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RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - JULY 13: Lionel Messi of Argentina looks on after being defeated by Germany 1-0 during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Final match between Germany and Argentina at Maracana on July 13, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - JULY 13: Lionel Messi of Argentina looks on after being defeated by Germany 1-0 during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Final match between Germany and Argentina at Maracana on July 13, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

Image of Lionel Messi Staring at World Cup Named Sports Photo the Year

Sean Fay
Feb 12, 2015

Lionel Messi and Argentina came so close to winning the World Cup last summer before losing to Germany in the final. 

Bao Tailiang of China's Chengdu Economic Daily perfectly captured the "so near and yet so far" emotion in the above image, which World Press Photo named the best sports photograph of 2014. 

The photo was titled "The Final Game."

Al Bello of Getty Images came in second for his shot of Odell Beckham's iconic catch for the New York Giants against the Dallas Cowboys. 

A disturbing image by Mark Metcalfe of cricketer Phillip Hughes being treated on the pitch moments after being hit by a ball was third.

Hughes died two days after the photo was taken. 

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