On July 13, 2014, Argentina dreamed of a third world title in the Maracana vanish with the final whistle. Messi would soon seek redemption for a symbolically heavy defeat that still echoed through the generations that followed.
The Argentina national team reached its sixth World Cup final, chasing the cherished prize that had eluded them since 1986, while Messi pressed on to a third crown, a goal left unfulfilled nearly four and a half years earlier. The Albiceleste, led by Lionel Messi and under the stewardship of Alejandro Sabella, stood intent on avenging a heartbreak that defined a generation—one that had watched its heroes reach the brink and fall short at the last moment.
The July 13, 2014 World Cup final in Brazil brought together two storied football nations in a venue steeped in history. Argentina had overcome the Netherlands on penalties in a tense semifinal, with notable saves from Sergio Romero and the tenacity of Javier Mascherano. Germany, meanwhile, delivered a performance that would be remembered for its brutal efficiency, including a 7-1 victory over Brazil that would become a stark milestone in the tournament’s lore. The Maracana, a stadium saturated with memories, became the stage for a decisive clash that would define an era.
The match commenced with the nerves typical of a final, each team probing for a flaw. Early on, Gonzalo Higuaín found himself in a position that would haunt him—and his nation—for years. A stray back pass sent him one-on-one with Manuel Neuer, and the opportunity skewed wide, a moment that would linger in the collective memory. Moments later, a well-placed cross from Ezequiel Lavezzi reached Higuaín again, only for the ball to narrowly miss the target and stay outside the goal. From those incidents, Germany pressed Romer o’s goal and tested his composure, which remained steady throughout the hours of play.
In the second half, Messi produced a moment of genius, a reminder of why he is celebrated around the globe, but the shot from the maestro skimmed past the post, denying a classic moment of brilliance. Controversy followed, as Neuer’s collision with Higuaín inside the box led some to believe a penalty should have been awarded, a decision that refocused the discussion but did not alter the scoreboard. With chances scarce for both teams, the match moved toward extra time still scoreless.
Early in extra time, Argentina had a dazzling chance through Rodrigo Palacio, who elected to lift the ball over the goalkeeper rather than finish from close range, and the chance slipped away. Germany appeared content with the draw, yet in the 112th minute a precise cross from a German player found Mario Götze in space; his volley broke the deadlock between Demichelis and Garay, sealing a 1-0 victory for Germany and granting them their fourth world title. Argentina walked off the field with the bitter taste of a near-miss, their quest for glory postponed once more.
MATCH SHEET
GERMANY (1): Manuel Neuer; Philipp Lahm, Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels, Benedikt Howedes; Sami Khedira, Bastian Schweinsteiger; Thomas Muller, Toni Kroos, Mesut Özil; Miroslav Klose. DT: Joachim Löw.
ARGENTINA (0): Sergio Romero; Pablo Zabaleta, Martín Demichelis, Ezequiel Garay, Marcos Rojo; Enzo Pérez, Javier Mascherano, Lucas Biglia, Ezequiel Lavezzi; Gonzalo Higuaín and Lionel Messi. DT: Alejandro Sabella.
GOAL: 112′ Götze (German).
CHANGES: 31′ André Schürrle for Kramer (Ale), 46′ Sergio Agüero for Lavezzi (Arg), 77′ Rodrigo Palacio for Higuaín (Arg), 86′ Fernando Gago for Pérez (Arg), 87′ Mario Götze for Klose (Ale), 119′ Per Mertesacker for Özil (Ale).
REFEREE: Nicola Rizzoli (Italy).
STADIUM: Maracana (Rio de Janeiro).