Last season he was named in the Professional Footballers' Association team of the year, which is selected by the Premier League players. It was the first time in a decade that Cole had lost out to a fellow Englishman.
Everton manager David Moyes summed up the rivalry. "I have always said Ashley Cole is England's No?1 left back but Leighton Baines is getting very close," he said. "He's kept pushing and he's improving all the time. He's a terrific player. He's as close to Cole as he's ever been. I don't watch enough of Cole to be able to judge how he is playing but his form for England has been exceptional. Cole was head and shoulders above everyone at one point."
Clubs are taking note. With Cole in the final year of his contract, Chelsea have joined Manchester United and Paris St-Germain in scouting the 28 year-old. It would be a surprise to see Baines at Everton next season; he is unlikely to be sold for less than £15?million.
Baines has grown up. He was homesick with England. In the past, he questioned whether he belonged in the top flight and whether he would be "found out", initially when he did not make it at Everton first time round, then on his Premier League debut for Wigan Athletic, against Chelsea, and before his international bow.
It helps that Moyes has created the most comfortable environment for Baines to thrive within, especially when Steven Pienaar is in the Everton team.
Cole, though, must not be dismissed. Having just turned 32, and suffering from a chronic ankle problem that prevents him from training properly after matches, he is in decline. But his standards are still extremely high, as is his competitive edge.
Though a difficult character — shooting interns with air rifles, sending injudicious messages on social-media sites — Cole can be a very good team-mate. He travelled up to Leicester a couple of seasons ago to watch Chelsea defender Patrick van Aanholt make his debut on loan. On England duty, Cole changes next to Baines before training.
Baines has been deferential. Though Cole is no longer an automatic selection for England, Baines has said he cannot be regarded as a genuine challenger for Cole's place, partly because he has no experience of the Champions League. "It must carry some weight if you're playing in Europe's top competition," Baines said. He also dismissed any suggestion that he was now at the same level as Cole, who has 99 caps. "I wouldn't have thought so. Ash has got terrific experience and he's playing for a club that's trying to win the league."
Next season, Baines might be able to say the same. The gap is narrowing rapidly.
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