RIO DE JANEIRO: Despite having a golden trophy in his hand, Lionel Messi just couldn’t look up and smile.

This was the Golden Ball — the award for the best players of the World Cup, Yet, the prize Messi wanted was the latter.

He wanted the World Cup and the disappointment of missing out on the one big honour that has eluded him was evident.

“It is a sad prize that I won because we wanted to lift the trophy for Argentina,” the 27-year-old told reporters afterwards.

His coach Alejandro Sabella, however, believed he deserved the accolade.

“I think he deserves it because he played an extraordinary World Cup,” Sabella said. :He was a fundamental factor in the team so that we could make it all the way where we are today. … He deserved it, quite sincerely, yes.”

FIFA president Sepp Blatter, though, was surprised by Messi receiving the award.

“I was surprised when I saw him come up for the award,” Blatter told the World Cup’s concluding press conference on Monday.

“I don’t know how it was decided but maybe it was his form at the start of the World Cup which saw him getting the award.”

Rio de Janeiro’s legendary Maracana Stadium was the setting for Messi to secure his place amongst world football’s all-time legends.

The Barcelona superstar huffed, puffed and even threw up but missed his big chance.

Mario Goetze’s extra-time winner helped Germany win the final 1-0 and leave Messi and Argentina reflecting on what could have been.

“We deserved bet­ter after the game we played,” he added. “I’m hurt for losing the way we did. We were close to penalties but that’s history.”

It was also his chance to make history.

Widely regarded as the natural successor to Argentine legend Diego Mara­dona, Messi was expected to lead Argentina to their third World Cup triumph in Brazil.

He led them to the final but that proved to be a hurdle too high.

This was the biggest match of Messi’s stellar career which has seen him win multiple Champions League and La Liga titles with Barcelona along with four Ballon d’Or awards.

This was his opportunity to raise his status in the international game to that of Pele or Maradona, or even Zinedine Zidane.

His performances in the group stages and beyond suggested he was on the right path to his destination.

Messi’s four goals saw Argentina top their group before his sublime pass set up Angel Di Maria’s winner in the last-16 match against Switzerland.

Since then, though, Messi went missing. His good work saw him create spaces for his fellow strikers in their quarter-final win against Belgium but the Netherlands shackled him during the semi-final.

Argentina won that game on penalties but Germany’s high pressure game meant Messi couldn’t get into the positions he likes to get into.

“The players went straight to Messi and he wasn’t able to start running,” Germany coach Joachim Loew said afterwards.

He could’ve had his magic moment minutes before the end of extra-time with Argentina’s last chance to take the game into a shootout.

Argentina were awarded a free-kick in Messi territory. He stepped up and wrapped his left boot around the ball but it sailed over the bar, taking Argentina’s chances with it.

Maradona had provided the pass which led to Argentina’s third goal in a 3-2 win over Germany 28 years ago in Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium.

“Maradona and Messi … no comparison,” Chile’s former superstar Ivan Zamorano told Dawn after the final.—Umaid Wasim

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2014