example often swaps flanks, goes down the middle and appears in the box. Messi does sometimes drift but he spends the majority of the game out on the right wing. This limitation may occur due to the nature of his Barcelona team, regardless it does restrict his impact on a game from time to time. It’s not a problem when Xavi and Iniesta are pulling the strings but the boy who moved to Spain at 11 to treat his growth hormone deficiency must adapt all over again because great players pull through no matter the circumstance.

Messi recently said he admired Rooney’s passion for the game.

“When he loses, it hurts and those are the sort of players you want to be playing with.

“I can understand the pressure on him, but to be honest, from what I have seen, Rooney is the sort of player who would thrive playing under pressure.”

That’s built in to Wayne Rooney it’s not something you learn, but something you have and the same could be said about Maradona. The question is, when it goes down to the wire can Messi put in that performance or score that goal that makes the difference on the International scene? Only then will he be considered truly one of the best – but time is on his side.

But you’d have to doubt Messi at your peril as he takes in a good goal scoring record to Argentina on Saturday where lowly Peru will undoubtedly struggle with a player that’s in a different league.