An emotional Lionel Messi watching Argentina lose the 2014 World Cup final is still so painful
Messi has been to a World Cup final once in his career before. It didn't go as planned.
Lionel Messi could win his first World Cup on Sunday afternoon. The sad thing is, he's been here before.
Argentina take on reigning world champions France at Lusail Stadium in an attempt to win their first World Cup since 1986.
Messi has one last attempt at winning international football's most prestigious prize after confirming this will be his final tournament as a player.
Eight years ago, he and his teammates slipped up against Germany in the 2014 World Cup final.
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Argentina had their chances through Gonzalo Higuain, Rodrigo Palacio and Messi himself.
All three men failed to convert, taking the game to extra time. Germany pounced, with substitute Mario Gotze scoring in the 113th minute to seal the victory.
Messi ended up winning the Golden Ball after dragging Argentina to the final in Brazil, a hostile environment given the rivalry between the two nations.
The game with France could end up being similar to the one against Germany. Didier Deschamps' side have looked second best in their last two games against England and Morocco but have enough quality in the moments that matter.
As part of a retrospective series with FIFA, Messi sat down to rewatch Argentina's 2014 World Cup journey in its entirety.
What's notable is how the Paris Saint-Germain superstar's expression changes once he gets to the Germany game. It still hits close to home.
After watching his past self spurn a chance, Messi declares: "I don't know, what can I say... it's a pity.
"It's a pity given how many chances we had in that game. We had the better chances and we'll regret the chances we had but couldn't score for the rest of our lives."
Messi will be up against PSG teammate Kylian Mbappe on Sunday. Both men have scored five goals at this year's competition so far and this game could be the decider regarding next year's Ballon d'Or.
In September, Mbappe told the New York Times: Mbappe is confident he will one day be the best player in the world. He told the New York Times in September: "I think I’m about to win it [the Ballon d’Or].
"I always say I dream about everything. I have no limits. So of course, like you say, it’s a new generation. And [Cristiano] Ronaldo, Messi — you’re gonna stop. We have to find someone else, someone new."
Topics: Lionel Messi, Argentina, Football World Cup
Daniel Marland