Lionel Messi is the man who appears to have it all, but as he celebrates turning 30 there remains the lingering sense that his career record is lacking something vital.
For all of his remarkable achievements with Barcelona, senior international titles have proven elusive, although he did win the Under-20 World Cup in 2005 and gold at the Olympic Games three years later.
Those not inconsiderable honours aside, Messi has otherwise been met with disappointment and heartache while representing Argentina.
Here, we take a look at the prizes that have eluded Messi's grasp and his chances of setting the record straight in Russia.
When measured against the all-time greats, one thing has always proven to be easy pickings for Messi's detractors – unlike Pele and compatriot Diego Maradona, he has not won a World Cup.
That argument could have been laid to rest in Brazil, where Messi scored four goals to help Alejandro Sabella's side secure a final clash with Germany.
But Messi was below-par at the Maracana and Argentina fell to a 1-0 extra-time loss courtesy of Mario Gotze's goal, with the Barca star having fired a late free-kick off target.
Messi did not shy away from his spot-kick duties when the 2015 Copa America final went to penalties against hosts Chile.
At the end of a tournament in which Messi scored only once, he stepped up to take Argentina's opening effort, just as he had in the quarter-final win over Colombia.
The result was the same – Messi found the net, but was then reduced to the role of spectator.
And what followed was agonising to watch for the diminutive forward, as misses from Gonzalo Higuain and Ever Banega preceded Alexis Sanchez's decisive strike.
Copa America final (2016): Argentina 0-0 Chile (aet, 2-4 pens)
The Copa America Centenario proved a far more productive one for Messi, who hit five goals in Argentina's march to yet another final against Chile.
Gerardo Martino's men scored 18 times in the USA, including a 2-1 triumph over Chile on their way to winning Group D.
