Barca’s brilliant Nou guard: Can Luis Suarez now be lauded?

Against Juventus, however, Messi helped run the show behind the scenes, a little more quietly than usual, allowing Rakitic, Suarez and Neymar their moment in the sun.

Of all the recent additions it is surely Suarez’s that has brought about this subtle move away from dependency on the superstar, and also a switch to a more direct style of play. The Uruguay international has shown not only that he can step up when his prolific peer has an off-day, but that he can be the main man regardless of who else is on the pitch.

There were doubts after La Celeste’s talisman joined from Liverpool following yet another summer of controversy surrounding his discipline, amid much speculation over whether the striker could thrive next to Messi or be just another to fall aside in his shadow.

Suarez, whose rusty El Clasico debut was underwhelming, has shown the strength of character to silence doubters, however, and the next time a clash with Real Madrid rolled around, it was he who netted the winner.

Suarez also struck in seven of his 10 Champions League outings this season, proving crucial with braces against Manchester City and PSG, as well as cultured peformances to provide assists over two legs against Bayern Munich. It is this balance, between stealing the limelight and sharing it, that has seen him slot into the Nou Camp seamlessly.

An impressive 25 goals and 24 assists illustrate he has lost none of his Liverpool and Ajax explosiveness in sacrificing for the greater good, and Barca’s travelling fans duly rewarded the goal hero with applause and adoration after another tireless performance in the Champions League final. Yet will the rest of the football world now embrace the controversial attacker? And can he claim to have hit the heights of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo?

See Suarez’s strike against Juventus:

Suarez surely still has some way to go before stealing the Ballon d’Or crown from those two once-in-a-generation talents, but is certainly the closest contender. Challengers Sergio Aguero, Gareth Bale, Eden Hazard, Carlos Tevez and even Neymar, are arguably behind the Uruguayan when it comes to standing up to be counted in crucial moments, at least in this campaign.

Now that much-maligned Suarez has proven his credentials on the biggest stage in club football he must keep his consistent brilliance up as Messi and Ronaldo are always raising the bar. Having finally landed some significant silverware, with an Eredivisie medal his only previous capture of note, it seems only reputation can hold him back.

Suarez will have a summer to reflect as he continues to sit out an international ban, as Uruguay contest the Copa America without their all-time top scorer. Should he want to one day be counted among the greats, the striker still has work to do.