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.