Argentina skipper Lionel Messi felt so inconsolable after his side were beaten 1-0 by Germany in the World Cup final at the Maracana.
It was however not all that gloomy for the Barcelona star, who after seven matches for ‘La Albiceleste’ in Brazil, scored four goals and made an assist (for Angel Di Maria’s goal against Switzerland in the last 16) to claim the adidas Golden Ball, awarded for the best player of the World Cup.
“Right now, nothing can console me – not the award or anything else,” said Messi. “Our only goal was to take home the World Cup and enjoy our victory with everyone in Argentina.
“We deserved a bit more after the game we played, and it was very painful to lose that way,”
Messi, 27, lamented Argentina’s lack of precision in the crucial moments of Sunday’s final.
Gonzalo Higuain wasted their best chance of the first-half and Messi failed to place the South Americans ahead seconds after the break, before Rodrigo Palacio lofted off target his effort over goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in extra-time.
“Although they had more of the ball, we had the clearer chances, but those of us up front failed to convert them,” added Messi. “We had three opportunities – one fell to me, one to Pipa [Gonzalo Higuain] and one to Rodrigo [Palacio].”
Argentina players are gutted not to have realised a 28-year long dream of a third Fifa World Cup title but the team must now look on to the future, concluded the four-time Fifa Ballon d’Or winner.
“After failing to get past the quarter-finals for so long, we managed to get to the final, which is still something. Even so, we’re leaving here disappointed not to win the trophy given the way the final played out. That leaves us feeling very annoyed and angry, but we now need to look to the future.”
