Was it the grand occasion of two of the biggest clubs in the world meeting in one of the biggest football venues?
Was it the pleasing display of total football by Barcelona?
Was it the mesmerizing mastery of the ball by Messi?
Was it the pomp and weight of the quality shown in the midfield by Xavi and Iniesta?
Was it the comfortable ease with which Barcelona brushed United aside?
Was it Xavi's exquisite passing and feeding of his team mates?
Was it watching Messi nutmeg nearly each and every United player and his cousin at least once?
Was it Sir Alex's nervous clenching and unclenching of his fists as he helplessly watched his players chase shadows due to Barca's fluid passing and constant movement?
Was it defeating the pride of England, in England, in front of thousands of rabid English fans (not to mention rubbing it in on the biased and often cocky British media and football experts)?
Although each one of the above would provide ample reason for a football fan to stand in ovation and salute the celebration of football, the football that we all deserve to see, but what provided the classiest moment on that Saturday evening was the pure class of first Xavi who offered the captain’s arm band to Puyol, who in turn wrapped the band around the arms of Eric Abidal, the player who was diagnosed with liver cancer a mere 4 months back. The player who fought back the dreaded “C” and defeated it and found enough reserves within his mortal shell to get back to training and eventually be able to strut his skills on the football pitch of the most watched club football game in history. The absolute class of captain Puyol for showing us why he is the heart of the club and why Barcelona is far more than just a football club. It was only fitting for Abidal to be the player who lifts the champions league trophy to immortalize the club's never say die spirit and the quest for perfection. The player who faced the greatest test of human spirit head on and defeated it in style.
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