The beautiful game produces beautiful winners

THE inscription in Pele’s autobiography read simply “I dedicate this book to all those who make the game beautiful”.

Now, 24 years on, there couldn’t be a better strapline for a match report of Barcelona’s wonderful performance against Manchester United in the 2011 Champions League final as they proved once and for all they have no peers.

Has there ever been a team in the history of football that plays the game this way?