A movie director saved Messi's penalty, led Iceland to the EURO 1/4 finals and became a national icon

If you've heard about it, you would probably say it's not real, it's rather some motion picture script than a true story. But what happens when a starring role is allocated to a movie director?

And that's just what Icelandic goalkeeper Hannes Thor Halldorsson has faced in his life so far. An outstanding keeper who is, at the same time, a splendid movie director.

By the age of 20 his football career had stalled, partly because of a severe shoulder injury, and he quit football to concentrate on film-making - until a call from a former coach enticed him back to third-tier side Leiknir Reykjavik.

"I was still working as a filmmaker, and I decided I'd see which took me further," he said on Sky Sports. "Neither ball stopped rolling.

"The buzz of playing in a big match is unbelievable, but sitting in a theatre and watching a film you've made come together, I'd say it's a similar feeling."

Halldorsson ended up moving back to his boyhood club KR and receiving international recognition - alongside working for the biggest production company in Iceland, doing commercials.

"In 2013, I realised I was burning out," Halldorsson said. "It wasn't normal to be the number one goalkeeper on the national team and also be constantly working on the side.

"When I was finally able to become a professional footballer in 2014, I was happy to rest the film career. I played abroad for five or six years and raised my kids in a lot of countries."

Halldorsson, who retired from international football last month after winning 77 caps, was part of the Iceland team in their first-ever European Championship appearance in 2016.

In the last 16, they beat England 2-1 and advanced to the quarter-finals.

"Those moments are the highlights of my football career and my life," Halldorsson said.

"You're always supposed to say that the birth of your children is your highlight, but I would even say that this tops that. Don't tell anybody!

"Being at the Euros was the most fun I've ever had. It was like being at a fantastic resort with some of your best friends, with great weather and every four days, you play an incredible game."

Two years later, Halldorsson played in Iceland's first match at a World Cup finals, saving a penalty from Messi as they drew 1-1 with Argentina.

Halldarsson saves Messi's penalty (©Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

"If you think up a dream scenario for a goalkeeper, it's going to be saving a penalty from Lionel Messi," Halldorsson concluded.