Deserved really.

Messi wins the golden ball :nono:

Yeah, no way Messi was the best player at the tournament.
I'd argue James, Robben, Blind, Mascherano, Muller & Neymar all had better tournaments.

James, Mascherano and Neuer are the only ones who could arguably complain. But Messi has been fantastic.

I wouldn't say Messi has been fantastic in this tournament. Yes there were a few fleeting moments of brilliance, but he wasn't that good in the semi and for large parts of tonight's final. I wouldn't even say he's been Argentina's best player, Mascherano was. For me it should have been Rodriguez.

Four goals and four assists, if you compiled a highlights reel of all the best performers in this world cup I think Messi's would match most of them.

He's created more chances than anyone else as well, just he is held to a higher standard than anyone as he is near flawless.

Hate to say it but his chance was there on a plate and he missed it. He is still the goat but that was the perfect chance to silence his critics.

http://i.minus.com/iCkRxnIhtccZw.gif

World Cup 2014: Argentina star Lionel Messi continues to mystify doctors with vomiting - World Cup 2014 - Football - The Independent

:(

Yeah I'm not sure if Messi deserved player of the tournament but I'm not particularly shocked he got it like a lot of people seem to be. He had a good tournament, the stats posted above are good, and he carried an entire squad bar maybe two or three other players to the final.

I don't really know what some people expect of him.

Can someone explain to me why the world cup trophy looks like a golden alien penis? Is this a recent design or has it always looked like that?

Would like to retract my four goals four assists comment, I think it was four goals and one assist, but even so that's still decent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emZk81mJOf8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_ndMK1Rt1M - 1:10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KAR5z4cWbo - 0:40

There was about three or four times last night he was surrounded by four Germans and still managed to get the ball past them or to a team mate either by passing or dribbling.

Can anyone remember that other world class pass he made? Not from last night, might have been against the Netherlands.

The original was the Victory/Jules Rimet which was actually a cup hence the name:

http://www.footballshootball.com/wp-...vmtdo1_400.jpg

Brazil got to keep it after winning the WC three times and a new trophy was made (the current model).

I definitely prefer the old design to the alien penis one.

Alien penis :D.

Ok, I'll say it. I feel crestfallen; time won't be a great healer for some of us here. But it's ok... Germany were by a million miles the best: I thought it would be a lot easier for them to score on Sunday, so I'd got my hopes sky high when they did. It was -and it is- hugely painful.
I said to myself when the cup started, "well, I'm old enough now so I won't fret or go berserk this time; it's just footie." But this world cup proved to be one of a mind-blowing calibre from day 1 and I got passionate about it on the spot. I really missed leaving the job and sitting at a café to watch some 2nd half this afternoon. I'll really miss ringing up my girl to tell her, "won't be home till the match finishes" tomorrow after working. Mates, what a fantastic world cup!

I'm so proud of Germany. I can't wait to visit one day and discuss it with the locals.