Remember the historic, record-breaking Spain national team of yesteryear?
It would certainly be very hard to forget. La Roja scooped every international honour possible between 2008 and 2012, dominating international football for the best part of four years, and beyond.
Their coach through this period, and influencer of their iconic ‘tiki-taka’ footballing philosophy, was Vicente del Bosque.
After spells in charge of Real Madrid - where he made 445 league appearances as a defensive midfield player between 1968 and 1984 - and Besiktas, the appointment of del Bosque - in July 2008 - represented a bold move that would either make or break his and the country’s reputation.
Gary Lineker responds to Liverpool fans' criticism of his Lionel Messi celebration
Luckily for both parties, del Bosque was a success, taking the European champions all the way to World Cup glory in South Africa in 2010, before retaining their European Championship in 2012.
And unbelievably, del Bosque has this week revealed how his side could have been even better, claiming, according to AS , the Spanish Football Federation “made all the efforts” possible to convince Lionel Messi to represent Spain at international level.
Del Bosque confessed he tried tapping up the Argentinian magician, regarded widely as the greatest footballer to ever live, while he was making his breakthrough in Barcelona ’s ‘La Masia’ academy.
Jamie Carragher warns Luis Suarez faces Anfield backlash in semi-final second leg
In an interview with Super Deportivo Radio, he claimed he did all he could for the opportunity to work with Messi, eligible for Spain having signed for Barcelona at the age of 13.
The former Spanish international said: “Lionel refused because he loves his country.
“His arrival would have been for the best. Messi is Messi, there is only one, it would have been a dream to direct him.”
And it would have definitely been a dream to have seen Leo in such an iconic side.
But, whether for better or worse, this would have radically changed the career of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Would Spain and Messi have been better off together or apart? I guess we’ll never know.
