The most-liked post in Instagram history wasn't made by Lionel Messi. It was made by photographer Shaun Botterill.

Mexico '86 to Today

Meet Shaun Botterill. His first World Cup was Mexico '86. He's photographed every Men's World Cup since 1994, more than 30 years on football's biggest stage.

Film Developed in Stadium Toilets

In 1994, football photography looked very different. His film was developed inside stadium toilets so the photos could be processed as quickly as possible. Every frame counted: 10 rolls of film, 360 frames for an entire match. Today, photographers can shoot that many frames before kickoff.

That scarcity shaped how Botterill worked. One of his most memorable frames came from Roberto Baggio's missed penalty in the 1994 final: "There's a bit of you that just goes, I can't believe this is happening," Botterill said of the moment.

One Photographer, Three Decades of History

One photographer. Three decades of World Cup history. From a teenager with a camera in a Mexico City stadium to the man behind the frame that would eventually break the internet.

The Photo Heard Around the World

Thirty years later, he photographed Lionel Messi lifting the World Cup. The image broke the record for the most-liked Instagram post ever.

For the 2026 World Cup, he's still on the touchline, still documenting football history.

Which Shaun Botterill photograph is your favorite?

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