• Mario Götze scores for Germany in extra time, taking his team to a fourth World Cup title
• Germany the first European side to win the trophy in South America, winning the World Cup for fourth time
• World Cup final between Germany and Argentina kicked off at 8pm at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro Pre-match closing ceremony featured performances by Shakira and Carlos Santana
• Famous trophy was brought into the stadium by supermodel Gisele Bundchen and 2010 winner Carles Puyol
• Fans also watch the action unfold in fan parks on Copacabana beach, as well as in Berlin and Buenos Aires
• Worldwide audience of up to one billion people were expected to tune in for the biggest game in the football calender
• David Beckham in the stands for the match – as his sons sported Argentina shirts
• Sir Mick Jagger, Brazilian football legend Pele, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Rihanna also watched the game
• Score was 0-0 at the end of first half of extra time, with Gonzalo Higuain’s goal for Argentina ruled offside

Germany’s Mario Götze scored with a brilliant finish to win the World Cup for Germany tonight, as his team beat Argentina 1-0 in the hotly-contested final.

The Bayern Munich star coolly slotted home to score in the 113th minute, after his team had battled long into extra time in their bid to take home the famous trophy for the fourth time – the first as a unified nation.

Midfielder Götze, 22, came on as a substitute to net the winner, controlling the ball with his chest before volleying it into the Argentine goal, making the Germans the first European team to win the title in South America.

Goal! Mario Götze of Germany scores his team’s first goal past Sergio Romero of Argentina in extra time

Vital goal: Götze celebrates with (left to right) Andre Schuerrle, Benedikt Hoewedes and Thomas Mueller after scoring during extra-time

Longed for: Götze kisses the World Cup trophy after scoring  the decisive goal in the 113th minute

So near, and yet so far: FIFA President Sepp Blatter congratulates Messi on his Golden Ball award, but the most famous trophy had evaded the star

Packed: The game had been a sell out, and millions more people around the world were watching the match unfold on television

German chancellor Angela Merkel was no doubt cheering on her country, as she sat a few seats from Russian President Vladimir Putin – whose country will host the next World Cup in 2018.

At the final whistle, Merkel jumped from her seat and raised both arms in triumph, before turning to her right to be kissed on both cheeks by Brazil state President Dilma Rousseff.

Putin and FIFA President Sepp Blatter were next in line with congratulations.

Expectations for tonight’s final match were running high following Germany’s ruthlessly efficient dismantling of hosts Brazil in the semi final, while Argentina required penalties to make it past the Netherlands on their route to Rio.

As the game got underway, Germany found it difficult to breach the Argentine net, while at the other end of the pitch Higuain’s goal was ruled offside. 

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