Lionel Messi stole the headlines, but the EPL can now claim the undisputed crown of being The Best League in the World.

The little maestro’s exit from Barcelona is rightly being hailed as a sensational coup for PSG and French football.

And if you want a procession, Ligue Un is the place to be.

Lop-sided doesn’t cover it as the Qatari-backed giants have assembled almost a World XI to go against a field of financial pygmies.

But if you want competition, fierce battles every week as well as quality, it has to be the Premier League.

It has long been the most entertaining, but always had to bow to La Liga’s superiority – especially when it came to winning European trophies.

But now La Liga has lost its two main attractions, Cristiano Ronaldo having left for Juventus two years ago.

The EPL boasts many of the new stars and is snaring more silverware now that the broadcasting cash is making its presence felt.

And as its new season kicks off this weekend, we could be in for an absolute cracker.

Four clubs feel they are title contenders, another dozen think they can get into Europe and there’s still plenty of wheeling and dealing to be done.

There are also fascinating subplots in the managerial merry-go-round. Rafa at Everton! Nuno at Spurs! Patrick Vieira at Crystal Palace!

More than enough to entertain us for the next nine months.

Typically, Chelsea are not hanging about.

They’ve already won a trophy, edging Villareal on penalties in the UEFA Super Cup on Thursday night.

And they are closer to snaring their big-money striker than Manchester City are to theirs.

All has been agreed with Inter for Romelu Lukaku, who has flown in to seal the deal (£97.5m), while City and Spurs are at an impasse over Harry Kane.

Remembering how defensively solid Thomas Tuchel had made the Blues last season and how many chances Timo Werner missed, getting Lukaku has a last-piece-of-the-jigsaw feel to it.

Werner, though, is still around and, lacking in luck not effort, will benefit from having a season under his belt.

He will also be glad to hear that VAR are using thicker lines for offsides!

With Spurs having already spent a chunk of the Kane fee, you feel the move will happen, but if it doesn’t you wonder who will score City’s goals.

They can always walk the ball in but cannot rely on another 13 from Ilkay Gundogan. Yup, the midfielder was their top scorer last time.

Joint-second highest, Raheem Sterling, managed only nine and struggled for consistency – and even a regular place.

Based on their England form in the Euros, Kane and Sterling are a lethal combo which Pep Guardiola must have noticed.

But still the Kane deal is up in the air and, with Jack Grealish also to bed in, it may mean another slow start.

City are odds-on to take the title, but the season will be a failure if the Holy Grail of the Champions League isn’t finally snared.

And this time, besides European champions and City nemesis Chelsea, there will be a Messi-strengthened PSG to contend with.

If Kane does arrive and it’s still not enough, Pep won’t just be accused of over-thinking but over-spending.

Chelsea finished 19 points behind City last season yet beat them three times in big games.

Cynics may sneer that these two clubs are Johnny-come-latelies who got lucky landing rich owners.

But it won’t diminish what promises to be a riveting battle for both English and European titles.

‘If you stand still, you go backwards’ is a phrase that might be thrown in Liverpool’s direction after a quiet summer.

With only young centreback Ibrahima Konate to bolster the squad, the Reds are relying on the returning wounded to get them back to 2018-20 speed.

The team that won both the EPL title and the Champions League that year ranks among their very best, but opinions differ as to whether it’s reached the end of its cycle or can be restored.

It looks like the owners are hoping it’s the latter.

Having failed to offload the bulk of their fringe players, FSG are keeping their powder dry – unlike their rivals.

And with Jurgen Klopp preferring to improve players rather than buy off the shelf, they’re getting away with it.

Gini Wijnaldum hasn’t been replaced and that is as worrying as the poor form of Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino was last season.

But the way the Reds stormed back at the end to capture an unlikely third place is encouraging.

As is a midfield of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Thiago backed up by Naby Keita.

And there’s the precocious Harvey Elliott ready to burst into the squad as well as further development from Curtis Jones.

Although Liverpool will be a force again, the top titles may elude them.

Manchester United have bought well but still need a centreback and look like being stuck with Paul Pogba – two reasons they may miss out again.

As for the new bosses, you can’t see all three surviving the season. Vieira first to go.

Top 4: 1. Chelsea. 2. City. 3. Liverpool. 4. United.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.