No player has played in more FIFA World Cup matches than Lionel Messi.
The Argentina icon has played at five editions of the the tournament, and has scored more goals in the finals than any of his countrymen. But he arrived at Qatar 2022 still having never won football's biggest prize.
Hailed as one of the greatest players ever to play the game, Messi has claimed almost every team and individual trophy available to him across a glittering career.
Hopes that he would inspire Argentina to World Cup glory, like Mario Kempes did in 1978 and as Diego Maradona managed in 1986, were dashed at Messi's first four tournaments. Qatar 2022 represents one final chance.
As he seeks to bow out of the World Cup in glorious style, The Sporting News reflects on how the famous trophy has escaped Messi's grasp until now.
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Why has Lionel Messi never won a World Cup?
Since making his World Cup debut at the age of 18, Messi has played in five consecutive editions of the tournament but has yet to emerge victorious.
As Argentina prepare to face France in Messi's last shot at winning a World Cup, his history in the competition will no doubt have a bearing on the match.
Messi at the 2006 World Cup: A frustrated substitute
After making his international debut against Hungary in August 2005 and going on to contribute to Argentina's World Cup qualifying campaign, Messi was named in head coach Jose Pekerman's squad for Germany 2006.
Despite having established himself as a star player with Barcelona in the previous season, Messi was among the substitutes as Argentina made a winning start against Ivory Coast.
His World Cup debut came in the following match, a 6-0 victory over Serbia and Montenegro, in which he assisted Argentina's fourth goal and scored their sixth, making him the sixth-youngest scorer in the history of the World Cup.
Messi played from the start in a goalless draw against the Netherlands and came on in Argentina's 2-1 Round of 16 win over Mexico, but was an unused substitute as Germany knocked the Albiceleste out of the tournament 4-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in Berlin.
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Messi at the 2010 World Cup: Quarterfinal deja vu
Despite being a four-time La Liga winner with Barcelona, Messi arrived at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa having endured a qualifying campaign in which Argentina failed to impress.
His return of four goals in 18 qualifying matches was limited by head coach Diego Maradona playing him out of position, but at the tournament itself Maradona deployed Messi in his preferred role behind two strikers, and he shone as Argentina won all three of their group games.
A 3-1 win over Mexico in the Round of 16 secured Argentina a clash with their old foes Germany, but once again Die Mannschaft dumped the Albiceleste out of the World Cup in the quarterfinals, this time in a rampant 4-0 victory.
Messi at the 2014 World Cup: A first final
Messi came into the 2014 World Cup in mixed form following a disappointing domestic season with Barcelona, but quickly banished all doubts over his readiness for the tournament by scoring in all three of Argentina's group-stage victories as captain.
Angel Di Maria's extra-time winner in the Round of 16 victory over Switzerland came courtesy of a Messi assist, and Argentina's No. 10 helped his side dispatch Belgium and the Netherlands as they reached the World Cup final for the first time since 1990.
There they met Germany once again, and the outcome was another Argentina defeat, as Messi missed several chances to score before Mario Gotze's extra-time goal sealed a 1-0 win for Joachim Low's men.
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Messi at the 2018 World Cup: Undone by Mbappe
Argentina were on the brink of a disastrous group-stage exit at Russia 2018 when Messi scored a superb opening goal in a 2-1 victory over Nigeria that edged them into the knockout stage.
In the Round of 16, Argentina faced France and Messi provided an assist for Gabriel Mercado to score in the 48th minute, giving them a 2-1 lead.
But France rallied and, after Benjamin Pavard had scored a spectacular equaliser, the tournament's breakout star, Kylian Mbappe, netted a double to help France to a 4-3 victory.
Messi and Mbappe will go head-to-head once again on Sunday as two of the world's best players aim to write another chapter of World Cup history, but only one of them will get their hands on the game's most coveted prize.
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