5 Iconic Photographs From This Era Of Football

#1 The One That Got Away

Messi looks at the prized possession for one last time.

It is fair to say that Messi hasn't had the happiest of times in his career in the blue of Argentina. He's, regardless, one of Argentina's best ever players and their highest ever goalscorer. Sadly, very little of that came into play when Argentina lost the 2014 World Cup final to Germany, having done very well to make it to the showdown.

Argentina were famously beaten 0-1 by a Mario Gotze goal in extra time. Messi, 26 then, knew that it was the most realistic chance of him winning the World Cup. Unfortunately for the little genius, the chance had gone begging.

So, as he walked to pick up the runners-up medal and the Golden Ball, he had one final look at the gorgeous World Cup trophy before it was handed to Germany's captain Phillip Lahm. The picture is certainly a painful one to all, irrespective of which nation he supports.

Whether it was a look that bid farewell to Messi's World Cup hopes, or one that said "I'll be back for you in four years", we cannot determine. All we know is that Messi will get his final crack at football's biggest prize this year - and we expect him to leave no stone unturned.