ON paper, tonight’s quarter-final between Spain and Portugal is just one Lionel Messi away from being an El Classico.

For all intent and purpose, this is Real Madrid against Barcelona. It’s a three-way scrap between Cristiano Ronaldo, Andres Iniesta and Xavi to claim the crown of second best player in the world, behind the Argentine maestro.

So far, Ronaldo has been the more impressive, however much his preening gets on my nerves. But if he turns it on like he did against the Czechs, not only would we have the added benefit of Jonathan Pearce imploding with glee, there could also finally be a solid argument for the former United man usurping Messi at the top of the pile.

We’ve yet to see Messi take a major tournament by the scruff of the neck in the way Ronaldo has threatened to do in Poland and Ukraine.

And if he can drag Portugal virtually single handed into the final, you’d have to say that’s an achievement right up there with Maradona at the World Cup in 1986.

Save for João Moutinho, few of his team-mates look worthy of being European champions.

And however much you love to hate him, Ronaldo would have performed a minor miracle if he were to put his country into a Sunday’s final.

As for the Spanish string-pullers, they have quietly gone about their business so far but such is Spain’s depth, I still think they could win playing at 80 per cent.

They may lack the same wow factor as Ronaldo but are equally capable of winning this game if they get a chance.

With England out, I intend to pour myself a glass of Rioja and enjoy a game for a change.

Who’s with me?