Lionel Messi holds the World Cup trophy in his hands while sitting on Sergio Aguero’s shoulders.
His eyes are bright, and his face is etched with a large smile; After years of World Cup heartbreak, it is a split-second moment of pure joy. It is the culmination of a lifelong dream.
Shaun Botterill, a Getty photographer who had a front-row seat to one of the most iconic moments in sports history, took the picture that Messi uploaded to commemorate his World Cup victory over France. It is now the most liked post in Instagram history, surpassing an ordinary brown egg.
According to Botterill, one of the photographers at Sunday’s World Cup final planned to stand in front of the advertising signs by the main stand, which was home to the vast majority of Argentina fans, on the pitch.
After receiving the trophy and spending some time with his family, Argentina’s captain began to approach the fans, prompting photographers to rush toward the goal at that end of the field.
Botterill tells CNN, “I almost got trapped, but just got trapped in the right place.” I suppose if the majority of us [photographers] tell the truth, you generally need a touch of karma and I had a piece on Sunday night.
“Messi was just there; he didn’t move much because sometimes you get pushed around, and he was just doing all the bits with one hand and two hands on the trophy.
We had no idea what would transpire at the conclusion. You are able to prepare for the trophy lift, but you are unable to prepare for the run around, and you are not aware of how chaotic it will be. I was probably two meters away from him, but I was pretty close to him.
“It’s a strange, almost surreal feeling, and you think, ” He is exactly where you want him to be, which is not often. Holy s**t!
“Even with his hands reaching for the trophy, I think the way he is holding it and smiling gives him a chance to interact with the fans.”
Botterill grabbed a cable from one of the remote cameras behind the goal, plugged it into his camera, and sent the image to his editors as Aguero, a former Argentina teammate of Messi who retired in December 2021 after being diagnosed with a cardiac arrhythmia, carried his friend to the opposite side of the stand.
It just so happened that Botterill’s son was working on the editing desk that night.
“My eldest sent me a message and said, Botterill recalls, “I edited your picture, dad; it’s pretty nice.”
His son’s comments have proven to be a complete understatement.
Although modesty clearly runs in the family, Botterill “knew it was a pretty good picture” in the immediate aftermath, there is always a concern that another photographer at a slightly different angle will have captured a better image due to the fact that “small margins” can make a significant difference.
The wider view better conveys the acclaim the Argentina captain was receiving, according to the British photographer, who admits that the crop Messi used on Instagram wasn’t his favorite.
These instances, according to Botterill, still seem surreal, despite the fact that his career began at the 1986 World Cup.
“In fact, I do recall thinking, Wow, how the hell did I get to where I am? Botterill says. ” because you are governed by the direction that the masses are pushing you in those situations.
“When I think back, it’s hard to believe that man is standing in front of you on Sergio Aguero’s shoulders, holding up the World Cup and demonstrating this to his fans.
“It has that effect, doesn’t it? The trophy, the joyful face, and the chaotic appearance are all there.
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