While the majority of the football world was transfixed on Wembley Stadium and the final of Euro 2020, a great story was unfolding at the Maracana Stadium in the 2021 Copa America Final.
Lionel Messi’s tumultuous international career for Argentina finally, belatedly has a senior trophy to go with his insanely successful club record.
Despite winning title after title with Barcelona, Messi was never able to deliver on the international stage continually falling short and briefly retiring after losing the 2014 World Cup Final as well as the 2015 and 2016 Copa America Finals.
While he and the rest of the Argentine squad would have preferred a much shorter wait for an international trophy, the delay made the celebrations all the more enjoyable.
Plenty of other athletes have finally seen the dam break on a trophy drought after a long wait and now Messi can add his name to that list.
Cristiano Ronaldo – Portugal
Messi’s contemporary, rival and probably the one person on the planet who can relate to his situation when it comes to club versus country success.
Much like Messi, Ronaldo won more trophies than he fell short of in clubland but had struggled on the international stage for Portugal.
Euro 2016 was the turning point for the Portuguese superstar as he lead his nation to the final against hosts France.
An injury ended his afternoon after 25 minutes, which forced him to take over coaching duties for the remainder of the match as Eder’s 109th minute goal delivered Portugal its first European title.
They were able to add a second trophy three years later, winning the inaugural final of the UEFA Nations League… if you consider that sort of thing a major trophy.
Robin Van Persie – Manchester United
If one or two things broke differently, we may talk about Robin Van Persie as one of the best strikers of his generation.
There was no doubting his talent from an early age but attitude issues, injury and signing for Arsenal prevented him from winning a league title for the bulk of his club career.
After eight seasons at the Gunners, he decided it was time to move on and Manchester United gave him the trophy he so desperately desired.
It was somewhat fitting that a spectacular goal against Aston Villa helped seal his first Premier League win.
John Elway – Denver Broncos
One of, if not the most talented quarterback to ever play in the NFL, John Elway’s career looked like it was going to be headlined by three early career Super Bowl defeats.
Elway went to the big game for the 1986, 1987 and 1989 seasons losing to the New York Giants 39-20, Washington 42-10 and San Francisco 49ers 55-10 with the latter still holding the record for the most lopsided Super Bowl in history.
Several frustrating seasons followed those with the Broncos going one and done in the 1993 and 1996 seasons, the latter saw Elway lead the Broncos to a league best 13-3 record only to be stunned in their first playoff game.
With his career winding down, the Broncos assembled a team around the aging gunslinger and got him to his fourth Super Bowl appearance, this time against the defending champion Green Bay Packers.
Elway only played a bit part role in the game but did exactly what was asked of him when it mattered most.
Elway came back for one more run in 1998 as the Broncos went back to back and he finished his career with a resounding victory and Super Bowl MVP award.
Jerome Bettis – Pittsburgh Steelers
The man nicknamed “The Bus” had a dream ending to his career, winning his first and only Super Bowl title in his final game which was played in his home town of Detroit.
His bulldozing style won plenty of admirers including the Steelers who traded for him after three seasons with the Rams and he went on to have a very successful nine seasons, but was unable to claim that elusive championship.
Having been convinced to return for the 2006 campaign, Bettis was relegated to a bit part role but still provided an impact, motivating his teammates to deliver that Lombardi Trophy.
In one of the sloppiest Super Bowls of all time, the Steelers scrapped their way to a 21-10 victory over the Seahawks with Bettis contributing 43 rushing yards.
On the podium after the game, Bettis announced his retirement, “I played this game for a championship. I’m a champion, and I think the Bus’ last stop is here in Detroit.”
Shane Crawford – Hawthorn
It took all 305 games of Crawford’s AFL career to win a premiership but his final appearance gave him what he had been chasing since 1993.
The four time All Australian and 1999 Brownlow Medallist was an interchange player for the Hawks as they upset the favoured Geelong Cats 115-89.
John Longmire – North Melbourne
The current coach of the Swans came so close to winning a Premiership in 1996 as a player, however a knee injury meant that he spent that season as a spectator instead of participant.
He returned to the Kangaroos in 97 and played three more years, finally winning a Premiership in his 200th and final game.
It almost ended in heartbreak however as Longmire needed to overcome an elbow injury to play in the Grand Final.
Unsurprisingly, he decided to grin and bear it.
He picked up a second medal in 2012 as coach of the Swans.
Johnathan Thurston – North QLD
Yes this is technically a stretch but we don’t count his 2004 win with the Bulldogs.
For starters, he only came in for the Grand Final after Steve Price got injured, was a bit part player and gave away his medal.
If you gave Thurston some truth serum, even he would admit it wasn’t one of “his” wins.
There is no doubting his claim to the 2015 NRL Grand Final however, not only guiding the Cowboys to the big game against their rivals from Brisbane, but winning the game.
Every All Blacks Player From the 2011 Rugby World Cup
For so long the All Blacks were rugby’s punching bag, having choked away the 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2007 World Cups.
When it returned to New Zealand in 2011, the All Blacks were not blowing their chance, belting Australia in the Semi Final before playing France in the Final.
An injury hit squad did just enough to beat France 8-7 and take the pressure off their backs, and the relief was evident.
Star man Dan Carter had to watch that Final having suffered a groin injury and had to wait until 2015 before playing in a World Cup Final.
Kevin Garnett – Boston Celtics
One of the most dominant big men of his era, Kevin Garnett had to wait 13 years before winning his first and only NBA title.
A trade to Boston in 2008 brought about the formation of the Big Three and after defeating the Lakers, Garnett produced one of the most iconic postgame interviews.
Ray Bourque – Colorado Avalanche
Lord Stanley’s Cup is one of the oldest and most iconic trophies in all of sport and it took Ray Bourque spent over two decades chasing it.
Drafted by the Boston Bruins in 1979, Bourque played 20 years with that franchise where they made the playoffs in 19 of his 20 full years, losing the Stanley Cup Final in 1988 and 1990.
With the team rebuilding in the 1999-2000 season, Boston traded their icon to Colorado with 14 games remaining.
He returned for 2000-2001 and played 80 of 82 games plus 21 playoff games as the Avalanche defeated the Devils in the Final and Bourque finally got to lift the Cup.
Goran Ivanisevic – Wimbledon
As an Aussie this one hurts… a lot.
We were all up late waiting for Pat Rafter to finally get his Wimbledon title but instead it was the unseeded Croatian who took the five-set epic 9-7 in the decider.
Phil Mickelson – Masters
“Lefty” cultivated a great reputation as golf’s bridesmaid in the early days of his career, falling short at multiple majors before finally breaking through at the 2004 Masters.
He went on to win another five over his career including the 2021 PGA Championship where he became the oldest major champion at age 50.