India, June 9 -- The 2022 FIFA World Cup final delivered one of the greatest spectacles the sport has ever seen. It was a match that seemed destined to complete Lionel Messi's story, as Argentina and France produced a dramatic contest that perfectly captured the magic and chaos of the tournament. More than a battle between two nations, it felt like a global audience willing Messi towards the one trophy that had eluded him throughout his extraordinary career.

Eight years earlier, Messi had come agonisingly close in Brazil. In 2014, he carried Argentina to the final with a series of inspiring performances, only for Germany to break their hearts through Mario Gotze's extra-time winner. That defeat remained the defining scar on his internati...