German players celebrate with the World Cup trophy after they defeated Argentina 1-0 in the tournament's final match Sunday, July 13, in Rio de Janeiro. Mario Gotze's goal in extra time was the difference.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
German players celebrate with the World Cup trophy after they defeated Argentina 1-0 in the tournament's final match Sunday, July 13, in Rio de Janeiro. Mario Gotze's goal in extra time was the difference.
FRANCOIS XAVIER MARIT/AFP/Getty Images
Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer celebrates with a German flag after the match.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer celebrates with a German flag after the match.
Jamie Squire/Getty Images
German fans watch a fireworks show near the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
German fans watch a fireworks show near the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.
JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/Getty Images
Germany's Lukas Podolski, left, takes a selfie with teammate Bastian Schweinsteiger after the match.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Germany's Lukas Podolski, left, takes a selfie with teammate Bastian Schweinsteiger after the match.
ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images
Argentina's Sergio Aguero lies on the ground as German players celebrate their victory.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Argentina's Sergio Aguero lies on the ground as German players celebrate their victory.
Michael Steele/Getty Images
Argentina's Lionel Messi, left, and Pablo Zabaleta react after the match.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Argentina's Lionel Messi, left, and Pablo Zabaleta react after the match.
FRANCOIS XAVIER MARIT/AFP/Getty Images
A Germany fan celebrates while watching the match in Melbourne.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
A Germany fan celebrates while watching the match in Melbourne.
Michael Dodge/Getty Images
Gotze, left, celebrates with teammate Thomas Muller after scoring the goal that would decide the match.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Gotze, left, celebrates with teammate Thomas Muller after scoring the goal that would decide the match.
JUAN MABROMATA/AFP/GEtty images
German players celebrate after the match.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
German players celebrate after the match.
ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images
Schweinsteiger, left, and Julian Draxler react after the match.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Schweinsteiger, left, and Julian Draxler react after the match.
Lars Baron/FIFA via Getty Images
Germany supporters celebrate Gotze's goal while watching the match on a giant screen in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Germany supporters celebrate Gotze's goal while watching the match on a giant screen in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
MOHD RASFAN/AFP/Getty Images
Schweinsteiger slides to tackle Argentina's Lucas Biglia.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Schweinsteiger slides to tackle Argentina's Lucas Biglia.
ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images
The World Cup trophy is seen in the Maracana Stadium during the match.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
The World Cup trophy is seen in the Maracana Stadium during the match.
Alexander Hassenstein/FIFA via Getty Images
German defender Benedikt Howedes heads the ball away near Messi, left, and teammate Mats Hummels.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
German defender Benedikt Howedes heads the ball away near Messi, left, and teammate Mats Hummels.
FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images
Messi, left, dribbles past German defender Jerome Boateng.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Messi, left, dribbles past German defender Jerome Boateng.
PEDRO UGARTE/AFP/Getty Images
Boateng leaps for the ball.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Boateng leaps for the ball.
Shaun Botterill/FIFA via Getty Images
Germany's Andre Schurrle falls to the ground after a challenge from Zabaleta, center.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Germany's Andre Schurrle falls to the ground after a challenge from Zabaleta, center.
FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images
Neuer, left, collides with Argentine forward Gonzalo Higuain in the second half.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Neuer, left, collides with Argentine forward Gonzalo Higuain in the second half.
Shaun Botterill/FIFA via Getty Images
Neuer punches the ball before colliding with Higuain.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Neuer punches the ball before colliding with Higuain.
ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images
Biglia, left, and Germany's Philipp Lahm go up for a header.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Biglia, left, and Germany's Philipp Lahm go up for a header.
Matthias Hangst/Getty Images
Biglia, left, and Schweinsteiger head the ball.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Biglia, left, and Schweinsteiger head the ball.
ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images
Messi, Argentina's star player and captain, reacts during the match.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Messi, Argentina's star player and captain, reacts during the match.
PEDRO UGARTE/AFP/Getty Images
Germany's Christoph Kramer lies on the field after a collision in the first half. He later had to be substituted.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Germany's Christoph Kramer lies on the field after a collision in the first half. He later had to be substituted.
Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
In this photo, shot using a slow shutter speed, Messi makes a run into Germany's penalty box.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
In this photo, shot using a slow shutter speed, Messi makes a run into Germany's penalty box.
CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/Getty Images
Argentina's Ezequiel Lavezzi, left, and Schurrle compete for the ball.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Argentina's Ezequiel Lavezzi, left, and Schurrle compete for the ball.
Matthias Hangst/Getty Images
Schweinsteiger controls the ball on his chest.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Schweinsteiger controls the ball on his chest.
FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images
Howedes heads the ball off the post late in the first half.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Howedes heads the ball off the post late in the first half.
PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images
Boateng, bottom left, clears the ball as Messi and Lavezzi threaten.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Boateng, bottom left, clears the ball as Messi and Lavezzi threaten.
Michael Steele/Getty Images
Muller stretches for a cross.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Muller stretches for a cross.
Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
Higuain, right, celebrates what he thought was a goal in the first half. The offside flag was up, however, meaning the goal didn't count.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Higuain, right, celebrates what he thought was a goal in the first half. The offside flag was up, however, meaning the goal didn't count.
CHRISTOPHE SIMON/afp/getty images
A wide view of the Maracana Stadium.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
A wide view of the Maracana Stadium.
Alex Livesey/FIFA via Getty Images
German midfielder Mesut Ozil, center, tries to dribble past Argentine midfielder Enzo Perez in the first half.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
German midfielder Mesut Ozil, center, tries to dribble past Argentine midfielder Enzo Perez in the first half.
PEDRO UGARTE/AFP/Getty Images
Messi, left, tries to evade Hummels.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Messi, left, tries to evade Hummels.
ODD ANDERSEN/afp/getty images
Argentine goalkeeper Sergio Romero catches the ball in the first half.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Argentine goalkeeper Sergio Romero catches the ball in the first half.
GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images
German forward Miroslav Klose, left, and Argentine defender Ezequiel Garay compete for the ball.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
German forward Miroslav Klose, left, and Argentine defender Ezequiel Garay compete for the ball.
GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images
Germany's Toni Kroos, left, collides with Biglia.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Germany's Toni Kroos, left, collides with Biglia.
ODD ANDERSEN/afp/getty images
Higuain takes a shot in the first half.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Higuain takes a shot in the first half.
PATRIK STOLLARZ/afp/getty images
Klose, left, goes up for a header with Argentine defender Martin Demichelis.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Klose, left, goes up for a header with Argentine defender Martin Demichelis.
ADRIAN DENNIS/afp/getty images
Demichelis challenges Schweinsteiger.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Demichelis challenges Schweinsteiger.
Matthias Hangst/Getty Images
Players take their positions prior to a free kick in the first half.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Players take their positions prior to a free kick in the first half.
Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Klose controls the ball.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Klose controls the ball.
Mike Hewitt/FIFA via Getty Images
Hummels, right, marks Messi in the first half.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Hummels, right, marks Messi in the first half.
GABRIEL BOUYS/afp/getty images
Klose, center, looks to split Garay, left, and Javier Mascherano.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Klose, center, looks to split Garay, left, and Javier Mascherano.
GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images
The two teams shake hands before kickoff.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
The two teams shake hands before kickoff.
NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images
Photographers gather to take team photos before the match.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Photographers gather to take team photos before the match.
NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images
Argentina fans cheer at the Maracana Stadium before the match.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Argentina fans cheer at the Maracana Stadium before the match.
ADRIAN DENNIS/afp/getty images
Germany fans enjoy the atmosphere at the Maracana.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Germany fans enjoy the atmosphere at the Maracana.
Julian Finney/Getty Images
Singer Rihanna takes her seat in the stadium.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Singer Rihanna takes her seat in the stadium.
GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images
Pop star Shakira, second from left, performs in the closing ceremony prior to the match.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Pop star Shakira, second from left, performs in the closing ceremony prior to the match.
Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
A performer is seen during the closing ceremony at the Maracana. Since the soccer tournament started on June 12, 63 matches have been played in 12 Brazilian cities.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
A performer is seen during the closing ceremony at the Maracana. Since the soccer tournament started on June 12, 63 matches have been played in 12 Brazilian cities.
Julian Finney/Getty Images
From left, musicians Carlos Santana, Wyclef Jean and Alexandre Pires perform during the closing ceremony.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
From left, musicians Carlos Santana, Wyclef Jean and Alexandre Pires perform during the closing ceremony.
FABRICE COFFRINI/Afp/getty images
Dancers perform during the closing ceremony.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
Dancers perform during the closing ceremony.
Julian Finney/Getty Images
A fan has his face painted in Argentina's national colors prior to the final.
Best photos from the World Cup final —
A fan has his face painted in Argentina's national colors prior to the final.
DAMIEN MEYER/afp/getty images
During heavy rain in Berlin, a Germany fan uses a cell phone as she waits with thousands of other fans for a live broadcast of the final match. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/12/football/gallery/world-cup-best-0712/index.html">See photos from the third-place match</a>
Best photos from the World Cup final —
During heavy rain in Berlin, a Germany fan uses a cell phone as she waits with thousands of other fans for a live broadcast of the final match. See photos from the third-place match
Markus Schreiber/AP