Lionel Messi made the final, but he couldn't get his side over the line.

He never really hit his true heights at the World Cup, but still found moments to drag goals and assists out of himself—but, at the final, he was only intermittently involved, went missing for too long in the second half and spurned one of the best chances of the game as he screwed a shot wide on his left foot.

Still only 27, Messi likely will have another chance to win a World Cup. But the sense remains that Sunday was his big chance to match his countryman Diego Maradona, who led Argentina to their second title in 1986.

Of course, Messi is already regarded as perhaps the best player of his generation. Whether or not he wins the World Cup, his status as one of the all-time greats is already secure.