The Götze goal also took the tournament tally to 171 and broke the trend of shirking goal average since same number of goals scored in 1998.
He came off the bench and stole a march on his much fancied rival with a moment of brilliance that had millions of fans cry for Argentina but the German rejoiced.
The title clash at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro was supposed to be a Lionel Messi show but Mario Götze came off the bench in 88th minute and in the 113th minute put a full stop, literally, to the most entertaining and riveting Finals.
The Götze goal also took the tournament tally to 171 and broke the trend of shirking goal average since same number of goals scored in 1998.
Substitutes have made greater impact than ever during this tournament that was played in hot and humid Brazilian weather. Thus, not surprisingly, fresh-legged substitutes combined for Götze’s strike, which was the seventh goal scored by a substitute in the knock out stage.
Götze’s volley was a beauty of a goal. He first beautifully controlled an Andre Schurrle pass from the left on his chest before putting it past Argentina keeper Sergio Romero for the decisive goal.
Among the many first in Sunday’s final, Götze also achieved a distinction of becoming the first player to score a winning goal as a substitute in a World Cup title clash.
With this goal, Götze turned into a national hero in Germany.
On the other hand, Messi has achieved everything with his club Barcelona but he had to win the World Cup Trophy to be counted among the greats of the game. He was aware and guided his team efficiently through the league phase, but his charisma gradually waned as the knock out stage wore off.
In the final on Sunday he had chances but like his teammates he looked out of his depth when it came to converting attacks into goals. The Argentinians did have their chances, but Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero, Rodrigo Palacio and Messi too fluffed them.
Where Messi and company missed it, Schurrle –Götze combination struck gold, minutes before the well contested final was heading for a penalty shootout.
It was a contrasting picture at the end of 120 minutes of play. The Germans were beaming ear-to-ear as they celebrated with families and friends on the pitch before the presentation ceremony began. It was probably the longest and most agonising wait on the pitch for Alejandro Sabella’s boys during the 32-day tournament.
Messi looked forlorn even while accepting the Golden Ball award given as the best player of the tournament. The award, it seemed, mattered least for the Argentinian forward but his coach reckoned that he deserved it. How many would agree with Sabella could be another debate.
No doubt Messi was Argentina’s star performer in the league phase but in the knock out stage, the Barcelona star was far from his brilliant self. I think that despite his fake diving, Robben deserved this award more than Messi, but then I don’t have a vote.
Messi may have emerged as ‘the craque (star player in native Brazilian lingo) of the tournament’ but Götze walked away with the ultimate booty — the 18-carat gold trophy — for his country.