Lionel Messi missed in a penalty shootout for the first time in his career Sunday as Argentina lost the Copa America Centenario to Chile.
Hearts were broken for Argentina fans, who had to watch their team lose a third straight major tournament, the last two by way of penalty shootout to Chile in the Copa America. And Messi, the world's greatest soccer player, who has won FIFA Ballon d'Ors, the Champions League and countless La Liga titles, is still searching for international greatness.
MORE: Messi's miss dooms Argentina against Chile
Yet, the Barcelona and Argentina star made a lasting impact on the host United States — a country starving for a soccer star.
All bets were off when the tournament started. Messi was nursing a sore back, which caused him to miss the first game. But he wasted no time becoming a star in the States during Argentina's second game when he scored a brilliant hat-trick as a sub.
The scene was set Sunday for Messi to become a legend in the U.S. in the span of a month. Playing against Chile, the team that beat Argentina in the final last year in Chile, he looked poised to lead his team to victory.
All throughout the tournament — against the USMNT in particular — Messi had looked like a maestro conducting his musicians in the song of victory. He completely controlled the game against the U.S., using his quick footwork and unrivaled vision to break down a talented defensive unit. The fluidity of his game made playing soccer look easy. But most soccer fans knew the final would be a different story.
Argentina had failed to score in the final of the 2014 World Cup and the 2015 Copa America as teams clamped down and made them play a half-pitch game. Chile used the same approach Sunday in a brutal battle that produced two red cards and 120 minutes of tireless soccer.
MORE: Must-see images from the Copa America final
Messi was taken down almost every time he touched the ball in regulation, but everyone still expected him to step up to his penalty and hammer it into the back of the net.
Instead, he blasted it over the top.
Lionel Messi really missed a penalty kick in a final this cannot be real 😱 pic.twitter.com/bncWtpzcVy
— (32-50) (@New_Tape_City) June 27, 2016
Americans watching the scene unfold on TV gasped in shock at the sight of their new idol faltering after captivating them with his brilliance just days before. All of the sudden, Messi went from a hero who could do no wrong to a star who has built up a record of near-misses even Lebron James would have once scoffed at.
However, soccer was a sport waiting for a superstar in the U.S., and even though Messi is not American, he gave its fans a glimpse at what a true soccer legend looks like.