Pakistan, May 20 -- The World Cup represents football's pinnacle, the ultimate prize every young player dreams of winning. But whether the tournament is where the very best football is played is a different question entirely.

Elite European clubs with vast revenues concentrate so much of the top talent, and the very best games are often played in the latter stages of the Uefa Champions League - think of Paris Saint-Germain's recent 5-4 win over Bayern Munich. It is hard for most international teams to reach the same level - Luis Enrique himself has taken PSG to greater heights than he managed with Spain at Euro 2020 or the 2022 World Cup. "I don't think you can compare the international game with elite club football. They each have their...