5 Iconic Photographs From This Era Of Football

We have seen plenty of snapshots involving the beautiful game which make us fall in love with the sport all over again. Right from the black and white photograph of Pele being carried on many a shoulder after winning the World Cup, to Rene Higuita attempting a scorpion kick to save a shot on target - there are plenty.

Photographs are a storehouse of emotions. Some make us smile, some infuriate us, and some break us down. There is nothing quite like a picture. After all, they say a thousand words...

Luckily enough, the present era too has seen some striking images being captured which have been shared often enough across all forms of social media that we will never forget them. We looked into all such pictures and selected five of the best among them.

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#5 Samir Nasri's Shirt Reveal

Nasri scores a late winner against Southampton and celebrates in style.

Irrespective of the religion you follow, this photograph is heart-warming nonetheless. Back in August 2012, Manchester City were fresh off their maiden title win, and were looking to begin the succeeding season on a winning note too. Up against them were newly promoted Southampton.

Manchester City were clear favourites to bag all three points, but that seemed difficult as Southampton took a 1-2 lead with only 20 minutes remaining on the clock.

A late flurry of attacking football eventually helped City earn a 3-2 win and all three points. The winner was scored by former Arsenal man Samir Nasri. Perhaps it was always meant to be his goal, as he ran around the pitch in ecstasy while pulling his shirt up to reveal the words "Eid Mubarak".

To this date, it is the go-to picture for City fans to wish a prosperous Eid to one another.

#4 Ronaldinho Lines Up With Barcelona

Barcelona requested Ronaldinho to join them for the team photograph.

In 2008, AC Milan visited the Camp Nou to play the Trofeo Gamper match in what was Ronaldinho's first homecoming since he left Barcelona. Ronaldinho was given a grand welcome by the Barcelona faithful. Before the start of the game, Ronaldinho was paid tribute on the giant screen of the stadium by playing a mesmerizing video of his Blaugrana days.

Barcelona captain Carles Puyol interestingly invited Ronaldinho to join their team photograph, stating that he is still very much a part of them. That photograph stole the limelight from the actual game, which was won by the home side on penalties. It surely is one of the most iconic pictures ever in the history of football.

#3 Marco Materazzi and Rui Costa - Brother In Arms

Two opponents share a light moment.

The Derby della Madonnina, or simply the Milan derby, is nothing short of an on-the-pitch war. Visibly, this picture of Marco Materazzi and Rui Costa is nothing short of a wartime picture either. The only difference being, you couldn't tell they were opponents.

The fans of both teams - AC Milan and Internazionale - are always extremely hyped up before a derby. However, in 2005, they outdid things. In the quarter-final on the UEFA Champions League, AC Milan and their counterparts Inter lined up at the San Siro to play the second leg of the tie, which AC were winning 2-0. Having gone 1-0 up in the second leg too, Inter began to realise that it was a lost cause.

However, Inter's Esteban Cambiasso found the back of the net to give their fans a ray of hope, only for the goal to be disallowed by the referee. Enraged, the Inter fans bombarded the pitch with flares. They were relentless, and after a brief resumption post a 10 minute delay, the officials abandoned the match. AC Milan were gifted a 3-0 victory.

Amidst this mess, stood Inter's Marco Materzzi and AC's Rui Costa. Anticipating an end to the hostility, the two looked on, perhaps thinking if any of it was even remotely necessary.

#2 Your Loss Is My Gain

Two completely different emotions captured perfectly in one frame.

One of the most popular pictures ever, the timing behind this one is beyond belief. As Argentina surrendered to Chile in yet another Copa America final in 2016 (having lost to the same opposition the year before, too), Lionel Messi and co. couldn't help but break down into tears.

Messi's face suggests a mixture of a number of emotions dominated by that of pain. Gloomy, angry, disappointed, helpless. However, Alexis Sanchez's description was exactly the opposite.

Winning consecutive Copa America titles with a team that were not as fancied as the likes of Argentina were, is no mean feat. Understandably, Sanchez is clearly delighted. However, he seems to spare a penny for Messi's thoughts as he looks on at his former teammate.

The grin might not have been aimed at Argentina's woes, but that didn't stop this photograph from spreading like wildfire across all forms of media around the globe.

#1 The One That Got Away

Messi looks at the prized possession for one last time.

It is fair to say that Messi hasn't had the happiest of times in his career in the blue of Argentina. He's, regardless, one of Argentina's best ever players and their highest ever goalscorer. Sadly, very little of that came into play when Argentina lost the 2014 World Cup final to Germany, having done very well to make it to the showdown.

Argentina were famously beaten 0-1 by a Mario Gotze goal in extra time. Messi, 26 then, knew that it was the most realistic chance of him winning the World Cup. Unfortunately for the little genius, the chance had gone begging.

So, as he walked to pick up the runners-up medal and the Golden Ball, he had one final look at the gorgeous World Cup trophy before it was handed to Germany's captain Phillip Lahm. The picture is certainly a painful one to all, irrespective of which nation he supports.

Whether it was a look that bid farewell to Messi's World Cup hopes, or one that said "I'll be back for you in four years", we cannot determine. All we know is that Messi will get his final crack at football's biggest prize this year - and we expect him to leave no stone unturned.